Runecasting

Runecasting is a form of magic that involves channeling energy through runic symbols, typically carved or drawn onto objects to focus power, invoke effects, or reveal hidden information. The practice draws on traditional uses of runes in early Germanic alphabets and Norse lore, where runes served as sigils, charms, and signs of auspice.

Historically, runes were carved on weapons, amulets, staves, and stones; they were believed to hold power in binding spells, protection, prophecy, and divination. Over time, runic knowledge appeared in medieval and early modern occult writings, continuing to influence esoteric traditions and folk practices.

Modern practitioners—especially neopagans, occultists, and curious hobbyists—employ runecasting in two broad ways: as divination, where casting runes on a cloth or board reveals meaning in a spread, and as spellcraft, where specific runes or bindrunes are drawn to enchant objects, ward spaces, or influence energies.

Techniques emphasize deliberate focus and intention. Runes are commonly drawn or carved on durable materials such as wood, bone, stone, or metal. A rune’s name, meaning, and position in a bindrune or sequence inform the intended effect. Some traditions use ritual gestures, spoken invocations, or meditation to charge the symbols.

Core runic systems include the Elder Futhark, Younger Futhark, and the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, each with its own set of runes and meanings. In many contemporary settings, runecasters compile personal sigils by combining multiple runes into bindrunes to target specific outcomes.