ᚱᚢᚾᛟ · ᛚᛟᛏ
Pull a Rune
A free rune reading — draw your rune of the day, or three runes for a decision.
ᚠ · ᚱᚢᚾᛖ · ᚲᛁᚱᚲᛚᛖ
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What is rune casting?
Rune casting means drawing or throwing rune-marked pieces and reading their meanings as a prompt for reflection. Most modern practice uses the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark, one rune per stone or tile.
Did the Vikings read runes?
We can't say for sure. Around AD 98 the Roman writer Tacitus described Germanic peoples casting lots: they cut a branch into slips, marked them with signs, scattered them on a white cloth, and a priest or the head of the family picked up three and interpreted them. Whether those signs were runes is debated — the oldest known runic inscriptions come a little later. The rune-reading methods used today, including the meanings given to each rune, were largely shaped in the 20th century. We think the honest version is more interesting anyway: a living tradition built on an ancient alphabet.
How to use a rune reading
Draw one rune in the morning and carry its question through your day, or use the three-rune draw when you're facing a decision. Treat the runes as a mirror for your own thinking, not as fate.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to cast runes?
Casting runes means drawing or throwing rune-marked pieces and reading their traditional meanings as a prompt for reflection.
How many runes do you draw in a reading?
One rune is a simple daily reading. Three runes is a common spread — Tacitus even described lots being read three at a time — and larger spreads are modern inventions.
Is rune casting historically Viking?
Not provably. Lot-casting is recorded among Germanic peoples, but the modern rune-reading system dates mostly from the 20th century.
Which runes are used?
The 24 runes of the Elder Futhark, the oldest runic alphabet.