Relevance in modern society
So are they still relevant in today’s society?
The modern pagans, wiccans and some scholars would claim ‘yes’, reasons being that the runes still relate to society, having gone through extensive changes to do so. A system that survives religion and centuries of use and abuse must still have some relevance to people living today. The meanings are generic and would apply to anyone open minded enough to seek an answer. If it is classed as a tool, it has many uses and many users. The system is versatile, having been used for many purposes through the years. Perhaps Man will always need the reassurance that this kind of system provides. If there where no need for it, why does it continuously resurrect itself into society? Is it a need to feel a link with our ancestors, to know where we belong, to have a sense of being? Whatever the reason, the system is still here to support and guide us, just as it did our ancestors over 2000 years ago.
However, the majority of people would claim 'no', using the argument of the fact that the system is only known to a select few. The logical would claim its use as unscientific and relying heavily on chance and personal interpretation. Few know of it and even fewer can use it effectively, some using it as a tool for self - advancement, healing and meditation.
A great distance is set between the fear and reverence of old sagas and the New Age users, how can these two descriptions possibly refer to the same system?
The runes are so versatile and the meanings so broad that they could refer to anything the reader or interpreter wants them to. This system is just another crutch for self - confidence, to support as long as is needed and then to be put away and not referred to again. The only reason this system survived is the Christian Monks thirst for knowledge and the unknown. The people who use it today are usually just out to prey on people's fear of the unknown future and make money.