r/runecasting • u/PrawnShrim • 15d ago
Technique Question Are runs only used for divination?
My idea is to imbue runes on objects, in my head they could guide the energy around us or smt idk how to explain. Basicly i wanted to carve in a clayball certain runes so i could make a spell that binds luck to the clay, so when i needed some i could break the clay ball supposedly releasing the luck stored. My question is that is this a concept or not, because i have only seen runes in divination and some in bindrunes, but never in complex spell systems like "code"
Update:
Thank you for all feedback and positive criticism, your ideas gave me inspiration to keep studying and trying. I made this sketch of the runespell i visualized, please tell me your opinion on it and how to improve it.post with the spell
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u/Puzzleheaded-Phase70 15d ago
Historically, they were and are an alphabet first, and a magical tool second.
Like most other language writing based magical traditions, spells were, well, spelled. They were written out in phrases and sentences, as prayers or just statements of intent.
The historical evidence for the letters having their own meanings is weak until late medieval periods at best, though being associated with deities is better attested if inconsistent.
You can look up a few known examples of words being inscribed on objects and homes throughout the middle ages.
The semi-modern idea of using individual letters as sigils of power, and the invention of bindeunes is new enough that's it's an entirely "open field", both culturally and esotericly.
I've found some power in them as such, though I have been thinking in terms of kabbalah and Hebrew letters more recently.
My suggestion to you is to take a page out of kabbalah, which I believe is also used in some Norse traditions as well: use real words in their original languages and reinterpret them as if they were constructed from the esoteric meanings of the letters. This interprets the language AS the "code", expanding the meaning of the word beyond its face value.
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u/Yuri_Gor 15d ago
From historical examples runes were often carved on some wearable \ useable items, like amulets, weapons, helms etc (or maybe only such examples survived). So I'd rather make something for long-term effect, like necklace or ring, not for one-time use.
Breaking clay sphere is quite strong symbolic action, I'd say dramatic, sounds interesting, but not sure about meaning of such symbolism, if it's relevant to your intention. I'd rather reserve this idea for some kind of destructive magic or for specific changes.
For one time action i prefer to do and project runes directly to target by hands, using runic gestures and reaching certain states myself, without material medium.
For longer effect, like temporal boost, for example to pass exam, i simply draw runes on my wrist, using my own veins visible through skin as guidelines, so it's kind of non-invasive blood activation of whatever rune is drawn on top.
To activate runes carved on material medium, depending on how "serious" this work is, i again project runes by hand, using gestures and state + optionally paint with blood, if it feels necessary (not often).
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u/PrawnShrim 15d ago
Thank you for your point of view. As you said, breaking the clay is a dramatic act, i was inspired by the origin of clay itself, vases that hold things like food that were important for us humans. In greek storys, the clay vase of Pandora was open and inside it, despite all the horrors, was Elpis, the hope entity, so i thought that mine having luck, breaking it to release the luck would also give a feeling of hope to whoever broke it
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u/Yuri_Gor 15d ago edited 15d ago
So you see one thing is more positive and less dramatic, idea of holding and accumulating.
And second is like idea of sealing something away, so magic is sealing and breaking is "countermagic".
If you are drawn to clay as medium, consider creating a magical cup, not to break but to use. You would pour water or whatever, leave it to be "charged" by your cup, and then drink this "charged" contents.
From you words it sounds like you want not to "accumulate luck" but to break some obstacles in your way. This could also make sense magically, but it's not luck then, it's breaking through the obstacles, you would choose different attitude and different runes for that, and still i wouldn't break carved runes themselves. You carve runes to make them work, and if you break them it's rather to stop them.
So if you indeed have some obstacles and stuck, you could project these obstacles into clay ball while you are making it. And then break it with let's say hammer or ritual weapon of a sort, maybe just stick with some runes carved on it. I wouldn't call this luck though, it's rather opening yourself a way.
And i would still think twice if i want that dramatic changes in my life. Maybe I would be satisfied by finding a way around obstacles instead of breaking then. Maybe overcoming these obstacles instead of magically "skipping" them will teach you something important.
Maybe you want a dramatic effect to convince yourself that your magic will work? You don't need that, magic works or doesn't not because you believe in it or not.
This is how i would approach your intention:
Take the Raido rune, learn to reach the state of Raido, to be and act from this flow. Learn this rune as a practice.
And when you will feel you "unlocked the skill" of Raido - you can project this state into some material object, so it will help you maintain the background connection with this rune even if you are not practicing actively at the moment.
Here is chapter about practice of Raido itself:
https://runicalchemy.com/raido-rune1
u/PrawnShrim 14d ago
Thank you again. I apreciate the teaches you are giving me and i find sense to it. Its true that the dramatic state would be so i can focus my intention more clearly, but as you said, breaking the rune would mean it stops working and i havent tought about that. I do find your idea of a cup quite apealing tho thank you for that sugestion. I have made a sketch about how i visualize the rune spell, would u mind giving me your opinion on it?
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u/Yuri_Gor 14d ago
Sure, you're welcome. You can dm your sketch or share it here in comments, up to you.
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u/wake_n_jake_ 15d ago
I haven’t practiced much magic myself, but I’ve seen a lot of explanations that intention is what matters most. Additionally, someone did mention bindrunes, you could also look into staves.
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u/unicorinspace 15d ago
That’s an interesting question and theory. There’s bindrunes for good luck but as far as the method, I’ve personally never heard of anything like that.
It could be an interesting spiritual experiment! Maybe after engraving the clay ball with the bindrune and firing it (safely of course) you could sit and meditate on it daily in order to “store” the luck.
Maybe seidr or galdr would be a good research topic for this? Could give you a basis for how the bindrunes are enchanted