Runes - The Origin and Purpose Behind the Ancient Symbols and Alphabet

Ask six rune experts 'Where did the runes originateuses of runes were nothing more than markers
from?' and you will probably get 6 different answers.symbolizing ones trademark, or ownership of an item.
There are different versions of runes for eachLater they were altered and more symbols were
culture and era they seemed to come from. Oneadded as the earth's population grew and it's linguistic
person told me they came from the vikings, anotherskills required more rune symbols and meanings.Runes
said they originated from the druids, yet another saidwere and are written different ways by different
they came from aliens, each person was serious andfolks, some are written left to right, others are
thought they had the correct origins of the runes,written right to left, or up to down, this again shows
how can everyone have a different answer aboutyou that runes hold different meanings to different
them ? The answer appears to be 'time', over thepeople.Now days a lot of folks think the runes were
years folks have made up so many tales about theused for magic or such things as divination and
runes that nobody knows the true origin of them.fortune telling, this again depends upon the person
The very name 'rune', is a word derived from thewho reads such meanings into the runes. Years back
Gothic word 'runa', which means "mystery."One ofwhen the Christian faith was adopted by Europe, the
the oldest and first recorded uses of runes cameuse of the runes fell and they were replaced by the
from German tribes in central and Eastern Europe,more modern Roman/Latin Alphabet, in fact one
these early uses of runes show that they were notletter of the latin alphabet even contain an earlier
even meant to be a language for everyday speech,rune symbol as part of it's language.Years later as
but were used as a symbolic alphabet system. EachChristinaity spread, use of the runes dropped, Church
rune letter or shape had it's own sound, and meaning,leaders did not understand their meanings and
in fact each rune represented a diety or so calledsymbols, so they considered them evil or from the
God, that gave it it's special power. People of olddevil, this thinking has lasted even to today, and it is
belived that by carving runes into their personalthe basis for the thinking of modern occultists, druids
property or other items, the God or diety over thatand new-agers that the runes are magical and can be
rune would protect the item, they even believed thatused in ceremonies or rituals. Even Hitler in his
a sword could be made more powerful for use inperverted thinking, used symbols of the rune
battle by carving runes into it.There are at least 6alphabets in the nazi military insignia to supposedly
different types of runes or rune alphabets that folksgive his army more power, this of course proved
use or dabble with today, and each rune alphabet isfoolish as the nazi regime was crushed by other
supposedly the correct set to use, if you ask themilitary forces.But still many folks like using runes
person that uses them. Runes hold no more specialtoday because they are an ancient item, they hold
meaning than any symbols, drawings or sigils do,mystique and even occult powers to some folks. I
unless you have a belief that they are magical and willsay use them for fun, don't try using them for
it, they are nothing more then drawing a circle or afortune telling or spell casting, all that stuff is clearly
square and giving them special meanings. For instanceagainst the true source of power, the power of God
if I was around hundreds of years ago, I might ofand his son Jesus Christ. In fact to show you the
looked towards the sun in the sky and then drawnweakness of runes for prophecy, modern runes
or carved a circle on a stone or piece of wood, tocontain a blank rune, this blank rune symbolizes the
me it meant the power of the mighty glowing circleUnknowable, wouldn't you think that a great source
of fire in the sky, to someone else years later thatof knowledge or power would know all ? Again, look
discovered my circle carved into the stone, they mayto the Bible and Jesus Christ for your future, it is the
think that circle represented a wheel, eye, moon, oronly book of prophecy that has been and will
just a plain circle. Each person uses runes for theircontinue to be, 100% accurate.Some of the common
own purposes and each person seems to give themrunes used still today, are: 'Elder Futhark', 'Younger
their own meanings.In ancient Europe a lot of adultsFuthark', 'Anglo-Saxon Futhorc', 'Robert's Runes', the
seemed to do wood carvings, in fact it was a prizedlater 'Robert's Runes,' has become very popular, as it
skill handed down from one family member tois the only version of the runes that includes a full
another. An alphabet was needed that could easily beenglish alphabetic translation, which makes writing any
carved or scratched into the wood used by theenglish text in runes possible. Robert's Runes are also
carvers, runes were perfect for this since theyavailable as a 'True Type Font' for use on any
consist of mostly straight lines linked together. MostWINDOWS based computer.