Historical Evidence
The Germanic people were among the first people to use divination and methods of reading omens; Tacitus is a name that comes up often whenever the earliest traces of history are mentioned. It is said from this passage taken from the book Germania:
"They attach the highest importance to the taking of auspices and casting lots. Their usual procedure with the lot is simple. They cut off a branch from a nut-bearing tree and slice it into strips these they mark with different signs and throw them at random onto a white cloth.
Then the state's priest, if it is an official consultation, or the father of the family, in a private one, offers prayer to the gods and looking up towards heaven picks up three strips, one at a time, and, according to which sign they have previously been marked with, makes his interpretation.
If the lots forbid an undertaking, there is no deliberation that day about the matter in question. If they allow it, further confirmation is required by taking auspices."
Unfortunately not enough detail is given as to what Tacitus was really after; but do notice the way they divine their future; it is the foundation of how modern Rune-casting has been developed. Taking Runes from a pouch, and scattering them over a white cloth.
"They attach the highest importance to the taking of auspices and casting lots. Their usual procedure with the lot is simple. They cut off a branch from a nut-bearing tree and slice it into strips these they mark with different signs and throw them at random onto a white cloth.
Then the state's priest, if it is an official consultation, or the father of the family, in a private one, offers prayer to the gods and looking up towards heaven picks up three strips, one at a time, and, according to which sign they have previously been marked with, makes his interpretation.
If the lots forbid an undertaking, there is no deliberation that day about the matter in question. If they allow it, further confirmation is required by taking auspices."
Unfortunately not enough detail is given as to what Tacitus was really after; but do notice the way they divine their future; it is the foundation of how modern Rune-casting has been developed. Taking Runes from a pouch, and scattering them over a white cloth.
Runic Magic and Runestones
Stones scattered around the Scandinavian areas of the Muggle world have Runes carved into them; most are honoring an event that had taken place at that time. But what they didn't realize was that some of these stones themselves were magical markers, the most prominent phrase that comes up in a chain of Runes etched on stone being "Alu".
Alu is a worded charm that appears on most artifacts from that period. It can be used alone, or can be a part of a chain of Runes that have magical properties. The origin of the word itself is in dispute, since nobody actually knows how it came to use, but it is generally accepted that the word itself is used in amulet magic... or it can also be a metaphor. Perhaps this was an early Scandinavian magic spell, its powers hidden from Muggles?
Another instance wherein Runes were used in magical methods was in the Egils Saga, of Icelandic origin. The epic itself presents several instances of Runic Magic, the most known of which when Egil himself found out that he was given a drink that was actually poisoned; in order to counter the effects of the poisoning, he then cut his hand; cur Runes on the drinking horn; and finally painted the Runes that he cut with his own blood. This instance appears in many early versions of Norse literature. Muggles often think that this was magic... but we know that magic itself exists.
Alu is a worded charm that appears on most artifacts from that period. It can be used alone, or can be a part of a chain of Runes that have magical properties. The origin of the word itself is in dispute, since nobody actually knows how it came to use, but it is generally accepted that the word itself is used in amulet magic... or it can also be a metaphor. Perhaps this was an early Scandinavian magic spell, its powers hidden from Muggles?
Another instance wherein Runes were used in magical methods was in the Egils Saga, of Icelandic origin. The epic itself presents several instances of Runic Magic, the most known of which when Egil himself found out that he was given a drink that was actually poisoned; in order to counter the effects of the poisoning, he then cut his hand; cur Runes on the drinking horn; and finally painted the Runes that he cut with his own blood. This instance appears in many early versions of Norse literature. Muggles often think that this was magic... but we know that magic itself exists.