Making and Consecrating Runes – by Tamir Rúnasöngvari

Havamal 144.

Do you know how to carve them?

do you know how to interpret them?
do you know how to paint them?

do you know how to test them?
do you know how to ask them?

do you know how to bless them?
do you know how to send them? 

do you know how to offer them?

Making a set of Runes can be a simple task, or an intense, long process. I believe that the more you put into them, the more you get, so let start there.

Choosing your wood. Does the type of wood matter? I consider it to be a part of the quality of the end product, so yes. So here goes the research part of this. Some runeologists believe that runes should only be made from a tree that bears fruit.

Okay, so where does this belief come from?  In 98 CE the Roman historian Tacitus described the divination methods of the Germanic people:

“They attach the highest importance to the taking of auspices [typically by observing the movements of animals, especially birds and horses] and the casting of lots. Their usual procedure with the lot is simple. They cut off a branch from a nut [or fruit] bearing tree and slice it into strips. These they mark with different signs and throw them at random onto a white cloth. Then the state’s priest, if it is an official consultation, or the father of the family, in a private one, offers prayers to the Gods and looking up towards heaven picks up three strips, one at a time, and, according to which sign they have previously been marked with, makes his interpretation. If the lots forbid an undertaking, there is no deliberation that day about the matter in question. If they allow it, further confirmation is required by taking the auspices [Tacitus, Agricola and Germania, Oxford World’s Classics at 42]. So we can gather from this, depending on your interpretation of the text, that Tacitus describes the rune makers cutting a branch from fruit-bearing/nut bearing tree. That gives us a large list of trees to choose from. Some of the trees that grow here in the mid west are apple, pear, cherry, peach, mulberry and walnut. I have to drop this little tid-bit in, fruit-bearing trees are female, so by this all runes made from these are feminine in nature.

However, is this only the way? I doubt it. And who’s to say we trust this Roman dude? There are a couple of the runes that mention or are tied to trees, Berkano and Eihwaz, Birch and Yew respectively. Berkano represents a Birch Tree. It symbolizes Femininity, Fertility, Healing, Regeneration, Birth, and New Beginnings.  Eihwaz represents a Yew Tree. It symbolizes Balance, Enlightenment, Death, The World Tree. I choose to use birch for my set to adhere to Berkano’s meaning of new beginnings, since this was my first rune set.

Now are there any rules that say these two are the only way? No there’s not, but I believe something that is tied to the lore, or has some magickal intent will be stronger. But they’re your Runes you have to decide what you feel is right.

Now how do we acquire the branch? First off, unless you have these trees in your yard you’ll have to go elsewhere to find them. Always, always ask the property owner, AND the land wights (landvættir). If you get a no from either, move on. Once you find a tree that you have been granted access too, look first for fallen branches. I believe this is better for the tree, and also better for the rune maker because these are pre-dried. If you have to cut, ask the tree. Yes, ask the tree, it’s only polite. Use sharp cutters, don’t rip, pull or tear the limb. And get enough branches to make 24 ¼ to ¾ inch discs. If you cut branches from a living tree, you’ll need to store them in a dry, warm place for at least six months.

Use a miter saw or band saw to cut your discs. (Helpful tip: Use clamps to secure a straightedge to your saw to keep the pieces the same thickness.) After you cut your 24 discs, (cut a few extra just encase you mess one up) sand them lightly to remove the teeth marks made by the blade. You can leave the bark on if you wish, or sand it away, your choice.

Now comes the Magickal part, sit in a comfortable chair at a work table. Set a scared space by doing a hammer hallowing ritual. You may also wish to ask Óðinn to guide your hand during your ritual. Use a dremel, carving knife or exacto, and please use a carving glove just in case. Start with Fehu and go in futhark order. As you carve each rune you are going to galdr that rune’s “song”. Galdr is basically a magickal incantation, you are singing to the wood disc to tell it what rune energy it will hold. You can find the Hammer Hallowing and the Rune Galdr in Edred Thorsson’s book, Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic. Go slow and take your time, sing the galdr to each rune.

Next, comes the time to paint your runes. You can use red ochre for a natural “paint”, or enamel or acrylic paint. For the blood look choose a deep red paint. Speaking of blood, yes it’s traditional. Do you have to? No, but it will make the connection with your runes stronger. Yes, ladies you can use menstrual blood. If you are going to paint with blood you’ll need a lot and it drys quickly, so this whole process is hard and can also be dangerous. A quick, easy, and safe way to do this is to properly use a diabetic finger stick. Squeeze out a good drop of blood and drop it into a container of paint, and stir. There you have it, your blood is in the paint and you can seal it and keep it on hand for other spells after your runes are complete. Next, let’s paint some runes. Do the same process that you did for your carving, do the Hammer Hallowing, call on Óðinn, and begin the galdr and paint each rune. 

After your runes are all painted, set them out to dry for at least a couple of hours. Next use Linseed Oil to coat and seal each rune. Let the runes sit for a couple of days to soak in the oil. Then you can then take them and wipe any excess oil off with a clean cotton cloth. Now you need to decide what your runes will live in while you are not using them. A bag seems to be kind of traditional, or you can use box. You can do a consecrating ritual for this too if you wish. If you’re crafty you can make your bag or box and decorate it anyway you wish. I bought mine from Sunwyn Sundries, the owner is a long time heathen and her bags are beautiful.

Now it’s time to practice reading with your new runes, but that is another blog. Hail and blessings to you all.