Runes are a Norse alphabet developed around 200 BCE, from characters used for magical purposes. It was believed to have been discovered by Odin as he hung upside down and wounded for nine days on the World Tree Yggdrasil. There are three commonly known runic alphabets: the 'elder' and 'younger' Futhark (futhark being the transliteration of the first few letters of that alphabet), the Anglo-Saxon futhork, and the Danish 'short twig' or script alphabet. The word 'rune' literally means a 'whisper' or 'secret.'

The Elder Futhark is the oldest, and consists of three sets of eight letters; there have been as many as thirty three runic characters, and as few as sixteen at various times. Runes have been used as a divinatory device from the beginning, and some scholars believe that at one time, a special class of diviners existed dealing soley in rune reading.

In the present time, runes are created and used by Asatru believers as a device for meditation and divination. One is generally expected to construct their own set of runestones.

To read more about Runes, and rune divination: The alphabet of Odin

Rune Stones used for divination

Pronunciation: Roowns • (noun)

Related Resources:

• Asatru
  The customs, history, and links on Norse Spirituality on About.com.
• Runes and Runelore
  Discover the ancient oracular alphabet of the Norse, the meanings of the Runic characters, rune magick and divination, more.