The “bind runes” are an ancient system of runic writing. This system was used in various ways:

1. Two runes tied together, maybe to gain space or time, or in order to cypher words and messages.

In the example below we read the word “S k i b a r i” , in english “sailor” , written in Younger Futhark; the first two runes, “S” and “K” are tied together.

1.Example of tied runes.

2. Vertical axis. In the drawing below we see the entire Younger Futhark (excluded the rune “isa”, that would not obviously be readable) written along a vertical axis:
 

2.2. Runes tied to vertical axis

On the runic stone of Ärsta, in the Södermanland, Sweden, we have – below – a boat whose mainmast is covered with runes. The inscription says:

“þ r u t a R þ i a k n”

The runes say that the dead was a valorous and strong sailor.

3. The runic stone of Ärsta

3.Talismans

They are symbols composed by different runes, overcrossed one another, to create a single type.

They are created to concentrate the individual power of every rune in a stronger force.

They are actually widespread in the creation of amulets; it's easy to find them on silver, wood, or stone.

They can be created coupling two or more runes that, working together, increase mutually their strength.

Another version of talisman is the 'wheel-like' one, structured upon the shape of 'hagal' rune.

4.Structure for the construction of the talisman

On the top of every segment we locate a rune, for istance:

Do we want to create a protective amulte? The simpliest and most efficient one is composed by six runes Algiz:

5. Talisman of protection

If we have to take an exam or a job interview, and we want to create a talisman that would fit for this occasion, we can use the following runes:

Teiwaz = victory; Ansuz = eloquence; Sowelu = success; Uruz = courage, audacity, enterprise; Mannaz = consciece, awareness, intellect, reason; and Ehwaz = trust.

6.Talisman for exams, interviews and conferences

4. Tags
Personal or familiar. They were created with the letters of the name and/or surname, or lineage of belonging.

7. Ancient tags

Above, some examples for ancient tags:

1. Icelandic Ormur Ketilsson's tag (1369)
2. Icelandic Þórður Snorrason's tag (1439)
3. Swedish court judge Sweder Scalle's tag (1413)

It's not simple to read a tag realized with bind runes: the structure doesn't follow given rules; what is really important is the harmonicity of the whole, despite all the parts and dimensions of every single rune.

 
 
 
The published material upon these pages is taken from “Runemal, la Lingua degli Dei e degli Eroi” - L'Età dell'Acquario editions. For info and booking please write to info@runemal.org