The Art of The Witches Runes

Witches runes are cast in the same manner as casting dice. You throw all all the runes at once and only read the ones that land face up ignoring the rest. The leading (most important) is the one that lands furthest from you. These runes are cast weekly.

The Sun-

Success, a positive outcome. If a yes/no question is asked it means yes. Denotes progress and personal enrichment in life. When it is the leading stone it is equal to the outcome card in the tarot.

The Moon-

This is a particularly feminine stone and often appears in response to questions about women's issues. The Moon rune is a messenger. It is telling you to be aware that major changes are coming to your life. Consult the runes closest to it to determine whether those changes are negative or positive.

The Rings-

The Rings is the rune of love and again, when it is the leading stone, it is a positive answer to your question. It is very much a rune of relationship and can indicate engagement, marriage or a new/renewed relationship. It can also indicate the need for a fresh approach to an existing relationship.

The Crossed Spears-

The Crossed Spears is a rune that signifies arguments and negative events. Often this can be of an upsetting nature, rather like the Tower card in the tarot. It is not all bad though. If it is near to a positive rune it may indicate the end of a quarrel and healing. Especially if it lies near the Rings. This rune could mean a promotion at work, or a fast recovery if you're ill.

The Wave-

This rune is to do with the your friends and family and their influence upon you. Its meaning is usually derived from the other stones closest to it. This rune is also associated with travel. A journey abroad is indicated especially if the Sun rune is nearby, but a journey for someone close to you if the Moon stone is closest. If it is near to the Rings it foretells a holiday or long distance relationship.

The Ear of Corn-

This rune represents abundance, success and happiness. This is considered a lucky rune and if leading it is very positive about your query, whether the query is about finance, business, friendship, partnership or spirituality. In conjunction with the Rings it indicates a happy and prosperous marriage. With the Sun it means success in your career, and with Waves, success abroad.

The Birds-

The Birds Rune means some unexpected news that may alter your life completely. Especially if this is the leading rune. Generally the news will lead to a positive change but pay close attention to the nearest runes to determine its nature. It can also mean news of friends or family that you haven't had contact with in quite a while. Letters and documents should be watched for as they may well bring happiness.

The Black Rune-

This is a rune of difficulty and negative influences will rule your life for a time, but as all difficulties are a learning experience it will lead to improved personal perspective and progress on your life's path. Always consult the surrounding runes with this stone. If it lies with a positive stone it indicates that the pain of this experience will lead to a beneficial change in circumstances.

Credit: Meeghan Belford

Witches 13 Runes

Witches runes are a modern variation of historical runes with pictographs that represent gods, and goddesses, and symbols that modern witches are familiar with.

This is a set of 13 divination runes specially designed for the use of witches. Runes are ancient Oracles that have been inactive for more than 400 years. They were last in current use during the late Middle Ages. The first glyphs or alphabet were called runes, from the Gothic runa, meaning "a secret thing, a mystery." From the very beginning, the Runes took on a ritual function, serving for the casting of lots, for divination and to evoke higher powers. Runes were carved on amulets, drinking cups, battle spears, and onto the prows of Viking ships, particularly those of healing and magickal qualities. Runes were also used for protection while traveling, or protection while in battle. Ancients used runes for many purposes.

Using the Runes

1. After your start up ritual, concentrate on a question or generalized feeling that you would like the runes to help you with.

2. Cast all the Runes at once onto a flat surface, and preferably on a casting cloth.

A rune is only relevant to a reading if it falls face up.

The leading, or most important rune in a reading is the one furthest from you.

If a casting results in all the runes being facedown, this is like the blank rune in the Viking oracle, you are not meant to know the answer. You shouldn't attempt another reading for at least one week.

Witches Rune:
Darksome night and shining moon,
Hearken to the witches’ rune.
East, then south, west then north,
Here come I to call thee forth.
Earth and water, air and fire,
Work ye unto my desire.
Wand and Pentacle and Sword
Hearken ye unto my word.
Cards and Censer, Scourge and Knife,
Waken all ye into life.
Power of the Witches Blade,
Come ye as the charm is made.
Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell,
Lend your aid unto the spell.
Horned Hunter of the Night,
Work my will by magic rite.

By all the power of land and sea,
As I do will, so mate it be.

By all the might of moon and sun,
Chant the spell and be it done.

Individual Runes:
WOMAN RUNE: Representing women, the witch's wand and the Egyptian's "Doorway of Isis," this rune applies to both healing and domestic arts. The branching V, representing women or a girl, is a universal idea. This particular symbol corresponds to the Finnish rune for Illmater, meaning, "water mother"; it also stood for the Virgin Mother among Germanic peoples during the Middle Ages. Underground groups associated this symbol with sorcery, mystery and the magic wand. In essence, this rune brings on "gentle action." Therefore, do not expect things to progress quickly whenever the Woman Rune is drawn.

MAN RUNE: This symbol has been the Germanic sign for victory; it stands for the raised sword in battle. When doing a reading, this rune implies it is time to defend your own interests. At this point, you must stand strong. This is not a time to move slowly, go inward or reflect. So you will have to go quickly concerning your question. On a mundane level, the Man Rune represents a person with amazing insight or energy into your life.

HARVEST RUNE: Turning up the Harvest Rune in a reading predicts
rewards and benefits of the most excellent kind. Like the grain depicted, the appearance of this stone brings into your life what is absolutely essential to your well—being, growth and happiness. At this time, you will be able to overcome the limitations that have previously restricted you. Now you can turn weaknesses into strengths, drawing the rewards, gifts and accolades into the niche
that you have carved out for yourself. Drawing this stone is very fortunate but has a multitude of meanings.

CROSSROADS RUNE: Gypsies as well as African Americans generally considered The Crossroads, also called “Crossed Spears,” an evil omen in the past. But when it in appears in a reading, this stone is not all bad. This is especially true for those who embrace change or strive for solid achievement for those willing to embark on a new direction. Throughout the world, Crossroads are thought to hold special powers related to the mysterious forces of the night.

STAR RUNE: Basically, the drawing of the Star Rune in a reading is an affirmation, a sign that is greatly positive. This sign advises that it is time to move on and pursue your most sought after dreams and ideals. In essence, this is a green light, assuring that you are on the right path, the correct course of action. The star also stands for money, jewelry, prizes, personal glory and even romance. It implies spiritual gifts. For some, this can mean aligning
yourself and your energies with a cause that is greater than yourself.

WAVES RUNE: Part of the Waves Rune —— also known as widdershins or the spiral —— is one of the oldest symbols. Universally, the spiral represents water —— as well as power and movement. In astrology, water is the element of sacrifice and guilt. It is the element of sinners and saints, mermaids and
witches. Water stands for charms, enchantments, poetry, the fine arts, and mystery. But is can also allude to self-sabotage and self—imprisonment. At the present time, you may feel more reclusive than usual, or answers to which you seek may be left
"up in the air," or undecided.

SCYTHE RUNE: The Scythe Rune has powerful implications. It can suggest events that shift your focus dramatically, forcing you to change or transform your strategy or plans. Often the Scythe Rune indicates that the question you are now passing is no longer appropriate, that things have changed too much to get the answer or outcome you are presently seeking.

EYE RUNE: The Eye Rune represents perspective, to have something brought into focus in such a way that you will never view things in quite the same way again. This rune also implies high magick, incredible psychic powers, the ability to summon up what is yours, or what should be yours, and the ability to change things by way of your own connections through some divine
source or intervention. This rune means to watch, to hold sway over, to be left spellbound, to probe deeply and discover that which has been hidden from view. Drawing the Eye Rune can sometimes mean that you will be shocked into some type of awareness. And yet, the fates are in our corner. The power is yours. Expect the unexpected.

SUN RUNE: The healing and abundant light of the sun is essential. Without it, our world would be left in shadows. We could neither thrive nor see. In the past, people had similar beliefs about the sun. They associated the sun with fertility, creativity and healing. Called by the Gypsy people cham, the Sun Rune sheds light on and gives energy to any psychic reading. This is a most positive rune, indicating that you are about to take a bold step or embark in a new direction.

MOON RUNE: Gypsies called the Moon Rune shion or "arms of protection". The moon represents nocturnal awareness, the imagination and self-protection. It also stands for memory and habits, the things we go through because we refuse to move forward. Early goddesses, such as Ishtar and Isis wore the crescent, or "horns of the moon."

FLIGHT RUNE: The idea of birds as messengers leaving the spirit world for the world of matter, and then returning with important news, is a universal theme. When the Flight Rune is selected, you can be certain that transforming news is on its way. This piece of news is important. It may even alter the direction you have already taken. The Flight Rune stands for many things, such as winged thought, insomnia and intuitive perceptions.

RINGS RUNE: Rings were once believed to be tools of bewitchment, able to hold others in bondage or keep them under our spell. Later this symbol of bondage took on a more pleasant aspect as it developed into a token of love and marriage. In essence, the Rings Rune stands for an engagement, an agreement, a marriage, a business union or an everlasting tie between two people. 

ROMANCE RUNE: The Romance Rune suggests the smoky light and slow burn of attraction and erotic love. When this rune is drawn, watch for instant attractions, a relationship of unusual complexity with karmic connections and relating on a deep, soul level. Drawing this stone has multiple meanings. It implies a fervent desire surfacing in your life, or becoming infatuated with a person different from the people your normally associate with.

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