Runemal
"Hail to whoever spoke them! Hail to whoever knows them! Gain they who grasp them! Happy they who heed them!"
There is more than one opinion to be found regarding the correct list of names, meanings, and pronunciations where runes are concerned.
Just as there is more than one opinion to be found regarding the names of the individual Runes, there will be a fair amount of differing opinion to be had where the meaning of each rune is concerned also.
We have prepared a fairly simple list containing the best known names of the rune symbols, their pronunciations, and the most widely agreed upon meanings for each rune as well as some commonly accepted correspondences. This is not intended to be a definitive listing by any means, but, it should serve to get you started.
If it so happens that your information or experience is not reflected in these pages, by all means, go with what you know. Better yet, share what you know the rest of us here in the Garden of the Midnight Moonchild. We are always happy to learn more.
For a listing of some of the many names, pronunciations, phonetic values and meanings of the runes, please select the Runes icon to your left. This page will also take you to more detailed information for each individual rune
The Care and Feeding of Runestones
Runestones are tools just like crystals, cards, and any other talisman. Everyone knows that the proper care of tools will allow the tool to serve you better and last longer. It is in the interest of making your runestones the best possible tools that they can be that we offer this little guide to caring for your stones.
Of course, by now you probably have a pretty good idea that there are other methods than the ones we list here for recharging and cleansing your stones. As is our usual advice, use this as a guideline only. If there are specific methods and rituals that you prefer and you do not find listed here, go with what you know. These are YOUR tools and if YOU are comfortable working with them in a specific way, your results will be much more satisfactory if you continue to do so regardless of what is suggested here (or anywhere else, for that matter). For information on the suggested care and feeding of your runestones, please select the runes icon to your left
The Use of Runes in Meditation and Magic
There is a sprightly arguement ongoing in some quarters regarding the heredity of runes. Are they Celtic?, Are they Norse?, Are they Hebraic?..... You won't get an answer here, and this is mostly because we don't believe this kind of information is necessary to working productively with runestones or successfully incorporating runic symbols into your own rituals.
It is with this attitude in mind that we offer a smattering of sample rituals and meditative excercises for you to use, off the rack as it were, or customize for your own purposes. Hopefully will have included enough in the way of information particular to "intent" so that you will understand why certain correspondences are used in conjunction with certain runic meditations and rituals. Much like growing the most successful garden comes from knowing that May is a better month for planting seedlings than December (at least in this hemisphere), the most successful use of runes will include some basic information about when and why certain symbols are appropriate.
You should feel free to take what you find useful on these pages and leave whatever doesn't appeal to your particular taste. Hopefully, we have provided you with enough information to get started on creating your very own personalized rituals and meditations. Think of this as a sort of a "cookbook" If the receipe calls for peanuts, and you are allergic to them, make the appropriate substitution... OK? For more detailed information on the use of runes in ritual and meditation, please select the rune icon to your left.
Get Your Own Set of Runestones
We here at the Garden of the Midnight Moonchild are fortunate to live on the shores of one of the largest freshwater lakes in the United States. This great big beautiful "Inland Sea" is the source of our hand-picked supply of naturally hewn granite composite stones.
Once selected, the stones are hand carved, and cleansed with pure running water, and the influence of the Full Moon. There is quite a bit of effort that goes into this process, but we feel it can be most rewarding for the serious student of Runemal.
To see a sample set of Hand Carved Runestones, and learn more about how you can carve your own, please select the rune icon to your left.
Other Links of Topical Interest
We haven't the space available to provide all the information available for this particular topic. In fact, we're pretty sure we don't have all the information available on this topic. What we do have, however, is a real willingness to recommend some good places for you to begin your own research should anything here pique your interest. Based on our own experience we can heartily recommend the following web addresses;
The Rune School
This is pretty much where you want to start if you are looking to learn more about Runes. This site contains details of the history of the Elder Futhark, of the use of the runes on artifacts found in archaeological investigation, of the literature and mythology which includes them and guides to their divinatory and magical uses. There is plenty to be learned about Runes here, and links to other sources of information too.
Bodacciea
This site devotes itself to a great deal of in depth study of runes, rune origination, and magical applications of runic symbols.
Oswald The Runemaker
This is a pretty comprehensive site with a particularly detailed section dedicated to rune lore. Not only is the vitki there quite well versed in his field, but there are some interesting insights in rune lore and history for those of you who want to delve a little deeper than the average three-rune-throw.
If you wish to return to return to the Garden of the Midnight Moonchild Homepage, please select the image icon to your left or the links below.