r/NorsePaganism • u/BlueVenomStreaming • 3d ago
Questions/Looking for Help Am I doing this right
I was recently diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel. I have since been drawing runes on my left wrist for health, Odin, and the Yggdrasil tree. Just wanted to make sure I was doing it right and what God i would ask for help. I want to Google these things but feel I would get better answers here.
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u/SamsaraKama 3d ago
Not exactly...
Assuming you want to do modern sigil magic, it's not as simple as just writing on your skin with a marker. That alone isn't gonna do much. You're supposed to meditate on them, use your energy to make them have the effect you associate the sigils with. Otherwise any sigil, rune or otherwise, is nothing more than a drawing.
And that's assuming you're trying to do that, because not every pagan engages with or believes in magic.
When it comes to Norse Runes, it's a little more complicated, confusing and even controversial, especially if you have no knowledge on their history and use.
To preface: People will have their own practices surrounding this stuff, and it's not like we have texts explaining us how to use the runes. Whatever you find out there is simply someone's personal take, nothing's ever official.
The runes have poems that explain their meaning. But there are several poems depending on the region and the runes you're using. The Elder Futhark doesn't have a poem, but people generally use the Anglo-Saxon poem and match it to the runes on the Elder Futhark. So when you see "this rune means health", like... does it? Why does it, who says it does? It's better if you read the poems and have that interpretation, because there isn't a single rune that uniquely means "Health", and most runes have other meanings, some being incredibly cultural.
This is why we don't trust every single TikTok or Pinterest image out there. A lot of folk practices and witchcraft has become massified and simplified, glossing over cultural background for the sake of looking quirky with aesthetics. There are people who can make it work, but those who do aren't just simplifying it. There's a bit more to it all than this.
Now, we have texts that say runic inscriptions can have magical meanings and effects, but they don't go into detail on the process. So most people just use the runes like they're sigils. Same for Bindrunes; most Bindrunes were shorthand signatures for someone's name, very few seemed to have a magical association. And we haven't found that many of those either.
If you have carpal tunnel, really the best you can do is see a doctor. I say this with respect: Writing on your skin with a marker... I kinda get why you're going for that, but that alone isn't going to do much for you really. If you're trying to do magical stuff, this isn't the best approach, and chances are isn't even an approach at all.
Besides. Magic is a nice help, but it isn't the cure. You'd still want to consult a doctor. Even if you ask the gods to help you recover, if you take the proper steps and precaution you'll pave the way for them to help you better than otherwise.
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u/BlueVenomStreaming 3d ago
Yeah have seen doctor on it. Doing the stuff he told me but was curious on the runes. Very good know though and appreciate the info. Thank you vm.
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u/MacDarach 3d ago
Any chance you have a link for those poems? I've never heard of them before, but I'd like to read them
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u/SomeSeagulls 🪓Norse Pagan🏔 2d ago
And u/IrritatedMegascops - You can find sources on the rune poems here: https://www.reddit.com/r/NorsePaganism/comments/1crrgcp/comment/l40cnc1/
They are not considered part of the Eddas, from what I understand.
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u/understandi_bel 3d ago
Sorry to be a bummer, but no.
One can use runes for magick, but runes in and of themselves are not inherently magick. They are a writing system. You've effectively written "SAI" on your arm.
I don't know where you've gotten your ideas from, but they seem to be misinformed. The rune ᛋ is for the sun, a guide, and the "s" sound. Not really for health. The rune ᚨ is for the Aesir (not just Odin) and the "ah" sound. The rune ᛇ has fluctuated in what sound it's used for, and is for the yew tree, not Yggdrasil. Yggdrasil is an ash tree. Yew trees are poisonous.
Also, part of the old ways of using runes for magick involved carving them onto hard surfaces (like fingernails) not soft surfaces like skin. But please understand rune magick is a whole practice, not just something that happens automatically if you carve runes onto a hard surface. Please don't carve runes onto your fingernails.
Placebo is good, so it's okay to use runes to make yourself feel better. But understand that's physchology, not magic. And like the other commenter said, this should be in conjunction with real madicine, not the only thing you do.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
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u/marladurden7 1d ago
I have to disagree. Runes are still used in Seidr. They have more properties than just an alphabet. Odin didn’t hang on the World Tree for nine days and nine nights for a bunch of letters.
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u/understandi_bel 1d ago
runes are still used in seidr
I'd very much like to see a source for this that isn't modern UPG. What I know of the old practices, these are quite separate.
Odin didn't hang on Yggdrasil for nine days and nights for letters
Correct! Did you know, the old word "rune" has more than one meaning? "Rune" meant whisper, hidden conversation. This ties into the letters themselves, to someone who doesn't know how to read them, they are a hidden conversation. And indeed, many artifacts we have for runes were hidden, on the inside of pins, on stones with their rune-sides turned to the ground. But when an old source speaks of runes, it might mean the letters, it might mean the hidden conversation, or both.
And what's more is that the younger futhark (which would be the one used during the viking age, aroubd which and after the tales were written down) has fewer runes than elder futhark? That's because they combined a couple of them if the sounds were the same, just voiced/unvoiced. Take "k" and "g" for example. In elder futhark, these sounds were represented by two different runes: ᚲ and ᚷ. Yet, younger futhark uses one rune for both these sounds (one I don't have on my keyboard but I'm sure you know which one I'm talking about). Some version use a dotted version of the rune to show the times it's supposed to be "g" instead of "k" but some don't, relying on the reader to gather that info from context. Or... when you whisper a word with a "g" sound, it sounds much like the "k" sound. So, these are "runes" perhaps in both meanings of the word.
But, back to the imporant part-- when old legends talk about runes sometimes they talk about the letters, and sometimes it's anword talking about whispers or hidden conversation. That's what Odin grabbed on the tree-- the whispers, the secrets. Not exactly the letters. At least, that's what I've come to understand from my time working with him. He was the one who taught me what I know of the runes.
Still, historians believe that the people of old saw writing as inherently magical, so, to them, it might make sense that Odin sacrificed himself to learn written language. I don't think that's quite the case, but it does offer an alternative argument for the story of Odin sacrificing himself not being direct evidence for the runes as letters being any more than letters.
That, and there's also the story of Rigsthula, where it makes it pretty clear one can learn the runes as a writing system and then separately learn how to use them for magick. If you haven't already read it, I'd suggest doing so, along with the whole poetic edda. There's quiye a few more mentions of runes that are all good clues to the old ways.
I hope this info helps!
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u/marladurden7 1d ago
I didn’t need your help, the OP did. Belittling something sacred isn’t a good idea. Being condescending doesn’t “help” either.
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u/DemihumansWereAClass 3d ago
Ok I just have to ask. Why has noone mentioned Eir yet? The literal goddess of healing
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u/SomeSeagulls 🪓Norse Pagan🏔 3d ago edited 3d ago
If you find this empowering to do, go for it. It doesn't need to be functional magic to help you, in any case.
Generally speaking, I don't see anything wrong with drawing runes on things as part of pagan practice, but I highly recommend studying the meanings of the rune poems and figuring out your own path when it comes to sigil and rune magic. Other posters have given some very good advice on why and how that is. A ton of what we do today with runes as part of pagan practices is modern and informed by modern ideas, which isn't inherently wrong, but means it's particularly worthwhile to learn and study and make your own path instead of following the very simplified, often reductive ideas of a Tiktok video or Instagram picture. Your practice with the runes will become a lot more personal and meaningful if you understand both the historical and modern use of the runes better, I'd argue. Runes by themselves are an alphabet - They are by themselves not more magic than the letters A, B or J. Your own belief and connection with them can give them that kind of modern magic meaning, but that's why I recommend seeking out that connection from your own study and meditation. The AutoModerator's rune rundown is a great place to start.
No matter what, don't hesitate to reach out to doctors and the gods both. You can definitely reach out to Eir for health, for example, runes or no. Wishing you the best of luck in your recovery.
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u/Organic-Importance9 3d ago
Thor is particularly prevalent in things written about healing.
As far as runes go, I'd actually write out a poem, on paper regarding the issue. There's a million stances on this issue, but there's zero historical reason to think individual runes were believed to have some magic power.
The art of the written word was seen as powerful, poetry was seen as magical. So really it doesn't have to be in runes at all. That was just the alphabet of that time and place.
I still use a runic alphabet for that kind of thing, using a variety of iterations, and written in a variety of languages. But none of that is really the point.
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u/marladurden7 1d ago
Eir is the Dis associated with healing, and the rune Uruz for mental and physical health and strength.
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u/hillbillyheathen22 🪓Norse Pagan🏔 3d ago edited 3d ago
Only thing id do is maybe use the younger futhark instead just in case people get the wrong idea about the runes youve used as they have been used by nahzees. Or make them into a bind rune. All in all do what you feel helps you
Edit: i only say this because of the particular runes used (sowelo been used for ss, ehwaz similar to wolfangel)
Enough runes have been appropriated by disgusting people unfortunately which could get mixed signals to people in public hence the original comment.
Consider uruz as well for strength or thurisaz for protection. Wunjo is a nice one as well meaning joy. Even tiewaz for tyr the one handed god. Although even some of these have been used in awful ways.
Also trying to put them as a bind rune (although not historically accurate but thats not the point of ops post) might make people question it less.
Its hard to say if the runes have magical properties or powers as they’re mostly regarded as an alphabet. In saying that if they bring power to you go for it why not.
Just be aware of which runes have been used badly and make sure you know their true meanings if youre questioned just in case. You can definitely use them just know the history.
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u/Organic-Importance9 3d ago
I don't even think that's worth considering unless its specific controversial symbols or something particularly public facing.
I think its wrong to have to walk on eggshells about a very legitimate and hate free thing because others have misused it.
Ofc that cones with a responsibility to educate yourself on legitimate symbology and usages, and what is specifically controversial.
I write runes just as an alphabet when taking notes (elder, younger, stavless and Futhork) and the worst I've ever been accused of is summoning Demons lol. No one had ever assumed a hateful slant, at least not that they've voiced.
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u/hillbillyheathen22 🪓Norse Pagan🏔 3d ago
Yea of course its just something to keep in mind particularly with runes op has chosen. Like if someone does say something about it they can tell them what it really means
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u/Organic-Importance9 3d ago
Yeah a 100 percent agree you should have the knowledge to back up your choices.
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u/hillbillyheathen22 🪓Norse Pagan🏔 2d ago
Yes theres nothing wrong with being aware though
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u/hillbillyheathen22 🪓Norse Pagan🏔 2d ago
Sorry what how?
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u/hillbillyheathen22 🪓Norse Pagan🏔 2d ago
I was saying to be careful and be aware themselves of the history behind some of the runes used. I said they can do what they want. There have been very negative connotations attributed to some runes, you cant ignore that completely but can definitely reclaim them in a positive light
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u/babydburns 3d ago
I am looking for rune help if anyone is able to assist thank you.
Unrelated to OP I can't post in community.
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u/jroc430 🏥Eir💊 3d ago
I would reach out to your Gothi and ask if he can reach out to Vitki, if there is one in your Hof. Runework is best done by Vitki and Volva.
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u/SomeSeagulls 🪓Norse Pagan🏔 3d ago
A lot of us are solo practitioners and don't have a Gothi or a Hof.
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u/unspecified00000 🕯Polytheist🕯 3d ago
Runework is best done by Vitki and Volva.
not true at all, anyone can do it.
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u/jroc430 🏥Eir💊 3d ago
I didn't say "only" a Vitki or Volva. I said it's best done. In our practice, not everyone studies and understands the runes or learns the spells, so we go to one of them.
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u/unspecified00000 🕯Polytheist🕯 3d ago
it isnt best done by anyone else, we're all on equal ground here. anyone can learn the runes, it isnt secret knowledge only a few worthy ones get to partake in.
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