Every week, before I anoint my candles and charge my sigils, I evaluate my altar’s adornments and make sure everything is still in line with my goals. Depending on my mood, I will sometimes add new symbols or tokens that will seem perfect in the moment, but a week later, when the mood has changed, they seem very unfamiliar — too aggressive or a little random — and they will no longer be helpful to me. So, my altar’s symbols have to be refreshed.
This week, I received a new set of runes and couldn’t wait to add my favorites to my altar. This set of rune stones came with a piece of paper that listed all the rune meanings and, lo and behold, none of these meanings meshed with what I’d already held true about the runes. Instead of calmly shrugging and moving on, accepting that these ancient symbols would, of course, be open to many interpretations, I immediately went to my books and online resources to cross-check information.
This didn’t bring the reassuring clarity I was seeking.
This happens all the time. One source says one thing, and another says something totally different. For people like me, who are admittedly a bit overkeen, this can be maddening. I don’t want a rune to be “unknown.” I don’t want to put a rune on my altar that, according to one book, means success and, according to an online source, means masculine energy. I think magic works better when the intent is crystal clear. Since all my symbols are there to reinforce my intent, what purpose are they serving if they could mean twelve different things?
How To Create Your Own Rune Set
Originally, runes were used as a Germanic alphabet, called the Elder Futhark Runes. As Latin was adopted and the language changed, the original meanings and knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon runes were mostly lost, leaving them wide open to interpretation. As time passed, some runes were forgotten, and new runes were added as necessary. Mythology about these ancient symbols grew, and the runes were even said to have been fashioned by the gods themselves… making rune casting ideal for use in divining the future. Though there is little evidence to support that the runes were originally intended to be used as magical objects, they were nonetheless a cornerstone of witchcraft then and now.
Divination is a common use of runes, as well as answer seeking and even writing runes on tools as a way to bring success to the owner. Witch’s runes are far more modern and used in much the same way as the Elder Futhark and Scandinavian runic alphabet. These runes are simpler and much clearer to interpret, though very broad.
So how do you make your own? The first step is to start by thinking of an intent you would use frequently in your day-to-day casting and altar needs: health, success, strength, etc. You can also add a blank rune to leave space for the unknown to come through in your readings. Over time, the need for different runes will arise, and you can add to your set. However, to begin with, don’t overdo it. The more time you spend crafting your runes individually — making them slowly and on an as-needed basis — the more familiar with them you will be and the more sincere their creation will become. Charging them will be easier when the time comes because you’ll be used to it already, having devoted a lot of time to them during their creation. Think of each one you make as deeply special and necessary.
Once you know what rune you’ll need, think of a representation for it and then cut it down to the bare bones. For example, if you’re making a rune for strength, use a big animal like a bear or bull, and then whittle it down to a paw or horns — whatever represents its strength best to you. Runes were traditionally drawn on stone and wood, so they had simple, straight lines that were easy to carve. Even though, as a modern witch, you have more options and leeway, keep this in mind and keep it simple. You’ll be charging this rune a lot, which means redrawing it and meditating on it frequently. Mentally recalling the rune will be a snap if you have to call on its help when you don’t have an original in hand.
Like sigils, landing on a design that really speaks to you can take a while, but you’ll know when you’ve hit the mark. Redraw and tinker until your rune is exactly the way you want it. This is the beginning of your bonding process with your runes.
Assigning Roles
After the crafting of your rune is complete and you’re happy with it, it’s time to breathe some life into it! Traditional runic symbols are steeped in symbolism. Each rune has a name and different associated elements. Some runes even have specific gods attributed to them. Do this for your runes, too. Write down stories for them in your journals, give them details and associations that will add to the overall purpose of each rune. For example, if you’ve made a rune for wisdom, assign it the element of air for insight and an open mind, and so on. This process will transform your runes from simple designs into powerful, proactive tools. It will also help you tremendously with visualization and focus when the time comes to charge your runes!
Using Your New Runes
You don’t need a whole set to use your runes, though. As your set grows, you’ll be able to do more with it.
Using individual runes in spellwork and as talismans:
- Whenever you use or redraw your rune, it’s a good idea to charge it, especially if your purpose is changing for its next use. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, including using your own blood (this is a method known as consecrating the runes to create a conduit for the energies the rune represents). However, more simply, you may meditate on your rune and imagine in detail how you want it to work for you before, during, and after you place it.
- You can use a single rune or combine a number of runes to create combination runes with more complex meanings and effects. Think about the rune symbols as well as the meanings and how they might interact with one another. Pay attention to the results of each combination; sometimes your creations will surprise you!
- Speaking to your rune and saying its intention aloud while holding it can also effectively charge it. Asking your particular gods, goddesses, or spirits for assistance and blessings during this time is another common practice. Remember to thank them!
- Draw runes on your body and think of their intention during physical exertion. In addition to charging them, this can work to further bind the runes to your energy, and vice versa.
- Your rune can be drawn on anything, such as tools used in spellwork, for an added infusion of power or extra help and guidance.
- Regularly using your runes, charging them, and pouring energy into them will strengthen them, and they’ll become more efficient over time. Their individual purposes will also become more defined and easier to direct!
- To use your runes to help others, charge your rune in the same way, but picture another enjoying the benefits of the rune. You may also verbally direct the rune to work to help a friend in need. Draw the rune on a stone with a permanent marker and give it as a gift.
- For simple rune magic, you can carry specific runes with you as talismans by drawing them on corresponding crystals and stones, or just pieces of paper. You can recharge them regularly and discreetly by holding them in your hand and quietly focusing on the rune’s meaning.
Using your runes to find answers:
- As you collect more runes, you’ll be able to use them as tools for guidance and divination. Because you created these runes from scratch, they’re already bonded to you and locked into your subconscious, making them more attuned to your energy and vice versa. Therefore, when you ask them questions, they will have better and more focused answers. You will also be able to interpret these answers more easily. Remember to journal these results to see the runes’ progress over time.
- Carry your runes with you in a bag, and roll them in your hands while out and about to reinforce your connection. Also, you can always ask your runes for guidance and help with your goals as a way to direct their purpose, even when not casting them.
- For quick rune reading, clear your thoughts and shuffle your bag of runes. Ask your question out loud, and then pull a rune from the bag. Interpreting the answer may take some practice, but if you’re still unclear, just reshuffle the runes and repeat the process until you have clarity.
- Cleanse and charge runes before each use.
There are a number of ways to work with runes, but, of course, there is no right way or wrong way — just the way that gets you results. Some trial and error will probably be necessary. Journaling what works will speed up your process!
If you just want to use your runes for altar symbols and supporting an intent, they are effective and fabulous tools to become familiar with — and create for yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know if a rune design I’ve created is “right” or effective for my intentions?
Some people will have a sense for when their rune is right, when they’ve made it correctly, and it kind of clicks and feels like it comes alive magically. If you have the ability to sense that, then that is the point that you are looking for as you create your runes. However, not everyone is going to be able to feel that magical click, especially if you are newer to the craft. So the answer here is that you don’t know until you’ve started using it and actually seen results from using the rune.
In some cases, a rune will click and be correct as soon as you’ve made it. In other cases, the repeated use of the rune, either for magic or for divination, will imbue the symbol with its purpose over time, with your intent and meaning. If you don’t immediately know if it’s right or not, that is okay. Experiment with it, feel free to adjust it as you go, and just start using it as it is. This can be an experimental process that you change and tweak as you go.
2. Can I combine traditional rune meanings with my personal interpretations, or should I choose one approach?
You can use both systems, but I would recommend that you use them as separate systems. More experienced magicians who are very familiar with runes might be able to get good results by combining the two systems, but in general, you will have better results by keeping the two systems separate and not conflating them too much. Of course, over time, as you build familiarity with your runes and the more traditional runic system, you may find that you want to experiment more with combinations. And if that’s the case, go for it.
A lot of magic is created simply by asking ourselves, “I wonder what would happen if I ______”. Give it a try, see what happens, see if you can make it work. If you want to focus more on reliable and predictable results, then don’t do too much experimenting. But for those of you who are ready to make your own system of runes, experiment as you feel called to do so, with the understanding that it won’t always be successful.
3. What should I do if I feel disconnected from a rune I’ve made or if it stops resonating with me?
First, don’t panic. Feeling disconnected or feeling like some part of your craft isn’t resonating with you is not necessarily a sign that the magic has stopped working, that you are actually disconnected, or that something has gone wrong. Often, this is just a sign that you are stressed out or tired or in some way not in the right headspace to do magic. So do not freak out and assume that your magic is no longer working the way it was. The next thing you need to do is consider how you want to troubleshoot this problem.
If you can tell that you are burned out, tired, overworked, stressed, emotionally distraught, and if there is some reason why you are feeling disconnected, your plan of attack is to do nothing. Go take care of yourself. You need to return yourself to a state of health and happiness, or at least stability, before you can expect yourself to perform optimally on a spiritual level. If there is no reason why you would be obviously disconnected from your spiritual senses, then my recommendation would be to work harder at forging a connection with the understanding that it may not work. You can try various forms of meditation. I particularly like discursive meditation for this kind of process, where you, instead of emptying your mind, fill your mind with a logical train of thought directed at a specific esoteric topic. This can help to unlock deeper connections to the rune or other symbols.
You can also simply continue using the rune as you would normally. Just because you’re not feeling it doesn’t mean it’s not working. A lot of people seem to think that their feelings are their magic, but they’re not. Your magic might still be working perfectly well even if you don’t feel a damn thing when you try to connect with the symbols. So again, don’t freak out, don’t assume everything has gone wrong. Give it some time, give it some focus, and just keep working at it.
4. Are there any materials I should avoid when crafting my own runes for magical use?
There are many different materials that you can use to make your runes, such as wooden discs, but the primary thing that I would avoid using is plastic. Now this is not because plastic is unnatural or bad for the environment or anything like that, even though it is. This is mostly because plastic is non-conductive. It does not conduct energy well. And I mean this on the spiritual plane, not the physical plane. There are many materials that we use, like stones, that are not particularly electrically conductive but conduct spiritual energies just fine. But plastic does not tend to conduct spiritual energy very well. So I would avoid using plastic for pretty much anything in your craft that you want to hold or move energy with. It is likely to be significantly weaker simply by virtue of the fact that you have used plastic. Stick to natural materials and you’ll have no problems.
Do you want to take full advantage of your divination tools? Divination is a ubiquitous part of the craft. You can hardly dip a toe into witchcraft without hearing mention of tarot, pendulums, and scrying, and it’s no wonder, divination is useful! The ability to peer into the future and uncover the hidden aspects of a situation is invaluable for a witch. That said, most witches are underutilizing these wonderful tools.
There is so much more that divination can be used for, from speaking with spirits to double-checking spellwork, verifying if spells were successful, planning your magical endeavors, and more.
No matter what form of divination you employ, I guarantee there are many more ways to utilize it in your craft than you are currently using. In my Divination For Witchcraft class, we focus on the alternative ways that you can use the tools you are already using to further enhance your magical skills. If you’re ready to learn to really use your divination tools, then click here to learn more about Divination For Witchcraft.
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Updated on September 22, 2025 by Avery Hart
