How To Create A Rune

Do you want to initiate yourself in divination or are you curious about it? Then rune casting is a great way to start! It can take many years to master them, but you can easily make your own rune set and learn the basics thanks to the many online resources and books available nowadays .

There are many runic alphabets, but the most common one for rune divination is the Elder Futhark, made of 24 letters. Some rune sets include a blank rune called Wyrd rune or Odin's rune, but this is a more modern addition and there isn't historical evidence of its existence. In this case, it's your choice whether to add it to your set or not.

Elder Futhark Rune Meanings — Elder Futhark runes and their meanings

Also, it is important to note that rune reading isn't used to predict the future, but as a way to access your subconscious mind and get some guidance for a particular issue or question.

Runes can be blunt when giving you answers, so be prepared!

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Should you buy a rune set or should you make it yourself?

If you aren't familiar with the process of rune casting, you might have some questions: can you make your own runes? or should you buy a ready-made set?

Buying a rune set is convenient and there's nothing wrong with it, so if you find one that speaks to you, don't be afraid to purchase it! They usually come in different materials that are more difficult to find, such as crystals, metal or glass.

That being said, making your own rune set will make you feel more connected to it as it will have your energy and personal touch. It's also a budget-friendly way to start, in case you aren't sure if this divination method is for you.

On either case, you will need to consecrate your rune set, which we'll cover at the end of this post.

DIY rune set using wood — DIYed set of Elder Futhark runes

Choosing your materials

Traditionally, rune sets were made with natural materials and the good thing is that most of them are free and easily available!

Here are some ideas you can use for your DIY rune set, choose the one you feel the more comfortable working with:

WOOD

This is my favourite choice, as trees were a very important element in Norse Mythology, especially the ash tree (it is thought that the Yggdrasil was an ash tree), but feel free to use wood from other species.

The best wood to make your own runes would be a branch from a fruit-bearing living tree, but you can always use other species of wood if this is not possible for you. Ask permission before cutting it and leave a small offering of water before leaving. You can either paint, carve or pyrograph the runes for a longer-lasting option.

And if you can't go to nature or don't have access to all the tools right now, you can always buy these blank wood slices , which have the perfect size to create your set or this Basic Wooden Rune Set .

STONES OR PEBBLES

Go to a beach or river near you and select some small and flat stones. If you choose this option, be aware that they will be more difficult to carve. You can also paint them, but it will wear off over time.

BONES

This is a more controversial option and it isn't an easy material to work with. The bones should be from animals that died of natural causes preferably.

CLAY

A very easy material to work with, although it can also chip pretty quickly with use if you don't bake it properly. Be sure to seal it, so it lasts a bit longer.

Make your own runes — Wood is my favourite material to work with, but the possibilities are endless!

The most important thing to consider is that you will need 24 pieces (or 25 if you decide to include the blank rune) of whichever material you prefer and they all must have a similar size and shape. Also, they should be small enough so all of them fit in the palms of your hands. Have a couple extra pieces on the side, in case a mishap occurs.

Once you have the 24 pieces ready, it's time to carve or paint the Elder Futhark alphabet (for a full list of the runes, click here to see our Elder Futhark cheat-sheet) – the most traditional way would be to use your own blood, but I'll leave this choice to you.

Play some nice and relaxing music, focus your intentions and your mind on the task and say the name of each rune out loud as your carve or paint them, so you start getting familiar with them.

Consecrating your runes

To consecrate your rune set, it's crucial for you to be in a good headspace, so don't rush things if you had a bad day or are feeling sensitive. This process is very important, as you must feel connected to your rune set before using it for the first time.

As with all magical practices, there are many consecration rituals and some people believe it isn't necessary at all, so in the end, it's up to you whether to consecrate your set or not and what ritual to follow.

Here is a simple method, but you can find many consecration rituals by doing a quick search, so pick the one you feel the most comfortable with. Once this is done, you are ready to start with rune divination!

THE CANDLE METHOD

Light a candle and place all your runes on the left side, take a moment to meditate and focus your mind on the task ahead.

Then pick one of the runes and say its name, meditate about its meaning for a moment and pass it over the candle flame. Once you are finished, place it on the right side of the candle and do the same with the rest.

If you haven't memorized the rune names and their meanings yet, have a little cheat sheet in front of you and if you want to dig deeper in the art of rune reading, have a look at these 5 books perfect for beginners!

Rune consecration ritual — Consecrating your runes can be as easy or as elaborate as you want

Learn More about The Elder Futhark Runes

Do you want to learn about the Elder Futhark runes and their meanings? Then be sure to join our Clan for your monthly rune special and start building your Book of Shadows! Click here