Casting The Runes
Each individual will eventually devise his or her own way of casting the runes. What follows are some
suggestions, all following a similar path, but they are by no means fixed rules.
It is important to remember that your runes are your own, and are special. You have created a link
with them and that is important. Never lend your runes, unless you feel comfortable doing this. I
personally would never lend runes, Tarot cards or crystals to anyone else. If you are unsure, maybe
you should try drawing a rune from your pouch and seeing what you get as an answer. It is suggested
that an upright rune gives a Yes answer, and an inverted one a No answer. However, those runes
which look the same either way may prove a problem!
A traditional way of casting the runes is to mix them in a pouch and cast them on a cloth, usually
velvet. I keep my runes in such a pouch and use them in this way. It usually happens that the runes I
am intended to use find their way into my hand or between my fingers as I mix them in the pouch. I
usually draw nine runes.
Others have suggested drawing three runes at a time, three times, with a break in between each set of
three.
Old Nordic tales suggest that throwing runes at a person was a means of casting a magical spell.
Likewise spells are said to have been cast by writing certain runic inscriptions on a piece of paper and
passing it to the unsuspecting intended victim.
All these things may belong in folklore, and have no bearing on the modern usage for runes; it is up to
the individual to decide. One runemaster I know draws three runes which represent current
circumstances. Having looked at these three runes, he returns them to the pouch and draws three
more. The second set of three represents courses of action or possible outcomes. The second set is
then also returned to the pouch and a final single rune drawn, which indicates influences likely to have
a bearing on the problem as a whole.
Tradition suggests that Odin’s number was 5. For this reason, some runemasters work with only five
runes. Those interested in numerology will note that the runes total 25 if you include the blank rune.
This all adds up to 7, which is a powerful and spiritual number, and for this reason, perhaps, some
runemasters draw seven runes when casting.
Another means of casting the runes is to ‘shuffle them’ and leave them to their own devices for a while
(15 minutes is usually suggested), and then draw 12, laying them on a runic chart especially
prepared for the purpose.
Witches Of The Craft® 