When I was in my early teens, I remember my mom giving me The Book of Runes by Ralph Blum that came with a felt pound and a set of runes. I played with them for a short period of time and even set the intention of journaling them. Like any young teenager, my best intentions were put aside due to other distractions.
I reconnected with The Book of Runes earlier this year. As a more mature adult, I have committed to a daily practice of casting and journaling runes. Casting runes is the act of setting an intention to receive a message and then drawing a rune. The rune then carries a message to assist you with what you are currently dealing with in life. Ralph Blum refers to this act as a powerful tool for Spiritual Warriors who are looking to make positive changes in their lives.
I have also worked with henna and jagua ink for over a year now. I first started drawing Zibu Angelic Symbols on various body parts after meeting the artist, Debbie. She offers her henna services of the angelic symbols at her different events. She discussed in her book the power of drawing the symbol on the body or other objects. As I continued to evolve and grow spiritually, I found myself moving towards working with runes and drawing them on my body.
Drawing the rune symbols on my body became a different experience for me. With the runes, I was naturally able to do what I had aspired to do in the past. I found an ease and grace in drawing the symbols and making them part of a more intricate design.
Runes began to transform my life and assist me in my own growth. Every morning I would cast a rune and journal the message I received. When it felt appropriate, I would use henna and draw the rune as the center of a design to serve as a reminder of the message. I began to discover what I read others had experienced by using the runes – a calm that came from contemplation and heeding guidance that was not fear or ego-based. The perspectives and insights gained have let me see more clearly the natural cycles of life and the evolution of self. Its been a powerful tool for transformation.
I am excited to begin to share Henna Runes with others. I recently had the opportunity to have a dear friend of mine cast a rune. I had chills when she pulled the very first rune that I connected with. Sowelu, the rune of Wholeness. I was gifted a bracelet with the Sowelu rune as a graduation present from the Rites of Passage for Women of European Descent program that I participated in as a 15 year old. The same program where I first learned about women circles. It is exciting at the age of 40 to see how seeds were planted at different ages and stages of my life. Now it feels as if everything has come together in the most beautiful way that has exceeded my expectations.
I have been finding simple ways to share with others and see the light brighten inside of them. Yesterday, I had a surprise visit from a dear friend of mine. It had been a year since her last visit. We fell into a natural rhythm with me reading her cards and drawing runes on her. She admitted I am the only one she does “that type of thing” with. It makes it that more of an honor to be able to share my treasured tools from my spiritual toolbox with her. I sincerely hope that I have the honor to share more with you reading this as well.