Runes were used by the
ancient Nordic people as a
magical language. Runes,
the
old Germanic
writing, are found chiseled
in
rocks dating from as back
as
the Neolithic period. The
runic
alphabet, one of the oldest
writings known, is
graphically
very simple. It consists of
24
characters. The whole
alphabet - futhark -is
organized in three groups.
According to Scandinavian
mythology, the runic
alphabet
was discovered by the
supreme god Odin while he
was for nine days and nine
nights hanging head down
on
Yggdrasil, the tree of the
World that supports the
whole
of the Scandinavian
universe.
Some people use runes by
laying them out flat face
down
and laying their hand over
them and 'feeling' which
one is
the right one to pick up.
The
left hand is to receive ( in
right handed people).
Runes are to be kept in a
special place to keep
protected.