Cassandra raised her hand, "Well, runes are inextricably bound to Norse mythology. One who aspires to be a user of runes needs a working knowledge of the mythology and writings of the runic era. In the beginning was Muspell, the realm of fire. Then came Midgard was surrounded by an enormous ocean. Next they built Åsgard, the home of the Gods. Yggdrasil, the World-Tree, the tree of fate, arises in the center of the Midgard. Its branches reach up over Asgard and finally the Gods built a rainbow bridge called Bifröst from Asgard (heaven) to Midgard (earth). The Norse deities are divided into two major groups, the Aesir and the Vanir. The Vanir are the 'Earth Gods' and are the Aesir, the 'Sky Gods.'

"The Havamàl is part of the Elder or "Poetic" Edda, which is one of the primary written sources for Norse mythology. It is where Odin tells of how he obtained the runes and runic power."

Wounded I hung on a wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odin,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood.

They gave me no bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
With a loud cry
I took up runes;
From that tree I fell.

Nine lays of power
I learned from the famous Bolthor, Bestla' s father:
He poured me a draught of precious mead,
Mixed with magic Odrerir.

Waxed and throve well;
Word from word gave words to me,
Deed from deed gave deeds to me.

Runes you will find, and readable staves,
Very strong staves,
Very stout staves,
Staves that Bolthor stained,
Made by mighty powers,
Graven by the prophetic God.

For the Gods by Odin, for the Elves by Dain,
By Dvalin, too, for the Dwarves,
By Asvid for the hateful Giants,
And some I carved myself:
Thund, before man was made, scratched them,
Who rose first, fell thereafter.

Know how to cut them,
know how to read them,
Know how to stain them,
know how to prove them,
Know how to evoke them,
know how to score them,
Know how to send them,
know how to send them.

Better not to ask than to over-pledge
As a gift that demands a gift.
Better not to send
Than to slay too many.

Excerpt from the W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor translation of the Havamàl