Scholars disagree as to where and when runic writing first made an appearance in Western Europe. But before the Germanic peoples had any form of script, they used picture symbols that were etched into rocks. Common in Sweden, these rock carvings are dated from as early as the second Bronze Age (ca. 1300 B.C.). Symbols common were for men and animals, parts of the human body, weapons, sun symbols, the swastika and different variations of squares and circles. The early carvings were called runes from the Gothic runa, meaning "a secret thing, a mystery."

From the very beginning, Runes had a ritual function. Casting of lots, divination and to evoke higher powers that could influence the lives and fortunes of people. The craft of runemal was highly respected and touched every aspect of life. There were Runes and spells to influence the weather, the tides, crops, love, healing. Runes of fertility, cursing and removing curses, birth and death. Runes were carved onto amulets, drinking cups, battle spears, over the threasholds of dwellings and onto the prows of Viking Ships.

The rune casters were honored, welcomed, and feared. They were also easily recognizable by their eye catching clothing. Many of these runic practitioners were women. A vivid description is provided in "Saga of Erik the Red, " a thirteenth-century novel by an unknown author:

She wore a cloak set with stones along the hem. Around her neck and covering her head she wore a hood lined with white catskins. In one hand, she carried a staff with a knob on the end and at her belt, holding together her long dress, hung a charm pouch.

To pre-Christians, the earth and all creted things were alive. Twigs and stones served for Runecasting since, as natural objects, they were believed to embody the divine. Rune symbols were carved into pieces of wood, incised on metal or cut into leather. The most common runes were made with smooth flat pebbles with symbols or glyphs painted on one side. Ordinarily runemal practitioners would shake their pouch and scatter the pebbles on the ground; those landing face side up were interpreted

The most detailed description of reading the runes comes from the Roman historian Tacitus. Written in A.D. 98, he reports:

To divination and casting of lots they pay attention beyond any other people. Their method of casting lots is a simple one; they cut a branch from a fruit-bearing tree and divide it into small pieces which they mark with certain distinctive signs (notae) and scatter at random onto a white cloth. Then, the priest of the community, if the lots are consulted publicly, or the father of the family, if it is done privately, after invoking the gods and with eyes raised to heaven, picks up three pieces, one at a time, and interprest them according to the signs previously marked upon them.

This article on runes was gratefully borrowed from www.pagansunite.com