According to Nordic Mythology, the Runic alphabet was discovered by Odin, the Norse God while he hung upside down in the Yggdrasil (the world tree that supports the universe). When he spied the runes, he fell from the tree in exhalation filled with knowledge. Each rune has a connection to a specific Scandinavian deity based on mythology and these connections further imbue the runes with symbolism and meaning.

Runes originally derived from a northern European alphabet, although pre-runic symbols have been found in Bronze Age rock carvings, many of which were incorporated into the runic symbolism and meanings. The people of Northern Europe used runes for the alphabet, divination and as a system of symbols for magic well into the middle ages.

Although the spread of Christianity dampened the use of the system of runes within religion and ritual, the Vikings continued the practice of using runes due to the weakened influence of Christianity, and it is at this time that the runic alphabet was first written down.

Since then the system has been passed down though shamans, families and pagan followers and interest became stronger in the seventeenth century. Despite being banned by the Christian Church, the runic system of symbols and magical meaning have prevailed and are now an important element to our modern divination and esoteric practices.