Before doing anything else, take the time to really look at your runes.  Feel them. Note what you observe about them.  Are they heavy or light?  Rough or smooth?  Note the material -- are they
wood, stone, clay, something else?  What else do you notice?  Can
each symbol be clearly distinguished from the next (in the Elder Futhark, Nied and Gyfu can look alike if not well marked and be very confusing)? How are the marks alike and different?

       Here are a couple of recommendations off the top end: 1) If your set has a blank rune, I encourage you to put it aside for a while.  First, become familiar with the marked runes. They each possess enough
"unknowable" or "fate" attributes at it is.  You may choose to add the blank back in at a later time.  2) Keep a journal of your insights, discoveries, and questions. Keeping track of your feelings and
observations will help you fine tune your intuitive and interpretation skills.

       After you have a feel for the set of runes you are about to use, make sure you have access to information that matches the runic set you've chosen. There are many runic systems in existence, such
as the Elder Futhark, Younger Futhark, goddess runes, celtic runes... the list goes on. If you don't have access to books using your system, the internet has a lot of basic information. It is easy to determine both
the type of runes you're using and to locate some starting information about your runes by using a search engine and entering "runes" or the specific name of your system.  Print off a copy of a symbol and description set.  Locate two or three (or more!) other sites and compare information.  Make a note of differences on your printed copy or in your journal.  As you read the descriptions of each rune, observe how the rune looks or feels like its attributes.

       No matter which system you've chosen, a good way to become personally familiar with their workings is to do a rune-a-day "draw." Blindly choose, or "draw," one rune.  Focus only on one rune each day. Match its shape to your chart.  Become familiar with its name and attributes. Interpret how those attributes can be viewed today.  Trace its shape.

       Decide how it "feels."  Write down your observations in your journal.  For example, if you were to draw the Elder Futhark rune Lagu, it would look like an upside down checkmark.  Upon reading, you might find reference to cycles, flow, or water.  Now look again at the rune -- can you see anything in its shape that might cement those words to that image?  As you continue reading the description what else do you note? How could this rune apply personally to your life?  Remember to record all thoughts in your journal so you
can decide later if you still agree with that view or decide if your view has evolved.

       The more you work with the runes, the better you'll get.  You can never learn all there is to know about runes.  Keep reading, keep studying, keep learning, and keep "feeling."  Your intuition is as important as almost anything  you'll read in print.  Runes will help you access the intuitive level of your psyche that we often ignore or are unable to fully access today due to reliance on linear thinking. These few simple suggestions will allow you to start using runes today.

Copyright and Disclaimer © 2000 eSpirituality Inc.  All Rights Reserved.  Reprinted with permission of author.

Stephanie Sagemoon has written rune columns for various media, including Daily Runes and eSpirituality. She continues to study runes extensively, as she feels one can never know everything there is to learn about runes.  She melds right brain creativity with left brain thought processes.  She finds the fields of social work and education are augmented by the utilization of intuition.  You can contact her directly at: sagemoonspirit@yahoo.com.