
Many of us may think of the Norse Futhark Runes when the stones are being discussed, but in this blog series I am going to be discussing what it known as Witches' Runes. For me they are easier to interpret as they use imagery that I am already familiar with and use within my own Witchcraft.
All runes are connected with the creative energies of the Universe so when you cast the stones you align yourself with that energy. This energy is not
No one is certain where the Witches’ Runes originated from however some believe they began with the ancient people of eastern and northern Scotland known as Picts meaning “to paint”, suggesting that they tattooed or dyed their bodies. It is suggested however that they referred to themselves as Pechts, meaning “the ancestors”. They were a tribal confederation of people who migrated from Scandinavia as a cohesive group. They are assumed to be descendants of the Caledonii and other tribes and were thought to have merged with the Gaels around the 10th century but there are no written records of their history. What we do know of them has come from Roman and Scottish writers, as well as, from images that the Picts carved in stone themselves.
As you know the Futhark Runes originated as part of a written language, though they could be and were used, in other ways for other purposes however Witches’ Runes are different as they are not based on an alphabet; instead are a series of pictographs. These picture symbols connect with a word or concept that can be used as a meditative visualization; by focusing on the symbol and using it in this way its energetic frequency will enable you to manifest the circumstances of the symbol for yourself. The Witches’ Runes can also be used as an oracle for gaining advice, insight, and deeper understanding on a topic or circumstance.
There are different versions of the Witches’ Runes: one uses 8 symbols, another uses 10 symbols, and the one I will be discussing in these blog posts uses 13 symbols (one for every full moon of the lunar year). This version allows for easier time scaling of events within a casting. Some witches will add stones as they advance along in their Craft in order to cast spells. The thirteen images within the version I will be discussing are; Sun, Star, Moon, The Eye, The Scythe, Harvest, Flight
Man, Woman, Romance, Rings, Waves, and Crossroads.