Runes are an ancient Germanic alphabet, used for writing and divination.  The word “rune” means mystery, or secret.  The runes originated in northern Europe about 100 B.C.  Runic inscriptions were found in North America, leading to speculation that the Vikings arrived in the Americas long before Columbus did.  All of the symbols are made with straight lines, because they were originally cut into wood or stone.  The Rune stones are a kind of oracle that can be used when seeking advice.  They aren’t so much a fortune-telling device, as they are an analytical tool.  You state a circumstance, ask a question, and pull a stone out of the bag.  Each stone is imprinted with a symbol, which corresponds to a word or phrase.  You look up the meaning, and then figure out how it applies to your situation.

 

The Healing Runes (box set)