From: sunnyway@aol.com (Sunnyway)
Newsgroups: alt.divination
Subject: Re: mailorder runes??
Date: 16 Sep 1994 23:32:02 -0400

Desiree, it is recommended that the user make her own set of
runes. The runes should be "risted"(carved/drawn) and "charged" in
traditional ways.

I made a set of rune cards as well as a set of wooden runes.  I
downloaded a font called Futhark from the AOL software library.  It's
actually the Anglo-Saxon Futhark, but it contains enough alternates
that I was able to coble together a pretty fair facimile of the Elder
Futhark.  I actually like the A-S versions of some runes better, Jera
and Ingwaz, for example.  If you can't find a font, use a graphics
program to draw the shapes.

Anyway, I used a graphics program on my Mac to create the deck.  I fit
six cards on each page and printed the runes centered on each card.  I
printed onto cardstock.  For the backside, I printed a pattern fill.
Then I laminated them and cut them apart using a paper cutter.  Only
later did I discover the significance of coloring the runes.  Since
they were printed in black and white, I "risted" the runes again using
a red magic marker.  The next time I do this I'm going to either find
a color printer or print them in outline style and neatly rist them in
red.  How's that for combining modern technology with tradition.  :)

The wooden ones were made using wooden oval-shaped disks from a crafts
shop.  I drew the rune symbols in pencil and then carved them. I
started out with an exacto knife but finally bought a wood-carving
gouging tool which made it MUCH easier.  I painted the carved symbols
with the traditional red, and the face of each disk ivory.  I stained
the backside with a cherry stain.

The next time I do it I'll buy a cherry-wood dowel and cut it into
disks.  One could also use a small tree branch to cut disks.  Fruit
wood is traditional.

I'm also planning to make a set using stained glass "jewels" which are
drops of colored glass about the size of a dime.  I will etch each
symbol with a diamond engraving tool and then paint them with red
glass paint.  (Since I used to work with stained glass I already had
these materials, but the jewels and paint are quite inexpensive.  You
should be able to buy everything but the engraving tool for under $10
and have enough change to buy fabric to make a bag to carry them.)

I've also seen ordinary gravel painted, and pieces of wood, such as
popsicle sticks or slices from a tree branch with the symbols
wood-burned.

 I've even seen some barbequed rib bones (cleaned!) and painted.  If
you want to use bones, boil them for several hours until all the meat
and marrow are gone and the bones are bleached white.  And use the
stock for soup!

I encourage you to read many sources before making your runes. I
particularly recommend the following.  From them I've pieced together
a pretty comprehensive description of the manner in which to make the
runes and their interpretations.

* Teutonic Magic, by Kveldulf Gundarsson. 
* Discover Runes, by Tony Willis.
* Esoteric Rune Magic by D. Jason Cooper
* Runelore, by Edred Thorsson

I'm still a novice, but I've collected a nice library of related
books.  Let me know if you'd like a complete list of the books I've
discovered.  I'm also studying Galdhr (runemagic) and hope eventually
to follow the path to Seidhr (norse shamanism).  I encourage Email on
runes/runemagic and related subjects.
Sunnyway@aol.com