Hi Members!
Many of you have been asking for more practical rune-reading skills, so I hope you enjoy my little Runecasting how-to! Let me know how you like it, and feel free to share your readings in the comments!
Happy casting,
Marin
Keep In Mind
Runecasting is a very individual experience. Everyone does it differently, and there’s no right way to do it. As with most spiritual practices, it's all about intention. Today I'd like to go over common methods and frequently asked questions - use it as a starting point, and let your practice evolve and grow as you discover what works for you!
1. Set your intention or question
Rune reading is tool to channel your inner intentions. So the first step is to figure out what that intention is! Here are some examples:
- What will this day teach me?
- What will this year hold for me?
- I want to learn more about myself
- I want to connect with a spirit
- Why do I feel the way I do?
When pulling a rune or getting ready to cast, mix the runes thoroughly in the bag with your hand and concentrate on your intention or question.
2. Choose your casting method
There are many different methods to casting and reading Runes:
- One-Rune Pull: Pull a single Rune from the bag and use it for guidance
- Three-Rune Pull: Pull three Runes from the bag, one at a time. One represents the past, one represents the present, and one is the future.
- Nine-Rune Cast: Take 9 random runes from the bag all at once, and scatter them onto your casting surface. The runes that are in the center will offer direction, and the ones on the outer edge will offer support.
- Full Cast: Dump the whole bag out on your casting surface. Work your way from the center outward. Take your time and revisit this casting over the course of a few days. There is a lot of information here.
- Adaptive casting methods: Are you skilled in reading Tarot? Many spreads from Tarot reading can be translated very easily into Runecasting!
- Make up your own! Don't be shy - the runes are a tool and you are their wielder.
Some prefer to cast on a cloth or pelt, and some prefer to have a direct connection to the ground. It's up to you how to set up your space!
When casting, pay attention to their relative position to each other - Runes that crowd each other might have more connections. As well, flipped runes might represent something that's hiding from you. See if you can find recurring patterns in your castings - if a certain rune shows up in the same spot time after time, it might be trying to tell you something!
3. Translate the runes
There are many ways to translate the Runes when doing a reading! Here are a few places to get started:- Use my Rune Chart (above)
- Use my Rune Flashcards
- Learn from others who read runes
- “Runic and Heroic Poems of the Old Teutonic Peoples” by Bruce Dickins
- "Nordic Runes: Understanding, Casting, and Interpreting the Ancient Viking Oracle" by Paul Rhys Mountfort
- "Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic" by Edred Thorsson
- "The Rune Primer: A Down-to-Earth Guide to the Runes" by Sweyn Plowright
- The historical Rune Poems, recorded from skaldic oral tradition
- Old English (Anglo-Saxon, 8th cent)
- Norwegian (Younger, 13th cent)
- Icelandic (Younger, 15th cent)
Common Misconceptions
"You can't buy your rune set"
Many rune casters prefer to make their own rune sets, but it's not a bad thing to buy your own! Especially if you buy it from a crafter who understands and reads the runes themselves.
"You need the Blank Rune"
The first mention of a Blank Rune is in Ralph Blume's 1982, "The Book of Runes". He calls the Blank rune "The Unknowable", and considers it a vital part of casting. However, the Blank Rune as a concept didn't exist before the 70s at the earliest. So it's your choice - if it resonates with you, use it. But if it doesn't, don't.
"Runecasting is dangerous"
This is simply untrue. Just like any divination technique, Runecasting is only dangerous or malicious if the user is. Remember, it's all about intention.
"There's only one meaning"
It's important to know that each rune has multiple meanings. This is because many different cultures have used these runes throughout many centuries, and they have evolved and grown. So if you draw a rune that doesn't make sense, it could be that you haven't discovered that specific meaning yet.
Let me know how your runecasting journey goes in the comments. I wish you all the best!
Much love,
Marin