Taking up the Runes

As I’ve mentioned before, my special study group has been studying runes for a little while.  We had been studying Christopher Penczak’s Temple series, but we needed a break and moved onto Northern Mysteries and Magick by Freya Aswynn.  We liked the runes but didn’t love Aswynn, so we decided to stick with the runes and move onto Taking up the Runes by DianaPaxson. 

I’ve had the Paxson book for a while, ever since I decided to do my crazy Norse study year, but this is the first time I’ve ever actually made an attempt to work through it.  A lot of sources talk about using special ritual tools when “taking up the runes”, such as a new rune set or a rune staff or wand.  But I don’t want a new rune set (I like mine a lot – they’re made of blue goldstone!) I already have a Dionysian Fool’s staff, and I don’t want another wand (I have three.) 

I looked all over Etsy and Ebay (two of my favorite places ever) for some runic jewelry or an armband or something runic and beautiful and awesome.  I didn’t find anything that I liked, though, which surprised me!  I was a little disappointed, really, because I wanted something new and special to mark my new runic journey through Paxson’s book, and to use or wear while doing the rituals she suggests in her book.

My friend Tanaria, who is participating in the rune group with us, is a leather-worker and an artisan, and she mentioned that she was going to make herself a runic headband with all of the Elder Futhark inscribed on the band.  I’ve seen her work before (it’s incredible!) so I asked her if I could commission a piece from her.

My super awesome runic headband was ready for our first runic ritual of Taking up the Runes!  Even before I could come in and sit down, my friend was ready for me, excited to show me her handiwork.  She gave the headband to me, and I was thrilled!  It fits my head perfectly, and I can wear it a few different ways, which is awesome.  

The best part is that while runes are traditionally inscribed in red (Tanaria’s own headband has red runes), she did mine in purple.  “Because Amanda!” she said, and I knew exactly what she meant.  While purple isn’t my official “favorite color” (is it?  Maybe.  I don’t know!)  it’s something I tend to wear a lot, and it looks good on me, and also… Dionysus!  Since purple is a color I associate very much with Dionysus, and I’ve had some interesting Odin and Dionysus rune journeys recently, the color was just perfect.

I felt like a Nordic Queen while wearing my headband, and at the end of the night I tucked it away safely into my rune altar box.  It fits perfectly!  I couldn’t be happier.

And for a handcrafted, custom-made, local artist product… this headband was surprisingly affordable!  Buying from Tanaria was 100 times better than ordering something off of Ebay or even Etsy.  So, it was affordable, it was local, I supported a friend, it looks great, it’s functional, it’s custom-made, it was made with love, I look great in it, it fits in my box, it’s appropriate, it’s a fun new ritual tool… and I love it!

Thanks so much, Tanaria!  I can’t thank you enough for your love and artistry.  I look forward to many more runic rituals with you!  Love!

Check out Tanaria's facebook page here!

Check out Tanaria's Etsy page here!  

Pagan Blog Project – week 36 – R#2 – Runes

Pagan Blog Project – week 36 – R#2 – Runes

My group sometimes partners with a local coven, and for a few years many of us have been gathering once a month for a special study group.  We started with Chris Penczak and his “Inner Temple of Witchcraft” series.  But after two Penczak books, we knew we needed a break.

A member of the group suggested Northern Mysteries and Magick by Freya Aswynn.  One of the first books I had read about Northern Paganism was Leaves of Yggdrasil, an earlier edition of Aswynn’s book.  I had enjoyed it at the time, but promptly moved onto something else and then totally forgot everything I read.  (This tends to be how I function, unfortunately…)

A few years ago I decided to read everything I had about my Northern ancestors (I come from both Swedish and German ancestry, among others).  In college I had taken a class on Northern Myths and Legends, but I was finally ready for more.  So for about ten months I read books about mythology, folklore, epics, Eddas, magic, Asatru, runes, and anything else I had in my library.  My intention was to transition into contemporary Germany, the Arthurian cycle, and Druidry, but I never made it that far.  I had finally just reached a point where I couldn’t take it anymore, and I started graduate school shortly after, so my reading habits once again took a dramatic shift in focus.

Over the years I’ve picked up a few sets of runes, tried to make my own, made rune sets for others, studied a few books, played with them a bit, and even taught a rune workshop.  But I’m not a rune master by any means, and the Cosmology and function of runes is still pretty foreign to me.  I mean, I understand all of the theory behind the runes, but when it comes to actually using them and reading them and understanding them on an intuitive level?  I’m still lost.

A good friend of mine has shared a similar opinion of the runes, talking about a rune workshop she went to and how frustrating it was to her.  But she said that at the end of the workshop, they all dropped into a meditative state and the runes were chanted by one of the workshop facilitators.  She said that’s when she finally realized and understood how powerful the runes could be.  (Though, like the rest of us in the study group, she keeps on saying “It’s all Greek to me!”)

So, like I did when I did my intensive Northern study, I try to draw one rune before bed.  I make notes in a journal.  I read the books.  I make notes in the margins.  I write runes on my hands and on my desk.  I try to remember them and recall them.  I try to chant them, or at least recite them.  And sometimes, just sometimes, connections are made.  I have dreams about them, or I randomly remember something.  I’m pleased to report that their names and shapes aren’t as hard for me to recall as they once were, but still, runes are a challenge for me.

But out of respect for my Northern ancestors, out of comradery of my study group, and a few other reasons that I won’t share here, I’ll keep on studying the runes and hopefully, one day, the runes won’t be Greek to me.

 

Do you read the runes?  Do you have a favorite book about runes, Northern myths or legends, or even modern Heathenry or Asatru?  Do you have another preferred form of divination that you use?  What helped you to learn and study the runes or another system that you enjoy?  Please feel free to share your thoughts or experiences in the comments!  As is clear with this post, I could use all of the help I can get!  Until then... clear skies and runic blessings!