Compendium of Magical Things: Communicating with the Divine to Create the Life of Your Dreams

Runes are a system of 24 symbols (or 25, depending on who you ask) that historically were carved into wood or stone. There were several different versions of runes throughout Europe—some even became alphabets! The most common version (and the one most used as an oracle today) is called the Elder Futhark. While the Futhark never became an alphabet, letters were still ascribed to each symbol. F-U-T-H-A-R-K are the first six letters of the symbols in the order most people consider the runes to naturally flow. Just as the Major Arcana of tarot has an order, so too do the runes, though there are debates here and there about that order.

The runes are broken into groups, almost like the suits in tarot. These are groups of eight known as the aettir (pronounced “ett-teer”). Each group is referred to as an aett (pronounced “ett”) and named for a Norse god or goddess. The first group is called Freyr’s aett, then there’s Hagal’s aett, and finally Tyr’s aett.

If you’ve been doing math in your head, you’re noticing that we’re now at 24 runes. There’s one rune that stands alone: Wyrd (pronounced “weird”). This is a blank rune. Wyrd is an Old English word that means “fate.” Its inclusion as a rune is a modern addition; many find it to be very controversial. Some traditional rune casters won’t even use it in readings.

Serious rune casters often make their own runes in order to infuse their own energy into the symbols. Although rune makers still exist today who’ll make a set specifically for you, more often people purchase them at stores and then clear them. (Directions for clearing can be found in Chapter 1.)

Runes often are carved on crystals or stones such as rose quartz or amethyst, making them lovely to look at and to hold. Usually they’re kept in a little pouch that makes them easy to carry around with you.

It’s generally agreed that runes have been around at least since the 2nd century B.C.E. (although there’s some evidence they have been around longer than that). To put that in perspective, that’s 800 years before the estimated time that the first tarot cards started to show up! While there is no consensus on exactly where the runes originated, most evidence points to Northern and Western Europe within the Norse and Germanic cultures.

Runes were considered to be aligned with various aspects of life, nature, and magic. People carved runes into their homes to bring prosperity and safety, onto their weapons to assure successful hunting, into the sides of ships for safe sailing . . . Basically, runes were carved anyplace people wished to have help from the gods to make their lives better.

Rune masters were sacred as it was their job to use the runes to bring rain to the crops, heal those who were sick, and bring success to warriors. Generally, they were involved in all aspects of people’s lives. In a time when being able to read was a very rare thing, a rune master was literate in a language that was considered true magic. He or she could read the runes to get messages, and this was amazing to the people of the time.

Rune work ebbed and flowed over the centuries, but it never completely faded away. The runes had a sort of revival in 1983 with the publishing of The Book of Runes by Ralph Blum. Mr. Blum did for runes what I tried to do for tarot—made it accessible to everyone in a way that wasn’t fear-based or difficult to understand. His book is one of my favorites on the topic of runes, and I really like his approach. However, he doesn’t follow the traditional order of the rune symbols, so if you check out his book, keep that in mind.

Here’s a fun fact: The term runes has several ancient literary meanings, but in general it tends to mean “secrets” or “mysteries.” I found that fascinating because, as you may recall, arcana in tarot also means “secrets” or “mysteries.”

As I mentioned in Chapter 1, familiarizing yourself with the history and myths of any particular Divine language can make a big difference in how it serves you—or sometimes it will make no difference. In the case of runes, I rather think that the history is somewhat pertinent, whereas the myths are less so. But here they are in a nutshell.

The myth surrounding runes is related to old Norse gods. (And, as with most things about these gods, it comes with a few gory details.) The god Odin was said to have hung himself from Yggdrasil, otherwise known as the World Tree. He stabbed himself with his own sword (ick!), and then hung upside down from the tree for nine days and nights without food or water. Starving, in pain, and no doubt suffering from a really bad dehydration headache, the runes presented themselves to him. He then brought them into the world.

Like all myths, there’s way more to it than that, but that at least gives you an idea.

Runes are beautifully complex, with a great depth of message and inspiration. Each rune is connected to a letter from the alphabet, a tree, an herb, a Nordic god, and many other elements. Many hefty books have been written about the meanings of each rune and how they interact with one another. Even if I had the space in this compendium to include all of that data, I still would refrain. All that overwhelming information is what kept me from exploring runes for many years. Now that I’ve discovered how wonderful they are, I want to give you just the basics of each rune in a very simplified manner so that you can get an understanding of them without feeling like you’re having to read an encyclopedia.

Keep in mind that working with runes has a lot to do with which rune is sitting next to which other runes. A particular rune’s sunny disposition can be completely changed if it is sitting next to a challenging rune, and vice versa. If you discover that runes fascinate you, then learning those combinations will be very important.

Another thing to be aware of is that there are discrepancies in the names of some of the runes. When that is the case, I’ve tried to use the most common name.

While this is an extremely simplified definition of each rune, hopefully it’ll give you the basic idea of the general language structure of the Elder Futhark runes. (Please note that the “reversed” meanings refer to when runes are laid and read upside down.)

	Fehu: Earned income. Deserved recognition and a sense of fulfillment for what you’ve worked hard for. Success that is to come, or possible exciting, new opportunities. Reversed: The need to make changes in your plans lest there be losses or disappointments. Financial success that fades away and is replaced with frustrating complications.
	Uruz: Strength, courage, willpower, good health. Sudden changes that should be embraced. Success that comes with great speed but may require you to adapt and take chances that might make you nervous. Take them anyway! Reversed: Unmotivated. Not putting the necessary energy into a situation to be a success. A disappointment or an illness. Be careful!
	Thurisaz: Protection. Unexpected good luck often from an unexpected source. Consider other people’s opinions. Think things through before acting. Reversed: Throwing caution to the wind. Headstrong and not listening to advice, which leads to negative consequences. Luck runs out.
	Ansuz: Higher education or tests that you’ll easily pass. Wise advice given by caring people that you should seriously heed. The opportunity to learn a new trade from someone kind. Reversed: People that can’t be trusted. Advice from someone with an ulterior motive. Miscommunication.
	Raido: Travel that is safe and purely for fun, often with charming people. A metaphorical journey surrounding life or spirituality. Legal situations are resolved in your favor. A good time to negotiate (but check the fine print). Reversed: Challenging travel or travel for unhappy reasons. Relationships that need your attention. Plans that don’t go as you’d hoped.
	Kenaz: The end of challenging times. New beginnings. Vibrant health or a full recovery from illness. A birth (literal or metaphorical) and creativity. Strength and almost endless energy. Reversed: Endings. Relationships that no longer serve and that should be released. Changes that are challenging but that should be embraced.
	Gebo: A gift. Financial abundance. Happiness and immense good fortune. A joyful relationship. A happy marriage. Reversed: There’s no reverse for gebo as it’s the same right side up as it is upside down.
	Wunjo: Happiness! A very positive solution to your problems. Information that brings great joy. Loving your work. Reversed: Troublemakers. Difficulty getting anything accomplished. Unhappy employment. A bad time to sign contracts.

	Hagalaz: A loss of power to someone else. Having your plans completely disrupted. Having no control and the anxiety that causes. Fighting the situation causes more grief. A bad time to take risks. Reversed: There’s no reversed definition for this rune.
	Nauthiz: The need to reconsider your plans due to a great risk of failure. The need for patience and restraint. Health issues. Romantic problems. Being a drama queen (or king). Reversed: Definitely cancel your plans! Stubbornly moving forward leads to disaster. Wait until conditions are more favorable.
	Isa: Putting everything on hold. A cessation of activity. A separation in a business or romantic relationship. An opportunity to look at things differently that you might eventually be grateful for. Can sometimes refer to one year. Reversed: There’s no reversed definition for Isa.
	Jera: Seeds well sown. Your efforts will yield good results. The need for patience. Legal issues or concerns. A warning against gossip or talking about things you don’t fully understand. Reversed: There’s no additional meaning for this rune.
	Eihwaz: A delicate situation that requires tact and caution. Small challenges that’ll soon resolve themselves. Obstacles or delays that turn out to be beneficial. Impossible problems that turn out okay. Reversed: There’s no reversed definition for eihwaz.
	Pertho: Positive surprises. Hidden information or secrets that get revealed. Heightened psychic abilities. The return of something thought to be gone forever. Reversed: The revealing of secrets you were trying to hide. Financial losses. A warning not to gamble or lend money to anyone. Lower your expectations.
	Algiz: Help that comes from unanticipated sources. Lots of social activity and new friends. Career opportunities or new studies. Accurate psychic insights that should be heeded. Divine protection. Reversed: Self-deception or trickery by others. Vulnerability due to associating with people of low character. Being accused of something you’re innocent of.
	Sowulo: Victory and success! Good wins over evil. Strong health or the full and swift recovery from an illness. The danger of trying to do too much. Reversed: There’s no reversed meaning of sowulo.

	Teiwaz: Success in all you attempt. Great motivation and the desire to compete or take on a cause. A sign to be fearless in your endeavors. Rapid recovery from injuries or illness. Happiness in romance. Reversed: A lack of motivation. Feeling like you just want to give up. Low energy. A relationship that is ending. Infidelity. A lack of creativity.
	Berkana: Pregnancy, birth, or the “birth” of new projects or ideas. Your mother, motherhood, or children. Successful pregnancy for those who’ve been challenged in the past. New beginnings or new romance. Reversed: Disagreements and turmoil at home. Receipt of unfortunate news about a member of the family. Fear or worry about someone close to you. Health challenges.
	Ehwaz: Positive change. Being on the right path. A relocation or trip. Exciting times. Reversed: Sudden or unexpected (though not necessarily bad) changes to your life. Long journeys.
	Mannaz: Deserved but overdue success. Assistance from loved ones that should be accepted. The implementation of planned changes. The need to remain modest. Seeking out wise counsel. Reversed: Getting in your own way. Going it alone without any assistance from others. Having your plans blocked and your progress impeded. The need to see things from other people’s perspective.
	Laguz: Divine guidance and protection. Dangers averted by psychic gifts or prophetic dreams. Follow your intuition. Help from others. A positive change in fortune. The end of challenges. Reversed: Being tempted to do the wrong thing. Being misled by your intuition. A bad sign. The need to take action immediately. A woman that brings trouble into your life.
	Inguz: Successfully completing something challenging. A positive and significant life event. The beginning of a new phase in your life. The impossible becomes possible. The end of stress. Reversed: There’s no reversed definition for this rune.
	Dagaz: A positive and powerful change in your life. Increased abundance and prosperity. A slow and steady path to success. A new beginning. The breaking down of barriers. Reversed: There’s no reversed meaning for dagaz.
	Othila: Material possessions or money. Inheritances or money that comes from investments or retirement. Someone who doesn’t mind working hard for what they want. Reversed: A bad time to try to buck the system. Delays and actions that go nowhere. Legal disputes. Embarrassing situations.

Before working with runes, as with all oracles, I recommend that you ask for enlightenment, guidance, and protection by saying a prayer to whatever higher power you like or doing a meditation that focuses on these things. Could be God, the angels, an ascended master, or just simply the Source of All That Is. It was common in ancient times to say a prayer to Odin and Freya, the Norse god and goddess most associated with the runes; you could do that if that feels right to you.

Runes are most often laid out in a spread. Spreads of one, three, and six runes are most common, but there are endless varieties. Here’s the structure of those three:

After choosing a spread, think of a question that you seek enlightenment on, and then pull the appropriate number of runes from the bag. Historically, it was customary to place the stones blank side up on a white or colored cloth, but to be honest, I haven’t used a cloth and have still gotten amazing insights. The runes are then turned over one by one and read for insight into the query. Some readers of the runes will pull a stone from the bag, write down what the stone was for a position, and then place the stone back into the bag before drawing another rune for the next position. This provides the opportunity for a stone to show up more than once in any reading. (For example, in a three-rune spread, if the same rune shows up for positions one and two, then the challenges currently being experienced are going to continue for a while.)

Runes can be read upside down or “reversed.” Or at least, 16 of them can. Eight of the runes are the same right side up as they are upside down and therefore only have one meaning.

A great deal has been written about using runes to manifest your needs and desires—more than could be included in this book. But the easiest methods to apply refer to simply carrying the appropriate rune for your situation with you. You might wear the symbol as a necklace or carry the rune in your pocket. Some people practice drawing the symbol repeatedly over days or weeks until what they’re wishing for occurs (or doesn’t occur).

It’s also common to create a series of runes that are carved in wood or written on paper, or however you wish to “publish” them. Think of it as creating a story. For example, othel and fehu together are great for attracting prosperity and abundance.

THE PERSISTENT PERTHO

I first started buying runes decades ago. I honestly was just buying them because I loved how they looked. They tended to come as beautiful crystals like rose quartz or citrine with gold lettering carved into the stones. They often had a lovely matching bag. And let’s face it . . . everyone likes their oracle to match their bag!

The truth is, though, I never really worked with them. I would buy a set, leave them out for a while, and then eventually just put them in a drawer. Part of the problem was that when I would start to study runes, I would feel overwhelmed by the history, the myths, and the many possible layers of meaning for each stone. Of course, some of those same things that once filled me with dread now fascinate me. (Although I’m still not that interested in the myths!) But luckily for you, my dear, you have me to boil all of this information down into easy-to-understand chunks. How far you take it is entirely up to you.

I pulled my first rune out of its bag while doing research for this book. I have to say, I was completely blown away! The rune I chose was an upright pertho. And so I grabbed the book that came with the runes to find out what it meant. The thing that really impressed me was that I randomly opened the book to search for the section on pertho, but no searching was necessary: I had opened the book to exactly the page that began the discussion of that particular rune. Talk about validation! As detailed earlier in this chapter, pertho represents hidden information or secrets that get revealed as well as heightened psychic abilities. What was I doing at that moment? Writing this book about ancient oracles whose purpose is to reveal hidden information and develop intuition!

Two days later, I decided it was time to pull another rune. So I reached down into my little pouch, moved the stones around, and pulled out a rune. Well, color me oh-so-surprised if it wasn’t an upright pertho again! This time I decided to use a different book for guidance into the meaning of this rune; once again, I opened this book to the exact page where pertho was explained. I was completely blown away to have that happen a second time! It was then that I truly became a believer in the power of runes. It was as if the runes were telling me, “We know what you’re doing!”

The writing of this book brought many exciting revelations for me, and I have to say runes were one of my most pleasant surprises. I love the depth of meaning and the layered nuances they present. I love that they’re so easy to carry along wherever I go. I also love that they had so much in familiar with my beloved tarot.

Though, in truth, just a quick check of the time line shows that the proper thing to say is that my beloved tarot has a lot in common with runes.

I found the energy of working with runes to match their ancient history. Their messages can be direct and simple (like my “persistent pertho”) or they can be more obscure and require a lot of thought and meditation to understand. I felt that when I asked the runes something simple the answer I would get was also simple—even playful, at times. If I asked the runes something serious, that energy was mirrored back to me with wisdom that felt as though it came from an old mentor or guru. Occasionally those messages seem to say, “Here’s a hint. But you’ll be richer if you figure the rest out yourself.” Either way, the revelations are powerful.