Witch’s Runes are a contemporary set of magical symbols used as an oracle in divination. There are different versions of the Witches Runes, with a different number of symbols – some contain 8, 10, or 13 symbols. The most commonly used set consists of 13 symbols, or pictograms, which represent basic concepts that are easy to interpret. Many prefer working with this set of 13 due to the numerological correspondence with the moon.

The Witches Runes are unrelated to other rune systems such as the Elder Futhark or the Ogham. Unlike these other systems, they are not an alphabet or script, they are not ancient, and they have no special pronunciation or sound – they are a modern creation with English titles. The pictograms of each rune are not strict, rigid representations of each concept, but rather intuitive symbols that have room for nuance and are open to interpretation within the broad concepts that they represent.

The Mysterious Origins of the Witch’s Runes

Where these runes came from is a subject shrouded in mystery. Though there doesn’t appear to be a solid source that pinpoints an exact origin, it is believed that they were created by practitioners in the 19th or early 20th century. Some say they are a modern adaptation of a magical alphabet developed for witches divination purposes. All we know is that these runes were invented in contemporary times and they evolved through modern occultism into the varying systems we see today.

The Meanings of the 13 Runes

Each of the 13 runes represents a particular concept, with their own meanings and interpretations. Some say these runes are presented in a specific order, as other rune rows are, even though they are not a script like the others, and yet some say they have no order. As a modern evolving folk magic system with variations, I personally don’t recognize a standard order for them. I’ll be presenting these runes in an order that I find makes sense in my mind, and when you’re using these runes for yourself, do organize them in a way that makes sense to you. Also, as I mentioned before, these are somewhat broad concepts with lots of nuance and room for interpretation, so don’t be afraid to assign your own meanings and qualities to the runes that are based in your unique lived experience, this will help you bond more deeply with your runes and make more meaningful interpretations.

Sun

Illumination, growth, vitality, prosperity, new beginnings, health, joy, power, warmth, the god figure.

Moon

Intuition, dreams, change, emotions, magic, shadow, mystery, subconscious, psychic abilities, the goddess figure.

Star

Guidance, wishes, hope, gifts, inspiration, freedom, aspirations, purpose.

Woman

Divine feminine, womb, creativity, birth, motherhood, nurturing, healing

Man

Divine masculine, action, provision, virility, direction, resources, fatherhood

Flight

Travel, communication, air, birds, fast movement, unexpected encounters, news, swiftness.

Waves

Change, movement, water, emotion, purification, obscurity, the uncontrollable, cleansing.

Crossroads

Decisions, options, obstacles, challenges, confusion, enemies, stagnation.

Rings

Bonding, alliances, marriage, partnerships, teams, family, contracts, long term unions, connections, networks.

Trinity

Love, romance, relationships, passion, pleasure, attraction, life/death/rebirth cycles.

Harvest

Rewards, blessings, reaping, abundance, wealth, fruition, achievement

Scythe

Endings, death, danger, caution, completion, loss, pain, cutting ties, letting go.

Eye

Vision, awareness, realization, clarity, protection, focus, clairvoyance.

How to Read the Witches Runes

There are three common methods for reading the witches runes, all of which are fairly simple to do and require no extra tools.

Single Rune Draw

This method involves mixing up the runes and drawing a single one for your answer. You can continue to draw single runes for clarification, often drawing one rune per question.

Rune Casting

This method involves mixing up the runes and then dumping them all out at once. This can be done to answer a single question, or to just get a general energy reading. Casting the runes like this is a bit more complex than single rune draws in the sense that you will be interpreting how all of the runes have landed in relation to you and to each other. Runes face down are often to be ignored, while runes face up are the ones to pay attention to. If they land closer to you they may hold more importance and quicker timing, and if they land further away they may be slightly less important with longer timing. You will also want to pay attention to the relationships the runes are making with each other – which ones are closer together or further away, and the directions they are facing. This gives you insight into how the energies of the situation you are reading are playing out as a whole.

Rune Spreads

This method involves creating a spread where you will draw your runes. Spreads like this are often used in tarot. This is where you create an arrangement of positions and draw one rune for each position in the spread. Each position in the spread correlates with a specific question, subject, or concept. You can create your own spreads and you can find spreads in books or online.

Using Witches Runes in Spellwork

Witches runes can not only be used as an oracle in divination, but also in spellwork to work with the particular energies they represent. This can look like carving the runes into spell candles, drawing them on petitions, drawing them in art pieces, using them as protective wards, placing them on your altar, offering them to spirits, sleeping with them under your pillow, and meditating on them, to name a few.

Bonding With Your Witches Runes

Bonding with your runes and consecrating them for your own magical practice helps you get more accuracy and depth in your readings because you are more deeply connected with them. The creative process of making your own runes is a great way to bond with them by using the creative process to imbue your energy into them, bringing them to life through you. However, if you purchased or were given a set of runes, you can still bond with them, imbuing your energy and charging theirs. You can do this by meditating with them, sleeping with them under your pillow, holding and playing with them in your hands while you do other things, charging them on a crystal grid on your altar, and the practice of using your runes for reading or spellwork.

Grab the free printable Witches Runes Grimoire Page