Magick Mondays - Rune Chains (part 2) the Rituals
Magick Mondays - Rune Chains (part 2) the Rituals Firstly let us take a look at the traditional method, Originally runes were carved into Wood, Bone or Stone and being even more specific the wood used was Ash, sacred to the Norse and representative of Yggdrasil, the world tree. Do not however worry if you can not acquire Ash wood, there are many great types of wood you can use and you don’t have to use wood at all, there is always the other two options of Bone and Stone. Pebbles make great alternatives to wood as long as they are smooth and uniform in size. When collecting the wood or stones it is good to first make an offering to both the Landvaettr, preferably at a cairn and Jord. Gather an offering of fresh natural water or as a second best tap water and create a small cairn near to where you will collect the material. Kneel in front of it to first make the Landvaettr an offer of thanks “I CALL UPON THE SPIRITS OF THIS LAND, HAIL WIGHTS AND GUARDIANS ALL, PROTECTORS OF THIS BOUNTIFUL LAND I OFFER THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO USE THIS SACRED SPACE AND IN RETURN I OFFER THIS BREAD AND WATER (place some bread and pour some water on the cairn) HAIL SPIRITS OF THIS LAND, HAIL THE LANDVAETTR.” Next stand roughly central to the area you want to collect the wood or stone and facing north or east (both are sacred) ask and thank Jord for the material you will be taking “HAIL JORD MOTHER EARTH GODDESS OF THIS LAND DAUGHTER OF ANNAR AND NOTT YOU WHO RESIDES IN THE 9 REALMS ODIN’S FIRST WILD AND FREE PROTECTOR OF NATURE I THANK YOU FOR THE USE OF THIS HALLOWED AREA I ALSO OFFER THANKS FOR THE ITEMS I WILL USE AND IN RETURN OFFER THANKS WITH THIS WATER (pour water on the ground) HAIL JORD.” You can then take the material needed either by collecting the stone or cutting a branch from the tree you want the wood from. In some magickal paths it is commonplace to ask the tree to take the wood and in some to only use wood that has already fallen, although fresh cut wood is preferable, use your own way to collect the wood and if that means fallen wood please do so, and as a side note try and take only as much as you need not 3 or 4 branches at a time. Now that you have your material cut it into 24 pieces for each rune or however many letters in your chosen rune set or get together 24 pieces of stone or bone one for each symbol of the elder futhark. before you start the carving of your runes you need a quiet place to perform the ritual, if outside somewhere private or off any main tracks or land where you can be disturbed, a garden is preferable and is where I like the most. If inside use your magick space or somewhere personal to you, free from distractions. Once there set up a Ve or Altar dedicated to your chosen Deity, I prefer Odin but Bragi or Freyja are also a good choice as is a general one to the whole Aesir. Face it North or East. You will need an offering of water taken from either a stream or river or even rainwater, any natural source of water is preferable but if you can’t get it then ordinary tap water is acceptable. You will also need an offering of Bread and mead or if you cant get mead, beer or wine is also acceptable. Upon the Ve place an offering bowl (if Inside), a bundle of Mugwort incense or a fruit based incense like citronella, a candle and all of your offerings along with your rune material ready to be carved into and any tools needed for the carving or painting. In a small bowl pre mix your Tiver or blood solution. Finally building a small cairn near the Ve in honour of the land wights but only if outside. Sit facing your Ve and perform a 5 - 10 minute meditation to get you in a relaxed state. The next thing to do is if your outside offer thanks to the land wights for using the area, this is best done at a small cairn. Sit or kneel at your cairn and offer a prayer to the Landvaettr. “I CALL UPON THE SPIRITS OF THIS LAND, HAIL WIGHTS AND GUARDIANS ALL, PROTECTORS OF THIS BOUNTIFUL LAND I OFFER THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO USE THIS SACRED SPACE AND IN RETURN I OFFER THIS BREAD AND WATER (place some bread and pour some water on the cairn) HAIL SPIRITS OF THIS LAND, HAIL THE LANDVAETTR.” Light the Mugwort incense and candle and sit in front of your Ve, Recite Sigrdrifa’s Prayer “HAIL DAY, HAIL SONS OF DAY; HAIL NIGHT AND HER DAUGHTERS; LOOK UPON US WITH FAVOR, AND GRANT US VICTORY. HAIL TO THE GODS! HAIL TO THE GODDESSES! HAIL THE ALL-GIVING EARTH! BLESS US WITH WISDOM, WITH AN HONORABLE TONGUE, AND HEALING HANDS, FOR THE REST OF OUR DAYS.” (If you can do the prayers in Old Norse) Now perform a Hammer Rite or any hallowing and protection ritual depending on your magick path to defend and hallow the area. Before continuing it is also good to thank and make offering to Jord for using the earth and area for your needs. Face your Ve and make a prayer and offering “HAIL JORD MOTHER EARTH GODDESS OF THIS LAND DAUGHTER OF ANNAR AND NOTT YOU WHO RESIDES IN THE 9 REALMS ODIN’S FIRST WILD AND FREE PROTECTOR OF NATURE I THANK YOU FOR THE USE OF THIS HALLOWED AREA AND IN RETURN OFFER THANKS WITH THIS WATER (pour water on the ground next to the Ve) HAIL JORD.” Next you will also need to invite and invoke your chosen deity to the ritual area be it Odin, Bragi or any of the Aesir. Stand or sit in front of the Ve and offer prayer and offering to the deity “HAIL (DEITY) GOD/GODDESS OF (?) SON/DAUGHTER OF (?) I CALL UPON YOU TO COME TO THIS HALLOWED PLACE, AND WATCH OVER THIS RITUAL IN YOUR NAME IN RETURN I OFFER THIS BREAD AND MEAD (place bread and pour mead on the ground, not where Jord offering is, or if inside into offering bowl) HAIL (DEITY).” Ok we are now ready to begin, whilst standing at your Ve pick up your first piece of material and your chosen method of carving tool or painting tool. Begin to carve or paint your rune shape into the material, as you do focus on the intent of the rune so for Gebo for example focus on the words gift and joy and any other words you found during your learning of the runes. Chant the name of the rune nine times before completion of the rune and upon completion pass it very quickly through the flame of the candle to consecrate it. At this point anoint with the tiver or blood. When all the runes have been completed drop them into a cloth bag and wrap the whole lot in black material ask for the invoked deity to Protect and empower the runes “HAIL (DEITY) GOD/GODDESS OF (?) SON/DAUGHTER OF (?) I OFFER THANKS FOR YOUR PRESCENCE AT THIS HALLOWED GROUND AND FOR WATCHING OVER THIS RITUAL IN YOUR NAME I ALSO ASK FOR YOU TO EMPOWER AND PROTECT THESE RUNES HAIL (DEITY).” Begin to close down the ritual as you have already thanked the deity finish by first thanking Jord, Keep facing the Ve and thank Jord “HAIL JORD MOTHER EARTH GODDESS OF THIS LAND DAUGHTER OF ANNAR AND NOTT YOU WHO RESIDES IN THE 9 REALMS ODIN’S FIRST WILD AND FREE PROTECTOR OF NATURE I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING USE OF THE SACRED EARTH HAIL JORD.” Remove your Hammer rite and/or any other protection or hallowing ritual that has been cast and clear down the area, before totally finishing head over to your cairn, kneel or stand in front of it and offer thanks to the Landvaettr “I CALL UPON THE SPIRITS OF THIS LAND, HAIL WIGHTS AND GUARDIANS ALL, PROTECTORS OF THIS BOUNTIFUL LAND I OFFER THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO USE THIS SACRED LAND AND HONOUR YOU IN RETURN HAIL SPIRITS OF THIS LAND, HAIL THE LANDVAETTR.” You have now completed the Ritual. Over the next 9 days keep your runes in a safe dark place, taking them out but leaving them wrapped in the black cloth everyday to ask your deity to protect and empower them. After the nine days your runes are fully ready to be used and with a final thanks to the deity you have a usable rune set. Ok so now you have use able runes we are almost complete. Take up the runes and begin to thread them along a length of string, twine, rope or leather whichever or whatever you like. Do this by drilling holes into either end of the rune so you can thread them, either with a hand drill or another preferred method. As you thread and tie the runes speak your intent and the intent of each rune in a whisper to the rune, your breath will charge it slightly. Now that you have your completed rune chain, hang it where it will be safe and influential, a good method would be on a door frame or around an altar area. When your intent is complete either take down and burn or if its a long term intent you could charge your chain on your Ve once a month to keep it active.
