What are the Scandinavian runes? Roughly speaking, this is the writing of the northern peoples.
But is it that simple? If we look at the origin of the word “rune”, then we can clearly distinguish the root of RU, which goes back to the word “mystery”. That is, in addition to the fact that the runes are a living alphabet in the past, it is also a secret system. Yes, the common people knew some of the meanings of the runes, people knew how to use them. But there were few real masters able to predict the future and heal using seemingly simple letters. The Scandinavian runes were sent by the god Odin during his mystical experience. Thus, the legend says that Odin sagged 9 days and 9 nights on a tree Yggdrasil pierced by his own spear. This is not just ash, it is the World Tree that connects the three worlds - Helheim, Midgard, Asgard. Yggdrasil also has 9 roots and 9 branches, according to the number of worlds in the mythology of the Scandinavians. Thus, Odin received the Scandinavian runes during a ritual initiation similar to a shamanistic ritual death. One must go beyond his Self to travel through nine worlds. And in the view of the Vikings, the easiest way to do this is to someone who died in this world. Therefore, the Scandinavian runes can be considered an ecstatic experience that Odin passed on to people.
Runes, in particular, the Scandinavian ones, were common in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Most of the runic monuments are located in Sweden. There is evidence that the runes were used even in Novgorod, not to mention Britain and Greenland. The most famous were gravestones with runes. In general, Scandinavian runes can be used in this way: amulets can be made, fortunetelling, and even healing can be done with their help. But, as in ancient times, few own this art. It was found that the inscriptions on the gravestones should protect them from evil spirits. Runic amulets on weapons were designed to make him invincible. The inscriptions on the chain mail and helmet, on the contrary, were supposed to protect the wearer from blows with the help of magic.
Returning to the runes, it should be noted that the concept of "Scandinavian runes" includes 24 characters that are used in magic, and one additional - empty - the rune that is used in fortune telling. The runic alphabet consists of 24 runes, as mentioned above, which are divided into 3 atta of 8 runes. Each atta has its own patron god. So, for the first att, relatively speaking, the god Freyr is responsible, for the second - Hagal, for the third - Tür. The number 8 is not accidental, since it is a symbol of the cycle of life, infinity. In addition, 8 = 4x2. The number 4 among the Scandinavians, like many other nations, means harmony. The number 2 symbolizes the eternal struggle of opposites. The fact that atts 3 also carries a deep symbolism. So, the Scandinavians believed that there are three main worlds - Asgard, Midgard, Helheim. That is why the Scandinavian runes are so grouped. Fortune telling is another area of their application. At the same time, few could guess at the runes. The simplest divination techniques have come down to us. For example, you can pull out one rune, asking a question, and then interpret it. A more complicated option is the so-called "Odin's Fortune-telling", when you need to pull 3 runes. The first means the cause of the problem, the second - its current state, the third - a possible solution.