Hello Everyone!

I'm June, your class helper for my time as a Prefect. Since this class hasn't been active for a while, I figured I should post a new assignment .

This assignment is based upon this article: Ancient Runes Made Easy.

link: http://www.emmaempire.net/archives/cms.en.textbooks_runes.html

Please read the article and then proceed to complete the two parts of this assignment.

Part One:

What are runes used for?

How are runes different from, for example, tarot cards, tea cups, and crystal balls that are commonly used in divination? (By 'different', I mean the information that they give).

What does the word 'Rune' mean?

According to mythology, how did humans receive the meanings of the Runes? Please explain the complete process in your own words.

The Old Germanic Runic alphabet is also known as what?


Part Two:

Use the runes and their counterparts in the English alphabet to spell out either you username or your real name. (If a letter is unavailable, just leave either a space or substitute it with the English letter). From the meanings given in the article, write a paragraph explaining how the runes that make up your name either represent or do not represent who you are. Minimum of 100 words. When spelling your name here, you don't have to actually post the picture of the rune. Just put its name in its appropriate letter space. For example my name: Jera Uruz Nauthiz Ehwaz [JUNE]. While writing/gathering information for your paragraph, stop where it says: *insert rune name here* reversed.

Possible Points:

Part One: 20
Part Two: 45
Bonus for proper use of grammar, spelling etc, and for a well-written paragraph. *has forgotten the acronym*: 5

Total Possible Points: 70 points

PM me if you have any questions!

Part One:

What are runes used for?
Runes are a sort of oracle one can ask advice from. It is useful at times of major life changes as well as day-to-day decision making. They also have been used for writing as a regular alphabet.

How are runes different from, for example, tarot cards, tea cups, and crystal balls that are commonly used in divination? (By 'different', I mean the information that they give).
The main difference that should be noted is that runes are not for telling the future. In reality nothing can tell you the future. Rather, they tell the outcome if a path is continued in the way it is lain out. Another difference is that the information given is even more vague than in the case of many other forms of divination. You have to be able to understand the intended meaning from the hints instead of just asking a question and getting an answer.

What does the word 'Rune' mean?
The word rune means mystery, secret, or whisper. This is not surprising given the vague nature of the runes.

According to mythology, how did humans receive the meanings of the Runes?
It is believed that we recieved the runes from the Norse gods. Odin, the High God, recieved them after an initiation of sorts. There is a tree known as the world tree or Yggdrasil. For nine days and nights he hung from that tree by his own spear. After this clearly torturous period, the runes appeared on the ground below him. He scooped them up, and was granted additional power.
In order to gain more power by way of a different branch of magic, he passed the information on to Freya, the Vanir goddess. Eventually we humans gained the knowlege from Heimdall, who was the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge, which is the bridge between the mortal world and the world of the gods.

The Old Germanic Runic alphabet is also known as what?
It is also known as the Elder Futhark alphabet.


Part Two:

As spelled out in the Elder Futhark alphabet my name, Pamela, would be Perthro Ansuz Mannaz Ehwaz Laguz Ansuz. The letter that most jumped out at me as something I felt a connection to was Laguz. This rune traditionally symbolizes things relating to water, and I have always felt a love for water, especially the sea. It also can symbolize a strong imagination. I have an intense fascination with fantasies, dreams, and other worlds. The one that definitely did not seem to relate to me was Perthro. It symbolizes a knowlege of the future and one's own destiny. I'm clueless when it comes to these things. It also represents mystery. I'm pretty much the most straight-forward person I know. Ansuz, which symbolizes a power of words as well as wisdom does relate to me well in that I'm a writer. I also have a way with words in speech. I can be very persuasive if I want to be. Also, wisdom is one of the most important things in the world to me. In a similar way Mannaz relates to me. It symbolizes, among other things, intelligence. The gathering of knowlege is another priority in my life. I'm somewhat wishy-washy with Ehwaz. What jumped out at me about that letter was the word loyalty. I'm not one to give loyalty to just anyone or anything; however, if I feel a friend has proven worthy, I will give loyalty.

Part One:

What are runes used for?
Runes are used for writing, divination and magic. They are also an ancient Germanic alphabet. They can also be used to tell advice to people.

How are runes different from, for example, tarot cards, tea cups, and crystal balls that are commonly used in divination? (By 'different', I mean the information that they give).
Runes, unlike tarot cards, tea cups, crystal balls etc., are not used for telling your future. They are mostly used for analyzing a path you are on. That means, the path can be changed if the you choose to do something and 'stray' from the path.

What does the word 'Rune' mean?
The word 'rune' means mystery secret and whisper.

According to mythology, how did humans receive the meanings of the Runes? Please explain the complete process in your own words.
There was a god called Odin who was the Norse High God of the Aesir. He hung himself on a tree with his very own spear. On the tree which was called Yggdrasil, he was there for 9 days, and 9 nights. Finally the runes he had wanted to gain from his own torture appeared in front of him. Odin took the runes and recieved all the knowledge in it. Later on, he gave his knowledge of the runes to Vanir goddess Freya who 'paid' Odin by teaching him seidr magic. Heimdall who somehow got the knowledge later on was a god of the Rainbow Bridge taught the runic knowledge to humans.

The Old Germanic Runic alphabet is also known as what?
Elder Futhark

Part Two:

In the alphabet of Elder Futhark, my name [Ingrid] is spelled as: Isa Ingwaz Algiz Isa Dagaz.
Isa [I] means a challenge or frustration. I guess that relates to me because I'm often frustrated with things I do and have to overcome many challenges.
The next 'letters' is Ingwaz. I could have spelled my with seperate letters except Ingwaz means [NG] which is my next 2 letters at the same time! Ingwaz means internal growth and a 'male god'. True, I'm not a male but the internal growth part I can relate. I often, nowadays, realize many things and learn about things I didn't understand- or refused to, before. I guess that means I'm growing 'spiritually' which means internal growth.
The next letter [R] is symbolized by Algiz. Algiz means protection. I don't think this one relates to me that much except for linking to the letters [NG], I think when I have internal growth, that means I'm learning more things and shedding protection on how the world is not really always a happy place with bunnies hopping, flowers blooming - like those Disney Princess movies.
The last letter (since I'm skipping letter 'I' since I already wrote about that in the second paragraph) is [D] which is symbolized by Dagaz. Dagaz means breakthrough of awareness and changing your fate. That completly relates on the letters [NG] and [R] about growing, shedding your protection and becoming aware of what is right in front of you and choosing what you want to be for the rest of your life. I think that relates to be because right now at school, I need to learn about choosing the right thing to do and choosing my path (by passing all the tests and getting a good grade).

PART 1

WHAT ARE RUNES USED FOR?

Runes were used for writting, divination, and magic throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland and the British Ilses.

How are runes different from, for example, tarot cards, tea cups, and crystal balls that are commonly used in divination? (By 'different', I mean the information that they give).

Runes don't give details into what is going to happen. They only give a anaylized account of what will happen not a fixed outcome. Runes are different from predictions in the sense that predictions only give one out come where with runes you can change your path.

What does the word 'Rune' mean?

Rune means mystery, whisper, or secret, but depending on where you are from it could translate into different phrases or meanings.

According to mythology, how did humans receive the meanings of the Runes? Please explain the complete process in your own words.

Odin , a norse god, speared Yggdrasil with his own spear and hung him from the world tree for 9 days and nights. After that time the runes appeared below him and he picked them up and with their knowledge became powerful. He later passed on the knowledge of the runes to the goddess Freya who in turn taught him magic of seidr. Later the god Heimdall took the knowledge of the runes and taught it to the people of earth.

The Old Germanic Runic alphabet is also known as what?

The old germanic runic alphabet is also known as the Elder Futhark.

PART 2


Use the runes and their counterparts in the English alphabet to spell out either you username or your real name. (If a letter is unavailable, just leave either a space or substitute it with the English letter). From the meanings given in the article, write a paragraph explaining how the runes that make up your name either represent or do not represent who you are. Minimum of 100 words. When spelling your name here, you don't have to actually post the picture of the rune. Just put its name in its appropriate letter space. For example my name: Jera Uruz Nauthiz Ehwaz [JUNE]. While writing/gathering information for your paragraph, stop where it says: *insert rune name here* reversed.

Jera Eihwaz Sowilo Sowilo

Jera means year or good harvest. The people also iterpret it as being the hopes and expectations of peace and prosperity. It also opposes itself by being conflict and bad timing. Eihwaz means yew tree. It is looked to as a word of being strength, reliability, and enlightenment as well as a driving sense of purpose. Sowilo means the sun. This word is looked at as being success, achieving goals and honor.

Overall I believe that these words describe me because I am ever changing like the seasons during the year, people rely on me as much as I rely on myself, and I always have to succeed that is just the way I am. I have to work to succeed and reach my goals no matter how high. It is scary how dead on this thing is about me.

Well done to everyone. As your professor is absent, I will be marking this class for the end of term.


GRYFFINDOR:
hppamela: 60

HUFFLEPUFF:
dragonweaver: 65
Just_Ginny: 65

RAVENCLAW:
Herbaceoustraitorous: 70
Constica18: 50