Two New Rune Sets

 

 

It is said that although a set of runes may be purchased, the best way to acquire a set is to make them yourself. For the two sets above, I chose Lombardy Poplar. Instead of cutting them crosswise for a disc shape, for these two sets, I decided to make them cylindrical. The outer ring is comprised of Elder Futhark runes, while the inside runes are a set of thirteen Witch runes. I’ve made several sets of runes over time, but these two sets hold a different meaning than the others.

The choice of wood has a story. I planted twenty two Lombardy Poplar trees on my property the day my mother died. She had been ill for several years, and we knew this day would come sooner than later. But when I didn’t reach her by phone at noon that day, I didn’t worry because she had been doing well and could have been at the store or out talking to a neighbor. Running to answer the phone with COPD wasn’t an option, so I decided to call her back later. I later told my family that suddenly I felt compelled to plant those trees. They had sat in the bucket long enough. I heard her voice telling me to stop procrastinating and plant those trees. And so, the obedient daughter that I was, I planted the damn trees. When I was done, I called her again, getting no answer.

My oldest son and I drove over to her home and found that she had died, probably early that morning. My mother was an early riser, typically up by 5 am to let her dog outside, and it looked as if she hadn’t been up long when it happened. In fact, she apparently passed before tending to her dog, which would have upset her greatly had she still been alive. As devoted to that dog as she was, it was surprising that her voice said to plant the trees instead of letting Meisha out. So, the trees have always had meaning for me. Last summer, I made peace with the fact that it was time to cut them down. They have a lifespan, and they had reached theirs. Before my husband chipped all the branches for bark dust, I gathered a few to use for runes.

Intention is a factor when creating a set of runes. Energies should balance in some fashion. Poplars belong to the same group as aspens, which correspond to Elemental Air. My own astrological sign, Libra, corresponds to Air as well. My mother’s astrological sign was Taurus, an Elemental Earth sign. However, Taurus and Libra are both ruled by Venus, so there’s synchronicity there, and the push/pull energy of Earth and Air brings an interesting resonance to the runes. A blessing ritual, infusing the runes with your own energy is lovely and I always perform one upon completing a set.

I intended only to make an Elder Futhark set, but then it seemed right to make the Witch set. As I use them, I’ll be mindful of their origin, and what they represent.

~Blessed Be the Runes!