Learn how to make your own set of runes with stones and acrylic paint.
In Favorite Norse Myths, author Mary Pope Osborne retells how Odin learns the eighteen secret runes so that he can "calm storms, heal the sick, speak to the dead, and forecast the future." Odin then goes on to share the secrets of the runes with men by carving the sacred symbols on to wood, stone, and all things in nature.
Besides being sacred symbols, runes are also a primitive alphabet. Each rune has a phonetic sound. To learn how to write your name in runes, visit NOVA's Runes Through Time. Sacred Spiral Kids also has a PDF showing each rune, it's name, and it's phonetic sound. Think Quest shows the runes and their phonetic sounds in html.
Making a set of stone runes is an easy project that children ages 9 and up can do to learn more about the Norse culture.
All you need are small stones, acrylic paint, and thin paintbrushes.
The stones should be small enough to hold in your hand, and they should be smooth. Some people prefer to use smooth pebbles found in creeks and rivers, although my children and I have used shale bits that we had gathered on a hike.
Clean the stones and allow to dry completely.
Once the stones are dry, paint one rune on each stone in a color that will show well on the stone. Traditional colors are white, black, and red.
Allow to dry.
Store the new made runes in a pouch.
