A handbook of Rune Magic

-Futhark-
 Rune knowledge
General definitions
• The first step to understand the rune lore is the understanding of the
conception rune.
• The term rune should be understood as a secret, a holy concept.
• The word rune is related to the Germanic group of languages and can be
traced in all ancient Germanic dialects.
Rune knowledge
Magical Definitions
• According to most scholars, the
runes were ancient symbols
used in writing, mainly on stone
or metal.
• These symbols bore religious or
magical significance for the
people who inscribed them.
• For the ancient wizards, the
signs take on a much richer and
more expanded meaning that
reveals their true nature and
power.
Orlunda Churchyard, Östergötland, Sweden
"(N.N. placed) this (stone) in memory of Åsa,
his wife"
 Rune knowledge

• Form -- ideograph and

phonetic value
• Idea --symbolic
content
• Number -- its dynamic
nature, revealing its
relationship to other
runes
A short history of the runes
• The runic system may
well have been fully
developed by as early as
200 B.CE. It is certain
that the magic -religious
practices of the ancient
Germanic priesthood
were aided by the use of
many runic or pre-runic
signs.
 Chapter 3
Theory of Rune Magic
The Rune World
• … when time began there was
Ginnungagap, which means a
"magically charged void." In the
southern extreme of this void
there appeared a world of fire
called Muspellsheimr, and in the
North arose Niflheimr or the
"mist world." From North came
waves of ice. From the South
came rays of fire with glowing
particles. The center remained
“mild as a windless air”. When
ice and fire met formed the first
giant, Ymir ( the roarer).
 “I am telling thee one thing:   we are Ginnungagap
we are the great void, the womb of the universe, the Fullness,
Truth, Eternity, Reality, Divinity.”
The rune world
The complexity of this elegant cosmic universe leads to the conclusion
that there is no personal Creator. Cosmogony is seen as a natural and
organic process and the universe ultimately derives from a single source,
Ginnungagap. This source divides itself into two extremes: fire as
expansive energy and ice as primal matter and antimatter.
 Manifestation of the Rune Row
• The manifestation of the runes
and their ordering in the
Futhark row are bound up with
the cosmogonic and cosmologic
process. The runes have no
origin, they are the essence
from the energy of
Ginnungagap.
• At the division between
Muspellsheimr and Niflheimr,
the runic forces are polarized
into shining runes (ON
heidhrúnar) and dark runes (ON
myrkrúnar.)
 Elements
Throughout the sections on cosmology we spoke of
elements such as - fire - air
- water - earth
- ice
Streams
• The runic force has streams of
manipulation such as:
-Terrestrial streams, which run
along the surface of the earth
- Heavenly streams , which
circulate in the atmosphere.
- Ehtonic streams, which flow in the
subterranean sphere.
• These streams constantly interact
one upon another and causes
changes and fluctuations in the
runic magic.
 Color Symbolism
In rune crafting,
colors play an important role
the light of the sun, a symbol of
honor, reputation and power
Protective power, spiritual
life and vigor, the main
color of runes, a sign of death
The omnipresent mystical
force of the numen, the
color of Odin’s cloak, a
Sign of restless motion.
Organic life, the force of fertility
in the earth and sea,
a sign of nature
They formulate powerful visualizations and
ritual intensification
A sign of desire and lust,
earthly power
The total expression of
light as the sum
of all colors, purity,
nobility, perfection
The disc of the moon, change,
transmutation, striving for
higher knowledge
New beginning, the root force of all
things, knowledge of hidden
things, the container of
light
 Chapter 4
Foundations of Rune Magic
The runes are use in all kinds of incantations, rites, spells, in
any kind of ritual. It is said that the runes give power to
certain aspect of life, but also to objects. The power, force
or energy is passed onto the objects, aspects, etc through a
vitki.

A vitki is a wizard, a conjurer. The vitki must be able to gain

this power, but this is made through a series of things.
 Foundations of Rune Magic
A vitki has to daily train in order to be able to
perform the ritual. The exercises are, more or less, as
today’s yoga exercises; they focus on concentration,
visualization, breath and posture control.
After mastering these elements a vitki will be
able to perform a ritual ( rúnagaldr).
Aside from these elements there are some other
ones needed for the rite.
 Foundations of Rune Magic
These are the traditional tools and techniques of
rúnagaldr which aid in the manipulation of the rune
stream:
1. Attire: the vestments do not play a crucial role in the rite, but a certain
pattern has been seen- a hooded cloak or frock in black or blue, bright red
pants and most of the vitkis were barefooted.
2. Wand: or gandr as it is known be made out of any type of wood. It usually
contains runes that represent a certain formula, incantation or the whole
Elder Futhark runes. Th runes are a statement that show the power
displayed by the vitki. In this image one can see a
representation of a wand with a specific formula;
ek vitki vist rúnar aaaaaaaa, meaning `I the Magician
carved the runes aaaaaaaa ‘( invoking the God Odin
from all eight corners of Heaven)
 Foundations of Rune Magic
3. Knife: the knife plays an important place in the rite, because it is used mainly to carve the
runes and also important talismanic objects. It is usually made from bone or wood with a
sharp blade. Just like the wand it can also contain runes on it, to make the incantation more
powerfull.

4. Carver: another important tool tat is also used to carve the runes. The name of the carver is
ristir.

5. Coloring tools : made from wood and shaped in the form of a triangle, the reddener is used
to apply pigments or blood on the runes. The pigments are a symbolic substitute for the
magical power given by the blood (human or that of an animal) It too can have runes carved
onto them.
 Foundations of Rune Magic
magic time
The time is also important. The time is selected based on the season, moon phase, solar
position( time of day)
The most auspicious times are dawn, midday, evening, midnight. For more power the waxing
moon is desired.

Probably the most important

magic space
- In order to gain full access to the powers
the rite take place outdoors.
-Usually they are performed in a holy grove of a oak
situated on a hill.
-The actual place must be a sphere, thus a circle is drawn in a
simple way( with the wand) or complex ( as a glyph)
the circle should be divided in such a way that the eight divisions of
Heaven.
- In this circle an altar can be found facing north or east; both
these directions are powerful and the rite that take place
deal with different matters
- The runes are placed in the outer ring of the circle
Foundations of Rune Magic