What is a rune reading?
In the simplest terms, runes are letters. I use the Elder Futhark, which is an ancient alphabet made up of 24 symbols used by the Norse peoples from approximately the 2nd to 8th centuries. They were used to inscribe objects such as weapons, jewelry, and other property, along with memorials (runestones). Each character creates a sound for language.
Perhaps more interestingly, they also each have a meaning that we can use for divinatory purposes. While it's uncertain if the Norse used the runes for divination, there are suggestions and descriptions in ancient accounts. Modernly, the runes are carved or otherwise inscribed on small stones, pieces of wood, or other material. They're pulled from a pouch and sometimes thrown to cast a divinatory reading, providing insights similar to that of a tarot reading.
