Hi, Corvin! I am NOT an expert, but runestones are something I've worked with on & off for a very long time. There's no way to explain it all here, but I'll try to give you at least a footstool you can stand on to start some more involved research on your own.
Arguably the most familiar set of runes (at least in the West) are the Norse/Germanic "Elder Futhark" runes, sometimes called "Viking runes." These are an actual alphabet (the name comes from the sound/name of the first 6 runes) and much like modern alphabets, there are multiple variations across time & geography. In addition to being the letters of an alphabet, each rune is considered to have specific meanings much like a Tarot card -- thus lending itself to interpretation. Another relatively common but structurally dissimilar set of runes is the Celtic "Ogham," which could also be used for writing. There are also other sets of runes, some very ancient and some very much not so, that are not an actual alphabet or writing system but in which each rune/symbol is associated with specific meaning(s).
There are almost as many methods of runic divination as there are sets of runes, but there are three that I've encountered much more frequently than any others; all three use runes that are etched, carved, molded, etc. into stones, clay or wood. Please keep in mind that as with other forms of divination, different users do things differently (e.g., give reversed/upside-down runes a different meaning or not; hold a specific question in their mind or not; use special divination cloths/boards or not; and so on). In no particular order... One method is to lay out the runes just like one does with Tarot cards by blindly drawing them from a bag, pocket, etc. and arranging them, then interpreting their meanings based on the arrangement. These layouts can be as simple as three runes in a row or as complex as the Celtic Cross layout in Tarot, or anything in-between. A second method is to just blindly draw a single rune and then interpret what it is "telling" you. A third method -- more common with Ogham sticks as well as Eastern practices -- is to simply toss the runes onto a surface and interpret them according to how they have fallen, both in general form and/or relation to each other.
As I mentioned, there are a lot of different ways to use runes in divination (although the "Tarot," "Single Draw," and "52 Pick-Up" methods are the most common). There are also issues that can get folks pretty hot under the collar, such as whether or not to include a blank "Odin's Rune" in a set of Furthark runes, if a set of modern "Witch's Runes" actually have any ties to ancient meaning, etc. etc. etc. I'll leave those & similar decisions to you -- but I'd suggest that the best way to move forward is for you to get your hands on a set of runes and experiment, with one or two references that seem to make sense close at hand to help you remember the meaning of each rune. It's amazingly easy to make your own set of runes if you don't want to spend any cash up front; the various versions of the Futhark alphabet, Witch's Runes, and the Ogham alphabet are easily found online, and it's simple to make a set by carving or drawing onto pebbles, clay, sticks (best for Ogham), or even just writing them on small pieces of paper -- just make sure they're all as similar-looking on their back, since not knowing in advance which rune you've drawn is a key to nearly all forms of runic divination I've come across. Aside from that -- there are literally thousands of books available, and many times that number of web-based references, so put on your reading cap and get to it! :-)
Best of luck, and let us know how things work out if you choose to move forward on this path!
@Corvin You betcha! For example, choosing one totally at random... let's look at Raidho, the one that looks like an uppercase "R" drawn only with straight lines. Its original meaning was linked to wagons or chariots. Based on that, its divinatory meaning is usually interpreted to mean travel (either actual physical movement or a change in life path), evolution of thought/belief, seeing/gaining a wider perspective on things, and/or recognizing the right choice in a decision; when merkstave (upside-down or reversed) it is usually interpreted to indicate a crisis situation, a lack of flexibility, stasis (usually the unhealthy variety), dislocation, or serious changes for the worse. (Of course there are practitioners who do not believe that the reversal of a rune has any impact on its meaning; follow the path that works best for you.)
Hi, Corvin! I am NOT an expert, but runestones are something I've worked with on & off for a very long time. There's no way to explain it all here, but I'll try to give you at least a footstool you can stand on to start some more involved research on your own.
Arguably the most familiar set of runes (at least in the West) are the Norse/Germanic "Elder Futhark" runes, sometimes called "Viking runes." These are an actual alphabet (the name comes from the sound/name of the first 6 runes) and much like modern alphabets, there are multiple variations across time & geography. In addition to being the letters of an alphabet, each rune is considered to have specific meanings much like a Tarot card -- thus lending itself to interpretation. Another relatively common but structurally dissimilar set of runes is the Celtic "Ogham," which could also be used for writing. There are also other sets of runes, some very ancient and some very much not so, that are not an actual alphabet or writing system but in which each rune/symbol is associated with specific meaning(s).
There are almost as many methods of runic divination as there are sets of runes, but there are three that I've encountered much more frequently than any others; all three use runes that are etched, carved, molded, etc. into stones, clay or wood. Please keep in mind that as with other forms of divination, different users do things differently (e.g., give reversed/upside-down runes a different meaning or not; hold a specific question in their mind or not; use special divination cloths/boards or not; and so on). In no particular order... One method is to lay out the runes just like one does with Tarot cards by blindly drawing them from a bag, pocket, etc. and arranging them, then interpreting their meanings based on the arrangement. These layouts can be as simple as three runes in a row or as complex as the Celtic Cross layout in Tarot, or anything in-between. A second method is to just blindly draw a single rune and then interpret what it is "telling" you. A third method -- more common with Ogham sticks as well as Eastern practices -- is to simply toss the runes onto a surface and interpret them according to how they have fallen, both in general form and/or relation to each other.
As I mentioned, there are a lot of different ways to use runes in divination (although the "Tarot," "Single Draw," and "52 Pick-Up" methods are the most common). There are also issues that can get folks pretty hot under the collar, such as whether or not to include a blank "Odin's Rune" in a set of Furthark runes, if a set of modern "Witch's Runes" actually have any ties to ancient meaning, etc. etc. etc. I'll leave those & similar decisions to you -- but I'd suggest that the best way to move forward is for you to get your hands on a set of runes and experiment, with one or two references that seem to make sense close at hand to help you remember the meaning of each rune. It's amazingly easy to make your own set of runes if you don't want to spend any cash up front; the various versions of the Futhark alphabet, Witch's Runes, and the Ogham alphabet are easily found online, and it's simple to make a set by carving or drawing onto pebbles, clay, sticks (best for Ogham), or even just writing them on small pieces of paper -- just make sure they're all as similar-looking on their back, since not knowing in advance which rune you've drawn is a key to nearly all forms of runic divination I've come across. Aside from that -- there are literally thousands of books available, and many times that number of web-based references, so put on your reading cap and get to it! :-)
Best of luck, and let us know how things work out if you choose to move forward on this path!
@Brian NobleHeartedLion Ok so that means that different runes have different meanings like Tarot cards?
@Corvin You betcha! For example, choosing one totally at random... let's look at Raidho, the one that looks like an uppercase "R" drawn only with straight lines. Its original meaning was linked to wagons or chariots. Based on that, its divinatory meaning is usually interpreted to mean travel (either actual physical movement or a change in life path), evolution of thought/belief, seeing/gaining a wider perspective on things, and/or recognizing the right choice in a decision; when merkstave (upside-down or reversed) it is usually interpreted to indicate a crisis situation, a lack of flexibility, stasis (usually the unhealthy variety), dislocation, or serious changes for the worse. (Of course there are practitioners who do not believe that the reversal of a rune has any impact on its meaning; follow the path that works best for you.)
@Brian NobleHeartedLion Oh this is so cool thx a lot I had no idea it works like this.