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INTRO TO RUNES

Green Glyphs Runes Deck James R. Eads

GREEN GLYPHS RUNES

This deck is my take on the Elder Futhark and Anglo-Saxon Runes, systems of divination that have been around for many centuries. Typically, Runes are found in the form of stones, dice, talismans, or other objects with carvings. When I first started to learn about Runes, I found it difficult to relate the Nordic symbol to the meaning. Because Runes are an alphabet, each symbol corresponds to a specific sound or letter. There is some crossover with Germanic English, but the runic symbols can also be confusing when taking English into account. What looks like an ”X” in Runes actually represents G or Gebo. 

To help myself better understand the meanings behind each Rune, I created Green Glyphs Runes. Each card has the runic symbol, the traditional name, and an image that encompasses the meaning of the symbol. Each Rune conveys a concept or feeling that was prevalent thousands of years ago and still remains relevant today. In this deck I have included the Elder Futhark Runes, a set of twenty-four runes split into three families or “Aetts” and the nine Anglo-Saxon Runes. The Anglo-Saxon runes were added on after the Elder Futhark but I think that they compliment the deck beautifully. In this introduction, I will go over the history of Runes, some common questions about Runes, and what to expect with this deck. 

Green Glyphs Runes Deck James R. Eads

A COMPLEX AND DEEP HISTORY

They were once an ancient alphabet, dating back thousands of years and used by the Anglo-Saxons, Goths and Norsemen. The word “rune” translates to “mystery” or “secret”. The runic alphabet was in use for a few hundred years, in what is now Northern Europe, before Christianity replaced the usage of these symbols as a primary language with our current alphabet. Runes have been found scrawled on artifacts like spears, shields, bones, and tombstones. It is likely that the sharp angular shapes of the Runes are because they were mostly carved into hard surfaces like bone, metal, and wood, where carving rounded shapes would have been more difficult. It was thought that Runes were used in magical ceremonies even before the development of the alphabet. We are able to trace the magical usage of Runes back to at least the first century, but much has been lost to time. To pinpoint the exact origin of Runes would be difficult, as they are thousands of years old and exist in many different forms. 

The pagan Norse gods are intricately woven into several Runes.

Green Glyphs Runes Deck James R. Eads

It is said that Odin, the Norse god of war, god of poetry, and “The Inspired One” journeyed through the nine worlds to the World Tree until he arrived at the roots of the tree above the Well of Wyrd. It was there that he hung himself from the tree for nine days and nine nights until the Runes appeared before him. Odin then sacrificed his eye for the Runes and reached into the Well of Wyrd to bring the Runes into existence. 

The runic system that we are using in this deck likely began to form around the first century BC, yet similar symbols that are found in this system can also be traced back over 12,000 years to images scrawled on cave walls in Europe. There are three main runic systems still in use today: The Elder Futhark Runes, The Younger Futhark Runes, (which took some inspiration from the Elder Futhark but also omits several runes), and the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc.

The Elder Futhark Runes are the oldest runic alphabet and one of the most widely used today and will be what we are using here to begin. The Elder Futhark Runes were adapted from an alphabet, so the first 6 runes  in the sys.tem spell out the letters F-U-TH-A-R-K. F is represented by Fehu, U by Uruz, TH by Thurisaz, A by Ansuz, R by Raidho, and K by Kenaz. Below you will see the runic alphabet applied to modern day English.  

Green Glyphs Glossary Book James R. Eads

The importance of symbols

You’ll note that many of the Runes are based off of simple concepts-- cattle, harvest, hail, dawn, water, etc. But each of these runes also has a much deeper meaning. Much like Tarot and other systems of divination, we use these base meanings to extrapolate deeper into our own subconscious. Water is often attributed to the mind and the ebb and flow of intuition, and this is true with Runes as well. This system of symbols is comprised of some of the most important aspects of Nordic life thousands of years ago. So something like ice, which to us is generally just a small inconvenience, could be the matter of life and death back then. 

You’ll also note some differences with the Rune system in comparison to other forms of divination. For example, there is no true presence of darkness, night, or the moon. Yet we have three runes that speak toward light: the sun, dawn, and flame. If we make the distinction that darkness is not only darkness, but rather a lack of light, then it begins to make a bit more sense. 

Green Glyphs Runes Deck James R. Eads

As with many forms of divination, the art of reading Runes was lost and regained over time. Some meanings were never truly uncovered, but by linking this system of Runes to other systems, scholars have been able to extrapolate meanings. Each book on Runes may vary slightly based on the authors’ interpretations and their own research. As always, it’s best to consult many guides when learning a new craft. In the back of this guide you’ll find a bibliography with some of the sources I used to learn about Runes. 

As Christianity swept across Northern Europe, Runes (and other forms of divination) fell back into the shadows. The Elder Futhark Runes then gained wider interest outside of Northern Europe in the nineteenth century, with heightened interest in forms of divination like Tarot and Lenormand. Unfortunately, in the twentieth century, Nazis appropriated several symbols from the Elder Futhark Runes and interpolated them into Nazi propaganda. 

As always, it is important to note the context of usage when these symbols appear elsewhere outside of the runic system. This is why I have chosen to acknowledge the darker side of the history of Runes and not gloss over it like many books I studied did. 

Fehu (Green Glyphs Runes) Print James R. Eads

Runes have existed for thousands of years, and there is a deep magic that should be honored. I think it is partly my duty as a creator of magical tools to continue the advance of peace and wisdom that can come from practicing divination.

There have always been negative connotations for Tarot decks, associating them with satanic worship, and they are still looked at skeptically by many who are not familiar with the true magic. Tarot is such a unique tool for creating a sense of peace in your life that can often be missed by many. Runes are no different. As modern magicians, it is our duty to uphold the integrity and beauty that comes with these systems and not turn a blind eye to their misuse.

Green Glyphs Starter Kit Cardholder James R. Eads Runes

A Runes Revival

Recently, in the 1980s, there was a large Rune revival sparked by a newfound fascination with the occult and spiritual. Since then, Runes have once again started to make their way back into the lives of people across the globe. Admittedly, when I first learned about Runes I was not immediately grabbed, as I was with other forms of divination like Geomancy and Lenormand. It felt almost too antiquated to me, and I didn’t understand the beauty in the balance. Now I have to say, after really getting to know these Runes, I can feel how potent the magic is and how beautifully concise the system is, and it has become one of my favorites. It’s so well-balanced, and it speaks volumes about the space in between things unsaid. Reading runes to me is like studying negative space. In art school, it was what all my teachers hammered home. But it’s true: so much can be learned from the space in between things. It’s my hope that my take on the Elder Futhark Runes and Anglo-Saxon Futhorc Runes will awaken something in you and add a new runic lover to the world.