Runes 301 - Making Your Own Runes 8

In keeping me on track to finish my own set of wooden Rune staves before the end of the month, when I asked the Runes what I should write about this week, the answer was clear.  I asked about two different topics.  The first question, about a book review I was considering, gave me Gebo, which I took to mean simply an 'X', as if the Runes were saying "cross off that idea for this week."  When I asked the second question, I drew Fehu, Ansuz, Algiz, and Tiwaz.  If you look at the image I took a few weeks ago (below) when I engraved the first five Runes, the Runes I drew are the next four Runes I planned to carve.  (I didn't carve Sowilo yet, because I want to do that one in the sun and we've had cloudy Mondays of late.)  Coincidence?  Perhaps, but I also found it interesting that Gebo is the fifth Rune in this group, so maybe I drew that as part of the Runes I should carve today and that that is where I should stop (for today).

Same as last time, I have an item to represent each of the five Runes.  Going at this rate, however, I realize I will not finish by the end of the month, so I will take some time later this week to carve another five or six.  For now, here are the Runes and the items I've chosen, the items to represent them in the engraving ritual and the chants for each one.  I repeated the chants nine times, while I engraved the Rune to which it referred, except for Algiz, which I said the first time while I held the Rune to my throat.

Tiwaz - This Rune, to me, represents the Norse God Týr, the warrior go, sky god, left-handed god.  It is the latter that I incorporate today, because, like Týr, I am left-handed.  Therefore, to represent Tiwaz, I chose a tracing of my left hand (palm down).  As I carved this Rune, I said: I ask Týr to infuse this Rune with all his abilities.  I believe in what he represents.  I try to emulate his bravery in all that I do.

Fehu - Although this is the money Rune, as I mentioned last week, it was akin to cattle initially and, additionally, there are many forms of wealth.  To that end, I chose money and family to represent this Rune.  (My kids also offered the cow from one of their toy farms.)  To infuse this Rune with the wealth it represents, I chanted: Wealth comes in many forms.  I ask its forms to come to me and my Runes. 

Ansuz - The Rune of communication, this Rune is also likened to Odin.  Because I am a writer, I chose my book to represent Ansuz and made my request to Odin.  Odin, I ask communication and understanding to be open and clear in this Rune and for your guidance in making it so.

Algiz - This one was a bit more difficult to represent.  Defense and self-protection.  At first, from a purely physical perspective, I thought of my bat, but I did not want to use a weapon as a symbol to defend myself.  Then, I thought of a scene from my novel; Heimdall and Magni are talking about Heimdall's nine mothers and the gifts each one bestowed on him.  The first gift came from Gjàlp.  Here is what Heimdall said:

“First to reach my mother was Gjàlp.  She gave me my voice…”

“So you can talk, you mean?”

“No,” I chuckle, “This kind of voice is the strength I need to make my voice heard when others are not brave enough to speak up for what is right.”

“Does that get you in trouble with Grandpa?”

“Yes.  It does that a lot.  Odin does not like it when I speak against his ideas and plans.”

This scene is purely fictional, created entirely in my mind, but I like the idea of using your voice to speak up for what is right and I decided I would use my voice as my defense and protection.  To represent it, I held the Rune to my throat and began my chant to Heimdall.  Heimdall, imbibe this Rune with the power to defend and protect one's self and others.  I believe as sentry, you possess this power completely.

Gebo - I found Gebo to be the most challenging to represent.  A gift.  After a few minutes, I thought of some volunteering I do at my kids' school, taking the time to speak to different classes about various aspects of Geography.  There is one fourth grade class in particular that really enjoys my presentations.  The last time I spoke to them, we talked about the Vikings westward expansion and learned about northern Europe, the medieval warm period, and the Little Ice Age.  That is a great gift - time.  My old diving watch represents this wonderful gift.  For some reason, Freyja also came into my mind, so my chant goes to her:  Freyja, give a beautiful gift to this Rune.  Let it be as magical as you are.

I should point out that all of the chants I do come to me as I undertake the engravings.  I don't plan them in advance.  Later this week, when I do more, I will write everything down and take pictures to post at the end of the month.  If you have suggestions for what could represent some of my remaining Runes, please let me know.  I am always looking for ideas.

Runes 301 - Making Your Own Runes 6

Wow!  I just realized that I haven't posted anything about making my own Runes since July.  My apologies.  I let life get in the way of completing this project.  However, I have committed to finishing it before spring and I made some good headway yesterday.  I even learned a couple of new things and had some realizations from my last post about making Runes (Runes 301 - Making Your Own Runes 5) reinforced.

For starters, completing the project in a more timely fashion would have made the process easier.  The wood is drying out and the larger pieces were harder to carve out the space for engraving the Runes.  Because the wood is dry, the bark is also dry and it is separating a bit from the wood.  In short, the bark could easily come off the wood and I am trying to keep it on.  In a few instances when the bent chisel missed its mark, I cut into the bark and, though it didn't sever completely from the stave, it did lift away from it.  I hope that the varnish will help hold things together.

Staves being carved out to engrave Runes on them.

When I started carving, I began with the thinnest staves.  They were easy and pretty straight forward, the experience being as I mentioned in my last post.  They are on the left side of the pictures.  However, the wider staves were harder to carve out; that is to say the wood was harder, which made carving more difficult.  I still have five of the wider staves left to carve.

As you can see from the pictures, not all of the carved out spaces are located on the same place on the staves.  Some are in the middle and some are at the end.  I chose the spaces based on each individual stave's characteristics.  Some had natural flat spots, others had knots or spots where smaller branches had been growing out.  I worked with these natural aspects of the staves.

From this carving experience, I have learned a few important things.  I knew I wasn't a carpenter or wood-working artist, so I wasn't expecting perfection, but next time I make a set of Runes, I will consult first with someone who is one of those things.  I still won't expect perfection, but I am sure they can give me some pointers to make the process easier.  Given I am not endowed with these talents, the other thing I've learned or accepted is that I need to let go of any expectations I may have had about how the Runes will look when they are done.  To that end, just as I worked with the individual features of each stave, so have I embraced the fact that, while they may not look perfect or beautiful or any of that when they are done, they will be mine and each one will be as unique as the meaning of the Rune engraved on it.

As before, if you have made a set of Runes or have a story about your Runes that you would like to share, I invite you to leave a comment on this post or contact me directly.  I think this is an important part of the process and I enjoy learning about other people's experiences.

Runes 301 - Making Your Own Runes 5

I've learned a few things during this process of making my own Runes.  First, but not related directly to making the Runes, I need a better camera.  I tried taking some pictures of the practice Runes I made today, but they are pretty blurry... sorry about that.  I wanted to show you pictures of my efforts so you could see what worked and what didn't.  That will have to wait until next time.

Second, if you decide to make your own Runes, make sure you have plenty of practice wood, unless you are a woodworking expert.  As I explain my progress today, you'll understand why and, I can tell you, I'm going back to my practice wood next week, to practice carving the angles of the Runes.

Carving out the space on which to carve the Runes is pretty easy with the right tools (see Runes 301 - Making Your Own Runes 3 for information on the tools I'm using).  I'm simply making a flat rectangular space on the staves.  The carving spaces are roughly 2.5cm (1 inch) long, covering the full width of the stave.  Remember, my staves are not all the same width.  To compensate for this fact, I am carving the thinner Runes, such as Isa and Laguz, on the thinner Runes (see picture below) and saving the widest staves for Runes like Dagaz and Mannaz.  However, having said that, I recommend highly that you plan to have 24 four-inch long wooden Rune staves that are 2cm (3/4 inch) wide, with approximately a similar amount for practice, if you are going to follow this process.

Now, on to the practice.  This is a picture of the three Runes I made today; these runes will not be part of the final set.  I colored them in using a red pen, but that was just so you would be able to see the carving.  When I complete my actual Runes, I will be staining them.

Again, I apologize for the quality of the picture.  I will get better ones when I make the real set.  These were made just for practice carving the Rune shapes.  As you can see, I chose some of the easier Runes - Ehwaz, Laguz, and Isa.  The staves are thin, 1cm (~1/2 inch), which is another reason to try the easier Runes.  The only trouble I had with shaving the space to carve the Runes is that on the one where I carved Laguz, the bark came off all the way around the carved section.  You may decide not to use the bark at all (shave it all off) or just not worry about whether or not it stays on.  I am going to try to keep the bark on, because I like the way it looks, the contrast between the shaved spot and the rest of the Rune, and I like to think that it holds in the power of the wood.

When it came to carving the Runes into the wood, obviously, the straight line that is made with the grain of the wood was pretty easy.  Isa was a safe place to start.  For that, I used a combination of a gouge and small scratch awl.  (I'll post pictures next time.)  You can see the result in the picture.  Making the angled lines was not as easy and, I think I may wear leather gloves next time, because I came close to cutting myself a couple of times.  I may lose a little dexterity, but I'll keep my fingers intact.  This time, I was just scratching in the shapes freehand.  Next round, I will try sketching them onto the wood first to see if I can follow the line or if winging it is the best way to go.

I'm not disappointed with this first practice effort.  In fact, I am happy that I have learned so much through the experience that I can incorporate and try the next go round.  Please stay tuned for the next step in the process and look for more information on working with individual Runes mixed in with my usual readings.  As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know.  I'm available via email.  Have a wonderful week.

Runes 301 - Making Your Own Runes 4

This morning, I cut the wood staves for my Runes.  The picture above shows the cherry wood branches that I cut this spring from the cherry tree in my yard, the water from Freyr to cleanse the tools for making the Rune staves, the organic cotton cloth I used to dry the tools, and the gardening shears (or pruning shears) for the cutting.  I also had a small saw, which I used on a few of the thicker pieces of wood.

For the shears, I dipped them into the jar of water and requested a sharp blade for a clean cut, reciting this incantation:

"Please provide me with a sharp blade, so that I may make a clean cut.  I do not wish to waste Freyr's gift to me."

When I needed the saw, I put my fingers in the water, then ran the water along the blade of the saw, reciting the same incantation.

Remember, I chose to say these things.  You may use them, but you can also say what feels right to you.

Once the blessing was complete, I marked the staves with a single dot from a marker at four inch (10cm) intervals.  I struggled a bit with determining the length, because, in Norse Mythology, the number nine is a commonly used number, as are three and six.  I measured out strips of paper at three, four, and six inches (nine was clearly too long) and examined them for a long time, before deciding that four inches was the best length for me.  Four is the right length and, although it is not a special number in Norse Mythology, it has special meaning to me, personally.  Since these are my Runes (or will be my Runes), I feel I have to put as much of myself as possible into each one.  You may find slightly shorter or longer staves feel right for your needs.

My four-inch wooded Rune staves, trying to look like logs, just waiting to be carved, stained and varnished.

 As I was cutting the staves, I realized a couple of things.  First, the staves, while all the same length, are not the same width.  In fact, they range from under half an inch to more than three-quarters of an inch (about 1-2.5cm).  In a moment of true personal growth, this made me smile.  The staves, my staves, are not going to be uniform.  Each will have its own distinct look, feel, and width, along with the Rune carved into it.  As someone with a strong 'type A' personality, this should bug me.  They should all be the same length, width, and so on.  Instead, I find myself pleased with these distinctions.  I must, however, confess that I believe the "perfect" stave size is somewhere around half an inch (1.5-1.7cm).

Next week, I will resume my carving practice for a few days, before beginning on my actual staves.  On that, I have two quick things to point out.  Due to the different stave widths, I will be carving specific Runes into the thick versus thin staves, because, like the staves, some Runes are wider than others.  Simply look at Dagaz and Isa as an example.  The other point I want to make is that the wood is drying out a bit and I am afraid I may lose some or all of the bark on the staves.  I tell you this, so that you can plan to make your Runes in a shorter time frame.  That way, they can be carved before the wood gets to dry and then varnished to protect them from drying out.

Look for more Runes 301 in a few weeks.  Until then, stay tuned for more about Runes, their meanings and their role in mythology and history.

Runes 301- Making Your Own Runes 3

Over the last two weekends, I've taken some time to practice carving wood to make my Rune staves.  I've figured out the basic process for making the space in which to carve the Runes.  The challenge is to keep the bark from peeling off.

When I began this process, I had no idea what I would use for the carving, but I found a nice set of tools especially for such delicate work.  I got mine at Home Depot, though I checked out some art supply stores too.  The set I bought was sturdier and felt more durable than the ones from the art stores.  I paid $40 Canadian for a six-piece set, but it will probably be cheaper in the US.  (I can't speak to the cost in other countries; sorry.)

After playing with all the tools in the set for a couple of hours, I came up with a three-tool process that works for me. First, I etch a rectangle on the wood with the skew bevel.  Next, I use the bent chisel.  This makes a nice flat surface on the wood by removing very thin layers.  As I shave the wood, it curls up toward the edge, so I use the straight edge to "chop" it off.  Once I begin making the actual Runes, I'll put up some pictures of the process.  For now, here is a picture of the three tools I'm using.

The top tool is the bent chisel.  I placed it sideways in the shot to accentuate the bend.  It may seem silly, but having the bend in the tool makes it easier to shave the wood.  The middle tool is the straight edge.  It's essentially the same as the bent chisel without the bend.  I tried this one to make the flat surface and it worked okay, but I found it harder to maneuver.  However, the straight edge worked great to remove the shavings created by the bent chisel.  At the bottom of the picture is the skew bevel.  Its blade is angled and the point worked well for marking the lines which form the space for the Rune.  A word of caution though.  If you're going to get cut, this is most likely when it will happen, so be careful.  Watch out for peeling bark too.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will refine this process and attempt to etch in some Runes.  When I'm comfortable enough with the carving process, I'll use the rain water I gathered earlier this spring to cleanse the tools before I before the tools touch the fruit-bearing wood.

If you have made your own Runes using wood or some other material, please feel free to share your experience with us.  Likewise, if you're considering making a set and have questions, ask away.  I'm happy to help as best as I can.

Runes 301 - Making Your Own Runes 2

As promised, last week, I cut the wood for my Runes.  The tree was in the early stages of blossom, with lots of little white blooms popping out on the branches.  The process began with a cleansing of the saw, using the water I had collected a couple of weeks ago and stored in a glass jar (see Rune 301 - Making Your Own Runes).  The incantation I spoke was in two parts.  First, I expressed gratitude to Freyr for the water.  Then, I requested a sharp blade to cut the wood.  The incantation went like this:

"Thanks to Freyr for the cleansing water.  I am grateful to receive your gift."

After speaking these words, I poured the water over the saw, especially the blade, and laid it on an organic cotton cloth to dry in the sun.  When it was dry, I turned to the tree, held up the saw and proclaimed:

"I believe in the power of Odin to make this saw sharp, not for gain in war, but gain in wisdom from the Runes that will be carved into this fruited wood."
 
I climbed the tree and cut the branches I had selected earlier as being the best size for the Runes.  They ranged in diameter from 1-2cm.  In addition to cutting the wood for the Runes, I cut an extra branch (a dead one) to use for practice before I start the actual Runes.  I don't want to make any mistakes on the fruit-bearing wood and I felt that using wood from the same tree would give me a better sense of the feel of the wood than using, say, cedar or some other wood.

I sawed off the branches as close to the main artery of the tree as I could.  After the wood was cut, I thanked Freyr for the wood with the following gratitude incantation:

"I am grateful to you, Freyr, for the fertile wood you have provided so that my Runes will carry fruit-bearing power of wisdom within them."

As an extra sign of appreciation, when I cut the smaller branches, bearing the blossoms, from the larger ones that will be used for the Runes, I put them into a vase on my kitchen table, where they are still blooming and leaves are forming.  They give the dining room a completely different feel, making it much more earthy.

This week's goal is to select the best tools for carving the Runes into the branches, which I will discuss when I begin the first practice round.

For now, it is important to remember that this is my process for making Runes and that many exist.  One of the things I like most about this endeavor is that it is very individualized.  In fact, I feel it must be.  If you don't make your Runes in the way that makes sense and feels right to you, you are doing them and yourself a disservice.  You don't have to recite my incantations if they don't feel right to you.  The basic things that you must do if you want to make wooden Rune staves is find a wood that feels right to you, cut it to appropriate lengths and carve the Runes into it.  Throughout this process, please feel free to ask me any questions or clarify things for you that my not be clear.  If you've made your own Runes, please share your experience with us!