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A Look At Runes
According to legend, the Norse God Odin created the runes as a divine gift to mankind. These sacred symbols have been immortalised in carvings for centuries - on burial markers and amulets, scrolls and divinatory stones.
The runes were actually an alphabet system for the ancient Norse cultures, with each symbol having a communicative meaning. Runic artefacts can still be found in part of Scandinavia, in sites of important significance such as places of gathering, old roads, churches, water routes, and burial sites. They were essentially signs, used to convey important meaning, whether that be a warning or a celebration.
You might have come across the runes in modern life without even realising it. The little Bluetooth logo on your phone is actually a bind rune that merges the runic symbols for ‘H’ and ‘B’ together. ‘HB’ are the initials of Harald Bluetooth, a Scandinavian king famous for uniting the Danish tribes into one kingdom. As Bluetooth technology aims to ‘unite’ communication, its creators chose Bluetooth and his runic initials to represent their brand. The runes live on!
J.R.R. Tolkien was also heavily influenced by the runes when he constructed his own fantasy languages of Middle-earth, particularly Khuzdul, the language of the dwarves. Other fantasy worlds feature runes in their language and decor.
But perhaps the greatest intrigue of the runes is their use in divination and magic. For many, runes and runestones are more than a communicative language. Some believed that the runes have mystical significance and can be a powerful tool in your magical arsenal.
Runes and Magic
It’s long been believed that the runes engraved on historical artefacts had magical significance. Runic symbols found on swords and amulets were said to provide protection and strength in battle. Stories of Norse legend suggest that runes might have the ability to raise the dead. They can be used in magical ritual and spell-casting in much the same way as other ancient language systems - such as Latin and Greek - can be used to convey a higher meaning. And perhaps most significantly, runestones are used as a tool of divination.
Runes and Divination
Rune casting is the practice of using runestones for divination purposes, quite similar to the art of tarot reading. Like tarot reading, rune casting isn’t exactly “fortune-telling”. Rather, it links powerful symbols with the revelations of the subconscious mind. The aim is to help the querent better understand the past and present in order to inform the future.
While tarot uses a combination of archetypal symbols - like the High Priestess and the Hanged Man, Pentacles and Wands - to tell a divinatory story, rune casting uses runic symbols. The historical and spiritual significance of these symbols, as well as the intuitive abilities of the caster, come together to paint a picture of future possibilities.
The Elder Futhark is the name given to the runic system used in divinatory rune casting. It’s comprised of 24 runes, which are each inscribed on individual runestones. These ‘stones’ can be made of stone, gemstone, wood or glass, and they form the basis for the runecasting practice.
How to Cast Runestones
The first step is to familiarise yourself with the 24 runestones and their meanings (which we’ve outlined below). Once you have a holistic understanding of these meanings, you’ll be ready to start your casting or reading.
The second step is to understand the desired result of rune casting. As explained, it’s not about ‘telling the future’. The most effective way to read the runes is to focus on a specific life situation or important decision to be made - whether it’s related to work, money, love, family or otherwise - and let the runes guide you into the future, based on a deeper understanding of the past and the present.
The third step is to find the right environment for casting the runes - a quiet private place where you won’t be disturbed. Place a cloth in front of you to protect the runestones from scratches or dirt, and sit facing North if possible, as North was the direction that the Gods lived in North mythology. You’ll normally keep your runestones in a bag or pouch, and you’ll likely stir them around first with your hands in order to transfer your energy into the collection and connect with them. For most castings, you’ll draw the runestones intuitively from the bag.
Finally, choose a casting or spread that feels right to you. Like with the tarot, there are number of different ‘casts’ you can choose from.
Rune Castings
A popular cast is the three-stone cast, where you draw three stone from your pouch and lay them in a row. The left-hand stone represents the past, the middle stone the present, and the right-hand stone the possible future. Another method of interpreting this cast is that the left-hand stone represents the problem or challenge, the middle stone the recommended course of action, and the right-hand stone the possible outcome.
Another cast is the five-stone or ‘cross’ cast, where you draw five stones and place three across - like the above - and two extra stones above and below the middle stone, creating a cross. The meanings of the horizontal three stones stays the same (past, present, future). The additional top stone represents help or guidance that might be available. While the additional bottom stone represents unchangeable forces that you need to accept in order to move forward.
Perhaps the most simple way of casting runes when you’re starting out is to simply do a single-stone casting, and select one runestone from your collection. This single stone sums up the key factor affecting your chosen situation.
There are also less structured, more intuitive ways of casting the runes. Some people select a handful of runestones and toss them onto the cloth, divining meaning from the runes that land face-up, or upside-down, or next to each other. This is a method you can explore when you’re more familiar with the runes and their meanings.
Rune Meanings
Like all ancient symbols and divinatory systems, runic meanings can have different interpretations, depending on whether you look at the strictly historical evidence, or incorporate esoteric or even personal symbolism. Below is a brief overview of the 24 runes of the Elder Futhhark, their corresponding alphabetic sound, and their symbolic meaning.
Fehu - F. Meaning: “cattle", wealth, material possession.
Uruz - U. Meaning: "a wild ox", strength, health.
Thurisaz - Th. Meaning: "giant", "thorn", danger, defence from attack.
Ansuz - A. Meaning: "a God", “mouth", communication, language, advice.
Raidho - R. Meaning: “journey", "wheel", movement, travel.
Kaunan - K. Meaning: “flame", "beacon", enlightenment, highest possibilities.
Gebo - G. Meaning: “gift", generosity, sacrifice, unity.
Wunjo - W. Meaning: “joy", happiness, pleasure.
Hagalaz - H. Meaning: “hail", destruction, chaos.
Naudhiz - N. Meaning: "needs", unfulfilled desire, survival.
Isaz - I. Meaning: "ice", pause, frozen or delayed action.
Jera - J. Meaning: “year", "harvest", rewards, results.
Eihwaz - I. Meaning: “yew", protection, stability.
Pertho - P. Meaning: unexplained/unknown, mystery.
Elhaz/Algiz - Z. Meaning: "elk", protection, defense.
Sowilo - S. Meaning: “sun", life, success.
Tiwaz - T. Meaning: "tyr", victory, war.
Berkanan - B. Meaning: "birch tree", new beginnings, fertility, growth.
Ehwaz - E. Meaning: "horse", travel, companionship.
Mannaz - M. Meaning: "mankind", support, humanity.
Laguz - L. Meaning: "water", formlessness, flexibility.
Ingwaz - Ng. Meaning: new beginnings, fertility
Othalan - O. Meaning: "inheritance", possession.
Dagaz - D. Meaning: "day", hope, happiness.
Rune casting is mysterious and intriguing practice, steeped in centuries of fascinating history. If you're interested in learning more about this, take a look at some of the books we currently have in stock on the subject. Or if you're ready to purchase a set of runestones for casting, choose from our beautiful gemstone rune collection below!
BOOKS ON RUNES
RUNESTONE SETS
View All Runestone Sets Here
What Colour Is Your Aura? (With Quiz!)
Have you ever heard someone say that you’ve got a specific ‘aura’ about you? Perhaps you have a peaceful aura, or a creative aura, or a wise one. More specifically, you might have been told that your aura is a particular colour - purple, yellow, orange, blue? It’s certainly fascinating to think about coloured halos hanging around our heads, visible to only a select few - but what exactly does it all mean?
Like the idea of 'chakra energy', auras are related to the invisible energy in and around our physical bodies. While chakras are focal points contained in our inner bodies, auras are the energy field surrounding our outer bodies. Some people with psychic abilities can visibly see these auras in different colours. Other people can feel them. But most people, regardless of psychic capacities, can sense a person’s energy in some way or another, even if they can’t fully understand how or why. This is aura energy at work.
While your aura can change and shift depending on many factors - such as your mood, health, or even time of day - most people have one predominant aura that they radiate.
So, in saying that, what colour do you think your aura is? We’ve summarised the common types of auras below, followed by an aura quiz for you to take to find out what colour your aura is!
Yellow
Energetic, logical, alert, enthusiastic
People with yellow auras are analytical, intelligent and driven by action. They tend to have a lot of physical and mental energy, and will approach tasks with diligence and enthusiasm. Their brain is always working, and they are extremely observant of what’s going on around them. They’re confident and fantastic communicators, normally with an active social life.
Red
Passionate, robust, intense, direct
Red is the colour of both passion and anger, and people with red auras will be prone to both. They approach everything in life to the fullest degree, and are always seeking new adventures and knowledge. They’re extremely robust and resilient, and will easily bounce back from health issues or difficult situations. Their directness can rub people the wrong way, but they’re steadfast and loyal to those they love.
Pink
Romantic, sensitive, empathetic, moralistic
People with pink auras have a soft and kind energy about them. They are romantics at heart, both in their relationships and they way they see the world around them. They’re highly empathetic, so will gravitate towards social issues and charitable causes. Their sensitivity to the world around them makes them poetic individuals who care about the arts and culture.
Green
Creative, nature-loving, amiable, healer
Green energy is deeply connected to nature and the earth, and people with green auras will reflect this. They’ll often be nature and animal lovers, and will demonstrate the same growth and hardiness as the plants they love. They’ll be creative in a practical sense, enjoying pursuits such as cooking and crafts. They tend to be popular in social circles for their relatable and generous natures, and are well-suited to ‘healing’ pursuits or occupations.
Orange
Generous, honest, happy, courageous
Those with an orange energy bring the image of ‘lions’ to mind. They’re brave and adventurous, never shying away from the difficulties in life. They’re generous with their time, energy and money, and likely have a large group of friends. They zoom through life with zeal, and normally lead happy and successful lives in their chosen pursuits.
Purple
Psychic, philosophical, imaginative, introverted
People with a purple aura are known for being psychic or having intuitive spiritual abilities. They feel things on a different level, and will be drawn to magic and mysticism. They likely won’t have a large group of friends, but will form deep relationships with a chosen few. They’re highly imaginative, and may choose to express this in the form of creative arts. They’ll also connect quickly and easily with animals.
Blue
Great communicator, peaceful, diplomatic, measured
People with blue personalities are cool, calm and collected, and help to balance out any room they walk into. They’re fantastic communicators and diplomats, and can easily dissolve conflicts or tensions, whether at work or in relationships. They’re not afraid of taking on large responsibilities and navigating treacherous waters, and find it easy to make big decisions that might seem difficult to others.
Gold
Charismatic, lavish, independent, divine
Like gold jewellry, people with a gold aura are attractive, rare and connected to luxury. Gold aura people exude charm and charisma, and have a taste for the beautiful things in life. But while they can mistakenly come across as materialistic, gold is also the colour of spiritual protection and enlightenment. People with gold auras will be generous and protective of those that they love, and have a divine presence about them.
Silver
Intuitive, adaptable, fluid, discerning
People with silver auras are highly intuitive and very receptive to new ideas. Their brain is always switched on, and they’re able to easily adapt to new situations and new ways of thinking. People with silver auras will attract abundance into their lives, whether that’s in the form of physical money or success, or spiritual enlightenment. They will rarely want for anything; fortune comes naturally to them.
So, now that you've had a read, do you have an idea what colour your aura might be? We've crafted a quiz below to help you find out - let us know what you think of your results!
TAKE THE QUIZ: WHAT COLOUR IS YOUR AURA?
If you're interested in finding out more about your spiritual energy, colour symbolism, and understanding your inner self, you might be interested in some of our book titles below:
Five Misconceptions about Tarot
Have you ever tried talking about tarot with someone, only to have them scoff and tell you it’s all a bunch of nonsense? Chances are, that person probably thinks that tarot cards are magical objects that claim to tell your future. They likely connect tarot reading with the image of a witchy woman in a darkened tent, spreading her cards out next to a crystal ball.
While these aren't necessarily bad (or entirely false) assumptions, they don't paint the whole picture of tarot reading. The art of tarot is mysterious and complex, so it's no wonder it's become laden with myths and misconceptions.
But it’s important to know the truth about tarot. We get a lot of questions about this mystical practice here at Dragonspace, and we’ve written a few blog posts about it before like Introduction to Tarot & Oracle and 10 Unique Tarot Decks. But this week, we thought we’d take a look at some of the myths and misconceptions about tarot, and the truth behind them. We've also included some images of cards from our favourite decks along the way - just click on the images to find out more about each deck!
Tarot is about ‘predicting the future’
The art of reading tarot is certainly connected to the ‘future’. But it’s not as black-and-white as your future being laid out like a movie in the the cards. Rather, your individual tarot card reading should help you to make sense of your past and your present, to best inform your future pathway.
The tarot cards are ultimately symbols or archetypes. Your tarot card reader will explain these symbols to you and will suggest how they are connected to your life. In turn, you’ll make your own emotional, spiritual and mental connections to these symbols. From this, a picture will end up forming of your current situation and where it might lead - whether it’s related to romance, family, work, creativity, identity or otherwise. A tarot reading might illuminate a specific pathway for you, but it likely won’t predict your future in eerie detail. And that shouldn’t be the point.
You have to be psychic to read the tarot
People with psychic or highly intuitive abilities will definitely be naturals at reading the tarot. But that doesn’t mean that you have to be either of those things to learn. If you’re open and dedicated to the practice, you can learn how to read tarot by studying the history and meanings of the cards, as well as a variety of different theories by professional readers. All it takes is a keen mind and an eager spirit.
There are certainly amazing professional tarot readers out there, and it’s worth going to visit one if you’re interested in the practice. There’s always something new to learn, and as tarot reading is such an individual artform, it’s interesting to hear other people’s interpretations and perspectives on the cards.
You can’t buy your own tarot cards
There are a lot of opinions out there about buying tarot cards. Some people believe that you should never buy your own tarot cards, and that they have to instead be given to you. Other people believe that if you are buying your own tarot cards, you should be the first one to touch them as they come out of the case or the packaging.
This myth isn’t necessarily false. Rather, it’s up to the individual to decide - there’s not a ‘one size fits all’ belief when it comes to buying tarot decks. Many people believe it’s actually important that you do buy your own tarot cards, as there are so many different and diverse decks, only you will know which one is best for you. If you’re in the market for your first tarot deck, have a read of all the different beliefs out there, and then decide what’s ringing true to you. If there’s one thing tarot reading is, it’s that it’s a highly individual practice and you make your own rules.
Cards like ‘Death’ and the ‘Hanged Man’ are terrible omens
We might have the movies to blame for this one. How often have you seen a ‘Death’ or ‘Hanged Man’ tarot deck pulled in a film or TV show in order to foretell some dark or deadly plot line? While it definitely has dramatic effect, it’s given these tarot cards a bad name.
The Death tarot card is actually a signifier of endings, transformation and transitions. Sometimes in life, things have to die to make way for regeneration and revival. This can be the death of bad habits, the death of toxic relationships, or otherwise. So it can actually be a very positive card to pull!
The Hanged Man is a little more difficult to decipher. The Hanged Man has a multitude of interpretations, but most of them indicate surrender and sacrifice. If you pull the Hanged Man card, it might be a sign that you’re holding onto something that you need to let go of, or hesitating to make an important decision. Like the Death card, while the Hanged Man looks ominous, it’s actually an important and fascinating card to apply to your own life.
Reversed cards are the negative version of upright cards
Most of the time when you’re pulling your tarot cards from your deck, they'll emerge in an upright position. But every so often, you’ll pull a card that’s upside down. This is called a reversed card, and reversed cards have slightly different meanings to their upright versions. But contrary to popular belief, this meaning isn't always negative.
Reversed cards normally represent the same energy as their upright versions, but in a suppressed, inverse or incomplete state. For example, the Sun tarot card is all about energy, vitality and success. A reversed Sun could mean that that same energy is being internalised within yourself, rather than projected outwards. This is an important message in itself, and can teach you a lot.
Some tarot readers choose to dismiss reversed cards, so it's up to you if you decide to include them in your practice. But be mindful that they're not a necessarily negative addition to the deck, like some people think.
As you can see, there are quite a few myths and misconceptions about tarot. And that’s fair enough - it is a mysterious art, after all! But now that you know the reality behind these rumours, you’ll be able to enlighten the next person who scoffs at your interest in tarot reading. You’ll never win them all, of course, but you’ll be all the wiser for knowing the truth.