Runes were used for communication in Scandinavia and other Germanic nations from the 3rd to 13th century. The primary runic alphabet is Futhark, derived from the Etruscan alphabet. Runes were associated with mystery and magic, and were used for divination. Christians believed runes were pagan, leading to their displacement. Modern mystics use runes for divination, but should remember their complex history.
Runes are letters from a family of ancient alphabets known as runic alphabets. Runes were used as a method of communication throughout Scandinavia and other Germanic nations from the 3rd century AD to about the 13th century, when they were superseded by the Roman alphabet. Thousands of examples of runic inscriptions are found in stones, coins and works of art, and many Scandinavian countries also boast large collections of runic manuscripts. Runes are also used by some people as a tool for divination, as these individuals believe that runes have mysterious powers.
The primary runic alphabet is often known as Futhark, referring to its first five letters. The runic alphabet was probably derived from the Etruscan alphabet, once widespread in Italy, and was characterized by angular characters, without curves or edges like those found in the Roman alphabet. This is common to the alphabets developed during this period, as they can easily be set in stone.
The word “rune” comes from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning “secret” or “mystery”. Writing was widely believed to be mysterious by many early European cultures, abstracting spoken language into legible symbols. The runes in a runic alphabet each represent individual sounds, and each rune also has a meaning; for example, fehu, the first rune in Futhark, makes an “F” sound and also means “cattle”.
During the time runes were used for writing, they were associated with mystery, magic and communication. Runic inscriptions were often added to clothing, houses and weapons to confer protection, for example. This mystery led to the displacement of runes as Christianity spread to these Germanic nations, as Christians believed runes were pagan. Fortunately, there are many extant examples of runic writing for historians who want to learn more about pre-Christian culture in Europe.
Modern mystics use runes for divination, just like tarot. These mystics draw runes from a set to answer questions or create spreads that are supposed to predict upcoming events. Each rune has a specific meaning in the context of divination, and rune interpretation can get quite complex, especially when a large number of runes are used in combination. People who choose to use runes for divination would do well to remember that the history of these arcane symbols is very complex and long, and the practice of magic is only a small part of it.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
