How to Study Runes on Your Own
Many people wonder whether it’s possible to learn runes independently—without enrolling in schools of rune magic—and what it actually takes to do so.
With the growing popularity of runic studies, a flood of “teachers” and “schools” has appeared, making it harder than ever to find truly knowledgeable instructors or trustworthy courses rooted in authentic runology. And no, I do not advertise myself and do not teach runes for now.
So here’s a set of foundational guidelines to help anyone considering this path.
To begin with: anyone approaching runes seriously should know the myth of how Odin gained them. The Allfather undertook immense personal sacrifice to unlock the mysteries of the runes—an account found in the Poetic Edda and, to a degree, in the Prose Edda.
Thankfully, modern seekers aren’t expected to hang upside-down for nine nights on the World Tree, pierce themselves with a spear, or trade an eye for a sip from the Well of Wisdom.
What is required today is far simpler: reading and absorbing the wisdom already recorded by others—on what runes are, what they mean, and how they function both magically and spiritually.
If your only exposure to runes has come through diluted or misleading divinatory summaries—often scattered across websites that have little to do with true runology—the first step is to clear your mind of that noise. The magical depth of runes goes far beyond fortune-telling. Their meanings are much richer, more layered, and deeply interconnected.
Each learner absorbs information differently. So instead of a single path, consider exploring multiple trusted sources. Here are some authors to build a foundation: Anton Platov, Freya Aswynn, Sergey Batyushkov, Kenneth Meadows.
From these, you can start forming your own system of understanding—how runes feel to you and how they fit into your worldview.
Keep in mind, however: no single book will provide the full picture. To grasp the runes in any depth, you’ll need to compare different perspectives, reflect on them, and build a personal, coherent vision. The viewpoints may differ—sometimes even contradict—but taken together, they allow you to understand.
Alongside your study of runes, immerse yourself in Norse mythology and folklore. Read the Eddas, explore the sagas, and study the Northern Tradition. The runes are inseparable from that cultural and spiritual context. Without understanding the Norse gods, the World Tree, and the Nine Worlds, your progress will be limited.
Once you’ve gained this foundation, you can approach more advanced authors like Guido von List, whose works demand prior knowledge. Later, you might also explore writings by Edred Thorsson and Ralph Blum, which offer different perspectives useful for broadening your understanding.
As your knowledge grows, you’ll develop your own grasp of runes—how they correspond to phonetic and symbolic systems, how to read inscriptions, how to understand formulas and staves. Some may even learn to craft their own runic combinations.
Eventually, you’ll begin to feel the runes—especially once you start working with them hands-on. This could involve making your first rune set, practicing with individual runes, then moving on to three-rune formulas, bindrunes, and staves. From there, you may learn how to activate them, charge them with intent, compose runic poems, write intent texts, and create runic spells.
With time and dedication, and if you also master the eight key skills of the eryl described in the Sayings of the High One, you may become a genuine practitioner of rune magic.
A Word of Caution…
True mastery doesn’t come quickly. You won’t fully understand runes in a month—or even a year. Like any profound craft, serious runic study takes years of work. A true runemaster is someone who has made runes part of how they think, how they see the world—in essence, a way of life.
That said, you can begin practical work once you have a basic foundation. Start small: use individual runes, or simple formulas and bindrunes—but only if you understand the components involved. Even a single rune, used wisely, carries immense power.
Avoid working with complex staves or multilayered intentions early on, especially if they require detailed intent texts or multiple stages of activation. Without enough energy or understanding, they simply won’t work—or worse, might backfire.
Be especially careful with staves that include unfamiliar elements like glyphs. You must know what each part does. Using something you don’t understand—especially without proper diagnosis—can be risky. In the worst case, it can harm you.
Never attempt to harm others through runes unless you know how to shield yourself from the backlash. Safety practices are essential. Disregarding them can have serious consequences.
One last note: runes are kind to beginners at first—they may even seem to “help along” your first steps. But don’t let that early success fool you. If you stop growing, the runes may stop responding. They demand commitment.
Wishing you success on your journey.