RichardsRuneworks

Announcement    It is said that Odin the Allfather was cast into Midheim, and was caught by the foot, and hung upside down from its trunk. Underneath him was a pool formed by the water that wept from the wound in his side from his very own spear. For nine days and nights he hung, seeking the wisdom of his error and the events that brought him to this. On the ninth day, he gazed into the pool and saw shapes taking form, lines that crossed and connected at angles and bore great meaning for him, but they danced just outside his grasp of reason and reach. He reached his arm out as far as it would go, but a raven that perched upon a nearby branch told him that he could not have the wisdom unless he made a sacrifice, for the knowledge to be gained in the symbols there would grant glimpses into the nature of the universe, and possibly even see the future. The price would to gain such insight was sight itself. And so, Odin chose to sacrifice one of his own eyes in order for the gift of foresight in the runes, and took them from the water.

For centuries, the Runes were the alpahbet of the Norse and Germanic peoples, and are found in many variations, some with as few as twenty symbols, others with as many as 32. The Elder Futhark, the system of runes most commonly known, contain 24 symbols, represent 24 letters. Yet each rune not only represented a letter, but a word, and thus had meaning. The meanings are archetypal in nature, and can be applied to situations in one's life to give insight and perspective. As to their power to foresee the future, that is stilla question left to the skeptics and believers alike. I have chosen to view them from a standpoint of perspective - the runes can be used to give a clarity of thought, and a sense of objective viewing of the events in life that can then lead us to make (hopefully) better and more well formed choices. Of course, such actions should not be used to replace professional council and proper treatment if the need is dire. Like the Tarot, the Runes are only a mirror in which to gaze, in order, like Odin, to gain wisdom.