Rune Casting for Beginners: A Guide to Divination

Runes are ancient symbols that were used by Germanic peoples for divination, magic, and communication with the gods. Rune casting is a form of divination that involves drawing runes from a set and interpreting their meaning.

Understanding the Runes

There are several different rune sets, but the most common is the Elder Futhark, consisting of 24 runes. Each rune has a unique name, sound, and meaning.

• Runic Alphabet: The Elder Futhark is divided into three groups of eight runes, each representing a different aspect of life.

Choosing a Rune Set

• Intuitive Selection: The best way to choose a rune set is to let your intuition guide you. Handle different sets and see which one feels most connected to you.
• Research Rune Sets: Learn about the history and symbolism of different rune sets.

Preparing for a Rune Casting

• Create a Sacred Space: Find a quiet, undisturbed place to perform your rune casting.
• Cleanse Your Runes: Before using your runes for the first time, cleanse them to remove any negative energy. You can do this by burying them in the earth, smudging them with sage, or running them under running water.

Performing a Rune Casting

1. Ask Your Question: Clearly state the question you want the runes to answer.
2. Shuffle the Runes: Shuffle your rune set thoroughly.
3. Draw the Runes: Draw the desired number of runes from the set. The most common number of runes to draw is three.
4. Interpret the Runes: Use your intuition and knowledge of rune meanings to interpret the runes you’ve drawn.

Common Rune Meanings

• Fehu: Wealth, possessions, abundance
• Uruz: Strength, power, determination
• Thurisaz: Thorns, obstacles, protection
• Ansuz: Communication, messages, inspiration
• Raido: Journey, path, guidance
• Kenaz: Fire, passion, creativity
• Gebo: Gift, partnership, generosity
• Wunjo: Joy, happiness, fulfillment
• Haglaz: Hail, destruction, transformation
• Naudhiz: Need, necessity, hardship
• Isa: Ice, stagnation, preservation
• Jera: Harvest, cycle, reward
• Eihwaz: Yew, protection, longevity
• Perthro: Mystery, hidden knowledge, fate
• Algiz: Elk, protection, guidance
• Sowulo: Sun, victory, success
• Tyr: War, justice, courage
• Berkana: Birch, birth, growth
• Ehwaz: Horse, journey, progress
• Mannaz: Man, humanity, community
• Laguz: Water, emotion, intuition
• Ingwaz: Ing, fertility, abundance
• Dagaz: Day, dawn, new beginnings
• Othala: Inheritance, tradition, home

Remember, rune casting is a personal journey. Experiment with different rune sets and casting techniques to find what works best for you. Trust your intuition and enjoy the process of connecting with the ancient wisdom of the runes.