How to Make Your Own Runes

Runes are a fairly common divination tool featuring 26 stones. Each stone has a symbol on it that can be interpreted to foretell the future. Runes in some form were created and used by German tribes in Eastern Europe and are said to have been an early alphabet system. Now they are used much like Tarot cards. They are selected and displayed in certain forms during a fortune telling or psychic reading. Buying runes is easy, but if you want a really personal and more powerful set of runes, you should make them yourself. Ready to explore both your creativity and your intuition? Here's how.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 26 smooth stones, either found or purchased
• Acrylic paint
• Small paintbrush and water
• Clear top coat or other sealer appropriate for stone surfaces.
• A small pouch or purse to hold your stones

1. Go to the beach or nature area near your home and collect 26 smooth stones a little bigger than a quarter. Stones can be different colors but should be flat and smooth on one surface for the rune image to be applied. Wash and dry all the stones.

2. If you cannot find nice smooth stones, you can purchase some nicely smoothed stones at your local craft store.

3. Go online (see Resources) and look along the left side of the web page to find the traditional rune symbols and their meanings. Print out these pages so that you have the symbols and interpretations for referral.

4. 
   Photo by patryk specjal ~ SXC

   Take a small paintbrush and an acrylic paint color of your choice (white or black works well.) Paint a symbol on a smooth surface of each stone. Allow to dry thoroughly.

5. Once dry, take all the runes to a well-ventilated area and spray with a clear paint sealer or shellac to seal the painted image onto the stone. Allow to dry.

6. Place the runes in the sun for 12 hours or under a full moon to "charge" them. You can also meditate with them and ask your spirit guides to help you use them as a tool to help others.

7. Create an easy pouch or bag to store your runes in when not in use. Treat the runes with respect and place in an area of respect and honor.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't find stones to use, you may also use small pieces of wood, as long as they are clean and dry and sealed after the rune image is applied.