#northumbrian runes

[gifts-of-heimdall-runes]

The Runes

by Ingrid Kincaid

Source

[poeticnorth]

FIRST REVIEW OF NORTHUMBRIAN RUNE POEMS AND I LOVE IT!

Nico takes relatively short poems and fills them with metaphor and images the original writers would have been very comfortable with. Kennings also abound within this text, adding depth and character to each poem. All in all, this is a beautifully written poetry book I highly recommend checking out.

Pre-order your copy here.

[yes-sikorskiy-yuriy]

"Now is a good time". Design YS Now is a favorable moment for the positive and progressive understanding of "I am my world" to take root in your soul. It becomes possible to implement your own plans. The runes help you: ᛗ : The twentieth Northumbrian rune is Man [Mannaz], the rune denotes the human being in general, emphasizing the basic property of human nature, which, being present in each individual, be it a man, woman or child, defines him as a person. ᛚ : The Northumbrian rune Lagu [Laguz], embodies the indestructible force of development and growth, against which nothing can resist and which is understood by practitioners of this runic row as the basic property of matter. ᚨ : The Northumbrian rune As [Ansuz], or Acs. This is the "divine rune", denoting divine power in action. Use the power of your creative imagination to turn events to your advantage. 🌈Take care of those who heard you when you didn't say a word. Good luck, Yuri.

[sarenth]

Ac

I was challenged by a loved one when I said “I do not know the Anglo-Saxon Runes well; I am not as tight with Them as I am the Elder Futhark.” She then turned that into a challenge to me to get to know Them better. While I have had occasional interactions with Them, this will be the first time I am doing work or formally making poetry with Them. I am looking at doing this for the Northumbrian…

[dowsingfordivinity]

Rune reading layouts

I’m currently doing a series of videos on YouTube about the Old English and Northumbrian Runes. To accompany the videos, I thought it would be helpful to share some layouts for rune reading. The simplest reading is just to draw out one card. When I do a reading I always ask the Norns for insight, and then I ask the question and gently massage the runes in their bag. Then I start to draw out the…

[arminiy]

Runic stave for youth health and beauty!

Author: Nooma

Northumbrian runes!

[cunningwodewose]

Set of deer antler Anglo-Saxon runes on an elmwood divination dish.

[upstartcrow1564]

Good morning, friends! Your Oracle is back online. 🙏😊 In today’s draw we see renewed passion and energy go proceed with The Thing, no matter how difficult or weird it might seem. The Gods have taken an interest and you’ve got the spark of a great thing happening so it’s time to get moving (or to get moving again if you’d previously stopped). This is important, both for yourself and for others. I know there are things happening in the world right now that might turn into Big Things, but unless it’s your job to manage one or another of those things, try to keep your attention and focus local. Tend your own garden, your own boundaries, your own lane. Something new is beginning and you need to be present for it. [Image shows the Ace of Wands card from the Modern Witch Tarot Deck - a hand emerges from the clouds holding a large wooden wand alight with green flames; divine light shines from within the wand; a desert landscape lies below with a river running through it, mountains in the distance, and a city between them - the Northumbrian rune Gar, the Emperor charm, the Norse rune Ingwaz, the Number 3 Tile charm, the Key charm, the Cactus charm, and the Shell charm.] #tarot #oracle #runes #charms #vitki #volva #disir #ancestress #seer #tarotreading #tarotreadersofinstagram #tarotcards #dailytarot #tarotadvice #divination #divinersofinstagram #charmcasting #ModernWitchTarot #themusesdarling #witchesofinstagram #create https://www.instagram.com/p/CaSPGoSlQb9/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tipsycad147]

Choosing a rune set: A beginner's guide

by Michelle Gruben

Thinking about taking up the runes? Mastery of the runes can take many years, but it is not difficult for a beginner to learn the basics. (Much as young children can quickly learn their ABCs.) The first learning tool you’ll need is a rune set of your own, to begin familiarizing yourself with this ancient system of knowledge.

First, some background: Runes are archaic European letters used in magick and divination. The best-known runic alphabet is the Elder Futhark, which contains 24 symbols.There are other rune systems, such as the Younger Futhark, Northumbrian runes, and Witches' runes. But most of the time, when people talk about reading runes, they are referring to the Elder Futhark, which fell out of use as an alphabet around the 8th century AD.

Each rune has a threefold meaning: A phonetic sound (as a letter of the alphabet), a mundane object or action that it stands for, and a mystical or abstract significance. Rune-casting—or reading the runes—is a way to activate intuition and gather information about the past, present and future. Runic symbols have powerfully condensed meaning. Sometimes, a single letter says something that paragraphs cannot.

Make or buy?

Making your own set of rune stones or tiles is an excellent way to begin to learn the runic symbols. Painting or carving the runes can be a kind of meditation, and help to infuse your new rune set with your energy. Depending on your level of craftiness and the tools/materials available to you, making your first rune set can be a great option that lets you express your creativity.

On the other hand, there are many beautiful rune sets for sale—many made with materials and techniques that would not be practical to replicate at home. Investing in a pre-made rune set that calls to you can be an equally good beginning to your runic studies.

Usually, rune sets for sale at metaphysical stores include the 24 Elder Futhark runes. Most also have one blank (or “wyrd”) rune that acts as a wild card. A drawstring bag or box and a set of basic instructions may also come with your runes. However, don’t feel that you have to use any of these items just because they were sold as a set. Rune-reading practices vary greatly, and eventually you will settle on a method that works for you.

Making your own runes

If you go the route of making your own Elder Futhark runes, you will need 24 roughly equal-sized objects that will become your rune tiles. (25 if you wish to include a blank rune.) Your backyard or local craft store probably has something that can be made into runes. (Be sure to practice good magickal etiquette if you take something from nature.) Wooden nickels, tree branch slices, earthen clay, and even glass aquarium gems all make serviceable homemade runes.

Obviously, some materials are more durable than others. I made my first set of runes with flat rocks gathered from a streambed. I didn’t realize that they were made out of fragile sedimentary rock. They flaked and crumbled to pieces after several weeks of being dry. Uncured wood will split, and painted symbols will chip off when the runes tumble together in a bag. It may take some trial and error to make a rune set that can endure being carried around and used in readings. Wood-burning, clear-coating, kiln-firing and engraving are all crafting techniques that will help your handmade runes stand up to wear and tear.

Materials

Rune sets can be made from a staggering variety of materials: Glass, bone, antler, wood, gemstone, ceramic, metals, and common stones. What you choose mainly depends on your preferences and budget. What feels most magickal to you?

Bone runes are made from cleaned animal bones, which are then painted or engraved with the runic symbols. (I’ll admit that bone items personally skeeve me out, but many Witches who work closely with the animal kingdom love them.)  If you collect bones, or know someone who does, you can create your own set from the bones of a special animal. Commercial bone runes are usually made from water buffalo bone—a byproduct of meat and dairy farming in Asia.

Antler runes are made from cross-sections of deer antlers. Antlers are fast-growing bones, and their magickal properties are similar to bone. Antler runes would be a marvelous choice for a rune-reader who connects with Stag energy. (Both bone and antler runes look like puppy treats to dogs—so keep your prized rune set away from Fido.)

Wood runes can be made from nearly any type of wood. You may wish to choose one of the folkloric magickal woods for your rune set (Oak, Ash, Elder), or some other wood with a personal significance. Wood runes may be painted, engraved, woodburned—or a combination of these methods. A sealant or varnish gives the wood a lovely sheen and helps protect the symbols, but many rune-readers prefer to keep it all natural with a light coating of oil or beeswax.

Stone runes are made with precious gems, semi-precious stones, or even ordinary pebbles. Some Norse Pagans I know insist that wood and bone are the only proper materials for rune tiles. Rune stones, they say, are a modern, New Age invention.

Even so, gemstone rune sets—which combine the metaphysical lore of crystals with the runic alphabet—are probably the most popular type of rune set among Wiccans and Pagans. Gemstone runes are pleasingly heavy when cast, and undeniably beautiful to work with. You can choose your gemstone rune set based on the magickal properties of the stone—Amethyst for intuition, Jasper for courage, Hematite for protection, etc.

Ceramic runes include rune tiles made from air-dried, oven-baked, or kiln-fired clay. (The latter is the most durable.) They are popular with DIY-ers, and those who connect especially with the element of Earth. One of my favorite artisans makes rune sets from fragments of pottery that have washed ashore in her coastal town—they are unique and colorful runes of Earth and sea!

Glass runes and pewter runes are specialty items that are hard to find. Though these materials are made by humans, they are perfectly appropriate for magickal work if they appeal to you.

Are there any materials that should not be made into runes? I’m a magickal pragmatist. I’m into what works, and I don’t have much regard for sacred cows. But. As a magickal pragmatist, it’s perfectly fair to point out that the runes work best when treated with the utmost respect and dignity. Odin, it is told, hung on the World Tree for nine days and nine nights in order to receive the secret of the runes. It just seems wrong to look up the symbols on Pinterest and start carving them onto Styrofoam.

You can argue, I suppose, that since the runes are a sacred alphabet, they sanctify everything they touch. And yet, I have an instinctive revulsion toward runes made from paper, wood composites, and plastics (polymer clay included).

The runic symbols are worthy of great reverence—but there are no absolutes when it comes to selecting rune tiles. I recently broke my own rules and added a set of inexpensive resin runes to my store. I wouldn’t want a lack of money to prevent anyone from studying the runes. Even a basic set of runes can become a powerful tool in the hands of a serious seeker.

Size and Shape

All settled about the material? It’s time to spare a bit of thought on the size of your runes. Runes, especially gemstone runes, may be as small as a half-inch—too small to be practical for most readers. Basically, you want the rune set to be easy to read, and to feel comfortable in your hands. If you’re going to be reading for others, or in low light, go a bit larger. Even big runes are really travel-sized!

Rune tiles vary in size and shape, even within the same set. If you use the “blind draw” method of rune-reading (putting your hand in the bag and feeling around), it becomes more important for the runes to be a fairly uniform size.

One final consideration is the shape of the runes: Flat, round, symmetrical? Round-ish runes are fine for drawing from the bag. But if you want to lay your runes out in lines or grids, tile-shaped is the way to go.

Some rune readers—but not all—read “reversed” runes. Reversals give a different meaning when a rune lands face-down, or upside-down. If your rune tiles are very round and/or symmetrical, it will be more difficult to tell when a rune comes up reversed. Some runes (like Isa and Gebo) look the same whether they're upright or inverted. If getting the reversed meaning is important to you, get an asymmetrical set and memorize the orientation.

Choosing your first rune set can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Pick a set you're drawn to, learn the symbols, and begin using the power of the runes to transform your life and magick!

https://www.groveandgrotto.com/blogs/articles/choosing-a-rune-set

[thegodskeeper]

The problem with @an-avaar-skald-and-bearsark and I watching this film, and forgetting some of the twists because it’s been so long, is that we paused for a good twenty minutes to try and figure out why they were using the calc rune - after we decided it was the Anglo-Saxon + Northumbrian runes - as both a ‘C’ in coast and a ‘YR’ in Ireland, and then finally decided to hand-wave it and hit play only to remember that it was a mistranslated and anyway here we are, thirty minutes late to continue on from the first five minutes of the movie.

[gifts-of-heimdall-runes]

The Northumbrian Helm of Awe

This is a runewheel featuring the entire Northumbrian variation of the Elder Futhark. There are 33 runes in the Northumbrian Futhark. The wheel is split into 4 Aetts of 8 runes. This gives 32 runes around the wheel. However, the last rune of the Futhark, Gar, does not officially belong to any of the other Aetts, so it is placed at the centre. After all, it is referred to as the Axel rune, representing the connection between all things.

Posted by TristanHawthorne [DeviantArt] on 26th October 2006.

[poeticnorth]

Northumbrian Rune Poems is now officially available for purchase. Digital and physical copies available here.

Inspired by the Old English Rune Poem, Northumbrian Rune Poems centres its focus on the Early Medieval English Futhorc runerows with additional attention paid to the four runes that were in use in Northumrbia. Mixing free verse poetry with kennings found within Old Norse and Old English poetry, Northumbrian Rune Poems is a magical read that breathes new life into an otherwise neglected runerow. Alongside each poem is an Old English adaptation written in a Northumbrian dialect using Old English alliterative style to capture the spirit of the poems in a new light.

[persephoneswrites]

ADAM’S TATTOOS - Runes

The tattoos on his fingers are part of the alphabet of Northumbrian runes, which could be deemed the most “complete” runic alphabet since it includes the twenty-four original Elder Futhark runes plus the five Frisian and Anglo-Saxon runes.

Adam has six tattoos on each hand: four on his proximal phalanges (index to little finger) and two on his middle phalanges (index and middle finger only). His thumbs remain the only two fingers he didn’t get tattooed. All of the runes serve as daily reminders for him which represent his beliefs, some ruling aspects of his character and mindset, as well as notions to recall about the positive and negative aspects of his life in the past, present and future.

RAIDHO: [ r ] “Wheel”. This rune allows us to focus our energy so that we may obtain our goals. However to do so effectively we must be “in the right place at the right time”.

JERA: [ j / y ] “Harvest / Year / Season”. JERA is a rune that represents the cycle of life. With this rune we see that we must go with the flow of nature and time.

PERTHRO: [ p ] “Dice cup”. PERTHRO reminds us of the uncertainties in life and it is seen as a rune of problem solving and of memory.

SOWILO: [ s ] “Sun”. This rune stands for clarity. With the help of SOWILO we tend to be able to see things more clearly, like the sun sheds light on dark times.

THURISAZ: [ th ] “Thorn / Giant”. This rune represents the ability we have to resist unwanted conflicts in a passive manner. It often used as a rune of protection and it’s telling of changes that come without warning.

IOR: [ io ] “The world serpent”. IOR symbolizes dual natures. It also stands for the unavoidable hardships in life that we have to overcome.

CALC: [ k ] “Offering cup”. CALC denotes the death of the individual, however it is not seen as a death rune, it indicates the natural ending or conclusion of a process but not a termination, it is the end of an old era resulting in a spiritual transformation that leads to something new.

EAR: [ ea ] “Soil of earth / Dust after death”. EAR symbolizes the grave that we will all return to. However it doesn’t represent death but the cicle of life, since the only way that we can die is because there was life to begin with. It stands for the connection there is between life and death as well as life and time.

HAGALAZ: [ h ] “Hail / Air”. It represents the overcoming of situations we might deem constricting because eventually everything will flow smoothly. It is one of the runes that stands for transformation.

ISA: [ i / ee ] “Ice”. This is a rune that represents patience and waiting. ISA represents a halt in activity until a change is made so we can move forward.

WUNJO: [ w / v ] “Joy”. This rune shows us the balance between all things even when in a chaotic world.

KENAZ: [ k ] “Torch”. KENAZ is a rune of knowledge and understanding. It allows us to view situations with more clarity than we normally would.

[yes-sikorskiy-yuriy]

"Taran", battering ram, design YS. ᚦ : The third Northumbrian rune is called Thorn The thorn is dangerously sharp, he will sting with pain the one who seizes him; terrible thorns for everyone, who will fall on them. The rune embodies the resilience and protective properties of this thorny tree. The spike is a defensive device that can act both passively (like, say, the spikes that protected the sides of the Viking drakkars) and actively (the spikes on the Scandinavian shields, which were used to pierce the enemy's shield). On a mythological level, Thorn embodies the properties of the legendary hammer Mjolnir. The mighty hammer (whose name comes from the same Indo-European root as the Russian word for "lightning") is an attribute of Thor, the protector of Asgard, who crushes the skulls of giants with this hammer. In mystical terms, this rune is understood as the embodiment of a force that opposes everything that threatens the natural order of things. In other mystical interpretations, Thorn is a symbol of the creative energy of the masculine principle, a productive principle that is not subject to outside interference; Anglo-Scandinavian mystics associated this rune with Freyr, the Scandinavian god of fertility. Thanks to the internet.

The scope is extensive, it all depends on your needs, therefore, the reservation is a personal matter. The way to gain strength and activation is how you do it. For the initial concept of strength, drawing on the left hand with the words For the Good and without overflow. An hour is enough, if you do not feel a change in the emotional and physical terms, then this is not for you, the diagnostics will tell you why. With a positive approbation, you can make the amulet use as needed a surge of strength and determination, clarity of mind and achieving results in your favor. It can be the mover and nourisher of any ritual, with the right stipulation, it can nourish and strengthen the runic works of other authors. Try to use For the Good, otherwise I did not program. The screensaver on the phone will help remove the vanity of the character, give straightforwardness in communication and protection from someone else's magical connection. The description of the Thorn rune contains opportunities, use it when making a reservation, at least light a match.

[dowsingfordivinity]

Divination with runes

Divination. September Pagan Challenge # 10. The runes are my go-to for divination. Continue reading

[ceridwenofwales]

Summary: Blaeja witnesses a sacrifice as Ivar prepares to face an enemy away from home. They reflect on their marriage and inner desires.

It intrigued Blaeja the way Ivar walked past the crowd as if he was not seeing anyone but the man that offered his blood to ask for the Gods’ assistance. The few Northumbrians that were present did not hide their disgust as the crimson painted the man's tunic. Blaeja knew she should feel the same way and avert her eyes, but she felt different. Her heart was racing, and her mouth dried as her mouth was slightly open.

A priestess was holding a bow to gather the blood and plunged a bundle of fir branches in the precious substance. With sharp gestures, she moved the bundle over the people. It was when the few Christians left, walked away. Everyone but her. Blaeja was too transfixed to move and closed her eyes feeling the still warm blood drops splashing against her face.

===================

I would never mistake this touch. I doubt any man can run his fingers through my skin with the exact amount of strength and love as Ivar. I open my eyes slowly and I’m overwhelmed by the way the flickering, uneven light from the torches dance around us accentuating the sharp angle of his jaw and cheekbones and the bridge of his perfect nose. His height casts an even darker shadow over me and when I look up at him, it’s like he is made of gold.

My eyelids flutter as I don't know if I should focus either on his plump lips are slightly open and urging me to throw myself in the warmth of his strong arms or the eyes that are gleaming, like a wolf about to take its prey. Those lips carry sweetness, but also venom when he wants to hurt those around him.

I wonder what Ivar sees as his eyes roam over my face, softening and starting to glow. He finished tracing a pattern on my forehead with his bloodied digit, but his calloused hand is still holding my cheek.

His breaths are steaming as he stares at me, bringing his thumb to my lips. I feel my heart skipping a beat when I notice his finger is slick with the blood that was spilled a few moments ago. I hold his wrist and snap exasperated, “No.”

His expression darkens as Ivar narrows his eyes at me, ignoring my remark. He keeps slowly shaping the form of my lips that are now trembling. I shut my eyes trying in vain to stop the tears from falling. Ivar freezes when a whimper leaves my mouth and when my eyes land on his face I notice Ivar is focused on my lips as if they are some kind of rare and unique thing in the world. A teardrop reaches my mouth and I see Ivar pursing his lips and his jaw clenching.

“Why are you terrified, hmm? Don’t you kneel gladly to take the blood of Christ during the Mass?” His tongue is darting out to wet his lower one. Suddenly both his hands are holding my shoulders and the strength of his grip forces a groan out of me. I gulp in fear.

=====================

She is the only Northumbrian left after the ritual started and I can feel my chest swelling with pride. She is mine and every inch of a Queen. A Queen that doesn’t give away the fear she must be feeling. Blaeja is enduring and I feel a rush of blood going to my loins as I think about the things she might be willing to endure for me.

I see the way her breasts move with every intake of air as the Gyðja splashes blood over her mesmerizing face. I reach out for the bow containing the sacred substance to appease the Gods. I scoop the dense and crimson blood from the bottom of the basin with three fingers and walk to her.

Her skin is warm as I trace the Ehwaz rune on her forehead. Blaeja is my new beginning, and the sign that the Gods made what was fated to be mine reaches me in the most unexpected of ways. I thought about drawing Berkana to ask Frejya to bless her womb to provide life as I’m preparing to march against my enemies tomorrow, but I don’t think it would be the most appropriate moment to plant a child inside of her, although life and death are unavoidably linked. There is no birth without pain, no growth without change, no beauty without the darkness.

I look at the bloody mark and remember how I called her my mare on our wedding night. It was meant to torture and bring shame, but she had challenged me to mate with her. To be whole with her. I might be her stallion, a wild force that needs to be domesticated not to harm, but never losing its power by this. Masculine and feminine need bonding to bloom.

The dark and mysterious lakes look back at me and I almost forget we are not alone. If I succumb to my desire, I’ll hold her down and claim her right here. I can see she is affected by the energy around us too as Blaeja sucks in shallow breaths. Her alabaster skin is flushed with the heat radiating through us. Where her skin is almost untouched by the sun, mine is tanned from years of training under the sun and travels by foreigner seas. Iron might have never touched her, but my body is littered with so many scars that I doubt I can remember how I acquired each one of them.