No one knows for sure where the runes first developed but there is speculation as to where their origins might lay. The most agreed upon theory is that the runes developed from the Etruscans who were a north Italic tribe. In being that the Etruscans were a north Italic tribe they would have had close contact with the Germanic tribes that lived in modern day Austria. There is evidence to prove this theory in that a helmet was found in Austria and on it was engraved the name Teiva in what appears to be an early form of the runic script. Teiva is an early Germanic form for the god Tiwaz, Tiw or Tyr. This helmet was dated from around the 5^th or 4^th centuries BCE and appears to have been artistically influenced by the Etruscans. This could very well prove to be the origins of runic letters but the debate still continues.

What are the runes and why did people use them? To answer this we have to look at the meanings of runes and what they were written on. People named runes after the things that were most dear to them and the world around them. When we look at Feoh, for example, we find that its most base meaning is cattle. Cattle were highly valued to the old Germanic tribes and wherever they migrated their property, i.e. cattle, went with them. Other runes such as Haegl and Is were named after the natural forces that occurred around the areas they inhabited, while others were named after Gods. We know from archeological evidence that runes were written on wood, bone, swords, helmets and stones. Some runes held special magical significance and were used in battle to help achieve victory, such as the helmet found in Austria. Many of the runic engravings that have been found usually tell of whom wrote them and for what purpose the engraved runes stood for. Take for example, in Scandinavia and in some parts of England there are many rune stones that simply say what had occurred at the spot like the erection of a bridge or a marriage. While others were and still are very esoteric and we can deduce that they were meant for purely magical purposes. As we can see, runes had a very practical as well as esoteric function. We also know that each runic character had a phonetic value that was attached to it. The runes, like other early forms of writing, were special symbols that were sacred to the people that used them. Each had a phonetic value, a symbol and a magical meaning. To understand what the word rune means we will have to look at the various definitions of this word.

The word Rune in Anglo-Saxon was spelt Run and it simply means mystery, secret, secrecy and counsel. The definition of rune gives us a little bit more insight into what the ancient Germanic people thought of runes. When we look at the first three meanings above we can see that they imply secrecy. So this tells us that not everybody in the society knew the meanings, or should I say, deeper meanings of the runic characters. These leave us open to speculate that only learned priests or shamans knew what the runes really meant and by that I mean what their inner mysteries were. I believe that the mere act of engraving or cutting runes was an act of magic. This is backed up when we look at the sacred Old Norse poem called the Havamal (Havamal meaning the Song or Lay of the High One). In this lay it gives us the precise methods on how to carve stain and use the runes. I believe this lay to be in keeping with the sacred traditions of the heathen Teutons. Runes were for everyone but only the deeper meanings of the runes were known by a select few. There are many Anglo-Saxon words that use rune as its beginning, such as Runere meaning whisperer and talebearer. Others include Runian, which means to murmur or talk secrets and Runlic meaning mystical. All of the above words have something to do with mystery and magic. There was a type of magic practiced by the ancient Germans called Galdor. The method by which the art of Galdor was practiced was to use the phonetics of the runes to chant charms and incantations, hence the meaning of the word. This is very much like the chants of the Tibetan Buddhists and other primitive religions throughout the world. The sound, the symbol and the deeper meanings of the runes were all used in this form of magic thus making each rune sacred in its own rite.

Counsel is another meaning of the word Run. Counsel can be used as an another word for divination and my reasoning for this is simple. Whenever ancient peoples held counsel it usually had some form of divination attached to it so that the Gods could lead them safely into whatever was being debated or asked upon. We know that the ancient Germanic tribes practiced many forms of divination as Tacitus describes in his book Germania chapter 10. He states that the ancient Germans could forecast events by listening to birds and by watching their horses but most importantly by casting lots. When they casted lots they took three strips of bark from a nut bearing tree and carved symbols on it and then threw the pieces of bark onto a white cloth. This was usually done by a priest if the counsel was a public one or by the father if it was private. He of course does not tell us what kind of symbols were written on the bark strips but we can believe that the symbols cut into the strips must have been runes or at least the for runners of the runic script. There is also evidence to back up the thought that counsel and divination was considered to go hand in hand with one another. This evidence comes from the Exeter Manuscript Maxim and it states that in counsel men speak, engrave runes, sing lays, earn praise and judgement is put forth. This proves that even in Anglo-Saxon times the art of divination was included in the judgement that was cast in the court. The word for court was Thing in Anglo-Saxon. Runes must have been used in the Thing until the dawn of the Christian era in England.

As we can see, runes had a wide range of uses among the Germanic peoples of the northlands. Their function encompassed every aspect of life from the most menial to the most esoteric. Runes were used in magic spells to enhance ones strength or in fertility charms to bring about babies or good crops. They were also used as tools to foretell future events and even used in court to prove if someone was innocent or not. As a system of writing they were used to record events that happened and engraved on stones to tell of myths. I believe that everybody used runes in one way or another but only the learned knew what power they actually held. As one delves into their mysteries and unravels their secrets the more profound their meanings become.

Now we turn our attention to the Germanic concept of Wyrd. Wyrd means fate, destiny, event and condition. Put simply it means that which is. The concept of wyrd is very closely akin to the eastern Karma except that it goes much deeper. Wyrd was seen as the force that governed all living things and events that happened in the lives of people, the earth and the heavens. Wyrd can be viewed, as duality in that everything has its opposite, be it light and dark or love and hate. The power of wyrd is much like the concept of every action has its equal or opposite reaction. A few examples would be summer is hot and winter is cold or pleasure is happiness and pain is hurtful. The same applies to human beings. What we do today greatly effects our future, be it positive or negative. It is a dynamic force, being at one time kind, while the next cruel. But it is up to us to understand and to live with wyrd and understand its awesome power.

Three women who represented the past, the present and the future governed Wyrd. The oldest woman was seen as old and wise, the middle one was a maiden and she was fair and beautiful, while the third was a child naïve and playful. The first two were seen as spinning the fabrics of wyrd and the youngest was seen as destroying all that the two had spun. The fabric that they spun represented the fates of all things and events in the cosmos. This fabric took the shape of a giant web that stretches through all things and reaches out to the far reaches of the universe. All things, even the gods, were subjected to the power of wyrd. Everything was seen as having a beginning, middle and end no matter what it was. We can see planets form and then die, mountains raise then fall. Some have a long life span while other have a short one. When we are born we each have a personal wyrd and this determines what happens in our lives. This personal wyrd is in turn connected to a cosmic wyrd and everything that we do affects not only our own wyrd but also the web as a whole. Runes are important tools in understanding the power of wyrd personal, natural and cosmic. They tap us into its awesome and immense power and it is up to us to use them wisely and truthfully.

I believe that the belief and idea of the wyrd sisters really never died out. When we look at the fairy tales compiled by the Brother Grimm we find that a few of the tales contain reference to otherworldly spinners who come to the aid of a person in distress. One of these fairy tales is called "The Three Spinners" and it is a tale about a young woman who is helped out of a bad situation by three women. It might be interesting to add that these women were spinners and that they had physical characteristics that horrified people. One of the sisters had a gigantic thumb, the other had a huge lower lip and the last one had a large foot. If we examine their characteristics we will find that each had a feature that associated them with spinning and if we put this into context with the wyrd sisters it would fit perfectly. The oldest sister firstly spins the fabric, the second puts the fabric into the shuttle and the final spins the fabric into the pattern. As the story continues these three sisters aid the troubled girl and spin the flax for her but under one condition. This condition being that she had to promise them that when she was to be married that she invite them to her wedding. When she did this the queen asked her who these grotesque women were and she replied they were her cousins. From that day forth the young maiden never had to spin again.

This is a classic example of wyrd in action. The young maiden was rewarded with good wyrd by keeping good on her promise to the sisters. The story above is a metaphor on how wyrd works and how it can affect us in a positive way by creating subtle life changes based on those decisions we make in the past. It is important for us to realize that every action cause an opposite or equal reaction. Past choices greatly affect us in the future and it is up to us to be aware of those choices in order that we may live a peaceful life. It is also important to realize that even though we are aware of the forces of wyrd, things still happen in our lives that are beyond our control. But if we are willing to see those events as learning experiences they can and will greatly enrich our lives. While wyrd goes beyond the written words, it is the mission of this book to help the individual to recognize it and to explore it and form an opinion of wyrd for themselves.

The first six characters form the name of the old Germanic runic script. The oldest system of this script is called the Futhark. This Futhark contains of 24 runes and is believed to have been the first complete system. The Anglo-Saxon one is called the Futhorc and this is due to the phonetic changes that occurred amongst the tribes that used them. This Futhorc contains 29 runic characters, while the Norse Futhark contains only 16. In this book we are using the Anglo-Saxon system.

The runes were separated into groups of eight, and this division was called an Aett. Each of the divisions is separated for a particular reason. I believe that each is divided into different categories due to their content. The first aett is where we start our journey into the northern mysteries. Most of the runes in this section are runes of basic occult knowledge, by this I am meaning to say that they are the beginning lesson that one has to learn when on a spiritual path. These lessons include understanding money and its importance and the evils associated with it. Secondly, finding ones true will and understanding karmic or wyrd action. Thirdly, the ability to meditate and breathe correctly. Fourthly, finding an Inner Light and understanding the road of humanity. Fifthly, what it means to share and to experience real happiness.

The next aett is a bit more esoteric in its teachings. It teaches us about our emotions and ourselves. Secondly, about our consciousness and higher selves. Whilst the third aett teaches us about the origins of the gods and goddesses as well as teaching us about our ancestors and magic. So each aett functions as an initiation into the northern mysteries. It takes us on a step by step walk from the most mundane knowledge to the most esoteric. Again it is the hope of this book to help in aiding people find that spiritual part in themselves as well as in aiding them in understanding Anglo-Saxon spirituality and magic. Remember that nothing is set fast and I encourage the reader to form their own opinions about the runes, wyrd and the gods.

Feoh

Feoh byth frofur fira gehwylcum,

sceal theah manna gehwylc miclun

hyt daelan gif he wile for drihtne domes hleotan.

Wealth is a consolation for every person,

Though each man shall share his greatness,

If he should before his lord cast judgement.

Anglo Saxon meaning: Cattle, property and wealth
Phonetic Equivalent: F

Feoh has several different meanings, as is reflected above. All of Feoh's meanings are related in one way or another to money or wealth. One might ask oneself how cattle and wealth could be associated with one another. This is very easy to see once we look at the role cattle played to the old Germanic tribes. In the old tribal days of our ancestors, these animals were highly valued and prized. In Tacitus' Germania 5, he makes mention that ancient Germans took pride in their cattle because it was the only wealth they had. There are several reasons for this; firstly they gave milk for various dairy goods. Secondly their meat nourished the people and gave them the vitamins they needed in the harsh winter months. Thirdly, their hide made clothing, belts and shoes, which clothed and helped to keep the people warm. Fourthly the bones of cattle were used to make tools. These included needles for sewing, weights for spinning, weapons, etc. Movable wealth is another meaning of this rune. This is largely due to the fact that our ancestors were a migratory people and were often on the go and wherever they went the cattle (the source of their wealth) went with them. The more cattle one had the wealthier he was to his peers. This of course spills over to our modern day. Feoh symbolizes anything of value that we own be it money, a house or car. Feoh encompasses all that represents material wealth. Our modern word Fee is directly related to Feoh in being that all that is owned has a price attached to it and it is our responsibility to be wise with the wealth we have. More over Feoh teaches us to be responsible with our wealth. Feoh reminds us to be even handed with each other. Feoh symbolizes the inner harmony of sharing with those less fortunate and will return bring good wyrd to the parties involved. This in turn spills over to a cosmic wyrd, bring harmony back to the world where before there was none.