Lessons - Tests

Lesson 14 - Tests and Reading

Comprehension Test

Name three methods of divination
"A divinatory tool such as the runes is both a support and .. "(complete)
Why do we regard Stonehenge as heritage rather than garbage?
What is the effect of a pre-ordained future?
Will equals what?
What is different about "activated" runes?
What other word do some authors used to call divination techniques?
Name two ways we can access the upper realm of spirit?
Name a way by which we can influence this realm
What is the purpose of divination?

Reading

In Ruarik Grimnisson's Rune Rede, Chapter 5 "Divination", read from page 59 to the end of the chapter on page 63.

You will notice Grimnisson draws a similar distinction between fortune telling and divination to that we made in the Lesson. He also mentions the role of women and as we mentioned before the only recorded description of a practitioner of the runes is of a woman.

The passage quoted from Tacitus is very famous and many authors, including King, assume that it refers to the runes. On balance this may well be correct but we have no way of knowing for sure. The only thing we can safely say is that it describes an act of divination and so is an indication of the importance of this practice to the peoples of Roman Europe. Grimnisson reproduces a substantial part of the text but many authors quote only a few lines, and then very selectively, to support their belief it describes rune use. It is a good illustration of the importance of not taking what authors say at face face, but where possible checking out sources for yourself.

In Freya Aswynn's Principles of Runes, read from the start of chapter 4, "Divination with Runes" on p 69 down to p 71 ending " .. beyond coincidence". (this extract is available for registered students only at the Student Site).

Aswynn dismisses the blank rune fairly brutally. Many modern rune readers do use the blank rune though we do not teach it on this course. If you decide to use it though there is nothing anyone can do to stop you and ultimately it is your choice. Rune reading is about taking responsibility for your decisions and living with the results.

Further Exercises

Using your local library or the internet, investigate any method of divination other than the Tarot and Runes. Compare it to the runes, what similarities can you find and what differences? Do you think it would be easier or harder to learn than the runes?
Below are three Tarot cards taken from the Robin Wood deck. Unlike runes where the glyph is simply used to identify the rune the design on the card is absolutely crucial. Each deck is individually designed by an artist and the elements vary. It is the reader's interaction with the card which dictates the direction of the reading. So for example on one day the reader might draw a card and their attention is drawn to the small dog in the Fool card (in the Rider-Waite deck) whereas another day they draw the same card but the cliff which the man is walking towards is what their eyes focus upon. Hence the potential danger is a far more significant element in the second reading. Thus with Tarot the art work is all important. Look at each of these cards in turn and record the things which you notice in them. Study them closely and then from the elements in the pictures and the overall sense you get of the card decide which rune you feel each card most closely reminds you of.

Copyright © Robin Wood 1991. Used with permission

You have completed the exercises. Select the following link for the answers
Lesson 14 - Test Answers

Please ensure you mark these exercises before moving on to the next lesson and do not take more than one Lesson a week.

If you have any questions, comments or difficulties with the exercises and you have formally registered with the Rune School please email coursehelp@runeschool.org quoting your student ID number.