Runes of the Cunning-Folk

by Nathaniel J. Harris

The Old English runes are magical letters, each with their own pictographic meaning, that are native to the Anglo-Saxon peoples during the period before conversion to Latin Christianity. Runes are the reason our English word 'spell' has two meanings; to spell a word and to cast an enchantment. Various forms of runic alphabet may be found throughout northern Europe, especially in Scandinavia and Iceland, entering into Britain's own magical traditions during the Anglo-Saxon period, with their influence never truly leaving us - the Old English rune Cen (Kennaz in the Elder Futhark poem of Scandinavia), for example, gave its name to a magician-mystic generally in England in the term 'cunning-folk' - and this remained in use amongst the common folk as late as the 19th century. The Old English runes offer us something much deeper than the pagan 'magic' of heathen barbarians. Rather, it offers us insights into a mystical spirituality founded in a deep appreciation of one's own place in the world, and one's relationship with God.