I’ve stated before that while Leland follows a Norse pantheon, I don’t. I follow a Greek pantheon and traditions. However, I do sometimes use runes in my practice. Some people may consider that controversial, similar to appropriating things from a closed practice. Here’s my take on it.
Read more: Reading the RunesRunes as Codes
As someone who does not follow a heathen or Northern European tradition, my connection to the runes is more like that of an alternative symbolic language.
My exposure to languages growing up was very eclectic. I took Spanish for several years in school. My mother spoke French to me growing up. My step-mother was an immigrant from Germany. One of my foster families was Ukrainian, another was Spanish (from Spain). My grandmother (mother’s stepmother) was Polish American. I grew up in the wonderful melting pot that was the Hudson Valley in New York. It was a wonderful neighborhood of first and second generation immigrants in the late 70s and early 80s.
In addition to the roots of my language development being convoluted, I am neurodivergent. (I am also dyslexic, for the trifecta.) I love puzzles. And logic problems. And word games. And codes. I often think in three dimensional images.
I see runes as a symbolic alphabet/language. Runes and bindrunes (a type of runic inscription where two or more runes are combined or merged into a single glyph) as symbols of intent resonate with me. I think they are a wonderful way of focusing intent, the cornerstone of working magic.
Runes as Symbols of Intent
There are several ways to use the runes in spellwork (or other alternative alphabet). The main one is to focus intent. You have to think on which symbol to use. Instead of just saying, ‘I want money…’ Maybe, you spell out ‘money’ in the runes (Mannaz, Othila, Nauthiz, etc…). More likely you look for a sign that means ‘money.’ Now, you are really starting to focus your intent. What do you want the money for? Why? It may be just be that you really want wealth (Fehu), but what if it’s not? What if you really, really NEED it (Nauthiz) in an emergency? What is your true intent and how do you represent that intention for your magic?
Runes as Divinatory Tools
The word rune directly translates to both ‘secret’ and ‘letter.’ Given that runes amount to a symbolic language, they are easy to extrapolate for divinatory applications. You ask a question, for example, about your path forward. The, you draw a rune stone for your answer. Whether you believe the inspiration is divine or subconscious, the rune (or runes) that you draw is (are) the answer to your question.
You can use rune stones in a similar way to tarot cards. If you drew the rune Berkana, in a reading, it might equate to drawing The Empress tarot card. The Empress card represents fertility, creativity and nurturing energy. It is a mothering goddess energy. Berkana is a representation of new beginnings, growth, regeneration, and the divine feminine energy. They can have similar divinatory meanings.
Perhaps, when you draw Berkana, you think more of a new opportunity, a beginning. This could be compared to the energy of The Fool. You get to decide what the runes are telling you.
I don’t tend to use the runes this way, though it is very popular and Leland does. My strengths are more in Tarot for divination. Also, this seems a more Anglo-Saxon and Norse practice.
Personalizing the Runes
In the end, how you use the runes, or other alternative alphabets are your decision. Just like all other aspects of your magic, you choose your own path, and what has meaning to you. Do you use any alternative languages or alphabets in your practice?
