Runes are another interesting tool you can use to trigger your subconscious. Runes, cards, astrology etc all have 2 basic uses, you can use them to predict the future, i.e. divination and you can use them to access your inner energies for your own spiritual development. Astrology is a long term affair, requires studying and a lot of work interpreting the aspects and planetary strengths and stuff. Cartomancy and runes are more to the point. Cartomancy is more suited for day to day practical questions and Tarot has the ability to decipher the deep as well as the superficial questions but Tarot requires more study.

Now about Runes. I use the Elder Futhark rune set. The ancient Norsemen used bits of bones to draw these runes on but today you can get pretty crystals or wood engraved with the rune symbols online. (Odin is the King of the Norse gods, but I think he is another form of Daityaguru Shukracharya, he too has one eye and had hung up-side down from a tree in deep meditation to achieve Transcendence.) I like Runes.

There are just these 24 rune symbols. It is so strange that the entire gamut of human life, society, relations and all can be expressed with a set of just 24 symbols. Some modern sets add a blank stone to the set making it 25, but I have never seen much use for the blank rune. All the questions are completely answered by the set of 24, it depends on how you use them.

A list of quick divinatory meanings, the basic keywords on which you can expand as you learn and practice more.

1. Fehu – Good Fortune
   • “Cattle”
   • Moveable property, power in action, livestock, liquid assets, luck, control over wealth, actions that create more wealth, wisdom to use power to increase assets.
   • “You have earned it, enjoy it now.”
2. Uruz – Strength
   • “Male Bullock”
   • Vitality, determination, perseverance, rain, healing, personal success, wisdom as a resource.
   • “A period of unpredictable power and a test coming up.”
3. Thurisaz – Security
   • “Thorn”
   • Protection, warning, barrier, power to defend, power to destroy, power to resist unwanted conflicts.
   • “Learn from the events in your past and present.”
4. Ansuz – Blessing
   • “Breath”
   • Odin’s personal rune. Words, communication, expression, intellect, sound as power, words of power, spells and mantras.
   • “Help yourself before you help others.”
5. Raido – Travel
   • “Movement”
   • direction, ritual, rhythm, justice, goals in harmony with the natural order.
   • “Focus and choose your direction of travel.”
6. Kenaz – Clarity
   • “Torch”
   • Illumination, creation, understanding, learning, teaching, perception, health issues.
   • “There is a beacon of hope guiding you.”
7. Gebo – Generosity
   • “Gift”
   • Exchange, relationships, uniting, connections, mutual honor, balance of energy and exchange, connection between 2 persons.
   • “Give and receive in fair exchange.”
8. Wunjo – Gain
   • “Joy”
   • Perfection, shared goals, unified force, wishes, happiness, harmony from achieving goals, fellowship.
   • “You will gain through diligence.”
9. Haglaz –  Destruction
   • “Hail”
   • general bad luck, enduring and overcoming temporary hardships, transformation caused by destruction, illness.
   • “Events not in your control, be careful.”
10. Nauthiz – Limitation
    • “Need”
    • Distress, necessary actions, problems created by one’s own self, karma, unnecessarily in tension, limited options.
    • “Give a serious thought to your pending commitments.”
11. Isa – Barrier
    • “Ice”
    • Contraction, stillness, suspension, introspection, restraint, slowed growth, stop and think.
    • “Coldness will create conflict, so act positively to melt the ice.”
12. Jera – Success
    • “Harvest”
    • Cycles, seasons, time, completion, gains, growing crops, health.
    • “You will reap what you have sown, be patient.”
13. Eihwaz – Death
    • “Yew tree”
    • Endings and beginnings, transformations, new opportunities, passages and routes, give something away so that new may come in.
    • “Old ways will pass, so that the new can rise.”
14. Perthro – Revelation
    • “Dice cup”
    • Solutions, bit of luck, using what destiny has given you, independence.
    • “You are lucky, be happy.”
15. Algiz – Shelter
    • “Elk”
    • Protection, defence, support, luck, sanctuary, resist temptations and move forward.
    • “You have all the protection you require.”
16. Sowulo – Energy
    • “Sun”
    • Will, strength, victory, vitality, healing, directing power, clarity
    • “You have the magic, so use it.”
17. Teiwaz – Bravery
    • “Creator”
    • Justice, responsibility, steadfastness, guided to success, victory, nobility.
    • “You are brave enough to face any adversity.”
18. Berkana – Start
    • “Birch tree”
    • Trees, growth, mother, new beginnings, intuition, Earth Mother, feminine energy.
    • “You will receive what you need to start something new.”
19. Ehwaz – Change
    • “Horse”,
    • spiritual journey, faith in God, help from elders and seniors.
    • “Be carefree and trust your destiny.”
20. Mannaz – Inclusion
    • “Human qualities”
    • common sense, understand the human influence in every situation.
    • “Follow the middle path, take everyone along.”
21. Laguz – Mystery
    • Intuition
    • “Water”
    • Flowing, emotions, psyche, revealing what is hidden.
    • “Have the courage to trust your sub-conscious.”
22. Inguz – Prosperity
    • “Fertility”,
    • opportunity, resolving problems, masculine energy.
    • “Everything will reach its full potential”
23. Dagaz – Yin-Yang
    • “Day”,
    • Satisfactory conclusion, final release, two sides of the same coin, balance between light and dark.
    • “Start your new projects but with due caution.”
24. Othila – Inheritance
    • “Home”
    • Ancestral land, family power and resources, kinships and friendships as treasure, fundamental spiritual values
    • “Use your resources wisely.”

You can make your own rune set. If you live near a park or a stream or a natural area, pick up 24 small rounded stones/pebbles which feel good in your hands. Wash them with sea salt water, clean them and draw these runes on them with a marker. You have your first rune set, and because you made it yourself it will respond to you beautifully. You can also buy the sets. If you buy a set, wash it first in salt-water, rinse them and tell them with all your intention that they are your tools and request their help. Sleep with them next to your pillow for one night and they are ready for use!

There are several ways of using them. The easiest way to start with is this. Take a small bag made of fabric. Put all the rune stones in it. Think of Odin/the universe/your favourite deity/anything that inspires your faith and request for guidance. Now think of your question and shake the bag in your both hands for a bit. When you feel like it, put your non-dominant hand in the bag and pull out 3 runestones. Lay them in the order you pulled them out, this would be a past-present-future sort of flow of energy. Now use the keywords above to interpret them. The best way to practice is to ask ‘How is my day doing to be?’, note the runes you pull out and tally them with how your day turns out. If you think that interpreting 3 Runes together is too much for a beginner, pull out just one Rune and try to interpret it. Keeping a journal is helpful and you will get better with practice.

These are all exercises; runes, cards, tarot, astrology etc. The real magic is your own sub-conscious. You are training your mind to look at patterns. Your sub-conscious knows everything, so by providing it these divinatory tools you are giving it an outlet. You are disciplining it, providing it an orderly means of communication. When you ask questions from your runes you are basically asking the question to your own self. With time and practice you will communicate with yourself better, thats when your readings will become intuitive and accurate.