Runes
Runes were first used over 1500 years ago by the East
Goths, and later appeared throughout England and Scandinavia. As Christianity
took hold, the use of runic alphabets in divination became reviled as a pagan
practice. The word "rune" itself comes from an early Anglo-Saxon word
meaning "secret" or "mystery", and they remain an enigma to
the world at large. Runes were initially most popular among Wiccans and modern
pagans, but have enjoyed unprecedented mainstream adoption in the past 30
years. For more information, read our Introduction to Rune Readings. If you
would like to learn more about Runes, check out our store.
Rune readings are arrangements of the 24 runes
(letters) of the old Futhark alphabet. The layout of the runes is known as a
spread, and determines what each rune refers to. For example, in the Three
Norns spread, the first rune represents the past, the second the present, and
the third the future.
Sets: In addition to each rune having a meaning, the
material in which the runes are carved can color the reading. Most people
consistently use runes made of ceramic, stone, or wood. In order to broaden
your experience, we offer readings with Gold Runes (for questions about
business, career, and property), Jade Runes (for questions about love,
friendship, and relationships), Ice Runes (for questions about struggle,
conflict, and achievement), Spirit Runes (for questions about mysticism,
spirituality, and religion), and Stone Runes (for questions about the natural
world and things beyond human control).
Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about
struggle, conflict, and achievement. Man represents Mankind. This rune evokes
the image that although we must make much of our way in the world on our own,
there is nevertheless an entire populous that shares similar experiences. Thus,
this rune represents the relationship of the self with the whole - working
together we can produce great results. Additionally, Man speaks to intellect
and culture that separate us from the animals.