Rune Prayer Beads and Instructions

The rune beads are designed for multiple purposes; the first is to memorize the runes and to memorize the rune poems included with them. The second is to meditate upon the runes, and the rune poems and their layered meanings and kennings. The third is to wear it, either on the neck or wrapped around the arms, to imbue power to yourself when performing ritual, especially when carving runes (it is good in general to have at least 1 item inscribed with the whole futhark when carving runes). These beads offer a much cheaper alternative to other ways, such as inscribing a sword, staff, shield or other elaborate charm, although all of these are viable as well.

They are organized for each futhark so that there are 3 seperate aetts. Since the Anglo Saxon futhorc has 33 runes and the Northumbrian runes are not included in any aetts, I have modificed their structure so instead of aetts, it is elevenths and makes an even 3 groups. the white beads are the first aett, brown is second and red is third. Between each aett I have included a "well bead", which represents one of the three wells under the roots of the world tree. This is to represent the insight the Odin drank from the wells when he gave to Mimir his own eye, and the nourishment from the lower world that sustains the universal tree, and the snakes that gnaw constantly on its roots. Meditate on each of the wells in between aetts and their connections to the faith and their deeper meanings; they are not simply wells.

At the end of each red aett of runes, there will be 9 beads either put in between the whites and red beads or off seperately on their own, forming a long charm off the necklace. These 9 runes are the "spear runes", where each bead will represent 2 lines from the end of the Havamal, the Sayings of the High One, where he recounts how he won the runes. Meditate upon these lines as you repeat them, and what they truly mean and what the inner metaphors are. It is not simply a barbaric myth of bloody sacrifice, as modern prudes would say. It represents much deeper and transcendant concepts than most modern men are capable of understanding. These "spear prayers" are 18 lines long each and are divided into three parts; 1 to be said at the end of the Old Norse rune poems, the second at the end of the Icelandic rune poems, and the third and longest at the end of the Anglo Saxon rune poems, to conclude.

the Wells of the World Tree

When meditating upon the well beads, hold them to your heart (for Hoenir) the mouth (for Urd) and the right eye (for Mimir). Meditate upon the true meanings of these wells. This is also a time for you to sort of relax from your meditation fo reciting of the rune poems, and to simply think upon the wells and the ideas of memory, inspiration and fate.

Construction

First collect beads from some store or a source of your choice. The ones I used were from Michaels and were very cheap; they dont need to be made of sacred wood, but if this is what you desire then you may seek out more expensive beads. With a dremel or paint, carve the runes onto the beads. Although you dont have to follow my example, you should use 3 different colored beads for each aett of the runes to distinquish them, and you should follow the sacred color pattern of light, red and dark, at least in some form (if you desire you can have dark green or blue instead of black). The cord for the beads should be hemp or another natural material (to make the best set of rune-beads, you should tie knots in between each bead, large enough to keep them seperated). You can carve whatever futhark you wish, but for the sake of convenience I have included every one of the runes so you can make with Elder, Younger or Anglo Saxon futhark beads, with your preference.

After you are done carving each bead, including the spear runes and the well-runes, you will string them together. There are two basic pattern I have made, since Ive made 2 futharks of rune beads. One I call the "Alu" pattern, where the spear runes are incorporated into the main body of the necklace, in between the first and last aetts. The only thing hanging off as a charm or pendant (you can do this by tying the string onto one of the smaller beads sand tieing a knot) is a simple ALU charm located somewhere near the last well rune on a smaller bead, made of 3 beads carved with Ansuz, Laugaz and Uruz. You can make a tassel or decoration of some kind on the end of it of your choice ( I made a green tassel). This is designed for the user to chant ALU at the end of each futhark, before starting the spear prayers.

The second pattern I have made is the spear charm pattern, where the spear runes are not incorporated into the main body of the necklace but instead form a longer charm hanging off the necklace exactly like the ALU charm described earlier, but longer and more elaborate. The charm has one large knot, then 3 small white beads, then a larger Gar rune bead, then 4 small red beads. The 3 and 4 beads combine for 7, to represent the 7 worlds described in the Anglo Saxon cosmology (And 7 in general in general was considered a lucky number, long before Christian influence), but altogether it creates 9, which is how the spear prayers will be recited. At the end I chose to make 4 long strings with 9 knots at the end, 1 black, 1 white, 1 red and 1 green. Which pattern you want to use is up to you.

The Well runes should be carved with a unique bindrune made from your creation, made from elements you feel fit with the descriptions of each of the sacred wells of Yggdrasil. The Bindrune should then wrap around a larger bead, which should be in between two small beads of a differing color, to further distinquish it.

Rune Poems

Obviously, begin with fehu and work all the way to the final rune, depending on what futhark you will be focusing on.

The Rune poem stanzas with Asteriks before them are the ones I have written myself, in imitation of the older styles. You can remove these from your versions of the prayers if you believe reciting them will anger the runes, but then the structure of the rune prayers will not be balanced. I have been using them in my prayers and they do not seem to be bringing misfortune, just be sure to recite them humbly. If you want you can write prayers that you feel better fit each rune, for the ones that I have made as replacements. However you should not change or alter the original rune poems themselves.  A is Old Norse Rune poem, B is Icelandic Rune poem and C.  is Anglo Saxon rune poem.

1 Fehu (latin:f)

meaning: mobile wealth, prosperity, luck, fire, energy

Rune Poems:

a. Wealth is a source of strife among kinsmen;

the wolf lives in the forest.

 

b. Source of discord among kinsmen

and fire of the sea

and path of the serpent.

 

c. Wealth is a comfort to all men;

yet must every man bestow it freely,

if he wish to gain honour in the sight of Ingvi-Freyr.

 

2 Uruz (latin: u)

meaning: aurochs, primal essense, primordial dew, Audumla (the cow that created the universe)

Rune Poems:

a. Dross comes from bad iron;

the reindeer often races over the frozen snow.

 

b. Lamentation of the clouds

and ruin of the hay-harvest

and abomination of the shepherd.

 

c. The aurochs is proud and has great horns;

it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns;

a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of battle.

 

3 Thurisaz (latin: th)

meaning: Jotun, thorn, Thor, affliction, destruction, harm

Rune Poems:

a. Giant causes anguish to women;

misfortune makes few men cheerful.

 

b. Torture of women

and cliff-dweller

and husband of a giantess.

 

c. The thorn is exceedingly sharp,

an evil thing for any knight to touch,

uncommonly severe on all who sit among them.

 

4Ansuz (latin: a)

meaning: A god, A member of the Aesir tribe, Odin

Rune Poems:

 a. Estuary is the way of most journeys;

but a scabbard is of swords.

 

b. Aged Gautr

and prince of Ásgardr

and lord of Vallhalla.

 

c. The mouth is the source of all language,

a pillar of wisdom and a comfort to wise men,

a blessing and a joy to every knight.

 

5 raidho (latin: r)

meaning: steed, riding, journey, travel, sun chariot, wheels

rune poems:

a.Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses;

Reginn forged the finest sword.

 

b.Joy of the horsemen

and speedy journey

and toil of the steed.

 

c.Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors

and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roads

on the back of a stout horse.

 

6kenaz (latin: c or k)

meaning: ulcer, torch, burn-wound, embers, blister

rune poems:

a.Ulcer is fatal to children;

death makes a corpse pale.

 

b.Disease fatal to children

and painful spot

and abode of mortification.

 

c.The torch is known to every living man by its pale, bright flame;

it always burns where princes sit within.

 

7gibo (latin: g)

meaning: gift, sacrifice, offering, blessing

rune poems:

*a. Gift demands gift, doth know how to offer?

Doth know how to send, how to spend?

 

*b. Gift is a cherish to man and binder of kin,

An offering to Gods,

A breaker of feuds

 

 c. Generosity brings credit and honour, which support one's dignity;

it furnishes help and subsistence

to all broken men who are devoid of aught else.

 

8wunjo (latin: w)

meaning: Joy, happiness, tribal cohesion, unity, banner

rune poems:

*a. High does the weatherwave rise,

Joy does it bring to many warriors.

 

*b. Joy it is to see the sun rising,

And sons in good health

And to live without shame.

 

c.Bliss he enjoys who knows not suffering, sorrow nor anxiety,

and has prosperity and happiness and a good enough house.

 

9hagalaz (latin:h)

meaning: hail, storms, "ice-seed", rain, sleet, mist

rune poems:

a.Hail is the coldest of grain;

Odin created the world of old.

 

b.Cold grain

and shower of sleet

and sickness of serpents.

 

c.Hail is the whitest of grain;

it is whirled from the vault of heaven

and is tossed about by gusts of wind

and then it melts into water.

 

10nauthaz (latin: n)

meaning: need, distress, survival, fire-sticks, direness

rune poems:

 a.Constraint gives scant choice;

a naked man is chilled by the frost.

 

b.Grief of the bond-maid

and state of oppression

and toilsome work.

 

c.Trouble is oppressive to the heart;

yet often it proves a source of help and salvation

to the children of men, to everyone who heeds it betimes.

 

11isaz (latin: i)

meaning: ice, coldness, primal matter, solidifying, hardness

rune poems:

a.Ice we call the broad bridge;

the blind man must be led.

 

b.Bark of rivers

and roof of the wave

and destruction of the doomed.

 

c.Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery;

it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems;

it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.

 

12jeraz (latin: j or y)

meaning: year, seasons, cycles, intervals, prosperity, plentifulness

rune poems:

a.Plenty is a boon to men;

I say that Frodi was generous.

 

b.Boon to men

and good summer

and thriving crops.

 

c.Summer is a joy to men, when Thunor, the savior of man

suffers the earth to bring forth shining fruits

for rich and poor alike.

 

13eohwaz (latin: )

meaning: yew tree

rune poems:

a.Yew is the greenest of trees in winter;

it is wont to crackle when it burns.

 

b.Bent bow

and brittle iron

and giant of the arrow.

 

c.The yew is a tree with rough bark,

hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots,

a guardian of fire and a joy upon an estate.

 

14peorth (latin:p)

meaning: dice-cup, chess, recreational activity, sport or game, happiness brought through times with friends, chance of fate

rune poems:

*a. Through Peorth doth the Norns decide,

Who leads the fray, Who falls in war, who wins the maid.

 

*b. The die-cup rolls, its fate ever-changing,

Bringing all fortune to some,

And taking some fortune from all.

 

c.Peorth is a source of recreation and amusement to the great,

where warriors sit blithely together in the banqueting-hall.

 

15elgaz (latin: Z)

meaning: elk, stag horns, tree branches, life, lineage, growth

rune poems:

*a. Dew falls upon blood-stained antlers,

The Elk strides fast through thickets and branches.

 

*b. Elk is the growth of sedge and thickets,

The timbering of huts,

The shedding of antlers.

 

c.The Eolh-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh;

it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound,

covering with blood every warrior who touches it.

 

16sig (latin: s)

meaning: sun, victory, power, radiance, lightning

rune poems:

a.Sun is the light of the world;

I bow to the divine decree.

 

b.Shield of the clouds

and shining ray

and destroyer of ice.

 

c.The sun is ever a joy in the hopes of seafarers

when they journey away over the fishes' bath,

until the courser of the deep bears them to land.

 

17tiwaz (latin: t)

meaning: victory, the god Tiwaz (the sky god, the binder of Fenriswolf), spear-point, arrows, battle, war

rune poems:

a.Tyr is a one-handed god;

often has the smith to strike.

 

b.God with one hand

and binder of the wolf

and prince of temples.

 

c.Tiw is a guiding star; well does it keep faith with princes;

it is ever on its course over the mists of night and never fails.

 

18bjarkaz (latin:b)

meaning: birch-tree, mountains, earth-goddess, sexual fertility in females and the earth

rune poems:

a.Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub;

Loki was fortunate in his deceit.

 

b.Leafy twig

and little tree

and fresh young shrub.

 

c.The poplar bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers,

for it is generated from its leaves.

Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned

its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.

 

19 ehwaz (latin: e)

meaning: horse, equestrian, divine twins, divine path and fate (symbolized by horse-paths), spiritual journey and farseeing

rune poems:

*a. Two kinsmen came across the sea on rolling bark,

One named Horse, the other Stallion.

 

*b. The horse runs fast across green grass,

But I know of a horse more ancient than I

Whose legs touch not the earths green grass.

 

c.The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors.

A steed in the pride of its hoofs,

when rich men on horseback bandy words about it;

and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless.

 

20 mannaz (latin: m)

meaning: mankind, primordial ancestor of the Germans (a mysterious god known as Mannaz, son of Tiwaz and the Earth Mother), humans in general and wisdom

rune poems:

a.Man is the augmentation of the dust;

great is the claw of the hawk.

 

b.Delight of man

and creation of the earth

and adorner of ships.

 

c.The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen;

yet every man is doomed to fail his brother,

since the gods by their decree will commit the vile carrion to the earth.

 

21 laugaz (latin: L)

meaning: water, leek, river, green branch, dew, creek

rune poems:

a.A waterfall is a River which falls from a mountain-side;

but ornaments are of gold.

 

b.Eddying stream

and broad geysir

and land of the fish.

 

c.The ocean seems interminable to men,

if they venture on the rolling bark

and the waves of the sea terrify them

and the courser of the deep heed not their journey.

 

22ingwaz (latin: )

meaning: the God Ingwaz, primordial ancestor of the Ingling lineage, one of the three great groups of Germanic tribes. Identifical to Freyr, a later Viking god of gold, the earth, fertility, sexual health for males, plants and farms and general prosperity

rune poems:

*a. Ingwaz was he called, In Sweden they say,

The Great lord resides in the Earth.

 

*b. A slayer of dragons with antler-skull,

A friend to elves,

A son of seafarers.

 

c.Ing was first seen by men among the East-Danes,

till, followed by his chariot,

he departed eastwards over the waves.

So the Heardingas named the hero.

 

23dagaz (latin: d)

meaning: day, dawn, the divine pairing of night and day and their transition (the middle point of the rune)

rune poems:

*a. Hail thee day, and sons of day,

Great was Skinfaxi's burden.

 

*b. Day was made to count the years for man,

Born from night, Driven by horse,

And Dvalin's bane.

 

*c.Day, the glorious light of the gods, is sent by the sun;

it is beloved of men, a source of hope and happiness to rich and poor,

and of service to all.

 

24othala (latin: o)

meaning: heritage, homeland, inheritance, estate, nation, tribe, inheritance of land , ancestor worship

rune poems:

*a. great power for Sigurd was his inheritance,

Well-wrought was that sword once-broken.

 

*b. An estate is well for any prince,

A shield for warriors,

And cattle for farmers.

 

c.An estate is very dear to every man,

if he can enjoy there in his house

whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.

 

25 Ac

Meaning: Oak tree

*a. Lightning favors the high oak tree,

A sustainer of fire, a courser of water.

 

*b. On oak roots were carved sleep runes by Grimnir,

A friend to Thor,

An adorner of temples and ships.

 

c.The oak fattens the flesh of pigs for the children of men.

Often it traverses the gull's path,

and the ocean proves whether the oak keeps faith

in honourable fashion to Thunor.

 

26 Æsc

meaning: Ash tree

*a. Three brothers stride upon barren sand,

great were their gifts to Ash and Elm.

 

*b. the ash is tall and groans with might,

A father of spears,

a leader of Aesklings.

 

c.The ash is exceedingly high and precious to men.

With its sturdy trunk it offers a stubborn resistance,

though attacked by many a man and serpent.

 

27 Yr

meaning: bow and arrow

*a. wrought from yew or ash,

A gain for Skadi was the slender hail-tree.

 

*b. the battle-adder is swift and deadly,

A slayer of kings

A reed of wounds.

 

c. Yr is a source of joy and honour to every prince and knight;

it looks well on a horse and is a reliable equipment for a journey.

 

28 Ior

meaning: eel

*a. The eel flies fast through river-path,

striking relentlessly like water-arrow.

 

*b. A serpent of rivers,

A dragon of fish,

A feast for seafarers.

 

c.Iar is a river fish and yet it always feeds on land;

it has a fair abode encompassed by water, where it lives in happiness.

 

29 Ear

meaning: grave, burial-shrine, victory (tiwaz) through death

*a.Women weap, kinsmen burn hay,

Hel's company waxes as corpses cool.

 

*b. Deep in the earth, below rolling mounds,

ancient kings lie in the cold earth,

Long have I walked upon ashes and bones.

 

c.The grave is horrible to every knight,

when the corpse quickly begins to cool

and is laid in the bosom of the dark earth.

Prosperity declines, happiness passes away

and oaths are broken.

 

Northumbrian Runes

It should be noted that the Anglo Saxon Northrumbrian runes are only known by sign and name, and no rune poems exist to explain or describe them. all three rune poems for the northrumbrian runes were written by myself. If you do not wish to use these poems, either write your own, or omit them entirely and only have the Northrumbrian runes on your futhorc to represent their power. If you are using the elder or younger futhark, this is no problem.

30 cweorth (latin: q)

meaning: fire, hearth, funeral pyre

rune poems:

a. On riverside pyres they heap pale corpses,

Women weap as torches are lit.

 

b. Fire dogs bark and consume one family,

yet another they shelter with hearth and shelter

A fickle beast, an untamed friend.

 

c.Sacred fire from the hearth, and burner of corpses,

Purifier of death and rot and barking dog of the pyre,

But in the ends of times you will purify all

The Scather of Trees burns bright.

 

31 calc (latin: k)

meaning: chalice, cup, womb, offering cup, funeral horn, drinking horn

rune poems:

a. Bless thy chalice to banish fear, cast leek upon ale

As Sigrdrifa counsels.

 

b. Over half-filled cup won me many good friend,

And dirges sung,

And offerings poured.

 

c.The chalice is made of gold and silver

But in olden times twas made of ox-horn

Giver of libation to the dead and  the elves,

And maker of merriment in the halls.

 

32 stan (latin:st)

meaning: stone, rock, standing stone, runestones

rune poem:

a. On stones did carve the great chanter,

Odin, first Vitki, writer of gods.

 

b. Stannaz is hard and sits atop mountains,

An ancient shrine,

An abode of dwarves.

 

c.No sunlight touched thee nor steel scathed

Those sacred stones standing by the fish-path

Long ago did men raise those stones

For kings of great fame, buried deep in the earth.

 

33 gar (latin: gah)

meaning: spear, Gungnir (Odins spear)

rune poem:

a. Staff of battle, frightful corpse-lightning,

And bane of warriors.

 

b. First of feuds, a war of gods,

Flames of blade wrath flicker over the host,

The war needle whistles, the hawk cries aloud.

 

 

c. Fly fast through the air, great holy lance

Didst thou pierce the High One in ancient times

Upon that tree whom known doth know

From what roots it rises to Heaven.

 

 

Spear Prayers

The spear prayers are to be recited to meditate upon the sacrifce of Odin, not only for himself but for all of mankind, and what it means exactly. Recite the words of the High One and the inner truths of the Eddas will become more obvious to you.

These lines are from the end of the Havamal and speak of how Odin won the runes, and the songs that went with them (which were os heavily obssesed by Guido von List, who believed each song correalted to a specific rune). For the first two times the you complete the futhark circles (the old norse and Icelandic rune poems, A. and B.) and pray the spear rune beads at the conculusion of each cycle, count two lines for every bead on the runes, for a total of 9 beads and 18 lines. However for the last part to be recited after the Anglo Saxon rune poems, each stanza will count for half a bead, as there are 18 songs of power.

 

when you have recited all of the songs of power and are finished with the entire 3 futharks, either sitting crosslegged or standing and forming a runic posture (elgaz is preferable), and wear or hold the runes as you recite the finish and closing of the Havamal.

It should be noted this is from my version of the Poetic Edda, feel free to organize your own copy of the Havamal for the spear prayers if you prefer.

 

Old Norse

1I knowthat  I hung on that windswept Tree

2nine whole days and nights,

3 wounded by my own spear, offered to Odin,

4 myself to myself  given,

5 high on that Tree of which none have heard

6 from what roots it rises to heaven.

7 None relieved me ever with food or drink,

8 I peered right down in the abyss;

9 crying aloud I lifted the Runes

10 then back I fell from that place.

11 Nine songs of power I learned from the great

12 son of Bale-thorn, Bestla's sire;

13 I drank a measure of the wondrous Mead,

14 with the Soulstirrer's drops I was showered.

15 My mind bore fruit, and throve full well,

16 I grew and waxed in wisdom;

17 word followed word, I found my thoughts,

18 deed followed deed, I wrought my actions.  

 

Part2 Icelandic Runes

 

1Hidden Runes shalt thou seek and interpret signs,

2many sigils of might and power,

3by the great chanter painted, by the high Powers fashioned,

4graved by the Utterer of gods.

5For gods graved Odin, for elves graved Daïn,

6Dvalin the Dallier for dwarfs,

7All-wise for Jötuns, and I,  myself,

8graved some for the sons of men.

9Dost know how to write, dost know how to read,

10dost know how to paint, dost know how to prove,

11dost know how to ask, dost know how to offer,

12dost know how to send, dost know how to spend?

13Better ask for too little than offer too much,

14 gift shall always beget gift;

15better not to send than to overspend.

16Power demands sacrifice.

17Thus Odin graved ere the world began;

18Then he rose from the deep and came again.

 

part 3 anglo Saxon runes

1

These songs I know, which nor sons of men

nor queen in a king's court knows;

the first is Help which will bring thee help

in all woes and in sorrow and strife.

2

A second I know, which the son of men

must sing, who would heal the sick.

 

3

A third I know: if sore need should come

of a spell to stay my foes;

when I sing that song, which shall blunt their swords,

nor their weapons nor staves draw blood.

4

A fourth I know: if men make strong

in chains the joints of my limbs,

when I sing that song which shall set me free,

spring the fetters from hands and feet.

5

A fifth I know: when I see, by foes shot,

speeding a shaft through the host,

flies it never so strongly I still can stay it,

if I get but a glimpse of its flight.

6

A sixth I know: when some thane would harm me

in runes on a moist tree's root I carve,

on his head alone shall light the ills

of the curse that he called upon mine.

7

A seventh I know: if I see a hall

high over the bench-mates blazing,

flames it never so fiercely I still can not save it, --

I know how to sing that song.

8

An eighth I know: which all can sing

for their luck if they learn it well;

where hate shall wax amid the warrior sons,

I can calm it soon with that chant.

9

A ninth I know: when need befalls me

to save my vessel afloat,

I hush the wind on the stormy wave,

and soothe all the sea to rest.

10

A tenth I know: when at night the witches

ride and cast spells in the air,

such spells I weave that they wander home

out of skins and wits bewildered.

11

An eleventh I know: if haply I lead

my harri out to war,

I sing beneath my shields, and they fare forth mightily

invincible in battle,

invicible out of battle,

and unwounded return from the strife.

12

A twelfth I know: if I see in a tree

a corpse from a halter hanging,

such spells I write, and paint in runes,

that the being descends and speaks.

13

A thirteenth I know: with glory-twigs upon new-born son

of a warrior I sprinkle with water,

that youth will not fail when he fares to war,

never slain shall he bow before sword.

14

A fourteenth I know: if needs to speak of

the Powers to the people of men,

I know all the nature of gods and of elves

which none can know untaught.

15

A fifteenth I know, which Folk-stirrer sang,

the dwarf, at the gates of Dawn;

he sang strength to the gods, and skill to the elves,

and wisdom to Odin who utters his sacred chants.

16

A sixteenth I know: when all sweetness and love

I would win from some artful wench,

her heart I turn, and the whole mind change

of that fair-armed lady I love.

17

A seventeenth I know: so that e'en the shy maiden

is slow to shun my love.

Interlude (17.5)

These songs, Stray-Singer, which man's son knows not,

long shalt thou lack in life,

though thy weal if thou win'st them, thy boon if thou obey'st them

thy good if haply thou gain'st them.

18

An eighteenth I know: which I never shall tell

to maiden or wife of man

save alone to my son on the pyre, or to my sister, or else haply to her

who folds me fast in her arms;

most safe are secrets known to but one-

the songs are sung to an end.

Finish

Now the sayings of the High One are uttered in the hall

for the luck of men, for the bane of Jötuns,

Hail, thou who hast spoken! Hail, thou that knows!

Hail, ye that have hearkened! Use, thou who hast learned!