Lessons

Ethics for the Rune Reader

In this course we have first introduced and then studied in some depth the mechanics of the process of rune reading. Yet this is to ignore a crucial part of the equation. The reader themselves are not a mere vessel for the message of the runes but actively contributes to the final shape that message takes. Like any other humans, or indeed the Norse gods of the second lecture, rune readers are subject to human flaws and temptations. This lesson therefore looks at a vital but neglected aspect of rune reading, the ethical issues you will face.

Payment

There is nothing in itself wrong with accepting payment for reading the runes. Interpretation of the runes is a skill requiring study and practice (as you have discovered) and therefore like anyone else providing a service you are entitled to appropriate remuneration. In deciding to accept payment though you are opening yourself up to various temptations

• Exploitation - Many who seek the professional help of a rune caster or tarot reader are people with major problems and in a state of distress. Such people are often vulnerable and sometimes willing to pay any price for a way out of their difficulties. Your charges should be fixed rate, reflecting your time and effort, and adequately recompensing you. They should not be varied according to your client's means or their eagerness (apart from your retaining the right to levy a small fixed surcharge on existing clients who require an immediate reading without appointment necessitating some reorganization of your schedule). There may well be a side of you that thinks it would be better, fairer even, to assess each client on an individual basis in terms of charges, but it can be dangerous. Even if your intentions are good at the start, there is a danger that in time you will start to cultivate your richer clients since they bring in more money. Rich people though don't need help any more or any less than poor people, and just as they shouldn't be penalized for being rich it shouldn't be able to gain them preferential treatment either. Having reasonable fixed rates also makes it easier to refuse gifts. Grateful clients will often want to bestow gifts on you as thanks for your efforts. Even small gifts such as chocolates or ornaments are inappropriate. As a rule, we pay tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians for their services and we give gifts to friends. Accepting gifts puts your relationship with the client on an inappropriate basis and leads to the possibility of another danger ..

• Dishonesty - Your responsibility to convey accurately the message of the runes to the client. Clearly you will be guided by your intuition in the presentation, perhaps using personal examples to better illustrate the message or to otherwise put an individual slant upon it. The duty you have though is to keep faith with what the runes conveyed to you. Such advice as offered by the runes is accurate and often frank, and hence not always what the client wants to hear. There is a very fine line between presenting guidance in a form which you feel that the client will be receptive to, and sugaring the pill so much that the original intention is lost. Though its not universally true, since sometimes the client just needs a little reassurance, as a general rule if the client were on the right path, if their relationships were secure, their business sound etc, they would not feel the need to consult a rune reader. The fact they are seeking your professional assistance is a tacit recognition that all is not right in their life. While it may not be easy for you to say this to them, you are not being fair to the client if you don't tell them what the runes are really saying. Moreover you are once again sailing into dangerous waters with this approach. There are those who are happy to pay for hearing that they are correct, that they are pursuing the right methods and can expect favorable results, even if this is not the case. They are experts at self-delusion and will reward those who are happy to conspire with them in this. Even if your motives are good in seeking to individualize readings, you run the risk of seeking to please the client rather than convey the message. Once the client's desires predominate over the substance of the reading you have betrayed and abandoned the sacred role of a rune reader.

Choosing Your Words Carefully

Every time you use the runes you receive a message from them that should be treated with respect. Even if someone only agreed to a reading to help you practice, it doesn't change the fundamental truth that they asked a question of the runes and they should listen to and heed the advice they were given. As the reader you still have a duty to think about how you frame the answer.

Never be fooled by protestations of disbelief. Just because someone leads you to think that they don't believe in the runes, does not mean that the words of any reading won't have an effect on them. When we hear something like a prophecy it tends to linger in the memory, often at the back of the mind where its long-term consequences are impossible to assess.

Give thought to who your client is and why they have come to you. The idea of divination is still frowned upon in our society. For someone to overcome these prejudices suggests they have great need. Understand then that no matter how stable a client appears, inside they are likely to be emotionally vulnerable. Putting themselves in your hands is an act of trust which you must be careful not to betray. It would be all to easy to inflict further emotional damage upon them. A client should never leave you feeling worse than when they arrived. We have already considered how your duty is to portray accurately the message of the runes, however we also know they are neither light or dark but include many shades of gray within the views they express. It is therefore possible to select and emphasize while keeping faith with what the runes are seeking to reveal.

We can illustrate this if we take a look at one of the most fearsome runes, Naudhiz (Nyd), the rune of suffering and endurance. Whenever Naudhiz (Nyd) appears it is bad news. Yet as we have learned the runes are cyclical. Each rune of good fortune has a period of bad luck behind and ahead of it, and each rune of loss is proceeded by, and promises, a time of success. The runes teach us trust and acceptance.

Back in Lesson 17 we introduced the concept of the four functions of a rune: descriptive, advisory, predictive and representative. Using the first three of these we will now look at how one might deal with the appearance of Naudhiz (Nyd) within a reading.

Descriptive
When Naudhiz (Nyd) performs this function it is normally describing present events which means your client is probably well aware of the suffering it highlights, and hence you can be fairly frank. The gift of this rune is hardship and suffering though it is the messenger rather than the originator of the pain. Remember that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Take care though how you lay this news on your client. While talking of this rune in the abstract it is fine to use the word "suffering", you should though try to avoid it within the context of a reading. It is too emotive, too terrifying, to say to a client. You should use a general formula such as "This is a difficult and testing time". A phrase such as this acknowledges the nature of the rune without causing undue anxiety. It is also a good idea to use a qualifying phrase such as "which will require your personal reserves to successfully endure". As you are speaking of successful survival at the same time as breaking bad news its negative impact is reduced. It is important to always give the client hope. Remember the future is not fixed, the client can affect and change it.

Advisory
This is the easiest of Naudhiz's (Nyd's) functions to relay to a client. Whilst this rune is always a guest that it is better not to have come calling, this is its friendliest incarnation. Offering as it does advice and guidance this rune should bring reassurance to the client. They can take comfort in that things are not wholly out of their control and there is something they can do, even when that is just acceptance.

Predictive
Drawing Naudhiz (Nyd) with this function is not pleasant. One always wants the best for a client and in our "quick fix" society we seek the instant hope offered by a rune like Dagaz (Daeg) rather than the continuation of suffering which Naudhiz (Nyd) holds out to us. Yet we must work with what we are given. This rune is not malevolent, what it brings is necessary and designed to teach us. When presenting your interpretation to the client these are aspects you might like to emphasize. Once again begin by offering hope. "By facing and conquering what lies ahead you will become a better stronger person. There is coming a time of many challenges and opportunities. Have faith you are equal to them. This period is sent to teach and test you and will not last". Note how terms such as "problems" and "difficulties" are avoided since they tend to provoke a passive response. They will worry the client without inspiring them to the kind of positive action that is required. The key things about Naudhiz (Nyd) are the qualities which it encourages us to find within ourselves to deal with adversity. What you say to the client should always inspire them to find these strengths.

Know your Limitations

As we have stressed many times in the course of these lectures, the role of the rune reader is not a passive one. Your knowledge, skills and attention to detail all prove key determinants in deciding the shape of the final interpretation. It is important then to realize we are human with human flaws and weaknesses.

Physical State

Rune reading draws on your physical strength and mental energies. It is physically, emotionally and spiritually draining and therefore should not be attempted when you are at less than your best. Obviously it doesn't apply if you have a long-term illness since your body adapts, but as a general rule if you are sick do not conduct readings. Small ailments such as a cough, a heartache, a sore throat etc are distracting, making it much harder to concentrate and focus. There is a real danger that you will miss something crucial in the reading and hence reach the wrong conclusions in your interpretation. You owe the client better, even if the client is yourself. Sometimes a desperate client will beg you to do a reading no matter how bad you feel. It is difficult but part of your duty as a rune reader to know when and how to say "no". The same applies to the question of late night readings. Few matters are of such urgency that they necessitate an immediate reading and particularly not when the reader is already weary.

Knowledge Limits

Be aware that sometimes your words in a reading will stir deep emotions. Each of us has inner vulnerabilities and mental wounds which never heal. A reader may well touch these without knowing it, causing the client to weep. If they need to release emotion, let them. Support the client, share your strength but never lose your professional distance. Allow the client to talk but do not attempt to go beyond your knowledge and abilities. In all divination there is an element of counseling but unless you are a professional counselor do not attempt to do the job of one. Know your limits and accept them. Your function is to act as a medium for the runes to give their message, not to heal all the wrongs of the world. .

What a runecaster should provide a client with is good information, reassurance, confidence and grounds for hope. Where you reveal a wound you should be able to administer basic first aid but leave the surgery to others. When another human is in distress standing back from them can be the hardest thing in the world to do, but it can be necessary. Unless you have the right skills and tools you run the risk of doing more damage than you do good.

This is particularly the case with interpreting runes relating to health. While it is possible to link the runes with parts of the body and ailments (and indeed you will find such tables on the Rune School website for information), you should be very wary of doing this in a reading. Unless you are medically qualified, do not attempt to make diagnoses. Highlight the fact that the runes have suggested a need to "pay attention to health issues" but don't suggest what or where the problem is.

Non-Judgemental Attitude

One key requirement of the modern runecaster is tolerance. When you pass on the message of the runes it should be without any personal prejudices. You should never seek to impose your morality on another. Know that the ancient force of Wyrd is still in operation and that what one does in this life, for good or ill, ultimately returns to us. It is not your role to pass judgement upon others nor are you the instrument of justice through which the gods will work. If you have different views to your client on issues such as premarital sex, homosexuality, abortion or drug use, it is your problem not theirs. Each person must find their own way through life and it is not for others to dictate it to them. There are few of us living who have not made a few mistakes or don't have at least one dark secret in our past. We therefore have no right to judgement.

Confidentiality

Another duty you owe your client is confidentiality. What happens in a divinatory session should be regarded as roughly analogous to a priest's confessional. Nothing that takes place should normally be disclosed to any third person without the prior consent of both parties. If you keep records of readings then you owe a duty of care to your clients to keep these records safe and secure.

Sometimes it is necessary for professional to discuss readings amongst themselves, or to use them to illustrate points in a lecture, or on a course such as this one. Under such circumstances readings should be anonymized before being published and where possible you should tweak non-essential details to further disguise the reading and client.

One potential ethical dilemma a rune reader could be faced with is if there runes were to reveal to you that your client was guilty of some criminal offence, how should you deal with it? This would be a time for serious soul-searching and drawing on your inner resources. You do not have the legal immunity of a priest's confessional. On the other hand you do have some protection since the authorities would not regard your source as a reliable one, or indeed one to bother them with. Unless you mention it directly to the client and so receive a full confession, you would have no legal obligation to do anything, though you might well feel a moral one. Throughout this course we have stressed that reading the runes requires a willingness to take responsibility, and hence this is a decision you would have to make for yourself. The guidance we would offer though is that you consider what the consequences of your decision would be. The operation of Wyrd means that someone cannot escape the consequences of their deeds and so you might be able to leave things to the gods, unless you genuinely feel that as a result of your inaction someone else will come to harm.

To most non-archaeologists, archaeology is the study of ancient objects, whereas an archaeologist would tell you it is the study of people by examination of objects and buildings they left behind. It is all to easy to lose track of the human dimension. Ultimately rune reading is about helping another person, providing them with information and advice to enable them to deal with a situation in their lives. We have a duty then to provide a high-quality professional service taking account of their feelings. Though most books do not mention the ethics of rune reading, since they are more concerned with the past of the runes than their present, you cannot afford to ignore this topic. We must strive always to achieve the best that we can for our clients. Where people entrust us with their hopes, their fears and their secrets, we have a sacred responsibility as runecasters to think carefully about the words we use and to do nothing to betray their trust.

You have completed the lesson. Read it as many times as you need to in order to feel you understand it. Then return here for:
Lesson 21 - Comprehension Tests, Reading and Further Exercises

Please ensure you complete these exercises before moving on to the next lesson.