Road to Runes: Buying a Rune Set

There are plenty of questions you might ask when choosing a rune set. What material should I choose for runes? Do I have to make them myself? Are mass-produced runes okay? To be clear, there are no “right” or “wrong” answers, only answers that are right for you. However, we’ve pulled together some tips and advice to offer guidance with this important choice of divination tool.

Materials for Runes

You can find runes made out of just about anything, and you can make a set of runes out of any materials you might have to hand. Even runes written on pieces of paper can work. But if you’re in the market for something permanent and professional-looking, these materials are your main options.

Wood

Wood is one of the most common materials for runes because it’s readily available, affordable, and conveniently shaped. As you can see in the photo above, slices of a small branch make handy tokens that you (or a professional) can pyrograph with runes. Many sellers will offer runes in significant woods, such as ash to honour Yggdrasil, or birch as a link to new beginnings, or other woods for their magical significance.

Metal

Metal runes may be square or round, like coins, only with the Elder Futhark etched into them. They’re highly durable, but take into account that they will jingle when you mix them in their bag or even when you’re carrying them about.

Crystal

There are so many crystal rune sets on the market. I have a carnelian set and one of my family members has an amethyst set. The runes have been carefully etched into the crystal and then filled in with gold paint.

One of the benefits of crystal runes is their feel. Because they generally use tumbled stones, they’re all slightly different and very smooth and pleasant to the touch.

However, keep in mind the environmental and ethical impacts of crystal mining. Source yours from somewhere that focuses on sustainability and good human rights practices.

Stone

Simple stones, like pebbles from the beach, are a great material for runes as they’re naturally abundant and easy to draw on or, with a little more skill, etch. Professional sets may be etched or carved, and usually won’t be as expensive as their crystal alternatives.

The only downside is that you can get used to the feeling of certain stones and start to recognise them by touch. You may subconsciously pull out runes you’re already thinking about, removing some of the organic, fluid nature of divination.

Plastic

I know many people are going to turn their nose up at the idea of plastic runes. And let’s be clear: mass-produced plastic stuff is a contributor to pollution and climate change… but primarily only if it’s single-use plastic. If you plan to treasure these runes for a long time and utilise them daily, then you’re not contributing to landfill or wasting plastic that could be recycled into something else.

Sourcing a Good Seller

Your runes will carry some energy associated with how they came to you. With that in mind, if you’re not truly comfortable with buying mass-produced products from large, faceless retailers, it’s probably not a good idea to obtain your runes in this way. While there’s nothing inherently “wrong” about this, and indeed, it may be the only option for many people, if you wish you hadn’t bought them this way, you will always associate your rune set with this emotion. That is not the path to honest and insightful divination.

You could consider searching smaller online retailers and marketplaces, or even specialist crafters. Word of mouth is always a great way to find recommended tools, such as via your online Pagan or spiritual communities, or simply through your friends and family.

If you know someone who has a beautiful set of runes, ask where they got them from. You can then make a choice as to whether this seller is a good fit for you.

Importantly, learning about and building a relationship with runes takes a long time. As one friend and mentor said to me recently, they’ve been working with them for years and still only feel like they’re scratching the surface. So, whatever type of runes you decide to buy or make, be sure you’ll be comfortable using them for a long time.

 

Photo credits: Photo by Carla Santiago on Unsplash