Casting runes is a very personal thing, obviously, if you want to cast for other people, you have to have a high success rate and a method which does not include dancing round naked (at least not if you are in a shopping centre or at a private function!) The method of casting is up to you, there are plenty of examples of how to cast in books and on other websites. Sometimes, finding your own method is best. Again it is not the way in which the casting is done that is important, but rather the method used, which is easier if it is set and doesn't change too much. Having said that, once choosen, your method is not set in stone and no big foot will come out of the sky and stamp on you if you choose not to follow it every time!
Firstly, a set of runes,choose wood, metal, semi-precious stones, beach stones or card. Try and stay away from plastic ones, but get ones where you can hold all of the runes in your hands at one time. My most used set was originally a gift from a friend. He had made them himself out of copper with a bronze inlay for the runes. (incidentally, Big Jase, if you're reading this, Thank you!) I started with a plain clay set, which had come with an instructional book. You may want to make your own set at the beginning. Try blank playing cards to start off with, drawing the runes on with felt tip pen, or something else which shows up clearly. If you have a flair for wood carving or pottery, you may want to make your own set. Again there are no set rituals to follow. Some authors say you should make a set from a single branch of a tree, 'thanking' or 'paying' the tree for it's part. I have made a perfectly good set for a friend out of MDF board, which would probably have some authors choking on their texts! (Incidentally, they work just as well as a bought set) If you buy a set, then try and hold the runes before purchase. Please don't do this without the shopkeepers permission! However if you ask very nicely and explain why you want to touch them, they are usually understanding. Try pagan or occult supply shops for these, although Waterstones (booksellers) sometimes have sets in. Try and handle them before you buy, you can get a feeling for wether you like the set or not.
Secondly, something to keep them in. Alas a coat pocket is not very good and runes tend to get lost if they are kept loose. A small pouch, box or container will do nicely. Some authors stipulate a natural made material, such as wood, leather or cotton for the bag or box. I have a piece of red dyed leather made into a simple drawstring pouch for my most used set. Although people who are not happy with the idea of using leather could use cotton or a plain natural material. The bag can be as individual as you like, as long as it is yours! Make it big enough to hold all the runes comfortably, but not too big! Some people cast by drawing runes out of their container, so if you want to try casting this way, make it big enough so your hand doesn't get stuck!
Thirdly, something to cast them on. A piece of cloth is adequate for this, about the size of a handkerchief is perfect. Try and stay away from patterns and bright colours as these can detract from your concentration. The piece of cloth may not be necessary if you want to cast by drawing out of a bag, although you may find it useful to help keep your runes together. I use a red silk handkerchief, but any material will do. Some Tarot card readers wrap their deck in silk, usually black, white, red or purple, this helps keep the cards clean, together and provides a small ritual in the unwrapping.
So, methods of casting (at last!) some people may want to light some incense or a candle before they attempt a casting (myself included, sometimes), some may want to pray or call attention to their activities to God or the Gods (Whichever is personal to you) this can help to focus your attention on the casting and not on what you're going to have for tea that evening! Believe me, there's nothing worse than trying to read for a client and having your mind stray onto how painful your new shoes are! It is important to be relaxed before you start, it is no good being tense or wanting it to work so badly that you disrupt your own reading. One of the hardest things I had to learn was not the meanings of the runes, but how to relax. Firstly, wear loose clothing, wearing something that is too tight, pinches or is short are not ideal attributes. Clothing can mean a lot to yourself (in terms of comfort) and to the client (in terms of how you are percieved) Think about this, it is very important: If you turn up to cast for someone in jeans and a T - Shirt, you may be wanting to convey you are casual and easily approachable, though the client may percieve it as lazy, non - commited and couldn't - be - bothered. Equally, if you turn up in a business suit you may think you are smart and efficient, but the client may think you are only in it for the money and are not interested in them, so think carefully!
Secondly relearning how to breathe is a good way of relaxing. (Hmm, breathing, don't I do this every day?!) Find a quiet piece of music, Beethovens moonlight sonata, Pachobels (think thats the right spelling!) Canon in D and Spiegel im Spiegel by Pavo (I think!) are some of my favourites. Find a quiet space and play them whilst listening to your own breathing. Try and clear your mind, focusing on feeling your own muscles move and be aware of the breath entering and leaving. Try to regulate your breathing to the music, slow it down and take bigger breaths (not too big and not too slow!) You should find that if you concentrate on your own breathing, the rest of the body relaxes itself. You may, in the begining, want to take a bath, wash or generally clean yourself before attempting a casting.
I relax myself first, then unwrap my runes, placing them upside - down in a small, shallow wooden dish to draw out of. (this method of casting from a dish is not in a text book as far as I am aware) I spread my red hankie down on the casting surface, be on the ground outside, on a table, floor or otherwise. From there I do the reading. At the end I pack away the runes in their cloth and place them back in their bag. With your first couple of readings, try and do something different afterwards, be it eat a meal, go for a walk outside or listen to some lively music. This will provide an end to your activities and get your mind used to focusing for a reading and then being able to stop at the end. This is difficult to explain if you have never done this: Think about what you do for a written exam, in ideal circumstances, before and after, it should be a similar thing.
How do I actually cast? Despite what I said at the begining, my method does vary sometimes. The reading I use most consists of 5 runes being drawn upside down (by the Client) and placed in a cross shape (one in the middle and one on all 4 sides) it's nicer if the runes do not touch. I run a very simple system: the one in the middle is the principal root or problem for the person you are casting for. I (or the client) turn the runes over one by one, starting with the rune in the centre. (Interpret the centre one before turning any of the other runes, I find this easier as the others are not influencing straight away) I turn them side to side as not to alter their positioning (reversed or upright) The other runes round the outside (turned over one at a time) may be parts of the same problem, or different problems altogether. Usually the runes will tie up in groups, rarely do they represent 5 seperate problems. If the meaning is still unclear, try drawing a 6th rune as a overview, this can give a generalised meaning of the current situation. As I do it, this reading takes about 20 - 30 minutes to complete. Sometimes I use 5 runes in a row as a casting, it depends very much on the situation and what feels right at the time.
If you are casting for another person, who is paying for the service and you still cannot get a clear meaning: tell the person politely that you are not getting anything and advise them to seek help elsewhere. Clients are happier if you tell them the truth and get rather upset if you misinform them about your skills. If you are truthful with them, they will come away with a good impression, which will make it easier for the next reader they may go to and helps improve all our reputations. Clients are more likely to remember a bad reader (just out for money) than a good one (Just human nature, I guess) So please be aware!
The first thing to do is to become familiar with all the runic shapes and meanings. Learn one a week, or several in a month, depending on how fast you learn. Be through. - it doesn't help to skip a rune because you don't like it! Above all BE PATIENT! The runes will come in time - they cannot be forced. Take comfort in knowing what is yours will come to you, although sometimes you have to trip it up! (meaning if you are truly meant to do it, then you will, though do not sit passively and wait for it to happen for you!)
When I was teaching, I tried to explain what it felt like to get a 'response' from the runes whilst doing a casting. Some readers may see images (sometimes called Clairvoyance), some may hear words(Clairaudience), Others may experience tastes, touches or smells (less common) I just get an intuition. Usually, in conversation, you are planning ahead on what you are going to say and where the conversation will go. In reading runes there are no preconceptions, for me, the words just come out. Even if you have two seperate people, drawing the same runes in the same positions, the interpretation will be different every time. (How can you do that? the meanings are set!) I know the meanings are set to a certain degree, but intuition also plays a part in your skill of interpretation. This is something which is gradually learnt and cannot really be practiced in a text book kind of way. It will get easier, you can help it by learning the meanings and shapes of all of the runes. Someone once said that by talking, you can eventually get to say what you wanted to say in the first place but where too shy/embarrased to start with. This is similar with readings, you just start at a place and gradually the truth starts coming out and you 'connect' with the client. (You'll know this when they start looking shocked or suprised, even if they don't say anything, some clients can verbally confirm you are right at this point) This is something which does take time and doesn't instantly 'switch on'. When this first happens it can feel a little unnerving. If it makes you feel scared, then stop and do something else until you feel ready to 'read' again. If you are reading for a client and start getting really strong images/ words, then finish the reading and do something else. Some clients are easier to read for than others, some people are defensive and picking up words or images is hard. Don't worry if you are having an 'off day', it's like any other skill you have, some days it just won't go right.
Try and keep personal bias out of the reading, you may not like the person you are reading for, but you are providing a service not a chance to insult and worry them. (This is unprofessional!!) Another thing: if you are worried about something, have just suffered trauma or are under a lot of stress, casting for someone else is probably not a good idea, your own feelings may 'leak out' and influence the runes themselves, never mind your interpretation of them. Keep your own conduct professional, keep a clients confidence, no matter how much you want to tell their friends, enemies or otherwise. If you must tell someone, make it a priest or holy person (I talk to a catholic priest occasionally, although I'm not Catholic (Why? Because he's a nice chap)) They have taken vows of trust and may be able to advise you if you are worried about someone.
As well as how you dress, be aware of how you phrase things to the client, they will automatically think the worst of whatever you say, so think of ways to minimise the damage, I have never yet come across a reading where physical human death is represented, (although the 'death' of smoking might be the client is stopping smoking) People are curious about what readers do, but are always prepared to believe the worst, so avoid certain words: things like death (of friends of family - very upsetting if you are right or wrong), killing, and phrases like " I see a tall dark handsome stranger!" (even if you do see one!) Try a little humour: my own style works on getting the Client to relax and smile,(by telling a little of the history, with a little humour, before the casting itself) they will be nervous enough as it is, if they don't percieve you as a threat, the better, you are not out to scare them. So no loud noises, sudden movements, rude jokes etc!!
On the question of wether to cast for yourself, in the begining, this will probably be the only person you feel comfortable enough with. As you get more advanced, it would be a bit like a doctor diagnosing their own illness, you may deliberately ignore a result or accidentally misinterpret it. I do cast for myself, but only on the Equinoxes and Solstices, as a guide to the next 3 months. Some people, however may think it perfectly fine to cast for themsleves, or draw a 'daily rune', some abhore the idea, again it is personal preference.
The names of the runes are important to some readers. They are not as important to me (I don't know why) but I do know them. They may be something you find incredibly important and cannot do without, my method is slightly different. Start your own method by finding one that you like the sound of, from a book or otherwise, practice it and then alter it to fit your own developing style.
Lending your runes is another tricky subject. It has never arisen for me, so I don't know how I would react. Thinking about it I'm not too keen on the idea... again, some authors are quite happy to lend, as they percieve runes as a tool, which could be used by anybody. Personally mine are very individual for me and anyone who knows me would know that they could look and touch, but not borrow.
Don't worry if you get frustrated because you can't remember all the information in one sitting! It has taken me nearly eight years to get this far, it may take you less or more to be able to put unconsious ideas into words.
That's about all I can tell you, rememeber, the above points are my own personal view and are not the be all and end all of how the runes should be treated. Let me know how you get on with forming your own methods and theories...