Importantly for us today, the Runes deepen our connection to and communication with nature. The seemingly basic symbols are comprised of (what would have been easy-to-carve) vertical and diagonal lines. Their simplistic representations belie the wealth they teach us about, for example, fertility, sexuality, chaos, warrior spirit, cycles of life and the quest for truth. The mother and father are venerated equally, as are counterparts and siblings. Across the nine Norse worlds, each deity, whether large or small — literally from a giant snake-dragon wrapped around the world to dwarves — has a unique purpose in the workings of the entire tree of life, Yggdrasill. This radically more colourful, multi textured, intricately woven tapestry of family-life than one father figure directing the show has much to teach us in this modern age.

Sacrifice of the negative ego-self, in the pursuit of truth, is the Runes’ mythological origin story — Odin went to great lengths for wisdom. He sacrificed an eye, threw himself on his spear and was hung upside-down for nine days and nights to receive the wisdom of the Runes from Mimir’s well. The Runes beckon us along the same spiritual warriors’ journey that brought their wisdom to the world. As was asked of him, Odin asks how much are we prepared to let go of for the insights we seek. However, he is not the only one with questions for us: numerous Norse deities are peppered across the 24 symbols, each with penetrating questions for the different facets of our lives.

Not all the Runes are named after a god/goddess, but you will find many of their adventures, teachings and worlds are multidimensionally carved into the deceptively simple-looking symbols.”