If You’re a Tolkien Fan, You’ll be Familiar with These Rune Symbols

by Jan Sikes

I want to start with a brief history of and introduction to the ancient runes.

To most, the various symbols that make up what we call “the runes” may be seen simply as archaic remnants of a primitive and long-abandoned alphabet. While this is true to some degree, those who work with these mystical symbols in divination know they are far more.

If You’re a Fan of J. R. R. Tolkien, You’ll Be Familiar with These Rune Symbols

Although the runes have not been in widespread use for several centuries, the past few decades have seen quite a revival of interest in runic magic and divination.

If you are a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, you’re bound to be familiar with some of these symbols, which appeared in The Hobbitt. And we were introduced to the runic alphabet in The Lord of the Rings.

In the academic sense, the runes are known as the characters in a group of alphabets used to write in various languages spoken by the Germanic peoples of Europe during a period starting roughly in the first century B.C.E. (before The Common Era) and ending several hundred years later.

Runic Symbols are Used for Magical Purposes

However, unlike our modern letters, the runic symbols had been used for magical purposes long before they were fashioned into a writing system. The runes carried deep meanings for the people who used them.

For this reason, they never disappeared entirely, even though the Christian church once banned them.

Rune Comes from the Word Which Means “A Secret”

The English word rune comes from the Norse word Runa, which means “a secret” or “to whisper.”

The Norse Runa is also the root for the English word we use to identify a very magical tree, the rowan. Found throughout Northern Europe, the rowan tree has long been sacred to various mystical traditions and is used widely for protection. It is known by many folk names, including “rune tree” and “whisper tree.”

The oldest written record of the runes comes from the Nordic region. Throughout Nordic literature, the runes are portrayed as powerful and even potentially dangerous magical tools. They were used as a method of communication, to give warnings, and to serve as guides.

The runes most widely used today in divination and magic practices are known as the Elder Futhark (footh-ark), the oldest known runic script.

Each Rune Symbol Carries a Specific Meaning, Much Like Tarot Cards

There is a total of 24 runic symbols and one blank in each set. They come in all shapes and sizes. I even have one set of runes made from coyote bones with rune symbols of inlaid copper.

Each rune symbol carries a specific meaning, much like tarot cards.

The Rune Pouch is Important, Too

Another important aspect of a rune set is the pouch in which you keep them.

Creating the bag is a sacred experience, and I loved making mine. I found myself often in a meditative and peaceful state as I worked on the runes and pouch. I keep my set of wooden runes in this pouch.

How to Work With Runes

Working with runes is similar to working with tarot cards. Before you cast the runes, you firmly set your question in your mind, then be open to the interpretation.

Frequently, the runes can give you a different perspective or way of looking at a situation. As with everything in life, what you do with the information is totally up to you.

I have loved learning more about and working with the runes. There is a lot of information on the internet about them. But as with anything else, double-check what you find as not all interpreters are schooled in reading the runes.

Join Me for Some Rune Readings!

A few months back, I started a series on my blog site in which I take one rune at a time and explore the whole meaning. Once I’ve gone through each specific rune, I will do some readings.

If you’d like to join in on that journey, here is the link to the first post.

I’d be thrilled for you to catch up and join in!

Also, on a side note: If you are interested in making your own set of runes, a guide I highly recommend is A Practical Guide To The Runes by Lisa Peschel.

Another book I highly recommend is Runes for Beginners by Lisa Chamberlain.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on runes. If you’ve had any experience with them, please share. We can all learn from each other.

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Jan Sikes has been called a wordsmith by her peers. She openly admits that she never set out in life to an an author. But she had a story that demanded to be told. It took four books to chronicle her life with Texas singer/songwriter, Rick Sikes.

And now that the story is told, this author can’t find a way to put down the pen. She has published numerous award-winning short stories with a series of novels waiting in the wings. She resides in North Texas, is a doting grandmother, active blogger, member of the Rave Reviews Book Club (RRBC), serves as Vice-President of the Rave Writer’s Int’l Socity of Author (RWISA), sits on the RWISA Executive Council and is a member of The Author’s Marketing Guild, Writer’s League of Texas, and Romance Writers of America.

For more information on Jan and her work, please see her website, blog, and Amazon author page, or connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

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Ghostly Interference: Jag Peters has one goal in his quiet, comfortable life—to keep his karma slate wiped clean. A near-miss crash with a candy apple red Harley threatens to upend his safe world. He tracks down the rider to apologize properly. Slipping into a seedy biker bar, he discovers the rider isn’t a “he”, it’s a “she”, a dark-haired beauty.

Rena Jett is a troubled soul, who lives in a rough world. She wants no part of Jag’s apology, but even while she pushes him away, she is attracted to him. When he claims to see a ghost—her brother—can she trust him?

And could her brother’s final gift, a magical rune stone with the symbol for “happily ever after” have the power to heal her wounds and allow opposites to find common ground—perhaps even love?

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Google Books.