Women have always been intuitive, psychic and in touch with the aspects of feminine power and energy. They have shouldered the responsibility of nurturing, teaching and keeping the myths and traditions of the clan close at hand. It seems only fining that a new and unique runic divination system be developed to tap into the already existing reservoir of feminine power and knowledge.
Early history and Skaldic poetry document that the runes, ancient alphabet) were developed by the wise women of Northern Europe. These women were followers of die Goddess IDUN (note the similarity to the name of the later male-god ODIN). This alphabet was carved into the tongue of Idun’s lover, Bragi, in order that he might acquire the magic words of poetry, and teach the men. It is interesting to note that this event led to the use of the phrase “a red letter day” the blood providing both the color and the importance of the occasion.
Later, as history was re-written, credit for the invention of the runic alphabet was given to the men. It begins with the bloody and painful tribulations of the God Odin as he hung upside-down on the sacred tree, Yggdrisil, for nine days and nights with his side pierced, in order to receive the holy runic alphabet. How similar this is to the patriarchal imagery of Jesus hanging on a wooden cross with his side pierced and blood running from his wounds, in order to bring his holy message into the world. It is this latter account and not the earlier one about the Goddess [that has prevailed It is events such as these that illustrate the consistency with which women have had their stories and iconography taken from them through historic editing.
Therefore it is within the context of personal power, women’s intuition, and the quest for understanding of Self that the RuneRhythms set was created. We believe that it is time for a totally new divination system, one in which beauty, thought, love, laughter, joy, relationship, compassion, and path-working replace pain, domination, rigidity, anxiety, guilt and anger.
RuneRhythms does have within it struggle and challenge.
There are 7 separate runes designated as challenge runes, ones that can cause an unsettling feeling for the user. This is to offset the concept that ALL women’s issues are ones of nurturing, love, compassion and bliss. These re the runes that complete the cycle of life – the ones that cause the lessons to be present. Life is like a grand piano – it is difficult to create a great piece of music if you use only the white keys. You need some minor chords in order to make the music interesting. Including the black keys allows for the fullness of the piece, and for the creative tension of the music to come through. This divination system is like that grand piano there are runes that are a challenge to the comfortable, blissful scheme of things Our moat important lessons in life are learned, not when things are going smoothly, but when we are experiencing uneasiness, stress, struggle, or chaos. They are here to strengthen and build our character, and to aid us in our search for the inner Self Life, like music, is a series of chords – both harmonious and dissonant.
RuneRhythms Divination System for Women is unique, bringing together the major concepts that face women today in their individual path-working endeavors. It is a method for examining these issues in a systematic way.
Feelings, instincts and intuition are part of the female cosmology. Most women are able to sense the needs of others, children included, to feel the emotions of the unspoken word or gesture, and to be in harmony with nature and the earth. We feel that a divination system in tune with the rhythms of womankind and the cycles of nature is much more appropriate than a linear system in which force, domination and power are the principle issues.
This rune set addresses the warrior woman, the seeker, the peace-teacher, the light-bringer and the myth-maker. It facilitates change through inner truth, meditation, path-working and personal responsibility. It provides a system by which the reader can tap into that eternal source of inner strength and pursue the all-knowing Oracle of Self.