Witch's Runes

Rune. The Oxford Dictionary states it is from the Old English word rūn, meaning a secret or mystery. Most of us are familiar with the Elder Futhark. There are many mass-market sets available, and a plethora of books available on the topic. While there are many great authors on the topic I do highly recommend Edred Thorsson. Today, though, I would like to talk about Witch’s Runes. If you haven’t heard of them before, and you are interested in runes as a form of divination, you may enjoy these ones. This rune system uses pictographs of 13 different concepts to provide the reader with a general reading. These concepts are Sun, Moon, Flight, Rings, Romance, Woman, Man, Harvest, Crossroads, Star, Waves, Scythe, and Eye. While, at first glance, these symbols may not seem to provide much of a reading, once the meanings are learned, you would be surprised. With only 13 simple, and easily recognizable symbols to learn, it would be easier than other larger rune systems. They can be used as a one rune draw, thrown onto a surface, reading only the ones that land symbol side up, thrown onto a cloth or grid sectioned into aspects of life/seasons/etc.. and read accordingly, or any other way you can imagine. While these runes are related to general concepts like partnerships, prosperity, change, power, etc.. they give the reader the general knowledge needed to gain the knowledge they seek. Like any divination system, answers are not absolute, and they do require intuition and personal interpretation. If you want to learn more about this topic I do recommend A Witch’s Runes by Susan Sheppard.
You can easily make your own set of Witch’s Runes. I have made many sets using crystals/stones that correspond to the meaning of that rune. However, you can make them our of anything you like. Wood discs, glass beads, any crystal or stone you like (including ones you find outside), clay, or any other material you like. The symbols are fairly easy to draw as well. The important thing is that you feel a connection to them. While I do love the more popular Elder Futhark, this simple system was a bit easier to learn; I even made a mini version that fits easily into my pocket or purse. One thing I do love about all runes, is that they can be much more portable than a deck of cards, and are less prone to damage.
So, do you use runes of any kind? What is your favourite rune system to use? Have you heard of the Witch’s Runes before, or was this the first you have heard of them?