With RIT, the fifth Rune of the Sacred Futhork, I am going to introduce you to the basics of ritual and ceremonial in general and of Runic ceremonies in particular.  Furthermore, I will briefly describe the various ceremonial utensils that you can use for Runic practice.  You may purchase the utensils and other materials from elementproducts.com

The Rune RIT can awaken and develop in you the power of skillful visualization.  Visualization is a powerful aid to perform Runic operations as well as any other magical practice.

You find an in-depth description of the CFP (Common Functioning Principle) of all magic, including Rune magic, in the course “Magic of the Future.”  When studying this course you will understand much better the function of ceremonial utensils as structural links.

CANDLES

There is hardly any ceremonial where Light would not play an important role.  Light is neutral.  Depending on the action to be performed it assumes some color.  Since Light is so important, most ceremonials contain and include something that symbolizes Light.  Candles are the preferred utensil to symbolize Light.  Of course, there are deeper symbolic meanings connected with candles than that of giving Light.  As you become familiar with various methods involving candles you will understand better the many symbolic meanings that candles connect with.  Consequently you will be capable to touch upon more dimensions that involve the symbolism of the candles  This will greatly increase the effectiveness of your magical operations.

Candles, as we know, are made of various materials, mostly paraffin, more seldom true bees' wax.  Candles may be scented and colored, tailored to special lengths and shapes, etc.  As you progress, you will learn to include colors and shapes of candles into the overall symbolism of your ceremonial.

The significance of candles reaches into may levels.  Since candles are mostly thought to symbolize Light, they are the only source of light in many ceremonials.  The specific color of the candle will symbolize the sphere(s) with which the operator wants to be in contact during the ceremonial.  The number of candles used has another symbolic meaning.  Operators who practice evocations and who work with the higher order energies that are part of planetary spheres match the number of candles with the number of the planet:  three candles for evocations of Saturn or of beings of the sphere of Saturn, four candles for Jupiter, five for Mars, six for the Sun, seven for Venus, eight for Mercury, and nine for the Moon.

Candles are an excellent tool to help the powers of visualization and imagination.  The flame of a candle is an ideal focus.  In some magical practices you may internalize this focus.

When you practice with Runes you can use any number of candles that correspond to the specific higher order energies used in your operation.  You may use one candle that has the Rune engraved which you practice.  Instead of engraving the Rune, you can put the candle (candleholder) on a piece of cardboard or wood that has the Rune drawn on it.  This Rune should be charged before use.  Excellent is a set of 18 candle holders, each one with another Rune drawn or engraved on it.

Many ceremonials require the use of more than one candle.  It is good practice to use one candle for each Rune that you use in the ceremonial.  You can use three “neutral” candles, i.e., candles that have no Rune inscribed.  These three candles would then symbolize the three groups of Futhork Runes.  You may use five candles if you want to take advantage of the dynamics of the pentagram. You may use six candles which represent the Hexagram, or six candles with a seventh candle in the center, if you want to symbolize the Hexagram with the three inscribed diameters, mother of Runes.  You may use nine candles which, in Runic ceremonial, represent the Rune IS, the true ego, bridge to your Higher Self.  You may go all the way and use eighteen candles in your ceremonial, one for each Rune.  When you use eighteen candles, I recommend that you inscribe one Rune on each candle.  You arrange these eighteen candles the same way you arrange the 18 Rune Staves.  You shouls put one candle to the side of each Rune stave.  Candles of bees wax have some advantages over candles made of paraffin:  There is more "life" in them.  The color of the candles is to match the purpose of your operation.  White candles are good for every operation.  In the case of bees wax candles, the natural wax color is equally universal.

One candle alone or two candles serve as an excellent focus.  Such a focus is very helpful for your concentration and visualization powers.  Two techniques are useful, depending on the number of candles.  While looking at the flame of one candle see visions in the halo around the candle.  When you use two candles, look in the space between the flames of both candles.  The best distance is between six and eight inches apart.  In either case you will better be able "to grasp the arrow with the look of your eyes."

As a practice, you can use only ONE candle for you Runeing, where it can serve as an added focus.  Engrave the Rune in the candle.  Practice the following way:

1.  Put your candle on the altar, or table.
2.  Establish your outer and inner Rune Realms.  For murmuring practice alone, the inner Rune Realm is sufficient.
3.  Light the candle and say:
 "Forces of the Light
 Eternal in the universe,
 Penetrate darkness!
 Sacred Flame, shine!
 Bring Light to the night!

 All around darkness
 All around night
 I amidst the Light
 Darkness is merged
 With the Light!

 Original fire of FA
 Burning since the beginning
 Of times
 Light Force of AR
 Born in the Sun
 At the beginning of the worlds
 Give Light to the seeker!

4.  Be aware that there is an OUTER Rune Realm around you of which the candle is a focal point for the Rune which you practice.
5.  Practice your Runeing.
6.  Look into the flame of the candle, imagine that the Rune is in the halo that surrounds the flame.  Then close your eyes and remain a few minutes in silent meditation.  Wait for insights, feelings, visions, thoughts, etc. to emerge.  As a variation, you can look into the flame of the candle.  Soon,  a halo of ca. 6 to 8 inches, sometimes more, will appear around the candle.  Wait for visions that may appear around the candle.  Wait for visions that may appear in the halo.  This second method requires some practice.  It is useful for developing clairvoyance.  It also improves your dream life.
7.  When you decide to end the practice, say:
 "Powers of . . . (name of Rune)
 Thank you for your energy
 Flow back to the
 Realms of Creation!"
8.  Imagine, or visualize, the Rune energies grounding, flowing into the ground, as water flows down a drain, or seeps into sandy soil.
9.  Extinguish the flame of the candle.
10.  Write your experiences in your diary.

Note: If you draw life force from a Welz chi Generator, set it at 6.3 Hz or 7.83 Hz

Now, you have at your disposition a basic outline for many Rune rituals, useful for many purposes.  For practice of healing with the Runes UR and THORN use two candles, on with UR engraved, and one with THORN engraved.  Proceed as shown above, but do healing under point 5 (instead of Runeing).

OTHER UTENSILS

Candles are not the only utensil.  There can be many more ceremonial items on an altar.  In fact, when setting up and arranging ceremonial items, it is a good thing to follow your intuition concerning the symbolism involved while following some general guidelines.  In the following, I am going to introduce you to some of the most important, or most common, features of a ceremonial.  The ceremonial set up is very helpful, because it enables you to set up a plenum of energies within which Runic work is made easier.

One of the most important sources of "raw energy" needed for the practice of energy transfer and triggering is emotional, or astral energy. This type energy is in general produced within the context of a good ceremonial setting. A group of people who take part in the ceremonial can be extremely helpful.  It is very important here that all participants want to contribute to the ceremonial.  Likewise it is important that all participants receive some benefit from the ceremonial. All this works exceptionally well and much stronger when you boost the ceremonial with a Welz Chi Generator! 

As I pointed out before, ceremonial utensils are focal points for the more subtle, higher order energy components that are essential for the success of the ceremonial.  When I speak of the "symbolic meaning" of a utensil, then I refer to the structures of the Higher Order Energy components that are connected with this specific utensil.  The utensil establishes then a structural link ("psychic link") to the repective energy field.  Another, very important, characteristic of utensils is the following.  As the utensil is used on a regular basis, the transcendental energies (HOEC's or Higher Order Energy Complexes) attached to it increase (and modify to some degree) more and more.  Very soon the utensil is capable of "functioning by itself" without the practitioner needing to be consciously aware of any of the utensil's inherent characteristics and functions.  Thus, a dagger is no longer just a knife, but it is the instrument that gives the practitioner dominion over astral -- emotional -- energy complexes.  The magician speaks of a thought form that is attached to the ceremonial utensil.

The basic arrangement of all utensils will set your "machinery" or "central switch board" ready to function smoothly:  it allows you to define energies of a higher order, to make them work for you, and to send them wherever you want to send them.

An important factor, then, is to follow all instructions given in order to have the Runic energies and HOEC's (which will be created and/or modified by Runic energies) perform as you intended and to cause the desired results on whatever level(s) you projected them.

In the following, I discuss some of the most important utensils that you can use in the ceremonial set up of Runic practice.

1.  THE TEMPLE

The temple is your "workshop," or, better yet, your place from which you are triggering the HOEC's for specific purposes such as healing.  It is the space within which you arrange all your tools, or machinery.  It is your specific outer realm (outer Rune Realm) from which you reach every point of your universe.

You may, in fact, see the temple as a symbol of your universe.  As with any workplace, cleanliness enhances proper functioning.  Since you are working with HOEC's, or "psychic energies," be aware that the temple needs also to be free from any kind of psychic debris or psychic pollution, otherwise the results of your practices may be negatively influenced.  Many banishing rituals are designed to clean the temple from undesirable energies, so that psychic energies can be projected without undesirable interference.  In Runic practice, you may use the Runes AR, IS and MAN to cleanse.

Some students may not have a special room or space available for their temple.  Although a specific assigned space for a temple has great advantages, it is not absolutely essential.  Of course, you can practice Runes anywhere.  You establish your temple by determining what space will serve as your temple, and by cleansing it from any undesirable psychic energy with AR, MAN, and IS every time before you begin to practice.  You may define the boarder of the temple mentally or with a wand or dagger.  Depending on the situation, you may chant mentally (yes, you CAN perform a fully valid ceremonial in the midst of a crowd, without anybody noticing what you are doing), or you may chant aloud while in the body positions of IS (grounding position), MAN, and AR.

2.  THE PROTECTIVE CIRCLE

The protective circle within your temple is a space within which you are working, unencumbered by any energy that may be attracted by your work.  The circle makes sure that no energy will be present except those which you desire to be present.  It is a barrier against negative energies and other energies that may interfere with those HOEC's (Higher Order Energy Complexes) which you are going to trigger.  This way, the circle serves not only as your personal protection from hostile HOEC's, but it also insures a clean functioning of your Rune Yoga practice.  An ideal circle is formed by laying out all 18 Runes, which will then be in tune with your Inner Rune Realm.  Have the sixteen Runes arranged on the periphery of your circle, starting with FA in the North, counter clockwise to YR, which will then be on the right side of FA.  Have EH and GIBOR inside the circle, since those Runes symbolize the marriage of opposites and the universe of the symbolism. EH West and Gibor East just inside the outer circle of Runes.

The diameter of the circle is dependent on the amount of people participating in the ceremonial, and of course, considerations of space.

3.  THE ALTAR

The altar is the actual workplace, or your control panel.  In more advanced practice, it can also serve as a point of manifestation for specific HOEC's, in which case you have to observe specific measures of protection or insulating methods.

Being your control panel, it will contain utensils that connect with the specific structures of the universe and HOEC's with which you are going to work in your ceremonial.  Therefore, the arrangement of utensils on the altar and the symbols used will vary according to the purpose(s) of your ceremonial.  You will, however, notice some CFP (common functioning principle) on all arrangements of your altar.

The size of the altar depends on the number of people attending, size of your temple, amount of utensils, etc.  For most individual purposes and for small groups, an altar the size of 24 x 30 inches will be adequate.

4.  RUNE STAVES

Since you will use Runic energies, a set of triggers to those energies on top of the altar is of utmost importance.  These Rune staves will be arranged in a circle, as shown in the diagram.  More than the staves around yourself and the altar, the staves on the altar are triggers that connect with your Inner Rune Realm and the Runic Realms of Creation.  Practical experience has established that a circle of Crystal Rune Staves by itself can give a clean temple and the protective circle as outlined above.  However, I still recommend that you practice the banishing and cleansing as well as the establishing of the protective circle wherever possible.

You may use Runes made of cardboard and charged accordingly, or you may use Runes made of wood.  Crystal Runes are excellent and superior even to the traditional wooden Runes for several reasons.  One of the reasons is that the crystalline structure of quartz represents HAGAL, and the "mother" of the Runic symbolism (the hexagon with the three inscribed diameters).  Look at an ideally formed Quartz crystal from above and you see the HAGAL Rune inside a hexagon.  Another reason for the awesome strength of crystal Runes lies in the fact that crystal energies can be modified and directed:  modified by Runic energies that are very kin to the crystalline energies, and directed by means of gridding.  All practitioners who used crystal Runes (and compared to wood) noticed the difference in power immediately!  Available from elementproducts.com:  a.  A deck of eighteen Rune cards that may also be used for divination purposes.  These cards have ONLY the Rune on it.  "Neat" New Agey pictures of Elves, Gods, Goddesses, and other artistic clutter would water down the energy of the Runes.  2.  Wooden Rune Staves, and  3.  Crystal Rune Staves.

5.  THE MAGICAL WAND

While the candles connect with the will and the worlds of emanation, the wand is the tool that expresses the will of the practitioner.  It is your tool to dominate the HOEC's that have characteristics belonging to the mental spheres.  The symbolic meanings of the power rod or wand will be the more familiar to you the more you practice with Runes and other ceremonials.

6.  THE INCENSE BURNER

The incense burner connects you with the mental worlds, with HOEC's that are part of the mental spheres, and with the air element in general.

7.  THE DAGGER

The dagger (or sword) represents your mind which controls the emotions and HOEC's that belong to the astral spheres.  Again, while the incense tunes into mental worlds, the dagger uses mental energies.

8.  THE POWER ROD

The Power rod is an ideal combination of wand and dagger.  It is very suited for work with Runes, because of the use of a quartz crystal as a tip of the power rod.
Very powerful is a tube that acts as an orgone accumulator.  You may either put alternating layers of organic and metallic materials around it or, simpler and more powerful, paint it with orgonite, which in its simple form is a mixture of metal powder and epoxy or any other type glue.

9.  THE CUP WITH WATER (OR WINE)

The cup connects with the astral worlds and with the emotions.  It provides the energy necessary to bring results in your ceremonies.  It symbolizes the emotional power of the practitioner.  Drinking the water or wine aligns the astral-emotional energies with the goal of the ceremonial.  Water accumulates Odic energies (life energies) which are "programmed" with the goals of the healing ceremonial.  In fact, any liquid that you like to drink is good!

10.  THE HAMMER OF THOR

The Hammer of Thor represents your consciousness that can connect with any point in space-time and then return back "to yourself."  In other words, the Hammer of Thor can be projected to any interval in the space-time continuum of your universe.  It can be developed into being your specific tool to break the self-imposed limitations of space-time.  It symbolizes conscious action which is charged and energized by the other elements (wand, sword, and cup).  Once energized, the Hammer of Thor will perform for you.  Again, with repeated practice you will learn more and more about this most powerful tool of Runic ceremonials.  Thor's Hammer is perhaps the best symbol of your conscious projection.  It collects within itself the three elements of the will, mental, and astral-emotional spheres.  Once you have charge Thor's Hammer, you have aligned all elements toward your specific purpose:  your will, mind, emotions, and consciousness.  All you need to do now, is to throw Thor's Hammer (its higher plane components) toward your goal, which is embedded in an interval of your conscious space-time continuum.  Thor's Hammer is your tool on the material planes that reaches beyond the confines of space and time.  It is your instrument of power, your connection to your universe, your power of projecting into your universe whatever energy you charge the hammer.  Thor's Hammer, therefore, is the most powerful Runic talisman, symbolizing the element earth on your altar.  You need to learn to use Thor's Hammer properly.  Tune into the Nordic mythology of the god Thor and his hammer, and you will gain additional information about this powerful tool of Rune Practice.  The material hammer of Thor remains on your altar, of course, but its spiritual parts, or components, you project them to the desired goal.  You do this directing with the powers of your imagination.  Be aware that the more you practice using Thor's Hammer the more skillful you will become in its use.  In fact, RUNE YOGA TEACHES YOU THE SKILL OF PROJECTING AND USING THE HAMMER OF THOR!  Ideally, your Hammer of Thor should be a true talisman, which you can wear as a pendant.  You may use a piece of paper with Thor's Hammer drawn on it.

PREPARATION OF YOUR UTENSILS

Repeated use of a ceremonial utensil connects you with specific energies without you needing to tie up your own forces that then can be better used toward the purpose of your practice.  In this respect, a utensil takes on the function of a GENERATOR OF ENERGIES that belong to the higher levels.

Utensils seen under this aspect, you must realize the importance of proper preparation of your utensils, including yourself, since you will be an integral part of the ceremonial machinery that you are about to set up.  Ideally, all utensils should be bought new, and only you should use your utensils.  Never lend your utensils to anybody else.  An exception may be candles and incense, as well as some of the accessories of an altar, such as the incense burner, which may be used by anybody who attends the ceremonial.  A set of Rune Staves and Hammer of THOR may be shared, and belongs to the altar of a Rune Castle, or lodge.  This set may be used by everybody who is member or guest of the group.  Your personal Rune Staves, on the other hand, should NEVER be used by anybody else than yourself.  This counts as well for group ceremonials.  The same holds with your Thor's Hammer, Rune dagger, and other utensils that you own.

Now, to the preparation and blessing of your utensils.

The simplest preparation of a utensil is by charging it with your energies.  Bring yourself in a meditative state -- preferably establish your Rune Realms.  Then put the utensil in front of yourself and hold your hands above it.  While inhaling, visualize your body drawing energy from the universe.  When exhaling, you visualize that energy stream through your hands into the utensil.

The charging, of course, has many variations.  As you progress with your knowledge of Rune Yoga, your insights will increase, and so will your means available.

Prepare all your utensils by charging them.  With all utensils prepared, you are well prepared for any ceremony with Runes.

THE MAGICAL POEM

 F A 
I know the Songs that no wise woman knows
And none of the children of men.
The first Song is HELP, and help it will
Against sorrow, hurt, and any distress.

 U R 
A second I know; quite useful to the children of men
Who practice the healing hand:
It chases disease and all pain,
It cures hurts and all wounds.

 T H O R N 
A third Song I know:  If urgency tells me
To tie the opponent with magic
Then I dullen the steel of my foes
So that their swords will not cut anymore.

 O S 
A fourth Song I know:  If an enemy puts
A tie of pliable limbs;
Then I speak the spell, the shackles break on the feet
And the fetters break on the hands.

 R I T 
This I know as a fifth:  If in hostile flight
An arrow shoots into the crowd;
Not matter how it threatens, I block its force
By grasping it tightly with the look of my eyes.

 K A 
A sixth on is mine:  Should a warrior hurt me
With the roots of soft wood;
This warrior who awakens the hate within me
Shall be struck before it gets me.

 H A G A L 
A seventh I know:  If the hall blazes high in flames
Above all the people;
No matter how it burns, I still save them all.
The Magic I know to perform.

 N O D 
An eighth one is mine:  quite useful to hear
For all the people in danger and need.
Where hate should arise between man and man
I settle it fast.

 I S 
A ninth one I know:  I danger is out in the sea
To protect my dear ship
I conjure the wind on the billowing floods
An I sing into slumber the sea.

 A R 
A tenth one I know: When ill wishing spirits
Fligh high in the air; I cause them to turn around
Back to their homes, deprived of their covers;
Back to their roots, bewildered their minds.

 S I G 
This I know as eleventh:  Then I Lead
Into battle the friend, the beloved;
I sing it into his shield, so he will win in battle
And luck around him everywhere.

 T Y R 
A twelfth one I know:  If I see the hanged man
On the tree, shaking in the wind
Then I scratch and I stain Runes
The warrior can talk and descends from the tree.

 B A R 
A thirteenth I name:  If I wetten the Son
With holy water
When he is facing the foes he cannot perish
And no blade can strike him into the dust.

 L A F 
A fourteenth I sing to all the assembled people
When I name the Divine names;
For nobody knows the characters of Albs
And of all Ases as well as I do.

 M A N 
A fifteenth I count:  That which Volkrast, the gnome
Sang by the gates of the day;
To strength for the Ases, and to force for the Albs,
And to clear my own senses.

 Y R 
A sixteenth I know:
If from wise maiden I desire joy of love
Then I change the intent of the maiden
And I turn her feeling around.

 E H 
A seventeenth I know:
To join together two lives
In love through wise law;
Both are willing, and no one will lightly part after this.

 G I B O R 
An eighteenth I learned, but I would not let this
Know a just anyone else; for the best Everyone keeps for himself.
That which leads to the end of the songs.
The one only knows who is in my arms as my only lover.

ACCESS-KEYWORDS, MEANINGS
AND CORRELATIONS OF THE RUNES
I S   through   T Y R

The Rune IS 

Rune of the ego, of self-discipline, of discipline.  Rune of the personality, of the magical powers of self-consciousness.  Symbolizes will, action, power, and personality.  The ego in the microcosm, the ONEness that connects everything created to ONE.  The eternal Divine Love that transcends the lower ego.  The Rune of completion.  The unicorn, the magic wand, the number of the Moon.
Uses:  IS strengthen the personality (ship) by calming emotionally charged thoughts (the wind on the billowing floods), controls thoughts.  IS procures psychic powers through self-discipline and through elimination of that which is unnecessary.  IS leads to Divine Magic.
Time of the year:  June 21 through July 14.
#9
Mantra:  iiiiiisssssss,iiiisssssiiiissss.

The Rune AR 

Rune of the Light, of the Sun.  Wisdom, beauty, virtue, trust, honor, fame.  Rune of the initiate.  Symbolism of the Solar child that returns home from darkness.
Uses:  AR allows control of subconscious thought patterns and recognizes their point of origin, or roots (meditate on the stanza!).  Rune of reframing.  Brings change from within.  Rune of certainty that dissolves doubts.  AR attracts Solar prana.
Time of the year:  July 15 through August 7.
#10
Mantra:  aaaaaaaaaarrrrrr, rrrrraaaaaaaa

The Rune SIG 

SIG is the Rune of the light, the Rune of the Sun, the Rune of victory, success, and good luck.  It is the Solar Light in spiritual contemplation.  It symbolizes the path "from God to God," the path of the soul.  Rune of the spiritual ray, of inspiration.
Uses:  SIG brings success, overcomes material limitations, increases power of the spirit.  It gives knowledge, wisdom, illumination.  It increases the power of visualization, and psychic powers.
Time of the year:  August 8 through August 30.
#11
Mantra:  ssssssssssss, ssssssssiiiiiiig

The Rune TYR 

Rune of the god of swords.  Rune of the god who sacrifices himself, certain of resurrection.  Rune of initiation, of reincarnation, of being born again.
Uses:  Hammer of Thor.  TYR helps overcome the material world, the fear of material death.  Brings victory of spirit over matter.  Recalling of past lives.
Time of the year:  August 31 through September 22.
#12
Mantra:  t-t-t-t-tyyyyyyrrrrr

EXERCISES

FIFTH LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Copy the Song of RIT in your book of ceremonials, if your time allows.
2.  Murmur the Song of RIT, practice RIT.  Use a candle.
3.  Practice the hand position of RIT.
4.  Practice healing with UR and THORN, in a candle ceremonial.
5.  Set up the Welz Chi Generator, set on 3.5 Hz. Carry the transfer disk on you while you murmur the Song of Rit.

PREVIEW FOR THE NEXT LESSON:  THE RUNE   K A

1.  KA and capability
2.  Your position as a Knight
3.  To establish your castle
4.  Preparation for your Knighting Ceremony
5.  Knighting Ceremony