I know I hung on the wind-swept tree,
Its roots to the wise unknown;
Spear-pierced, for nine long nights;
To Odin pledged, self offered to self,
They gave no bread, nor drinking horn;
Down into the depths I gazed:
Crying aloud I took up runes,
Then finally I fell.
Nine powerful songs from Bolthorn's son,
Bestla's famous father,
I learned; he poured me precious mead
Of magic Ordaerir.
Learned I gre in hidden lore.
Prospering in wisdom;
Word from word bestowed a word,
And deed from deed new doings.
You will find runes, and right read staves,
Strong staves, mighty staves of sages,
Staves that Bolthorn stained,
Graven great by Odin.
For Æsir by Odin, for elves by Dain,
By Dvalin for the dwarves,
By Asvid too for hated giants,
And some made for myself:
Thund, before man was made, scratched them
Who rose first, fell thereafter.
Know how to cut, know how to read,
Know how to stain, know how to prove,
Know how to ask and sacrifice,
And how to send and to destroy.
Ask not rather than over-pledge,
Gift ever looks for gift;
Best sent not than wasted: this, ere man,
Wrote Thund, risen, returning.
Excerpt from Hávamál
Not too much care but care enough:
Drink ale not in excess;
Be wary of another's wife,
And trust not tricks of thieves.
With a good man talk is good,
Find in him firm a friend:
But waste no words on witless ones,
With stupidity sit not down.
Introduction
Unless you are familiar with the Runes, I recommend you read the following before proceeding to the Runecaster for your online runecasting.
This page is not going to describe the individual Runes and their general meanings. If you are new to the Runes, then please take a look at my Runic Resource page. There you will find links to Rune related Web Sites, and recommendations for books to buy.
This page is an introduction to Runecasting - the art of seership that Odin/Woden/Wotan left as a legacy to mankind.
Runecasting
We are going to look at a simple three Rune casting. There are many other types, nine Rune castings being a popular expansion for those who feel more linkage with the Runes. Some use twelve Runes in a way similar to Tarot, although some eschew this with astrology, and southern practices.
The three Runes are governed by three Norns, named Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld.
Urd's Rune
The first rune, Urd's Rune connects us with the past, or that which "is". Urd is the oldest of the Norns. Her well nourishes the world tree Yggdrasil, and serves as home to the three Norns. Urd represents Fate, and as such, represents the past, or that which cannot be changed.
When the seer is looking for insight into the current situation, Urd can help cast light on the history involved. When casting for insight into the past, it would show some honour to Urd to ask her assistance in the beginning of a cycle - a waxing moon, the spring, etc.
Verdandi
"That which is turning", or that which is in being. Either way, this Rune gives insight into the current state of affairs. It can often lead one to wonder just how little they know about that which occurs about them.
Skuld
Her name means "Dispenser". Skuld dispenses the wyrd of men. Wyrd can be interpreted as destiny, but this must not be confused with Fate, which is quite different. Wyrd means that which is destined - that which is coming about from all that is.
Skuld would weave the futures of men from the threads of their past and what is now in being. By taking control of the present, the future is not fixed.