Runes and the Ogham

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c76ba3.gif"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03d76bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>Wicca </B></FONT><B>   |   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wicca "><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FAQ and Information on Wicca"><U>FAQ and Information on Wicca</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Beginning Wicca The Basics"><U>Beginning Wicca - The Basics</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The God"><U>The God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Goddess"><U>The Goddess</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Samhain"><U>Samhain</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Yule"><U>Yule</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Imbolg"><U>Imbolg</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ostara"><U>Ostara</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Beltane"><U>Beltane</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Litha"><U>Litha</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lughnassadh"><U>Lughnassadh</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mabon"><U>Mabon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Esbats"><U>Esbats</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Beliefs, History and Types of Wicca"><U>Beliefs, History and Types of Wicca</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Glossary"><U>Glossary</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Moon Lore"><U>Moon Lore</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kitchen Witchery"><U>Kitchen Witchery</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes"><U>Recipes</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes for Imbolg"><U>Recipes for Imbolg</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes for Ostara"><U>Recipes for Ostara</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes for Beltane"><U>Recipes for Beltane</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes for Litha"><U>Recipes for Litha</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes for Lughnassadh"><U>Recipes for Lughnassadh</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes for Mabon"><U>Recipes for Mabon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes for Samhain"><U>Recipes for Samhain</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes for Yule"><U>Recipes for Yule</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recipes for Esbats"><U>Recipes for Esbats</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Deities"><U>Deities</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Craft Names"><U>Craft Names</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meditation, Visualisation, Grounding and"><U>Meditation, Visualisation, Grounding and Centering</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Casting and Banishing a Circle"><U>Casting and Banishing a Circle</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elements/Cardinal Directions"><U>Elements/Cardinal Directions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Invocations"><U>Invocations</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Altar and its Tools"><U>The Altar and its Tools</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Altar"><U>The Altar</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Altar Ideas for the Sabbats"><U>Altar Ideas for the Sabbats</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fae Lore"><U>Fae Lore</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fae Dictionary"><U>Fae Dictionary</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Angels"><U>The Angels</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angel Dicionary"><U>Angel Dicionary</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alphabet/Symbol Dictionary"><U>Alphabet/Symbol Dictionary</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Book of Shadows"><U>Book of Shadows</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rituals"><U>Rituals</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spells and Charms"><U>Spells and Charms</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Magick"><U>Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kabbalah"><U>Kabbalah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Seven Bodies"><U>Seven Bodies</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chakras"><U>Chakras</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id98.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Auras"><U>Auras</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Divination"><U>Divination</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tarot"><U>Tarot</U></A>   |   <B>Runes and the Ogham</B>   |   <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Numerology"><U>Numerology</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Palmistry"><U>Palmistry</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Animal Magick"><U>Animal Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Animals and Familiars"><U>Animals and Familiars</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Astral Projection"><U>Astral Projection</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spirit Guides"><U>Spirit Guides</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Astrology"><U>Astrology</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Celtic Tree and Animal Astrology"><U>Celtic Tree and Animal Astrology</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id90.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life and Wicca"><U>Life and Wicca</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wicca and Life"><U>Wicca and Life</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Covens"><U>Covens</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January"><U>January</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="February"><U>February</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March"><U>March</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="April"><U>April</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May"><U>May</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="June"><U>June</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July"><U>July</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="August"><U>August</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September"><U>September</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="October"><U>October</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November"><U>November</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="December"><U>December</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sun Gardening"><U>Sun Gardening</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Moon Gardening"><U>Moon Gardening</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Arts and Crafts"><U>Arts and Crafts</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Candle Magick"><U>Candle Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Metal Magick"><U>Metal Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feather and Shell Magick"><U>Feather and Shell Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aromatherapy Magick"><U>Aromatherapy Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeopathic Herbal Remedies"><U>Homeopathic Herbal Remedies</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Old Herb Names"><U>Old Herb Names</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Herbs By Use"><U>Herbs By Use</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Herbal Correspondances"><U>Herbal Correspondances</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Essential Oil Correspondences"><U>Essential Oil Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id86.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Herb, Oil and Crystal Correspondances"><U>Herb, Oil and Crystal Correspondances</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tree Correspondences"><U>Tree Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Correspondances"><U>Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Correspondances</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crystal Correspondences"><U>Crystal Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id91.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Colour Correspondences"><U>Colour Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daily Correspondences"><U>Daily Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id93.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Timing Correspondences"><U>Timing Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id94.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Planetary Correspondences"><U>Planetary Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id95.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Zodiac Correspondences"><U>Zodiac Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id96.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sabbat Correspondences"><U>Sabbat Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SpellCasting Correspondences"><U>Spell-Casting Correspondences</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id111.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous Crafts"><U>Miscellaneous Crafts</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Incense Magick"><U>Incense Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id101.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Essential Oil Magick"><U>Essential Oil Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id102.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brew Magick"><U>Brew Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id103.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ointment Magick"><U>Ointment Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Salve/Cream Magick"><U>Salve/Cream Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Powder Magick"><U>Powder Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sachet Magick"><U>Sachet Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bath Magick"><U>Bath Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tincture Magick"><U>Tincture Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Infusion Magick"><U>Infusion Magick</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Substitutions"><U>Substitutions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Magickal Formulary"><U>Magickal Formulary</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03d76ba3.gif"> <div> Runes and the Ogham</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.thehungersite.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thehungersite.com"><U><IMG SRC="1035f1c0.gif" border=0 width="95" height="28" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> Get a good dose of good karma. Save a life. Click a button.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22ad4e50.gif" border=0 width="212" height="229" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="11b5cd80.jpg" border=0 width="348" height="216" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Thanks to <A HREF="mailto:CBSunny@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:CBSunny@aol.com"><U>CBSunny@aol.com</U></A> who owns <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/cbsunny/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.aol.com/cbsunny/"><U>Runes, Alphabet of Mystery</U></A> for her insight into this page. Please visit her site also. By the way, the graphic above is hes also.</div> <bR> <div> Also, Thorsson, Edred: <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877286787/sunny0b" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0"><U><U>At the Well of Wyrd: </U></U></A><A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877286787/sunny0b" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0"><U>A Handbook of Runic Divination</U></A>, Samuel Weiser, 1988, ISBN=0877286787. Also available from <A HREF="http://203.15.68.48/Pagan/Rraven.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://203.15.68.48/Pagan/Rraven.html"><U><U>Rûna-Raven Press</U></U></A>, PO Box 557, Smithville, TX 78957.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The runes are an ancient Germanic alphabet used for many purposes including writing, divination and magick. Mainly used throughout northern Europe at about 100 BCE to 1600CE. </div> <div> Tacitus, in Chapter X of his Germania, describes a form of divination used by Germanic tribes: </div> <div> "To divination and casting of lots, they pay attention beyond any other people. Their method of casting lots is a simple one: they cut a branch from a fruit-bearing tree and divide it into small pieces which they mark with certain distinctive signs and scatter at random onto a white cloth. Then, the priest of the community if the lots are consulted publicly, or the father of the family if it is done privately, after invoking the gods and with eyes raised to heaven, picks up three pieces, one at a time, and interprets them according to the signs previously marked upon them." </div> <div> Runes are an oracle from which you seek advice. It is best if your describe your current situation and ask detailed questions. The reading can be somewhat obscure, they cant imply certain answers, but this is where your intuition kicks in. </div> <div> Runes are a system of divination which helps you analyse your path which you will take if you continue doing what you would, that is the most probable outcome. The future is not fixed in concrete. It changes all the time, if you don't like the outcome, then take action to change it.</div> <div> In ancient times, runes were used for divination and magick, in addition to writing. The word "rune" means mystery, secret or whisper. Each rune has esoteric meaning and properties beyond its mundane meaning and phonetic value. Each rune translates into a word or a phrase signifying concepts important to the people of old who used them, representing the forces of nature and mind. Each rune has a story attached to it, a relationship to a deity.</div> <div> Odin, the Norse High God of the Aesir, hung from the world tree, Yggdrasil, impaled on his own spear, for nine days and nights in order to gain the knowledge of runes. When they appeared below him, he reached down and to pick them up. The runic knowledge gave him power . He later taught this knowledge to the Vanir goddess Freyja. She in return taught him the magic of seithr. Heimdall, the god who guarded the Rainbow Bridge, taught the runes to humans.</div> <div> Runic alphabets first appeared among German tribes in central and eastern Europe. Some runes symbols were taken from other alphabets such as that of the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Rearly Romans. They were designed to be suitable to carve into wood and stone. The most early runic inscriptions are dated to the late thired century CE, but it is most probable that they have been used long before that.</div> <div> The Elder Futhark, or the old Germanic alphabet, contains 24 letters divided into three aettrs. The first six runes spell out futhark. as the runes spread further north in Europe, some runes were removed from the alphabet, this reduced it to 16. In about 500CE, thee Germanic tribes invaded Britain. They brought the runes with them and some were changed. </div> <div> One who aspires to become adept with runes must have some knowledge of the mythology, history, and culture of ancient Europe and Scandinavia. Much of what you find here will merely point you in the right direction. The rest is up to you. Delve as lightly or as deeply as you wish.</div> <div> I work with the "Elder Futhark" the runic alphabet which is a composite of the symbols most commonly used in northern Europe. The names of the runes of the Elder Futhark are speculative recreations of what linguists call "proto-Germanic" or "Indo-European".</div> <div> There are many versions of the runic alphabets. Each has variations in names, shapes, esoteric meanings and magical uses. One should not mix futharks, or the intent or meaning becomes mixed. The Elder Futhark, the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, and the Younger (or Scandinavian) Futhark are most today.</div> <div> The runes are broken into three sections or groups of eight, called aett (aettir, plural). This helps to remember order, and has magickal uses also.</div> <div> First the rune name is given, then its phonetic value, its symbolic image, and finally the esoteric meaning used in divination. If a rune is reversed (upside down) in a rune reading, it has a different meaning than if upright. Some runes look the same upside down and right side up. These cannot be "reversed", but they may have a "merkstave" (which literally means "dark stick" and implies a dark meaning ), depending on how the runes are cast. Note that a "reversed" or "merkstave" meaning is not the opposite of its primary meaning, but usually has a more negative one.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Fehu (F: Domestic cattle, wealth.) Possessions won or earned, earned income, luck. Abundance, financial strength in the present or near future. Sign of hope and plenty, success and happiness. Social success. Energy, foresight, fertility, creation/destruction (becoming). Fehu Reversed: Loss of personal property, esteem, or something that you put in effort to keep. It indicates some sort of failure. Greed, burnout, atrophy, discord. Cowardice, stupidity, dullness, poverty, slavery, bondage.</div> <div> Uruz: (U: Auroch, a wild ox.) Physical strength and speed, untamed potential. A time of great energy and health. Freedom, energy, action, courage, strength, tenacity, understanding, wisdom. Sudden or unexpected changes (usually for the better). Sexual desire, masculine potency. The shaping of power and pattern, formulation of the self. Uruz Reversed: Weakness, obsession, misdirected force, domination by others. Sickness, inconsistency, ignorance. Lust, brutality, rashness, callousness, violence.</div> <div> Thurisaz: (TH: Thorn or a Giant.) Reactive force, directed force of destruction and defense, conflict. Instinctual will, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst. Atendency toward change. Catharsis, purging, cleansing fire. Male sexuality, fertilization. (Thorr, the Thunder god, was of Giant stock.) Thurisaz Reversed: Danger, defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal, dullness. Evil, malice, hatred, torment, spite, lies. A bad man or woman. Rape?</div> <div> Ansuz: (A: The As, ancestral god, i.e. Odhinn.) A revealing message or insight, communication. Signals, inspiration, enthusiasm, speech, true vision, power of words and naming. Blessings, the taking of advice. Good health, harmony, truth, wisdom. Ansuz Reversed: Misunderstanding, delusion, manipulationby others, boredom. Vanity and grandiloquence. (Odhinn is a mighty, but duplicious god. He always has his own agenda.)</div> <div> Raidho: (R: Wagon or chariot.) Travel, both in physical terms and those of life-style direction. A journey, vacation, relocation, evolution, change of place or setting. Seeing a larger perspective. Seeing the right move for you to make and deciding upon it. Personal rhythm, world rhythm, dance of life. Raidho Reversed: Crisis, rigidity, stasis, injustice, irrationality. Disruption, dislocation, demotion, delusion, possibly a death.</div> <div> Kenaz: (K: Beacon or torch.) Vision, revelation, knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability. Vital fire of life, harnessed power, fire of transformation and regeneration. Power to create your own reality, the power of light. Open to new strength, energy, and power now. Passion, sexual love. Kenaz Reversed: Disease, break-up, instability, lack of creativity. Nakedness, exposure, loss of illusion and false hope.</div> <div> Gebo: (G: Gift.) Gifts, both in the sense of sacrifice and of generosity, indicating balance. All matters in relation to exchanges, including contracts, personal relationships and partnerships. Gebo Merkstave (Gebo cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Greed, loneliness, dependence, over-sacrifice. Obligation, toll, privation, bribery.</div> <div> Wunjo: (W or V: Joy.) Joy, comfort, pleasure. Fellowship, harmony, prosperity. Ecstasy, glory, spiritual reward, but also the possibility of going "over the top". If restrained, the meaning is general success and recognition of worth. Wunjo Reversed: Stultification, sorrow, strife, alienation. Delirium, intoxication, possession by higher forces, impractical enthusiasm. Raging frenzy, berzerker.</div> <bR> <div> Hagalaz: (H: Hail.) Wrath of nature, destructive, uncontrolled forces, especially the weather, or within the unconscious. Tempering, testing, trial. Controlled crisis, leading to completion, inner harmony. Hagalaz Merkstave (Hagalaz cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Natural disaster, catastrophe. Stagnation, loss of power. Pain, loss, suffering, hardship, sickness, crisis.</div> <div> Nauthiz: (N: Need.) Delays, restriction. Resistance leading to strength, innovation, need-fire (self-reliance). Distress, confusion, conflict, and the power of will to overcome them. Endurance, survival, determination. A time to exercise patience. Recognition of one's fate. Major self-initiated change. Face your fears. Nauthiz Reversed: Constraint of freedom, distress, toil, drudgery, laxity. Necessity, extremity, want, deprivation, starvation, need, poverty, emotional hunger.</div> <div> Isa: (I: Ice.) A challenge or frustration. Psychological blocks to thought or activity, including grievances. Standstill, or a time to turn inwardand wait for what is to come, or to seek clarity. This rune reinforces runes around it. Isa Merkstave (Isa cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Ego-mania, dullness, blindness, dissipation. Treachery, illusion, deceit, betrayal, guile, stealth, ambush, plots.</div> <div> Jera: (J or Y: A year, a good harvest.) The results of earlier efforts are realized.A time of peace and happiness, fruitful season. It can break through stagnancy. Hopes andexpectations of peace and prosperity. The promise of success earned. Life cycle, cyclical pattern of the universe. Everything changes, in its own time. Jera Merkstave (Jera cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Sudden setback, reversals. A major change, repetition, bad timing, poverty, conflict.</div> <div> Eihwaz: (EI: Yew tree.) Strength, reliability, dependability, trustworthiness. Enlightenment, endurance. Defense, protection. The driving force to acquire, providing motivation and a sense of purpose. Indicates that you have set your sights on a reasonable target and can achieve your goals. An honest man who can be relied upon. Eihwaz Reversed: Confusion, destruction, dissatisfaction, weakness.</div> <div> Perthro: (P: Lot cup, vagina.) Uncertain meaning, a secret matter, a mystery, hidden things and occult abilities. Initiation, knowledge of one's destiny, knowledge of future matters, determining the future or your path. Pertaining to things feminine, feminine mysteries including female fertility, and vagina. Good lot, fellowship and joy. Evolutionary change. Perthro Reversed: Addiction, stagnation, loneliness, malaise.</div> <div> Algiz: (Z or -R: Elk, protection.) Protection, a shield. The protective urge to shelter oneself or others. Defense, warding off of evil, shield, guardian. Connection with the gods, awakening, higher life.It can be used to channel energiesappropriately. Follow your instincts. Keep hold of success or maintain a position won or earned. Algiz Reversed: Hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of divine link. Taboo, warning, turning away, that which repels.</div> <div> Sowilo: (S: The sun.) Success, goals achieved, honor. The life-force, health. A time when power will be available to you for positive changes in your life, victory, health, and success. Contact between the higher self and the unconscious. Wholeness, power, elemental force, sword of flame, cleansing fire. Sowilo Merkstave (Sowilo cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): False goals, bad counsel, false success, gullibility, loss of goals. Destruction, retribution, justice, casting down of vanity. Wrath of god.</div> <bR> <div> Tiwaz: (T: Tyr, the sky god.) Honor, justice, leadership and authority. Analysis, rationality. Knowing where one's true strengths lie. Willingness to self-sacrifice. Victory and success in any competition or in legal matters. Tiwaz Reversed: One's energy and creative flow are blocked. Mental paralysis, over-analysis, over-sacrifice, injustice, imbalance. Strife, war, conflict, failure in competition. Dwindling passion, difficulties in communication, and possibly separation.</div> <div> Berkano: (B: Berchta, the birch-goddess.) Birth, general fertility, both mental and physical and personal growth, liberation. Regenerative power and light of spring, renewal, promise of new beginnings, new growth. Arousal of desire. A love affair or new birth. The prospering of an enterprise or venture. Berkano Reversed: Family problems and or domestic troubles. Anxiety about someone close to you. Carelessness, abandon, loss of control. Blurring of consciousness, deceit, sterility, stagnation.</div> <div> Ehwaz: (E: Horse, two horses.) Transportation. May represent a horse, car, plane, boat or other vehicle. Movement and change for the better. Gradual development and steady progress are indicated. Harmony, teamwork, trust, loyalty. An ideal marriage or partnership. Confirmation beyond doubt the meanings of the runes around it. Ehwaz Reversed: This is not really a negative rune. A change is perhaps craved. Feeling restless or confined in a situation. Reckless haste, disharmony, mistrust, betrayal.</div> <div> Mannaz: (M: Man, mankind.) The Self; the individual or the human race. Your attitude toward others and their attitudes towards you. Friends and enemies, social order. Intelligence, forethought, create, skill, ability. Divine structure, intelligence, awareness. Expect to receive some sort of aid or cooperation now. Mannaz Reversed: Depression, mortality, blindness, self-delusion. Cunning, slyness, manipulation, craftiness, calculation. Expect no help now.</div> <div> Laguz: (L: Water, or a leek.) Flow, water, sea, a fertility source, the healing power of renewal. Life energy and organic growth. Imagination and psychic matters. Dreams, fantasies, mysteries, the unknown, the hidden, the deep, the underworld. Success in travel or acquisition, but with the possibility of loss. Laguz Reversed: An indication of a period of confusion in your life. You may be making wrong decisions and poor judgements. Lack of creativity and feelings of being in a rut. Fear, circular motion, avoidance, withering. Madness, obsession, despair, perversity, sickness, suicide.</div> <div> Ingwaz: (NG: Ing, the earth god.) Male fertility, gestation, internal growth. Common virtues, common sense, simple strengths, family love, caring, human warmth, the home. Rest stage, a time of relief, of no anxiety. A time when all loose strings are tied and you are free to move in a new direction. Listen to yourself. Ingwaz Merkstave (Ingwaz cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Impotence, movement without change. Production, toil, labor, work.</div> <div> Dagaz: (D: Day or dawn.) Breakthrough, awakening, awareness. Daylight clarity as opposed to night-time uncertainty. A time to plan or embark upon an enterprise. The power of change directed by your own will, transformation. Hope/happiness, the ideal. Security and certainty. Growth and release. Balance point, the place where opposites meet. Dagaz Merkstave (Dagaz cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): A completion, ending, limit, coming full circle. Blindness, hopelessness.</div> <div> Othala: (O: Ancestral property.) Inherited property or possessions, a house, a home. What is truly important to one. Group order, group prosperity. Land of birth, spiritual heritage, experience and fundamental values. Aid in spiritual and physical journeys. Source of safety, increase and abundance. Othala Reversed: Lack of customary order, totalitarianism, slavery, poverty, homelessness. Bad karma, prejudice, clannishness, provincialism. What a man is bound to.</div> <div> Blank Rune: There is no historical support for a "Blank Rune" in runic divination. It was invented in the 1980's. It should not be used in a rune casting. If you bought a rune set with a blank piece, save it in case you lose another rune piece, but don't use it in rune casting.</div> <bR> <div> Runic divination, "runecasting", is not "fortune telling". Runecasting works deeply with the subconscious. The rune pouch with its runic symbols represents the entire universe. As one poses a question, one's entire conscious and unconscious mind is focused toward that question, so that the runelots selected are not truly random selections, but rather choices made by the subconscious.</div> <div> Runecraft operates on an ancient form of psychology. Even back in Viking times, there was a remarkable understanding of the human psyche. They recognized cause and effect, and the interconnectedness of all things. The word to describe this interconnectedness was "wyrd", which was eventually perverted into the modern meaning of "weird". It did not originally mean something unusual or strange. Rather, it referred to the far-reaching effects of that which one does. The concept of "fate" was also not as we know it now. Instead of a helpless predestination, "fate" meant a destiny created by ones earlier actions. Wyrd was pictured as a web, like that of a spider. The symboloism was excellent. When the spider steps onto a thread (a path) the vibrations affect the entire web and that which was contained within the web, just as our actions affect our immediate world and those around us, and the actions of others affect our lives.</div> <div> When one does a runic reading, one usually addresses a particular issue, and examines the past, the present and the future, or rather what will be if one follows the path one appears to be on. The future is always perceived as mutable and changeable. The runic reading is done as an evaluation process, not as fortune telling. One has an opportunity to look at what has occurred in the past (regarding the issue being questioned), what is occurring right now, and what direction one is headed.</div> <div> A runecaster does not "see the future". S/he examines cause and effect and points out a likely outcome.</div> <div> Not exactly occult, is it? It's not supernatural and it's not very mysterious, although the uninitiated considered it a delving into mystery, much like a patient of a psychiatrist might. It's certainly not magical or demonic. Instead it is a methodology for examining the path one is on and what the effects might be, by making use of one's subconscious, unfettered by limiting conscious belief systems (i.e. an "intuitive perception").</div> <div> Dowsing, or "divination" by bent stick, or pendulum is similar. It is not supernatural. It is, again, a manifestation of one's subconscious. All "intuitive perception" is such. It's a way of awakening one's right brain.</div> <bR> <div> Find a suitable place to do the reading. You do not want to be disturbed. Try to sit facing North if possible, the direction of the Gods in Norse mythology. Place a small white cloth on the surface in front of you. You work with the runes on this cloth. This cloth protects them from getting dirty and also forms the boundry for the casting.</div> <div> Carefully form a question in your mind. Take your time doing this, as it is very important that you do not change the question midway through the reading. Once you have the question firmly fixed in your mind begin to gently mix the runes in their bag or holder. Continue to mix the runes until you feel compelled to take up certain rune lots. (This is why it is important that the rune lots be of the same shape and size: so that you can't identify each rune by shape.)</div> <div> Continue to stir and select lots until you have the correct number of runes in front of you for the layout you will be using. Keep track of the order in which the runes were pulled, laying them in their proper position in the layout as you pull them. You can use any Tarot layout, or one of the methods described below.</div> <div> Runes are oracles, and oracles are often obscure. Each rune can mean many different things. It is up to the runecaster to decide how these meanings apply to the question at hand. You may get even deeper interpretations through your own instinctual reactions to the rune's definition. However, don't delude yourself in thinking that you have a completely different understanding of the cast than indicated by the traditional interpretations. Stick to the recognized interpretations, but learn to expand on their meanings through insight and meditation.</div> <bR> <div> The Norns are the Norse goddesses of fate. Urdh was the goddess of the past, or what has been. Verdhandi is the goddess of the present, what is. Skuld is the goddess of the future, or what shall be. Fate or wyrd was a very important factor in the psychology of the ancients.</div> <div> A Norns cast is very simple, consisting of three runes, drawn one at a time from the rune pouch and laid in a row. If face down, flip them over as if turning the pages of a book. The first rune represents the past of the situation in question. The second indicates the present, the path that the querier is currently on. The third suggests the future, a likely outcome if one continues on the present path.</div> <bR> <div> This lovely representation of the Norns was created by Paul Dempsey. </div> <div> Used with permission of the artist.</div> <div> This method will give a detailed overview of a person's situation, providing insight into where they are in terms of their spiritual path, and clarifying the options and possible outcomes available to them. Nine is a magical number in Norse mythology. Pick nine runes at random from the pouch. Hold them between your hands for a moment, and focus on your question (if you have one). Then scatter the runes on the table, floor, or cloth if you have one. Read the runes which land face up first. These will relate to the current situation and the circumstances which led to it. How the runes are read is largely subjective, but in general, runes lying in the centre are the most immediately relevant, while those lying around the edges are less important, or represent more general influences.</div> <div> Runes that are close together or even touching often compliment each other, or may even represent a single thing, while runes which fall on opposite sides of the pattern frequently represent opposing influences. Occasionally, a rune will land completely off the cloth or fall off the table. Some people consider such runes to be particularly significant, while others ignore them completely.</div> <div> Once you have looked at the runes which landed face up (and remembered which ones they are), turn over the rest of the runes without moving them from their positions. These represent outside or future influences, and will point to possible outcomes. It is up to you to decide what the various positions and patterns in a reading mean, but once you have come up with a few general rules, try to stick with them. As I have said before, consistency is very important. However, rune readings by their nature are very fluid, subjective things. Try not to impose too much order on your readings by inventing set meanings for every triangle, square and tetrahedron. Runes are like people - you never know how they will get along together until you introduce them. Look at the patterns and relationships that appear in each reading and see what interpretations make sense to you.</div> <bR> <div> Rune-tines (such as twigs or popsicle sticks on which the rune symbols are inscribed) work best for casting on the ground. I use these simply by tossing all 24 onto the ground and read the runes which land upright, in the positions in which they land. Their relative positions give their relations. For example, if two upright runes are close or touching and lying nearly parallel, then the runes are related. If they cross, then they are in opposition. There are obviously many degrees of this, and you also have to consider groups of runes, and ones which are far away, and the general direction. This technique relies heavily on intuition, since it doesn't have a spread to lay the runes in, like tarot would use. Between 4 and 8 runes generally land upright, which is about right for most inquiries.</div> <div> Select five runes one at a time and lay them face down on the runecloth. [Three runes are placed side by side. One is placed above the center and the final one is placed below the center.]</div> <div> The three horizontal runes represent your past, present, and future. It is usually best to turn over the center rune first. This is the rune of the present and will show your problem as it is now. It can also show your state of mind. A negative rune in this position that does not seem to be in synch with the question can often show that you (or your querent) are of a very troubled and agitated state of mind.</div> <div> The rune in position to left of the center signifies the past and will tell you what was in the past that caused you to be in your current position.</div> <div> Next read the rune laying above the center. This indicates the help that you can expect to receive in the problem at hand. If there is a negative rune here, it can indicate an unwillingness to accept the advice given by the runes or another person, or it can indicate delays or slight problems that may impede the speedy resolution of the matter in question.</div> <div> The rune below center indicates what aspects of the problem must be accepted and cannot be changed. Positive runes here show a lack of troublesome influences and oppositions, while negative runes show the obstacles to your success.</div> <div> The rune to the right of center is the result rune. This rune indicates the final outcome, given the other factors in the runecast.</div> <div> This runecast indicates recent future happenings, usually within three months.</div> <div> This runecast gives a bit more detail with more information on how to deal with your problem and on what lead you to your present dilemma in the first place. It usually speaks of events three months into the future and into the past.</div> <div> If you wish to use this layout but want information on happenings more current than three months, be certain to concentrate on your time frame as well when you are concentrating on your question.</div> <div> The questions you can answer with this layout can be much broader in scope than with some other runecasts. Instead of asking "yes" or "no" or "what about my relationship?", you can ask questions like "How will my job progress if I take this new business course?" or "If I started seeing other people, how would my current lover accept it?" Through questions like these, you can certainly get enough information to solve all but the most complex problems.</div> <div> Select seven runes and lay them out in a row of 6 with the final one below the row and centered as shown.</div> <div> In this reading, you will have to be interpreting two runes at a time. The first two runes are the problem.</div> <div> Runes 3 and 4 are read next. These show the factors in the past which have led up to the situations at present.</div> <div> Runes 5 and 6 are the two most important runes in this runecast. They represent the advise the runes are giving you, and extra special care must be taken to interpret their meanings as they relate to one another. They can indicate a need to wait and not act or a need to act immediately. They also may indicate a total shift of emphasis to new realms totally unrelated to the problem in question.</div> <div> The final position, rune 7, is the result position. Keep in mind that a positive rune in this place (or a negative one, for that matter) will only be truly positive (or negative) if the preceding runes indicate such an outcome.</div> <div> This is a challenging runecast and certainly worth the time it takes to master it.</div> <bR> <div> Fehu: Money matters. Psychic energies.</div> <div> Uruz: Physical health. Vital energies.</div> <div> Thurisaz: What opposed you (perhaps physical).</div> <div> Ansuz: Sources of inspiration and intellectual expression.</div> <div> Raidho: Travels&emdash;inner or outer.</div> <div> Kenaz: Creativity. Erotic relationships.</div> <div> Gebo: What will be given to you.</div> <div> Wunjo: Relationships, friends. What will give you happiness.</div> <div> Hagalaz: Area of possible crisis leading to transformation.</div> <div> Nauthiz: What resists you (psychically). Source of discontent.</div> <div> Isa: What is constraining you.</div> <div> Jera: Where rewards can be expected. Relationship with the natural environment.</div> <div> Eihwaz: Hidden influences, state of whole being. Relationship with the numinous environment.</div> <div> Perthro: How you will find joy.</div> <div> Algiz: Thing that needs attention. Way to the gods.</div> <div> Sowilo: What will guide you.</div> <div> Tiwaz: Cognitive state. Legal matters. Ideals.</div> <div> Berkano: What provides growth and beauty.</div> <div> Ehwaz: With what or whom you should work. Erotic relations.</div> <div> Mannaz: Overall psychic state. Attitude toward death.</div> <div> Laguz: State of emotional Balance. What will test you.</div> <div> Ingwaz: What you should contemplate.</div> <div> Dagaz: Area of unexpected synchronicity.</div> <div> Othala: Greater family matters. National or community issues.</div> <bR> <div> The Airt (Ætt) of Freyja is primarily related to practical and mundane matters. One selects the runes unseen and places them in the area next to the runes already there. These meanings are very simple and on the most basic level serve as the background for a strait forward reading, in which questions of a practical nature can be answered.</div> <div> Fehu - Financial strength and prosperity of the present and near future.</div> <div> Uruz - Health matters.</div> <div> Thurisaz - Conflicts and complexities of an aggressive nature; psychological problems.</div> <div> Ansuz - Communications and transmissions; points things back to sources in the past.</div> <div> Raidho - What is right or not right; what move to make; decisions; returns.</div> <div> Kenaz - Opening up of new ways; opportunities; information.</div> <div> Gebo - All matters of an exchanging nature; contracts; personal relationships.</div> <div> Wunjo - Gain; accomplishments; that which is wished for.</div> <bR> <div> The second airt, of Hagalaz, principally corresponds to emotional matters and the psychological conditions present within the individual.</div> <div> Hagalaz - The uncontrolled forces in the unconscious, which are usually of a disruptive nature and which usually originate in the past.</div> <div> Nauthiz - Restrictive forces in the unconscious; fears, anxieties; feelings of guilt.</div> <div> Isa - Blocks; stultified conditions; grievances; anything that the individual is not prepared to let go of; the formation of the personality; conditioning.</div> <div> Jera - Hopes and expectations; turning points; gradual changes; results of earlier actions.</div> <div> Eihwaz - The driving forces in the unconscious; motivation; sense of purpose.</div> <div> Perthro - The deepest creative part of the unconscious; the hidden realm of higher material that is waiting to come to fruition and birth; hidden talents; occult or psychic abilities.</div> <div> Algiz - The strong protective side in the unconscious; the influence which will protect you; religious aspirations.</div> <div> Sowilo - Position of the higher self in relations to the unconscious; the direction in which you will be guided by the higher self; the ability to establish contact between the higher self and the unconscious.</div> <bR> <div> The third airt transcends the two others, in that it largely relates to relationships with other people, and also to the sexual side of life. Whereas the first ætt is largely concerned with the outer world, and the second mainly deals with the inner world, the third ætt synthesized both the inner and outer world, and most of the runes in this ætt contain a dual meaning involving both aspects.</div> <div> Tiwaz - Creative energies in the martial sense; where your strengths lie; where to direct your energies in taking initiatives; honor and justice, leadership and authority.</div> <div> Berkano - Fertility; birth' rebirth; growth; maternity; family life; feminine mysteries.</div> <div> Ehwaz - Adaptability; relationships with others; joint efforts; cooperation; sexuality.</div> <div> Mannaz - People at large; attitude toward others; other people's attitudes towards you; legal matters, friends and enemies; intellect.</div> <div> Laguz - Emotions; stability; imagination; psychic matters; affections.</div> <div> Ingwaz - Integration; gestation; expectations; progeny.</div> <div> Dagaz - Transmission; opposites; position between light and darkness; initiation; balance between the worlds outside time and space; cosmic consciousness; change from one thing into its opposite; new beginnings.</div> <div> Othala - Home life; country; spiritual heritage; experience; foundation; fundamental values; establishing.</div> <bR> <div> The pattern of the Norse Aettir of the Heavens (which points out North, South, East and West, and the sections between) is combined with the other most obvious division of space, that of the 9 worlds of Yggdrasil, to form the Worldstead design used to divide the casting cloth into areas of meaning. In reality, this figure represents the 'breaking' or rather 'collapsing' of multidimensional space into a two-dimensional model as do many sacred symbols of all types. The fields are names for the nine worlds of Yggdrasil and get their meanings from these theories. (The actual cloth should not have the names of the worlds on it.)</div> <div> The lots falling within the inner circles made up of Midhgardr-Àsgardhr-Hel-Ljóssálfheimr-Svartálfheimr (which in the three-dimensional model make up the vertical column) give a reading of the subjective or psychological state of, or influences on, the person. Those of Ljóssálfheimr and Svartálfheimr are more "personal". while those of Àsgardhr and Hel are more "transpersonal". The lots coming down in the outer fields of Niflheimr-Muspellsheimr-Vanaheimr-Jötunheimr (which together with Midhgardhr form the horizontal plane in the Yggdrasil model) make the state clear of the objective universe and how it affects the person in question. Note carefully the special synthesizing function of Midhgardhr and emdash;the center  and emdash;where all potentialities are (or rather, can be) manifested.</div> <div> The runes are cast blindly, that is without looking, upon the cloth and are read as they lie on the cloth in their steads of meaning. According to personal custom, lots which land face down may be read as murk-staves or they may be removed from the cloth and set aside. "Inverted" runes cannot be read as such operations of this kind. Those that fall off the cloth altogether should be disregarded. (Note that these lots may be significant by their absence!)</div> <div> Once a final configuration has been established, a complex picture may appear. This kind of casting is sometimes so complex that it cannot be fully interpreted in one sitting (especially by beginning runecasters). Therefore, be sure and draw out a record of the casting. Often the direction a lot is facing and emdash, it may seem to be "pointing to" another lot and gives subtle clues which reveal nuances in the lot's interpretation. For this reason a drawed record is preferred. The true meaning of the casting may not be realized until sometime later when your are contemplating the working record. The pattern resulting from a casting upon the airts can be read in different ways. You may start from what is now manifesting itself in Midhgardhr and work out to the more remotely influential realms, e.g., from Midhgardhr to Ljóssálfheimr and Svartálfheimr, and from this pairing to Àsgardhr and Hel, and from there to the outermost realms of Vanaheimr. Or, you might reverse this process working from Niflheimr and Muspellsheimr back to Midhgardhr. Ultimately, no linear progression is really inherent in this pattern, it is rather an ultradimensional model. Therefore, intuition may be each runester's best guide.</div> <bR> <div> Niflheim: Nordhr (North). That which resists you. Passive or restrictive influences from the outside. Things tending toward dormancy1. The deepest part of the shadow in the unconscious. Nifelhel of Nifelheim means literally "fog world". Fog is an intangeable, insidious state betwee water and air. All the rejects of the conscious get deposited here. It is the place from which conflicts originate. 2</div> <div> Jotunheim: Austr (East). That which confuses you. That which may be left to chance. Forces pressing for change. Realm of crisis.1 Disruptive, raw masculine forces of the unconscious; the destructive male urge; the chaotic part of the self.2</div> <div> Asgard: Landnordhr (Northeast). Higher influences. Nature of relationships with the divinities. The veiled branches of the question. Matters of honor, positive (active) influence from past states of existence ("incarnations:)--ørlög.1 Individuality. Highest plane. Higher self. Spirituality. 2</div> <div> Vanaheim: Vestr (West). Promotes growth. Erotic relationships. Persons of the opposite sex. Balancing influences. Forces of continuity, structure, and well being.1 Feeling (Water).2</div> <div> Ljóssálfheim: Utnordhr (Northwest). Mental influences. Family matters. Messages of Huginn&emdash;directions in which you should plan. What will help you. Paths to help you realize influences from Àsgardhr. 1 (Air). Plants, elves, tree spirits and birds are ruled over by Frey, Lord of the Vanir.2 </div> <div> Midgard: Center. The way people come together to manifest themselves in life. The outcome in life. Ego consciousness.1 The Personality, Ego Consciousness or Lower self. 2</div> <div> Hel: Utsudhr (Southwest). Hidden or suppressed instinctual desires. Nature of automatic functions or behaviors. The hidden route of the question. Negative (passive, restrictive) influence from pasts states of existence&emdash;ørlög. 1 Destructive part of the Feminine, hidden fourth aspect of the moon; the devouring part of the mother; the half-alive half-dead daughter of Loki, half black, half white. 2</div> <div> Svartálfheim: Landsudhr (Southeast). Creative emotional influences. Money matters. Messages from Muninn&emdash;things you should reflect on. Paths to realize influence from Hel.1 Sensation (Earth). The Dark Elves are smiths, like Volund, working with minerals, taking base materials from the earth and transmuting them into higher materials.2</div> <div> Muspellsheim: Sudhr (South). State of vial energies, that which vitalizes you. Active influences from outside. Things tending toward activity. 1 Intuition (Fire, Creative).2</div> <bR> <div> One of the most well-established arrangements of space into meaningful fields known in the Germanic world is the division of the sky and the plane of the earth into "eighths", in Old Norse Ættir (which also means generations or families), or in Scots dialect English "airts". The names indicate that things to the east were more "close in", or earthly, and that things to the west were more "outer", or "far out", and that the main polarity is between north and south. It is no coincidence that the runes also are divided into "eighths".</div> <div> In runecasting this pattern is combined with the other more obvious division of "space", that of the nine worlds of Yggdrasil, to form the design used to divide the casting cloth into fields of meaning in the Worldstead Layout.</div> <bR> <div> Nordhr = North </div> <div> Landnordhr = Northeast </div> <div> Austr = East </div> <div> Landsudhr = Southeast </div> <div> Sudhr = South </div> <div> Utsudhr = Southwest </div> <div> Vestr = West </div> <div> Utnordhr = Northwest</div> <bR> <div> When should one give a 'reversed' meaning to a rune during a divination? If drawing runes one by one from the runebag, those that upside down are typically given a 'reversed' meaning. Some feel that the position of the rune is not relevant and makes no difference in a reading. But, if one is literally casting the rune lots onto the ground or onto a layout cloth/board, the lay of the rune becomes much more significant. </div> <bR> <div> Edred Thorsson discusses runecasting aspects in At the Well of Wyrd.</div> <bR> <div> "One matter crucial to rune reading is determining what aspect of a rune is to be interpreted. Should a lot be read as a bright-stave or as a murk-stave? That the negative aspects of the runes were used in magic is beyond question. Some of the "positive" manifestations of the runes can be said to often have detrimental or dangerous consequences, especially . There is no shortage of dark aspects in the rune row. Remember, the runes are your inner advisors, and they must be able to warn you&emdash;before it becomes too late to overcome the force of Wyrd.</div> <div> "Aspects are determined in essentially [three] ways: (1) by the position a runelot falls in a casting (e.g., face up or face down; (2) inside or outside a certain field), and (3) by the angle at which one runelot is juxtaposed to another.</div> <div> "It should also be noted that there is a certain question of "aspect" with regard to the relationship of a given stave to the stead in which it falls or is laid. To a great extent intuition must guide the runester in these matters.</div> <div> "The determination of aspect is one of the finer points of the runecaster's skill and craft, and it is one that must be learned through personal experience because the runes will interact differently with different people. Fortunately or unfortunately, it is not a simple matter of reading reversed staves as "bad".</div> <div> "(1) In casting, if a rune lands face up it is to be read as a bright-stave; if it lands face down it may either be disregarded in the reading or read as a murk-stave. The decision on how these lots are to be interpreted must be made before every casting. Also, each runester is encouraged to be consistent in this regard. The usual practice is to disregard them, however. (2) In some casting, runes that fall outside the fields of meaning or off the white cloth also may be read as murk-staves. Again, you must determine how these are to be read beforehand."</div> <div> "Most of the runestaves are constructed with acute or obtuse angle combinations, and there are very few right angles in the shapes. Obtuse angles are known to have a dynamizing effect on the mind, while right angles generally have the opposite effect. In the runic tradition obtuse or acute angles promote active, positive interaction between and among runes. Right angles create static, negative interaction or they can block the flow of runic force altogether. They actually cross it.</div> <div> "When using angular aspects in castings, the runester must measure (at least approximately) the angle at which any two lots in question are juxtaposed. This is done by mentally drawing lines from the two lots through the center point of the cloth, then determining the angle at which they are juxtaposed. See example diagram. If the result is between 5° and 45°(clearly acute), or between 135° and 360° (clearly obtuse) they are read as bright staves. If they fall between 45° and 135° (an approximation of a 90° right angle) they are read as murk-staves. Exact measurements are unnecessary."</div> <div> Probably the easiest way to see the angle aspects is by imagining a circle over the cloth that is divided into quarters and bisected by a third line that you will use to orient the rune in question to the others. Runes falling the same quarter or in the quarter directly opposite are brightly aspected, while those in the quadrants on either side tend to be murky.</div> <div> "The closer a lot is to the bright angle, the more positively it is to be read. Only those close to a 90° relationship should be read as "blockages". Juxtapositions approaching 180° also have a dark aspect, but one which will lead eventually to a positive outcome. In castings these aspects only refine what is already apparent in the reading of the rune and its field.</div> <div> "Aspects of this kind are much more useful and easier to determine when using a rune layout method. To determine the relationship among runes in a layout, the runester can refer to this diagram which works on the same principals as the Aspect Angles diagram.</div> <div> "Example using Fehu: Runes belonging to the same triad (e.g., Fehu, Hagalaz, Tiwaz ), or to triads on either side, or to the triads on the same axes as those adjacent to the "home triad" of Fehu are to be read as bright-staves. Those in the opposite triad are read as murk-staves, but with a positive ultimate outcome. Those runes in triads at a 90° angle, those that cross the axis of the triad in question, are read as murk-staves, usually of a blocking variety."</div> <div> One of the controversies over Edred Thorsson's book, Futhark, a Handbook of Rune Magic centers on these correspondences between Runes , Tarot and Astrology. The detractors argue that this is "new age pandering" and that there is no historical support for such correspondences. Nevertheless, this book is highly regarded in most other aspects.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Runes usually give a compatible reading when done concurrently with a Tarot reading. There is a theory, among certain circles, that the runes were the inspiration for Tarot. There are correlations between Tarot and Runes, but they are far from identical. For example, the Hanged Man, he hangs upside down, just as Odin hung from Yggdrasil.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Rune </div> <div> Tarot </div> <div> Astrology </div> <div> God-dess/Wight </div> <div> Color </div> <div> Tree </div> <div> Herb</div> <bR> <div> Fehu</div> <div> Tower</div> <div> Aries </div> <div> Aesir</div> <div> Light Red </div> <div> Elder </div> <div> Nettle</div> <bR> <div> Uruz</div> <div> High Priestess</div> <div> Taurus </div> <div> Vanir</div> <div> Dark Green </div> <div> Birch </div> <div> Sphagnum Moss</div> <bR> <div> Thurisaz</div> <div> Emperor</div> <div> Mars </div> <div> Thorr</div> <div> Bright Red </div> <div> Oak </div> <div> Houseleek</div> <bR> <div> Ansuz</div> <div> Death</div> <div> Venus </div> <div> Odhinn</div> <div> Dark Blue </div> <div> Ash </div> <div> Fly Agoric</div> <bR> <div> Raidho</div> <div> Hierophant</div> <div> Sagitarius </div> <div> Forseti</div> <div> Bright Red </div> <div> Oak </div> <div> Mugwort</div> <bR> <div> Kenaz</div> <div> Chariot</div> <div> Venus </div> <div> Freyja/Dwarves</div> <div> Light Red </div> <div> Pine </div> <div> Cowslip</div> <bR> <div> Gebo</div> <div> Lovers</div> <div> Pisces </div> <div> Odhinn/Freyja</div> <div> Deep Blue </div> <div> Ash/Elm </div> <div> Heartsease</div> <bR> <div> Wunjo</div> <div> Strength</div> <div> Leo </div> <div> Freyr/Elves</div> <div> Yellow </div> <div> Ash </div> <div> Flax</div> <bR> <div> Hagalaz</div> <div> World</div> <div> Aquarius </div> <div> Ymir</div> <div> Light Blue </div> <div> Yew/Ash </div> <div> Lily of </div> <div> the Valley</div> <bR> <div> Nauthiz</div> <div> Devil</div> <div> Capricorn </div> <div> Nornir/Etins</div> <div> Black </div> <div> Beech </div> <div> Bistort</div> <bR> <div> Isa</div> <div> Hermit</div> <div> Moon </div> <div> Rime Thurses</div> <div> Black </div> <div> Alder </div> <div> Henbane</div> <bR> <div> Jera</div> <div> Fool</div> <div> Sun </div> <div> Freyr</div> <div> Light Blue </div> <div> Oak </div> <div> Rosemary</div> <bR> <div> Eihwaz</div> <div> Hanged Man</div> <div> Scorpio </div> <div> Idhunna/Ullr</div> <div> Dark Blue </div> <div> Yew </div> <div> Mandrake</div> <bR> <div> Perthro</div> <div> Wheel Of Fortune</div> <div> Saturn </div> <div> Nornir</div> <div> Black </div> <div> Beech </div> <div> Aconite</div> <bR> <div> Algiz</div> <div> Moon</div> <div> Cancer </div> <div> Valkyrjur</div> <div> Gold </div> <div> Yew </div> <div> Angelica</div> <bR> <div> Sowilo</div> <div> Sun</div> <div> Sun </div> <div> Sol</div> <div> White/Silver </div> <div> Juniper </div> <div> Mistletoe</div> <bR> <div> Tiwaz</div> <div> Justice</div> <div> Libra </div> <div> Tyr/Mani</div> <div> Bright Red </div> <div> Oak </div> <div> Sage</div> <bR> <div> Berkano</div> <div> Empress</div> <div> Virgo </div> <div> Frigg/Nerthus/Hel</div> <div> Dark Green </div> <div> Birch </div> <div> Lady's Mantle</div> <bR> <div> Ehwaz</div> <div> Lovers</div> <div> Gemini </div> <div> Freyja/Freyr/Aclis</div> <div> White </div> <div> Oak/Ash </div> <div> Ragwort</div> <bR> <div> Mannaz</div> <div> Magician</div> <div> Jupiter </div> <div> Heimdal/Odhin</div> <div> Deep Red </div> <div> Holly </div> <div> Madder</div> <bR> <div> Laguz</div> <div> Star</div> <div> Moon </div> <div> Njord/Baldr</div> <div> Deep Green </div> <div> Willow </div> <div> Leek</div> <bR> <div> Ingwaz</div> <div> Judgment</div> <div> New Moon </div> <div> Ing/Freyr</div> <div> Yellow </div> <div> Apple </div> <div> Selfheal</div> <bR> <div> Dagaz</div> <div> Temperance</div> <div> Half Moon </div> <div> Odhin/Ostara</div> <div> Light Blue </div> <div> Spruce </div> <div> Clary</div> <bR> <div> Othala</div> <div> Moon</div> <div> Full Moon </div> <div> Odhin/Thorr</div> <div> Deep Yellow </div> <div> Hawthorn </div> <div> Goldthread</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="315" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 59 WIDTH="38"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="59" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="38" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="59" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="58" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="59" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="48" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <B>Rune pronounciation</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="fehup"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="fehup_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Fehu </FONT></div> <div> "fay-who"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> F</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>f</B> as in "fire"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="uruzp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="uruzp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Uruz</FONT></div> <div> "ooo-rooze"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> U</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>oo</B> as in "booze" (might be pronounced: <B>oo</B> as in "book")</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="thurisazp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="thurisazp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Thurisaz </FONT></div> <div> "thoor-ee-saws"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> TH</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> unvoiced <B>th</B> as in "thorn" (never <B>th</B> as in "the")</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="ansuzp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="ansuzp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Ansuz</FONT></div> <div> "awn-sooze"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> A</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>a</B> as in "awning", "call" or "law"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="raidhop"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="raidhop_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Raidho</FONT></div> <div> "rye-though"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> R</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>r</B> as in "ride"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="kenazp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="kenazp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Kenaz</FONT></div> <div> "kane-awze"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> K</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>k</B> as in "kick", or hard <B>c</B> as in "cane".</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="gebop"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="gebop_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Gebo</FONT></div> <div> "gay-boe"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> G</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> hard <B>g</B> as in "gift"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="wunjop"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="wunjop_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Wunjo</FONT></div> <div> "woon-yo"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> Wor V </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>w</B> as in "warm", with lips close together, almost like a "v"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 79 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="hagalazp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="hagalazp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Hagalaz</FONT></div> <div> "haw-gaw-laws"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> H</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B>h</B> as in "hail", aspirate "h"</div> <div> as in modern English</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="nauthizp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="nauthizp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Nauthiz</FONT></div> <div> "now-these"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> N</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>n</B> as in "need"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 41 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="isap"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div>  <A NAME="isap_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Isa</FONT></div> <div> "ee-saw"</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> I</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>ee</B> as in "sleep"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="jerap"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="jerap_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Jera</FONT></div> <div> "yare-awe"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> J or Y</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>y</B> as in "year"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="eihwazp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" > <A NAME="eihwazp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></FONT>Eihwaz "eye-wawz"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> EI</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>i</B> as in "pride", possibly short <B>i</B> as in "pick"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="perthrop"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="perthrop_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Perthro</FONT></div> <div> "perth-row"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> P</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>p</B> as in "poem"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 117 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="algizp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="algizp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Algiz</FONT></div> <div> "all-geese"</div> <div> or Elhaz "ale-hawz"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> Z or -R</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>z </B>or final <B>R</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 79 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="sowilop"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="sowilop_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Sowilo</FONT></div> <div> "soe-wee-low"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> S</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>s</B> as in "sun"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="tiwazp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="tiwazp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Tiwaz</FONT></div> <div> "tea-wawz"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> T</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>t</B> as in "Tuesday"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 79 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="berkanop"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="berkanop_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Berkano</FONT></div> <div> "bear-kawn-oh"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> B</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>b</B> as in "birch"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 116 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="ehwazp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="ehwazp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Ehwaz</FONT></div> <div> "ay-wawz"</div> <div> or Ehwo</div> <div> "ay-woh"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> E</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>a</B> as in "day"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="mannazp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div> Mannaz</div> <div> "mawn-nawz"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> M</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> <B>m</B> as in "mankind"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="laguzp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="laguzp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Laguz</FONT></div> <div> "law-gooze"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> L</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B>l</B> as in "liquid" or "life"</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="ingwazp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="ingwazp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Ingwaz</FONT></div> <div> "eeeng-wawz"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> NG</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="158"><div> nasal sound as <B>ng</B> in "singer"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="dagazp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="dagazp_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Dagaz</FONT></div> <div> "thaw-gauze"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="48"><div> D</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="158"><div> voiced <B>th</B> as in "the" (never unvoiced th as in "thick")</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 79 WIDTH="38"><div>  <A NAME="othalap"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="58"><div>  <A NAME="othalap_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >Othala</FONT></div> <div> "oath-awe-law"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="48"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="79" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="48" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="158"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="79" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="158" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> A great page on how to wrist the runes: <A HREF="http://mypage.direct.ca/d/darkrage/runes.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://mypage.direct.ca/d/darkrage/runes"><U><I><B><U>Wristing the Runes</U></B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Rune Spells</div> <div> Types of Rune Spells</div> <bR> <div> Inscriptions:</div> <div> Today, many people take written language for granted and use runes as an alphabet without really understanding the magical importance of doing so. When you write a word in runes, it empowers that word. The Norse would often finish inscriptions with the statement, "So-and-so wrote this", or "So-and-so made me". This was a way of magically connecting the writer or carver of the runes with what they had just written. For example, there was a bone plate found in Derbyshire which bears an inscription that reads, "God will preserve the honour of Hadda becuase he wrote this." Thus, the very act of writing something in runes is a spell in itself, bringing the statement into concrete reality.</div> <bR> <div> Rune Scripts:</div> <div> Another way of using the runes for magick is to write out rune rows, or rune scripts. These are a type of shorthand spell, made up of a sequence of two or more runes. For example, if you might incorporate laguz/water (relating to the subconsious and mysteries), perth/dice-cup (for divination and magick), ansuz/Odin (the God of the runes), and kenaz/torch (for inspiration).</div> <bR> <div> Bindrunes:</div> <div> A bidrune consists of two or more runes that have been superimposed or joined together someway. Occasionally runes like Fehu, or wunjo would be joined at the base of their "steams", forming a wheel. Otehr times, runes would be joined side by side or combined into a single rune. This latter method is the most popular today. Historically, bidrunes were used as "contractions" in an inscription, either to save space of to reduce the number of runes in the inscription to a more magickally auspicious total. Today they are commonly used in rune magick by themselves to create a magickal sigel that will encompass several runes at once. Additional runes often appear when creating a bidrune, and these can contribute to or detract from the purpose. However a rune is only truly present if you consciously include it by tracing its shape. If you can avoid including a conflicting rune by changing the configuration, then by all means do so, but you shouldn't worry about it too much.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The correspondence between runes and the tarot</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877285489/sunny0bA/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0"><U><U>Futhark, a Handbook of Rune Magic</U></U></A><U>,</U> centres on the correspondences between tarot, runes and astrology. </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="523" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 22 WIDTH="68"><div> <B>Rune</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="64"><div> <B>Tarot</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B>Astrology</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B>God/Wight</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="65"><div> <B>Color</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="54"><div> <B>Tree</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="81"><div> <B>Herb</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 41 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Fehu</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Tower</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Aries</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Aesir</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#FF00FF><NOBR><bR> <div> Light Red</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Elder</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Nettle</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Uruz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> High Priestess</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Taurus</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Vanir</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#008000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Dark Green</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Birch</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Sphagnum Moss</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 ><NOBR><bR> <div> <U>Thurisaz</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Emperor</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Mars</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Thorr</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#FF0000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Bright Red</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Oak</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Houseleek</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Ansuz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Death</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Venus</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Odin</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#000080 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Dark Blue</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Ash</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Fly Agoric</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Raidho</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Hierophant</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Sagittarius</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Forseti</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#FF0000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Bright Red</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Oak</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Mugwort</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 41 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Kenaz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Chariot</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Venus</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Freyja</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Dwarves</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#FF00FF><NOBR><bR> <div> Light Red</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Pine</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Cowslip</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Gebo</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Lovers</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Pisces</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Odin</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Freyja</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#000080 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Deep Blue</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Ash/Elm</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Heartsease</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 41 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Wunjo</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Strength</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Leo</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Freyr</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Elves</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#FFFF00 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Yellow</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Ash</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Flax</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 ><NOBR><bR> <div> <U>Hagalaz</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> World</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Aquarius</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Ymir</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#00FFFF WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Light Blue</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Yew/Ash</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Lily of</div> <div> the Valley</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 41 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Nauthiz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Devil</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Capricorn</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Nornir</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Etins</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#000000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Black</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Beech</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Bistort</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 41 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Isa</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Hermit</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Moon</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Rime Thurses</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#000000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Black</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Alder</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Henbane</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Jera</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Fool</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Sun</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Freyr</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#00FFFF WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Light Blue</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Oak</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Rosemary</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Eihwaz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Hanged Man</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Scorpio</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Idhunna</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Ullr</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#000080 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Dark Blue</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Yew</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Mandrake</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 79 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Perthro</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Wheel Of Fortune</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Saturn</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Nornir</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#000000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Black</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Beech</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Aconite</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 41 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Algiz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Moon</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Cancer</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Valkyrjur</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#FFFF00 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Gold</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Yew</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Angelica</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 41 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Sowilo</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Sun</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Sun</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="83"><div> <U>Sol</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0><NOBR><bR> <div> White/Silver</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Juniper</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Mistletoe</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Tiwaz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Justice</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Libra</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Tyr</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Mani</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#FF0000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Bright Red</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Oak</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Sage</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 ><NOBR><bR> <div> <U>Berkano</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Empress</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Virgo</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Frigg</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Nerthus</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Hel</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#008000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Dark Green</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Birch</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Lady's Mantle</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 41 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Ehwaz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Lovers</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Gemini</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Freyja</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Freyr</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Aclis</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> White</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Oak/Ash</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Ragwort</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Mannaz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Magician</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Jupiter</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Heimdal</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Odin</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#800000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Deep Red</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Holly</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Madder</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Laguz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Star</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Moon</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Njord</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Baldr</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#008000 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Deep Green</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Willow</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Leek</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Ingwaz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Judgment</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> New Moon</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Ing</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Freyr</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#FFFF00 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Yellow</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="54"><div> Apple</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Selfheal</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Dagaz</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><bR> <div> Temperance</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Half Moon</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Odin</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Ostara</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#00FFFF WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Light Blue</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Spruce</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="81"><div> Clary</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 60 WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> <U>Othala</U></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="64"><bR> <div> Moon</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="68"><bR> <div> Full Moon</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> <U>Odin</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="BlackChancery" >/</FONT><U>Thorr</U></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR=#FFFF00 WIDTH="65"><bR> <div> Deep Yellow</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Hawthorn</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM><NOBR><div> Goldthread</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The Ogham (pronounced owam) alphabet, like the Futhark alphabet, contains a great amount of hidden significance. Each letter is a month in the lunar year, and has a color and a meaning associated with it. Each letter, represented by a tree, also has a classification to show the importance of that tree. This classification, of chieftan, peasant, or shrub, has little or nothng to do with he meaning. Two symbols, the Grove and the Sea, have no classification, because the Druids knew these things to be powerful in their own right.</div> <bR> <div> To divine the future with the alphabet, mark one symbols each on one side of a number of flat sticks. You can also mark cards, and divine in a method similar to the Tarot. Chose seven of these sticks without looking. Think of your question, holding the sticks in both hands, then toss them softly to the ground in front of you. The sticks closest to you mark the present, and those farther away the future. If two sticks touch, they effect each other directly.</div> <bR> <div> As a side note, this alphabet can be used as a sort of "sign-language", since most symbols are made by the crossing of a line by a number of others, rapid hand gestures can be used to spell out words, or the meanings can be used to provide faster communication.</div> <bR> <div> Here are the letters and meaning of the Ogham alphabet. They are all written along a single vertical line. Most of the letters are simple, being a few lies crossing the center, in the same way (i.e., all straight across), but the Crane Bag, the last five letters, are more complex.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> B - Beth - Birch </div> <div> Color: White </div> <div> Class: Peasant</div> <div> Meaning: New beginnings; changes; purification.</div> <div> Written: A single bar straight to the right of the line.</div> <bR> <div> L - Luis - Rowan </div> <div> Color: Grey & Red Class: Peasant</div> <div> Meaning: Controlling your life, protection against such by others.</div> <div> Written: Two bars straight to the right.</div> <bR> <div> F,V - Fearn - Alder</div> <div> Color: Crimson </div> <div> Class: Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: Help in making choices; spiritual guidance and protection.</div> <div> Written: Three bars straight to the right.</div> <bR> <div> S - Saille - Willow</div> <div> Color: "Bright"</div> <div> Class: Peasant</div> <div> Meaning: Gaining balance in your life.</div> <div> Written: Four bars straight to the right.</div> <bR> <div> N - Nuin - Ash </div> <div> Color: Grass Green</div> <div> Class: Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: Locked into a chain of events, feeling bound.</div> <div> Written: Five bars straight to the right.</div> <bR> <div> H - Huathe - Hawthorn</div> <div> Color: Purple</div> <div> Class: Peasant</div> <div> Meaning: Being held back for a period of time.</div> <div> Written: One bar straight to the left of the line.</div> <bR> <div> D - Duir - Oak </div> <div> Color: Black </div> <div> Class: Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: Security; strength.</div> <div> Written: Two bars straight to the left.</div> <bR> <div> T - Tinne - Holly </div> <div> Color: Dark Grey </div> <div> Class: Peasant</div> <div> Meaning: Energy and guidance for problems to come.</div> <div> Written: Three bars straight to the left.</div> <bR> <div> C,K - Coll - Hazel</div> <div> Color: Brown </div> <div> Class: Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: Creative energies for work or projects.</div> <div> Written: Four bars straight to the left.</div> <bR> <div> Q - Quert - Apple </div> <div> Color: Green </div> <div> Class: Shrub</div> <div> Meaning: A choice must be made.</div> <div> Written: Five bars straight to the left.</div> <bR> <div> M - Muin - Vine</div> <div> Color: Variated</div> <div> Class: Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: Inner development occuring, but take time to relax.</div> <div> Written: One bar diagonally across the line.</div> <bR> <div> G - Gort - Ivy </div> <div> Color: Sky Blue </div> <div> Class: Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: Take time to soul search or you will make a wrong decision.</div> <div> Written: Two diagonal bars.</div> <bR> <div> NG - Ngetal - Reed</div> <div> Color: Grass Green </div> <div> Class: Shrub</div> <div> Meaning: Upsets or surprises.</div> <div> Written: Three diagonal bars.</div> <bR> <div> SS,Z,ST - Straif - Blackthorn</div> <div> Color: Purple </div> <div> Class: Shrub</div> <div> Meaning: Resentment; confusion; refusing to see the truth.</div> <div> Written: Four diagonal bars.</div> <bR> <div> R - Ruis - Elder</div> <div> Color: Red </div> <div> Class: Shrub</div> <div> Meaning: Learning from past mistakes; take care in choices.</div> <div> Written: Five diagonal bars.</div> <bR> <div> A - Ailim - Silver Fir </div> <div> Color: Light Blue</div> <div> Class: Shrub</div> <div> Meaning: Learning from past mistakes; take care in choices.</div> <div> Written: One bar horizontally across the line.</div> <bR> <div> O - Ohn - Furze</div> <div> Color: Yellow Gold </div> <div> Class: Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: Information that could change your life.</div> <div> Written: Two horizontal bars.</div> <bR> <div> U,W - Ur - Heather & Mistletoe</div> <div> Color: Purple </div> <div> Class: Heather=Peasant, Mistletoe=Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: Healing and development on the spiritual level.</div> <div> Written: Three horizontal bars.</div> <bR> <div> E - Eadha - Aspen </div> <div> Color: Silver White </div> <div> Class: Shrub</div> <div> Meaning: Problems; doubts; fears.</div> <div> Written: Four horizontal bars.</div> <bR> <div> I,J,Y - Ioho - Yew </div> <div> Color: Dark Green </div> <div> Class: Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: Complete change in life-direction or attitude.</div> <div> Written: Five horizontal bars.</div> <bR> <div> CH,KH,EA - Koad - Grove</div> <div> Color: Many Greens</div> <div> Meaning: Wisdom gained by seeing past illusions.</div> <div> Written: X across the line, crossing at the line.</div> <bR> <div> TH,OI - Oir - Spindle </div> <div> Color: White</div> <div> Class: Peasant</div> <div> Meaning: Finish obligations and tasks or you cannot move forward.</div> <div> Written: < and > on opposite sides of the line, forming a diamond.</div> <bR> <div> P,PE,UI - Uilleand - Honeysuckle</div> <div> Color: Yellow-white </div> <div> Class: Peasant</div> <div> Meaning: Proceed with caution.</div> <div> Written: X made of doubled lines (i.e. =) on the right of the line.</div> <bR> <div> PH,IO - Phagos - Beech</div> <div> Color: Orange-Brown </div> <div> Class: Chieftan</div> <div> Meaning: New experiences and information coming.</div> <div> Written: A line up from the right side of the line, spiraling clockwise towards the center.</div> <bR> <div> AE,X,XI - Mor - the Sea</div> <div> Color: Blue-Green</div> <div> Meaning: Travel</div> <div> Written: see chart below</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="46d37d20.gif" border=0 width="823" height="466" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>If you need any help with anything Wiccan, Witchy or Pagan. need a potion or spell help </B></I><A HREF="mailto: ask_a_witch@hotmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: ask_a_witch@hotmail.com"><U><I><B>E-Mail</B></I></U></A><I><B> me, or add me to your MSN Messanger with ask_a_witch@hotmail.com</B></I></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>