Runes

More than three thousand years ago, the people of Northern Europe used a magical, mysterious alphabet called the runes: twenty-four handcrafted letters that opened a world of magic and mystery. Each rune had both a literal meaning and a closely related symbolic significance.

For centuries, runes were carved on stone, etched into metal, and burned into wood. Runes were used in poetry, inscriptions, and invocations to the Norse pantheon of gods. The cryptic letters had the power to charm, to curse, and to spell—in both senses of the word.

Today, runes still have the power to counsel, to clarify, and to communicate.

I will offer you a word of caution: runes are direct. They’re blunt, and honest to a fault. They don’t mince words, they don’t waste time, and they don’t suffer fools. Other than that, they’re kind of fun to have around.

The most commonly used set of runes is called the Elder Futhark—a collection of 24 symbols, each representing a sound, a shape, and a concept. There’s a rune for strength, for example, and a rune for protection. There’s also a rune for ice, a rune for joy, and a rune for cattle—the ancient measure of wealth.

Every rune holds layers of meaning—from the practical to the poetic, from the mystical to the mythological. You can use runes one at a time, in small groups, or cast the entire set and see which ones speak loudest.

How Do Runes Work?

Runes work a lot like tarot—but they’re simpler, older, and in many ways, blunter. There’s no sugarcoating with runes. They don’t tell long stories. They don’t pad the truth. They simply answer.

You draw or cast the runes, and they reveal:

The forces at play
The energy moving through your situation
The underlying patterns and outcomes
And most importantly, the next right step

They’re like signs from the ancestors—carved in wood, etched in stone, and dropped into your hands.

Why Are the Runes So Special?

For me, the runes are personal. My family heritage is Scandinavian—and my last name, Kenner, is derived from the Ken or Kenaz rune, which means knowledge and enlightenment.

If tarot is a story and astrology is a map, the runes are a signal fire on the horizon. They’re fast, fierce, and full of insight, and they make a powerful addition to any reading.