What are the Basics?

To be successful with a Runic ceremonial you need to be familiar with its elements. Therefore you will need to gain knowledge of
1. the 18 stanzas of the "Magical Poem", each of which is the trigger of one Runes
2. The mantras of each Rune. When chanting its mantra, you can trigger the power of the Rune.
3. The Body postures and hand positions of the Runes will transform your body or your hand into a "window" through which the Runic energy can flow from the realms of creation into your setup. Again, you can increase the power of this flow with the help of the life force generator!
4. The meanings of the Runes that are descriptions of the creative energies that connect with each Rune and its effects. This knowledge is indispensable if you want to design effective Rune ceremonials that have the effect that you envision.
5. Basic knowledge of ceremonials in general and of Rune ceremonials in particular.
6. The proper grounding procedures that are necessary to get rid of Rune energies after the work is done
7. The meaning of the elements in general and of Thor's Hammer in particular.
8. An understanding of the function of the Rune realms and methods to connect with them.

In addition to the above it will be useful to gain knowledge of
1. Exact runic frequencies (sound pitches)
2. Runes and chakras
3. The Runic zodiacs
4. Knowledge of life energy and its relation to light energy
5. Odin's Rune Song.
6. Aligning the elements (see the course on cosmic consciousness)

You will find all of this in the Basic Rune course and other publications on our web sites.

Odin's Rune Song

I know myself hanging on the wind cold tree for nine icy nights.
Wounded by the spear, consecrated to Wodan
I consecrated to myself.
I was hanging on the mighty tree which conceals man
Where man grew out of its roots.

They offered me neither bread nor wine
So I bent down in search.
I recognized the Runes; wailing I grasped them.
Until I sank down from the tree.

Now I began to increase, to be wise,
To grow and to feel well.
From the word, word grew after word
And deed shaped to deeds with deeds.

Now I know the songs like no wise one knows
And none of the children of men.
And should these songs, o human child, be un-learnable to you for sheer endless time;
Grasp them as you get hold of them, use them as you hear of them.
Hail you if you retain them!

The Song of Odin, the Magical Poem, the Rune Songs and the structures of Runic ceremonials, contain deep cryptic and symbolic significance. The writers of the songs and poems used such language to describe that which pertains to the realms of the physio-psychic, the metaphysical, the hyper physical, and the transcendental. They used ritual to trigger experience of things that words cannot describe easily.

Odin's Rune Song and the eighteen stanzas of the Magical Poem show clearly the initiation-oriented content of the powerful ancient tradition of the Runes. They also contain keys for the practical use of the Runes. Personal experience with Runes will give you all the evidence that you need to understand this aspect of the eighteen Sacred Futhork Runes.

In their graphic representation Runes are derived from the Hexagon with the three inscribed diameters. This shape is often referred to as "The World Crystal". In this shape the eighteen, Number of the runes, becomes apparent: eighteen surfaces of this crystal!

Singing Runes compares to singing mantras of power. Once you sing a Rune consciously, you turn on a switch that gives you access to transcendental energies, whether you want this to happen or not. Slowly the Runes will then communicate to you how to manage and how to use their energies, provided, of course, that you are ready to accept the Runes and to overcome the bondage of your self-imposed limitations and the restrictions of the world tree.

When I refer to Runes as triggers and say that they communicate with you, this describes only a partial aspect of the Runes. Whatever description of Runic power you get from such practice, this is not all that the Runes are. Runes are way beyond mappings! Therefore it is irrelevant how you view Runes, whether as energies, as spiritual beings, as gods, as mantras, or all of this. Runes will remain beyond the attempts to describe them, beyond words, beyond mappings, but open to direct connection with them on the un-speakable levels of experience.

Every Rune connects with Worlds of Creation and Formation. Therefore, whenever you connect with a Rune you may expect material effects that relate to the specific Rune with which you are working. Be aware then that the most powerful methods are all too often also the simplest ones! In fact, many of these powerful methods are of a simplicity that most people cannot comprehend. Consequently they practice for years to master that which they could have mastered in a matter of weeks, if not days! The deepest mysteries are often also the easiest ones to penetrate, but they self-protect against misuse and profanation.

The magical poem

F A
I know the Songs that no wise woman knows
And none of the children of men.
The first Song is HELP, and help it will
Against sorrow, hurt, and any distress.

U R
A second I know; quite useful to the children of men
Who practice the healing hand:
It chases disease and all pain,
It cures hurts and all wounds.

T H O R N
A third Song I know: If urgency tells me
To tie the opponent with magic
Then I dull the steel of my foes
So that their swords will not cut anymore.

O S
A fourth Song I know: If an enemy puts
A tie of pliable limbs;
Then I speak the spell, the shackles break on the feet
And the fetters break on the hands.

R I T
This I know as a fifth: If in hostile flight
An arrow shoots into the crowd;
Not matter how it threatens, I block its force
By grasping it tightly with the look of my eyes.

K A
A sixth on is mine: Should a warrior hurt me
With the roots of soft wood;
This warrior who awakens the hate within me
Shall be struck before it gets me.

H A G A L
A seventh I know: If the hall blazes high in flames
Above all the people;
No matter how it burns, I still save them all.
The Magic I know to perform.

N O D
An eighth one is mine: quite useful to hear
For all the people in danger and need.
Where hate should arise between man and man
I settle it fast.

I S
A ninth one I know: I danger is out in the sea
To protect my dear ship
I conjure the wind on the billowing floods
An I sing into slumber the sea.

A R
A tenth one I know: When ill wishing spirits
Fly high in the air; I cause them to turn around
Back to their homes, deprived of their covers;
Back to their roots, bewildered their minds.

S I G
This I know as eleventh: Then I Lead
Into battle the friend, the beloved;
I sing it into his shield, so he will win in battle
And luck around him everywhere.

T Y R
A twelfth one I know: If I see the hanged man
On the tree, shaking in the wind
Then I scratch and I stain Runes
The warrior can talk and descends from the tree.

B A R
A thirteenth I name: If I wet the Son
With holy water
When he is facing the foes he cannot perish
And no blade can strike him into the dust.

L A F
A fourteenth I sing to all the assembled people
When I name the Divine names;
For nobody knows the characters of Albs
And of all Aesir as well as I do.

M A N
A fifteenth I count: That which Volkrast, the gnome
Sang by the gates of the day;
To strength for the Aesir, and to force for the Albs,
And to clear my own senses.

Y R
A sixteenth I know:
If from wise maiden I desire joy of love
Then I change the intent of the maiden
And I turn her feeling around.

E H
A seventeenth I know:
To join together two lives
In love through wise law;
Both are willing, and no one will lightly part after this.

G I B O R
An eighteenth I learned, but I would not let this
Know a just anyone else; for the best Everyone keeps for himself.
That which leads to the end of the songs.
The one only knows who is in my arms as my only lover.

Obviously the nature of these eighteen stanzas is such that the student who can read between the lines will notice immediately that books could be written about the hidden, esoteric, meanings of the stanzas. To gain a thorough understanding of these 18 Rune stanzas, you need to open up to their symbolic messages plus their evocative meanings. This opening up will happen naturally as you continue practicing Runes and the more you practice the more these deep symbolic meanings will reveal themselves to you.