Shamanic Runes

Runes can be used successfully in shamanic practices and spiritual journeying. Beyond the small rune stones that fit into one's hands, runes are little bits of focused energy that exist within all things. To access this energy, we just need to change our focus, call upon the runes (by name) and surrender ourselves to their energetic influence.

There are three runes that work together to alter one's spiritual being into a shamanic state:

 Ei - Eiwaz (aye-wahz) is the rune of the yew tree. It is long associated with graveyard, and the realm of the dead.  Eiwaz also represents the world tree Yggdrasil. This is the conduit of energy that connects all the worlds together. Traveling along this tree is one way of achieving shamanic journeying.

E - Ehwaz (eh-wahz) is the rune of the horse. It represents travel and status of the traveler. Ancient Nordic Shaman, or Seid-workers were highly revered, if not feared, for their talents. There are stories in the Norse lore about a horse being used to cross from the land of the living, into the land of the dead. This is especially true of Sleipnir, Odin's horse. In the case of shamanic journeying, Ehwaz represents the vehicle, or means by which a person crosses the veil. It can take on the imagery of a horse, or it can simply be the energetic conversion of one's spiritual being into a different realm.

L - Laguz (lah-gooz) is the rune of water mysteries. Tied in with Laguz is emotions and psychic abilities. Since we are dealing with a spiritual journey, words of the conscious mind are not as useful. One must tap into their emotional being in order to process and understand the energetic states they are experiencing. The depth of the water mysteries connected with Laguz allows one to tap into this energetic part of themselves so they can truly understand the spiritual nature of the realms they are traveling to.

The combined energy of these three runes works to effectively alter ones spiritual energy to a shamanic state. It is almost as if it liquefies a person's spiritual being so that it can easily slip out of this world and into another world. And then easily slip back.

Singing the Runes

Since runes have a phonetic value to them, they also have a sound that can be sung. When you are doing your preparation for journeying sing the rune sounds. It also helps, if you have someone drumming for you, for this person to sing the rune sounds.  It is also useful to use this rune song if you feel yourself starting to slip back, or losing focus on the journey.

Aye-leh

You can even sing the names of the individual runes so that it becomes sort of a chant:

Eiwaz, Laguz, Ehwaz - Aye-leh, Aye-leh, Aye-leh.

Drumming the Runes

Believe it or not, there is actually a drumming pattern that works for these runes. The 24 runes of the Elder Futhark can be broken down into three rows of eight runes. Based on Futhark order, and in which row the rune falls gives the number of beats that are in the pattern. For our three runes, that pattern is:

XX-XXX-XXX - This can be easily played as two quarter notes followed by two triplets. What matters here is not necessarily the timing of the beats. What matters is that you have one grouping of two beats, and two groupings of three beats.

Playing this drum beat and singing these runes will induce one into a shamanic trance. It is at this point that one needs Shamanic training in order to point themselves in the correct direction for their journey.

Final notes

It must be noted, that these runes will give one an inclination to journey to the underworld and into the realm of the dead. This is because there are two runes are associated with the dead: Eiwaz and Ehwaz. This place is not necessarily  a bad place, nor a dangerous place. It is a place where you want to be alert and aware of your surroundings, who is talking to you, and what sensations you are experiencing.

A lifeline that will bring you back into reality, and into your own body is Mannaz. Mannaz is the rune of our world and of mankind. Singing this rune will bring you back into normal consciousness and back to Earth. The drum beat for Mannaz is three solid beats - XXX. Sing Mannaz and beat this rhythm until you feel yourself fully returned.

Another useful rune is Elhaz. If ever you feel uncomfortable, uncertain, or worse, call upon the rune of Elhaz. It is a protective rune that is connected with the higher vibrational energies of the upper world. Calling upon Elhaz will dispel all those will ill intent and will bring you to a safe place.