By: Aisling Bronach of House Shadow Drake
The word "rune" comes from a root word which means "mystery" or "secret." A
reflection of this root word can be seen in the modern German word raunen
which means "to whisper." Other examples of the early use of this root can be seen
in the Old Celtic word run, the Middle Welsh rhin, and the Old
English rown.
It is suspected that the first runic alphabet of Europe was developed by the
Etruscans and carried to the Germans through interactions during the trading of
amber. The first runes in North Germany were carved, and not written. The art of
writing did not arrive until the Christian monks came to Germany. To rune something
means to inscribe upon an item with a secret language and thus give magical effect
to what is inscribed. In an example from a Swedish gravestone, it was written in a
runic language, `This is the meaning of the runes; I hid here magic runes
undisturbed by evil sorcery. He who destroys this monument shall die in misery by
magic art.' According to Norse folklore, Odinn was said to have hung for nine
nights upon a tree in order to learn the secret of the runes. Runes, or secret
alphabets, could be unlocked once they were read and it is this secret or mystery
which Odinn learned.
The use of magickal alphabets was forbidden by Christian priests because of
their use within Heathenism and magick. Even as late as the 17th century people
were killed in Iceland for the use of runic alphabets.
The Elder
Futhark alphabet which is commonly associated as a runic alphabet is no longer
really runic in nature. Today, anyone can go to their local library or get a book
at a bookstore and be able to read what is written. The secret and mystery of the
Elder Futhark is no longer there.
Throughout history, many magickal alphabets have been formed out of pre-existing
alphabets. By changing the old alphabets slightly and adding personal flourishes,
one is able to make a runic alphabet. The Westphalian Runenalphabet of the
Vehmgericht was modeled
after a pre-existing alphabet which was known locally to the Westphalian area. Even
Apollonius of Tyana used the Greek alphabet as a basis for what later became known
as the Apollonian alphabet.
After a runic alphabet has been designed, it is usually dedicated for the
purpose as such. Runes can be used for writing things which one does not want
others to be able to read; a form of encryption. They can also be written or
inscribed for magickal workings. Such things as divination, binding, and marking
along with other uses. To read the runes allowed by which something was bound can
release that thing. An example of this can be seen in the picture to the left.
Legend has it that it binds a monster from a lake within Sweden to the stone, and
that if the runestone was ever deciphered and spoken allowed it would release the
monster. The runes can also be cut into staves, and then cast down as a form of
divination. They can also be used to inscribe the name of an object, such as a
weapon or armor. These names take on magickal meanings, and the both the naming of
the object and the encryption of that name are very important.
