The Origin of Runes and Rune Magick
Runes and rune magic have always played a vital role in the life of northern nations. Even if initially the runes might have been treated only as magic symbols, with time they became fully-fledged alphabet, which in its term served as a great push in the development of civilization in the North. First written mentioning of runes and rune magic we can find in the 3rd century A.D., however, it is possible to assume that they have appeared long time before.
First practitioners used runes for various goals. They could draw them on the stones and open portals to the bowels of the earth. They could carve them on the pieces of wood or bowls and they would bring healing and relieve pain . You can often find mentioning of runes in legends and stories of how runes were used by the first practitioners for love spells/magic and controlling weather. At the same time, it is hard to say that there was a special cast of “practitioners” that were different from common people. On the contrary, runes were used by everyone without any kind of privileges or differences in status. They could have been carved/written by a mage (pagan priest) or a common fisherman who did not know any laws of magic.
(Rune stones beginning of 3rd century, Sweden).
This was the main difference from other belief systems. For a very long time there was no superiority of one over the other. The system was universal. Of course, you do have to take into account that mages and common people had different scale of knowledge. Yet, all people had the knowledge. People believed in the mighty power of runes, but did not think of it as something exclusive. They just accepted runes as the helpers of Gods (Aesirs), as the symbols had the power to help manifest almost anything. You also have to take into account that in the Northern tradition, Gods (Aesirs) were always living beings, they were respected, they were honored and they were hated. However, Gods (Aesirs) were never placed on some unreachable height. Northern tradition is one of the few who talks about feelings of the Gods, about their losses, trials, failures and not only about how great they were. If you turn to legends, then you might find that Gods, just like people, can get sick, can be killed and can be unhappy. In the Northern tradition, Gods are very close to a man. They can get offended, fall in love, get upset – their spectrum of feelings almost identical to the one of a human, even though they are a deity with divine nature of origin. You can find many examples in history of how Gods (Aesirs) use runes on the same level as people. Which leads us to the question of emergence of runes themselves. A natural question of runes origin arises since they were used by both Gods (Aesirs) and humans alike.
King Harald ‘ s rune stone. Illustrations by Søren Abildgaard from National Museum of Denmark.
There are several accounts of rune origin. There are historical as well as mythological stories. Let’s look at them in detail:
1. The tale related to mythology: Runes were acquired by Odin from the Mimir’s Well.
It talks about the following: In order to govern/balance the world as a whole (we know that there are 9 worlds as there are 9 branches of the sacred tree Yggdrasill), Odin needed help. He could not confront the forces of chaos who wanted to bring down the World’s Tree (Yggdrasill) and at the same time continue the “building process”. There are two variances to the legend. Frist one talks about that one day he overheard a conversation among the dwarfs about the Symbols that were given to them by even more ancient beings and that you can receive them from the Mimir’s Well. Then Odin went to the spring of Urd (Urðarbrunnr) which is directly connected to the Mimir’s Well (as we know, Urd is one of the sources of life, situated at the base of the World Tree’s roots, as it is impossible to go directly to the Mimir’s Well, because the portal to the place where it is situation has been closed long time ago, in the times before Odin, he went to Urd because the underground waters connect Urd with the Mimir’s Well). However, each place has the owner, and the same goes for the well. Norns did not exist at the time (they appeared long time after and only in later writings began to connect with the springs, we will talk about them in more detail in the lecture about Gods and Goddesses), yet the place was not ownerless, it belonged to the Giant , the name of which historians connect to Mimir, but it is hard to say if it is correct though. Upon arriving at the spring/source, Odin talked to the Giant for a long time and in the end they have agreed to a certain payment. It is not that important what kind of payment it was, the more important is that there was a payment. First of all, it shows that Gods also have to pay, and second of all, it shows that there are even more powerful forces than Gods (Aesirs). After giving away his eye, enduring pain and suffering , Odin received runes from the well. There are different variations/interpretations. Some historians write about Odin seeing runes on the surface of the water, others talk about Odin receiving runes in the form of the fallen branches. It is important to take into account that Odin receives the runes not from the Giant, who is just the guardian and makes Odin suffer not out of own whim, but because more ancient beings required an exchange for the knowledge of runes – a part of him, his blood and a part of his spirit. You can say that it was a certain “insurance” on their side. When they have a part of him, they get a certain leverage, in case the God (Aesir) at some point decides to go against them.
The Second version is much less complicated. Odin already knew about the existence of certain secret knowledge that you can receive through the springs/source. However, as any being, he was afraid of the sacrifice. There was no alleged “fearlessness” that is often described in the modern sources. Any mythical tale that was born in the Northern lands will give proof that Odin was afraid. It is described in all the original sources of the oral traditions that were discovered (we are not taking into account Edda, because the date of Edda is far from the original knowledge sources). The sacrifice could vary, yet Odin will not be able to acquire knowledge without it. He could not avoid following this law. Nevertheless, there came to be a crucial moment when the danger of the world’s destruction was too probable, so Odin had to journey to the well without any hesitation. What is the most important part of this account:
1) Giants, dwarves, elves and other beings were not created by Odin from the body of Mimir. They either came to the World’s Tree themselves or had already existed. At the same time, you have to take into account that Mimir’s Well was not created either. It already existed at the time when Mimir appeared. It was just given his name.
2) Runes can be referred to more ancient symbols, than it is commonly accepted. It is possible to claim that runes were given by more ancient beings than the Gods (Aesirs).
2. Second account related to mythology: Runes were discovered and given by the Norwegian Underground School of Magic.
This account is very rare and barely known. There is a legend that when the world was born, let’s call it that as there are many different versions of the world’s creation, in the lands of the Northern Norway there was a special underground school that was called Svartiskóli, which means the school of magic and black magic. You can find various reference about most prominent mages who wen to study there. Yet, not everyone was able to graduate from the school. It is believed that the school appeared at the same time as Gods. There is really no reference about what kind of school it was, who taught there or what people were taught there. Everything that remained was a few tales and legends. At the same time practically in any source about the mages you would easily find reference that they would leave their homeland and went to study in some underground place. According to the legend, runes where developed in this school and were given to people, but not to everyone. However, when Gods heard the knowledge leaked outside the school they have decided to give runes to everyone and not make any preferences. What we know about the school is that it really existed. Many different things were taught there, including how to control destiny of people. Yet for some reason this school has seized to exist. What is important here:
1) According to sagas, almost all ancient mages studied in the school and received advanced sacred knowledge about runes.
2) Runes were used to achieve different kind of goals, their purpose was much higher than mere everyday vanity problems
.
Here is some more details about the school, but you have to take into account that 1) it is a legend 2) it was strongly influenced by Catholicism.
The Black Magic School
Iceland
Once upon a time there existed somewhere in the world, nobody knows where, a school which was called the Black School. There the pupils learned witchcraft and all sorts of ancient arts. Wherever this school was, it was somewhere below ground, and was held in a strong room which, as it had no window, was eternally dark and changeless. There was no teacher either, but everything was learnt from books with fiery letters, which could be read quite easily in the dark. Never were the pupils allowed to go out into the open air or see the daylight during the whole time they stayed there, which was from five to seven years. By then they had gained a thorough and perfect knowledge of the sciences to be learnt. A shaggy gray hand came through the wall every day with the pupils’ meals, and when they had finished eating and drinking took back the horns and platters. But one of the rules of the school was, that the owner should keep for himself that one of the students who should leave the school the last every year. And, considering that it was pretty well known among the pupils that the devil himself was the master, you may fancy what a scramble there was at each year’s end, everybody doing his best to avoid being last to leave the school.
It happened once that three Icelanders went to this school, by the name of Sæmundur the Learned, Kálfur Arnason, and Hálfdán Eldjárnsson; and as they all arrived at the same time, they were all supposed to leave at the same time. Sæmundur declared himself willing to be the last of them, at which the others were much lightened in mind. So he threw over himself a large mantle, leaving the sleeves loose and the fastenings free.
A staircase led from the school to the upper world, and when Sæmundur was about to mount this the devil grasped at him and said, “You are mine!”
But Sæmundur slipped out of this mantle and made off with all speed, leaving the devil the empty cloak. However, just as he left the school the heavy iron door was slammed suddenly to, and wounded Sæmundur on the heels. Then he said, “That was pretty close upon my heels,” which words have since passed into a proverb. The Sæmundur contrived to escape from the Black School, with his companions, scot-free.
Some people relate, that, when Sæmundur came into the doorway, the sun shone upon him and threw his shadow onto the opposite wall. And as the devil stretched out his hand to grapple with him, Sæmundur said, “I am not the last. Do you not see who follows me?”
So the devil seized the shadow, mistaking it for a man, and Sæmundur escaped with a blow on his heels from the iron door.
But from that hour he was always shadowless, for whatever the devil took, he never gave back again.
________________________________________
Source: Jón Árnason, Icelandic Legends, translated by George E. J. Powell and Eiríkur Magnússon (London: Richard Bentley, 1864), pp. 226-28.
photo from the National Museum of Norway
Third account is historic one: Runes are representation of the cave paintings.
The given version of course is not as interesting as the previous ones. Historians believe that runes could be just common graphic symbols, created due to the evolution of civilization. Supporters of this version often claim that rune symbols are derivatives from the first cave paintings that were discovered on the territory of Norway, Iceland and Sweden. Of course, it is quite easy to find similarities between runes and cave paintings, however to say that they are derivatives would be too much. Form of runes is much more strict when compared to cave paintings. Cave paintings are much smoother when compared to the forms of the first runes. Besides, runes are graphic symbols without any plot and do not carry any meaning for those who don’t know what they are about, which is quite different from the cave paintings that in most cases would portray a certain event. Nevertheless, let’s not argue with historians and look into this account in more detail. It can also have its own magic meaning, even though it could be hard to notice at first.
Let’s assume that everything historians say is true and runes are just representation of the first cave drawings. Then we can claim that rune is a magic or a historical image of an event. Just one small graphic symbol contains a certain period of time describing certain events that have happened. In more simple terms, using this theory rune is like a genie in a bottle. Imagine that a certain force takes a certain snippet of time including events, people and territory, as well as cause and effect relationships and locks it in a chest. This chest is also sealed through a certain action so it wouldn’t open for no reason. If we follow this theory, then rune can be described as the locked chest containing a snippet of time. Thus if a certain event have already happened in the past, then by opening this chest we place on the current time the template of what have happened and create what we need, by choosing certain moments and shifting them into the “now”. Therefore, this version does not contradict to the fact that runes can help achieve many things. In any snippet of time a person portrays living beings that are close to him or her. What is important:
1) Runes are snippets of time and they can hold a formed event inside of them. They are a certain benchmark or template that can be used to change reality.
2) Runes are living symbols as they hold pieces/snippets of life.
Fourth account is the historic one: Runes as the alphabet system
It is a later version. Researchers believe that runes could have been used as magical symbols in the beginning stages of the evolution of civilization. After those stages were passed runes were needed just for the alphabet. It is not exactly the case as it is possible to rightfully claim that runes became such a custom tool among all classes of society that they began to substitute any other symbols. Since most people already new runes, they were just used to implement a system for writing. It would not really make sense to create a totally new system. It would just take too much time and energy to teach people the new system. None of the Northern countries at that moment of history could allow themselves creation of a totally new writing system. People were mainly concerned with survival in the harsh conditions.
In any case, runes became not just the magic symbols but an alphabet system as well. You have to take into account that runes were the only symbols given to people and they became the first and the only alphabet with just one set of runes. All later versions are derivatives from the initial set. It is also important to note that magical beings had their own runes that were separate from those that people had. We can find many different references about Dwarf runes and Elf runes, runes of the Giants and runes of Spirits and those runes were not the same ones as those that people have had. From the historic stand point there are several version of how runes were created as an alphabetic system:
1. Runes were created to match Latin letters by the Germanic mercenaries who spent some time in Rome.
2. There are also theories of rune origin connected to Greek and Gothic alphabets.
What is important:
1) Runes are an independent alphabet system with an initial graphic form that with time underwent transformation.
2) There were different runes for people and for magical beings.
These are just official accounts of rune origin. When it comes to how runes were used, there were incredibly many ways. Runes could be applied to food, water, on the walls of a building, could be embroidered on clothing and written on the body for a short time as well as for tattoos. Many practices are similar to other traditions and it is possible to claim that runes were used by everyone everywhere with any types of mediums. In addition to the name of the rune it also had its magical name. The order was as follows – designation – rune – name of the rune. The way we call out to a rune today is only a general designation but not its true name. The knowledge about the true magic names of the runes have been lost very long time ago. All that remained is the designation. That is why you can often hear – “in the ancient times people could do this and this, and where did it all go..”. The main challenge is that in the ancient times people processed full knowledge when we only have pieces of the knowledge that has not been fully discovered yet.
One way or the other carving/applying/writing of the runes was considered to be related to praising the gods. When runes were applied, a certain God or a Goddess was instinctively invoked. Often “own Gods” were invoked, those that were chosen or those Gods that were patrons of the household or the ancestry line. In rare cases runes were carved silently. It was believed that when runes were carved silently by a person, then he or she assumes that Gods cannot hear him or her. Nevertheless, it didn’t made spells less powerful. It meant that the person wanted to just apply the power of the runes without invoking the Gods. If the person would say something during the process, then he or she would also invoke the Gods. In the ancient times Gods were observing how people use runes and even if the person carved/written/applied runes silently he or she was still under observation. That it is why it is commonly accepted that runes will not work without consent from the Gods. The use of runes was often connected with spells and shamanism as well as with basic magic rituals. As a rule it was easy for mages to add certain magic rituals to rune magic, at the same time common people would use runes by simply applying/carving/writing them.
Source: Vannadis School of Runes
Posted with the permission from Vannadis.
Translated by Falcon
http://www.clubmagics.com/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=69
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