What are the Rune stones?
The runes are an ancient method of divination from northern Europe which could date as early as the Roman Empire, preserved through ancient texts and poems which describe the meanings and correspondences of the characters.
The runes are markings, particularly, letters of the ancient Germanic alphabet, each of which corresponds to some particular aspect of life, such as “mankind”, “flow”, “stasis”, “justice” or “fertility”. These are over-simplified versions of the true meanings of the runes, which are steeped in historical and mythological meanings, but that gives you the basic idea.
Most runes are made with painted or carved stones, though in ancient times, they were always made with wood, particularly from fruit-bearing trees like Apple or Peach trees.
Here is an extremely basic guide to rune stone meanings. Where possible, I broke down the meaning to a single word or two. Remember, this is extremely elementary, and does not go into anywhere near sufficient enough depth to cover every, or even most potential meanings commonly associated with each symbol.
The f-rune is about exchange or a transfer of power
The u-rune is a symbol of power and virility
The th-rune is a symbol of balance
The a-rune means breath or knowledge
The r-rune is about rhythm
The k- or c-rune is about passion
The g-rune (it looks like the letter x) is about generosity
The w-rune (it looks like a “p”) is about joy
The h-rune is the rune of loss
The n-rune is about necessity
The i-rune is about stasis
The j-rune is about topics like justice and says “you reap what you sow”
The p-rune is a rune of chance and mystery
The ei-rune is a rune of self-transformation
The z rune is a symbol of protection
The s-rune is a symbol of reliability and good health
The t-rune is a symbol of confidence and victory
The b-rune is the rune of new beginnings
The e-rune is a symbol of teamwork
The m-rune is the sign of mankind
The l-rune is about flow, or the sharing of knowledge
The ing-rune is the sign of fertility (particularly related to males – it’s named after the god Freyr or Ing)
The d-rune is a signal that destruction will bring new, or unintended consequences
The o-rune is a symbol of heritage and the past.
Diana Paxson’s book is by far the best resource for learning more about this incredibly complex system of divination.
