Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

The Magick and Power of Futhark

Magickal Tools

Attire- Wand- Knife- Carver- Coloring Tools- Magickal Space- Magickal Timing- Other Tools-
Chart of Correspondences-

Preliminary Exercises- The Gods' Runes- The Oracle of The Self-
Bind Runes- Numerical Symbolism- Color Symbolism-
Transliteration of Modern English into Runes- Making a Talisman-
Signing and Sending of Runes- Sign Magick-
Spells and Rituals- Invocation -
Meditations - Stadhagaldr- Elements- Runic Streams- Intake of World and Earth Streams- Divination-
Definitions of Terms- Books About Runes

Attire

In the practice of rune craft the ceremonial clothing, while important, do not play a central role in the cultic symbolism. The vestments are roughly like those of the everyday dress of an early medieval Northman, with special symbolic features. The main advantage of magickal clothing is the effect it has of separating one from their everyday life that putting on and wearing of the clothing should have.

The ideal attire for runecrafting is bright red pants, black or natural-color heelless leather shoes, if you must, but preferably no shoes (especially if outdoors), a white, red, or blue pullover tunic with a loose fit, a belt made of leather or deerskin to girdle the tunic, a sheath for your athame and a pouch to hold other various magickal items may be attached to the belt, and a hooded cloak of deep blue or black. The runes themselves can be represented in two places among your ensemble: by adding a white headband with bright red embroidered images and by the wearing of bracteates, made of bronze, silver, or gold, upon which the Runes and other magickal symbols are engraved (a very powerful addition to your attire). The bracteates should be designed, created, and consecrated in accordance with the magician's level of skill and knowledge.

Male and female magicians usually dress very much alike, except that the females usually go barelegged or wear a long red skirt. Ritual nudity is also practiced, according to the purpose of the ritual being performed. In this, as in all matters of magick, the magician should allow intuition to be the guide.

Top of page

Galdr (Wand)

Galdr is the most generic term for magick wand in the technical language of Runic Magick, but it is adequately expressive of this talisman’s powerful nature.

Your wand may be made out of any of a variety of woods (see the Chart of Correspondences for some ideas). No matter which wood you choose the following guidelines are to be followed in constructing your wand:
1. The diameter of the wand should be no smaller than your index finger and no larger than the circle formed when you touch the tip of your index finger to the tip of your thumb.
2. The wand should be no shorter than the length of you hand and no longer than the distance from your elbow to the tip of you middle finger.
3. The handle of the wand should be blunt or rounded and the tip should be fairly pointed or just noticeably more rounded than the handle.
4. The wand should then be inscribed with runes. As the magician you may choose an inscription that is unique and personally empowering, or you may settle on one of the following ideas:
A. Carve all 24 Runes into the wand in accordance with the ættir. B. Carve all 24 of the Runes into the wand in accordance with your knowledge, in the order in which you became familiar and comfortable with them as individuals. C. Carve a numerically symbolic phrase, expression, or mantra that uses 24 Runes altogether.

Top of page

Knife

The magician's knife is often used to carve Runes, but it is also used to cut and prepare wood for making other talismans and in ritual defense and invocation.

The hilt of the knife should be made from wood or bone, and the blade should be of the "sax" style, such as this one made by Jonathan A. Loose:

(Click on the photo to see more of Jonathan's incredible handmade blades)

It's total length is about 9" with a blade 4" long and about 1" wide. Inscribe the hilt with the Runic transliteration of your "magickal name" or with a more complex formula that better describes your creative, shaping will. You can also refer to Numerological Symbolism for other ideas, and to help you formulate a proper inscription.

Top of page

Ritki (carver)

A special carver is often used to etch runes into all types of surfaces.

The ristir should be extremely pointed and sharp. It is often the best tool to use for carving runes. If you like you may inscribe your name or a magickal formula that expresses the ritki's purpose into the handle of the carver.

Top of page

Coloring Tools

The Runes were traditionally colored with either red pigment or blood. To the ancient Germans the verbal constructs "to make red" and "to endow with magickal power" were synonymous. The German Zauber (magick) and the Old Norse taufr (magick, talisman) both come from this concept. In the technical terminology of ancient Rune craft the Proto-Germanic word fahido and the Old Norse form fá literally mean "I color" and "to color," respectively. These terms later came to mean "to fashion Runes" in general, describing the entire complex process of carving, coloring, and consecrating the staves.

Pigments used by the ancient magicians were red ochre, minium (red lead), and madder. Minium didn't come into use until more recently, but ocher has been used since Neolithic times. Madder comes from the roots of the plant of the same name (rubia tincturia). The Old Norse word for madder is madhrs, and the magickal power of the plant is increased by magico-affective association of this world with madhr, the Old Norse word for "man." All of these coloring agents are available in some form at art supply stores. They should be ground up and mixed with linseed oil, or a gum mixture, in a ritual manner just before beginning the Runic rite. Linseed comes from the seed of the flax plant, which is extremely significant in Rune craft. Its ancient name lina appears a lot in Runic talismans for fertility, growth, and well-being. While grinding the pigments the Runes that you are going to use in the rite should be called upon to infuse the dye with their energy. All of these colorants are symbolic substitutes for the innate magickal power contained in blood, whether human or that of a ritually sacrificed animal. If blood is used no infusion of energies is necessary. However, since the bloods Runes, the sanguine mysteries, are part of the religious expression, many magicians will not use them. All of the rituals I've set forth will be just as powerful using dyed Runes.

A special tool should be made for applying the pigments to the carved staves. This can be fashioned from a piece of wood about as thin as a veneer, which is cut into the shape of an isosceles triangle and inscribed with applicable Runes. Kano is perfect for this tool.

Top of page

Magickal Space

Rune magick can be performed indoors or out, but for atmospheric reasons, as well as to facilitate direct contact with the full power of the Rune streams, outdoors is preferred.

Ideally, sacred rites would be performed in a holy grove of oak, ash or yew trees located high on top of a hill. However, any secluded spot in the woods will do. The actual workspace is spherical, and therefore a round space should be cleared and ritually separated by performing the opening ritual listed under Spells. Here we are mainly concerned with the symbols to be used within this magickal space. The complexity of the symbology used is up to the magician, you may keep it simple, if you prefer, there are no rules regarding this. Generally, when the work is performed within an enclosed space, the symbolism tends to be more complex, and most magicians use an altar, which may be either round or rectangular, placed in either the north or the east, or even in the center of the circle.

Linguistic evidence shows that in the earliest of times Germans performed magick while orientated in the east (according to linguistic evidence) or in the north (as archeological evidence demonstrates). The English word "evening" is derived from a Proto-Germanic root aftan-, that meant "backward"; hence, it indicates the observer faced the east at twilight. There is also a large amount of lore that speaks for northern orientation. The Christian missionaries had trouble getting newly "converted" German pagans to pray in the east instead of in the north, as was their heathen custom. The Icelandic hof (temples) ere lined up on a north-south axis, and even in the oldest times the passageways of the grave mounds faced northward It is likely that both of these directions were considered powerful and that each was used depending on the type of ritual being performed - east for matters concerning the earth and north for matters concerning the "other worlds." Most modern Rune crafters prefer north for the same reason that the missionaries hated it. Face whichever direction feels most right to you.

The altar itself will hold all of the objects needed for the ritual. It will also be used as a "workbench" on which the Rune tines are carved. In an outdoor ritual a rock or tree stump may be used, or you can make a portable altar for such occasions.

As for the circle that you draw to define the sacred space, it can be as simple as a circle drawn on the ground with your wand, or you can draw glyphs on the flour of a vé (sacred room) with chalk or other material. The circle should indicate the eight divisions of heaven, that are symbolic representations of the eight otherworlds in Norse cosmology, and the Runes should be placed in the outer ring. Other figures can be added as the magician sees fit.

Top of page

Magickal Time

Properly timing Runic rites is very important, and while complex, it is no more strict or complicated than traditions that use western astrology.

To fully explain why the following criteria are used would require a large amount of study and serve only to confuse. The most important things to take into consideration are: 1. the season; 2. the phase of the moon; and 3. the position of the sun (the time of day). The best times are dawn, midday, evening, and midnight. For increase of power the waxing moon is used, and for constricting power the waning moon is preferred. The best time for any ritual work is on the night of the new moon or just after, or during the full moon or just before. Again, use your intuition as a guide in these matters. Keep in mind that time and space are aspects of one another and both are measured by the mjötvidhr {the measuring tree (Yggdrasill)}.

Top of page

Other Tools

Several rites call for additional instruments, and while the less important will be include with the rites and spells in which they are used, there are a few that are worth mentioning here.

The magician should have a drinking horn or goblet from which to drink mead. The horn can either be a properly prepared natural one or one made out of a precious metal; the goblet should be made of wood, clay, gold, or silver. In either case, the Runes

should be ritually inscribed on it in the talismanic manner. These Runes are transcribed as ódhroerir and mean "the exciter of inspiration." This is the name of the divine mead of inspiration and of the vessel in which it is contained. The numerical and ideographic symbolism of this formula is powerful. The Rune count is 7, and its total is 87, 3 s 29 (see Numerical Symbolism).

A fire-pot of some sort may also be needed in some rituals. It can be made of either clay or metal. This fire symbolizes the quickening power of Muspellsheimr. In addition, two pieces of linen cloth - one black, one white - should be on hand. A leather thong, symbolic of the containing, binding force in the multiverse is also commonly used.

The equipment of the Rune crafting magician (vitki) is distinguished by its mobility. All of the major tools needed for magickal workings should be so well hidden that no one should even notice their presence.

Top of page

Chart of Correspondences

No.	Elder Form	Elder Name	Anglo-Saxon Name	Tree	Herb	God/ Goddess/ Wight(s)	Color	Astro- logical Symbol	Tarot Card
1		Fehu	Feoh	elder	nettle	Æsir	light red		Tower
2		Uruz	Ur	birch	sphagnum moss	Vanir	dark green		High Priestess
3		Thurisaz	Thorn	oak	houseleek	Thor	bright red		Emporer
4		Ansuz	Ós	ash	fly agric	Ódin	dark blue		Death
5		Raido	Rád	oak	mugwort	Forseti	bright red		Heirophant
6		Kano	Cén	pine	cowslip	Freyja & dwarves	light red		Chariot
7		Gebo	Gyfu	ash & elm	heartease	Ódin & Freyja	deep blue		Lovers
8		Wunjo	Wynn	ash	flax	Freyr & elves	yellow		Stregth
9		Hagalaz	Hægl	yew or ash	lily of the valley	Ymir	light blue		World
10		Nauthiz	Nyd	beech	bistort	Nornir & Etins	black		Devil
11		Isa	Ís	alder	henbane	rime-thurses	black	Crescent Moon	Hermit
12		Jera	Gér	oak	rosemary	Freyr	light blue	Spirit	Fool
13		Eihwaz	Éoh	yew	mandrake	Ódin & Ullr	dark blue		Hanged Man
14		Perth	Peordh	beech	aconite	Nornir	black		Wheel of Fortune
15		Algiz	Eolh	yew	angelica	Valkyrjur	gold		Moon
16		Sowelu	Sigil	juniper	mistletoe	Sol	white & silver	Sun	Sun
17		Teiwaz	Tír	oak	sage	Tyr & Máni	bright red		Justice
18		Berkana	Beorc	birch	lady's mantle	Frigg, Nethus & Hel	dark green		Empress
19		Ehwaz	Eh	oak & ash	ragwort	Freyja/Freyr & Alcis	white		Lovers
20		Mannaz	Mann	holly	madder	Heimdallr/ Ódin	deep red		Magician
21		Laguz or Laukaz	Lagu	willow	leek	Njöordhr & Baldr	deep green	Crescent Moon	Star
22		Inguz	Ing	apple	self-heal	Ing & Freyr	yellow	New Moon	Judgement
23		Dagaz	Dæg	spruce	clary	Ódin & Ostara	light blue	Waning and Waxing Moons	Temperance
24		Othila	Othila	hawthorn	goldthread	Ódin & Thor	deep yellow	Full Moon	Moon