How to Cleanse with Runes: Exercises and Ritual
The image displays the three runes discussed in this blog: Laguz, Kenaz, and Dagaz. Laguz represents water, and is shown in a bold black in front of ocean waves. Laguz is shaped from two lines, one that is longer and goes vertically straight down. A second shorter line is drawn from the top at a 45 degree angle. Kenaz represents a fiery torch, and is shown in a bold black in front of a close-up image of flames. Kenaz is shaped like the mathematical symbol for “less than." Dagaz represents daybreak. It is shown in bold black in front of a sun rising behind a dark line of a mountain range. Dagaz is shaped like an X with the top and bottom points on the left and right sides connected by straight vertical lines. Its shape is sometimes described as looking like a butterfly or an infinity symbol, or rays of light piercing outward.
This post introduces four methods for spiritually cleansing your home, your decks, your spiritual space, and yourself using the power of the Elder Futhark runes. These methods are beginner-friendly and designed to deepen your connection with the runes.
A note on the importance of cleansing
Spiritual cleansing is a foundational practice for a reason. Just like washing our hands is good for our physical hygiene, cleansing is good for our spiritual hygiene. Cleansing prevents unwanted energy from lingering. Some people view cleansing as a first line of spiritual protection. Cleansing helps keep the energy of a space supportive. It can help us move on from challenging experiences and makes room for new energy. For tarot and runes readers, regular cleansing can help heighten the clarity of readings.
What might you cleanse and when?
You can cleanse anything. You can cleanse yourself, your home, your workspace, your tools, your jewelry, even your bed or your car. Some people cleanse proactively by cleansing new items before they come into the home. Some people cleanse their spaces on a schedule (weekly, with the lunar cycle, etc.) Others only cleanse when they feel it’s necessary, for instance if they feel that the energy is getting stagnant or heavy. Many people cleanse before ritual, and many readers cleanse before and after readings.
Can anyone use cleanse with the runes?
Working with runes is an open practice, meaning that people of all backgrounds can work with the runes if they feel called to it. My personal perspective is that the minimum requirement is a respect for the Norse cultures and deities. You do not have to work with any of the spirits or deities in the Norse pantheon, but a baseline of respect is a requirement if you want to work with the runes personally. The more you learn about Norse culture and the runes, the deeper your connection with the runes will become. You do NOT need to have Norse ancestry to work with the runes! The wisdom of the runes is available to people of ALL ethnic and racial backgrounds.
Using runes for spiritual cleansing
The power of galdr
Galdr is the practice of singing, chanting, or intoning the runes. It is a powerful way to connect with their energies. Galdr can be combined with other practices, but it is a method to raise energy and channel the runes on its own. Chanting can be a wonderful way to relax into deeper brainwave states. Deeper brainwave states expand our consciousness and help us become more receptive to spiritual experiences. All of the cleansing methods shared below include the option of chanting the runes. If you choose to chant the runes, allow yourself to really drop into the sensations. Welcome the energy of the runes through your voice and observe any sensations that come with this. If you are nonspeaking, deaf, or hard of hearing, repeating the rune in your mind and holding focus on it works well in place of chanting. You can also trace the rune to build energy.
Laguz
Laguz represents water, flow, and our emotions. Water is strongly associated with spiritual cleansing, just like it is associated with physical cleaning. Laguz can be used to support our emotional healing and is great for cleansing following heavy emotional energy. Laguz is associated with intuition and psychic experiences, which makes it a natural fit for cleansing divination tools and spiritual spaces.
Cleansing your tarot or oracle deck with Laguz:
Place your deck on a flat surface or hold it in your hand. Set the intention that you are cleansing your deck and welcoming fresh energy to support your intuition. Pass your hand over the deck, making the shape of laguz while chanting the rune’s name. Continue to pass your hand over the deck in the shape of laguz while chanting, building the energy naturally as you go. Imagine a stream of watery energy flowing over the deck. (The cleansing will work regardless of whether you can visualize this.) You may play water sounds like a running river or the waves of the ocean to heighten this experience. Stop whenever you’d like.
Once you finish, the deck will be cleansed and refreshed. If this is new for you, try to perceive the energy of the deck before and after cleansing. The practice of checking the energy will strengthen your ability to read energy over time.
Water cleansing your home with laguz:
Many people who have sensitivities to smoke use water cleansing in their home as an alternative. For a basic water cleansing, fill a small bowl with water (preferably that has been filtered or purified.) Next, bless the water by stating your intentions to cleanse your space and welcome soothing energy. Go through your space slowly, sprinkling a small amount of water with your fingertips as you go. As you sprinkle the water, affirm that you are refreshing the energy of the space.
You can incorporate laguz into this cleansing by chanting the rune as you sprinkle the water. If you’d like to, you can use the water to draw laguz on surfaces in your home (be careful not to damage any surfaces, make sure they are water-safe). You can anoint the doors in your home with this blessed water, drawing laguz on the door. Imagine as you draw the rune that you are welcoming emotional wellbeing and calm.
Kenaz
Kenaz can be visualized as a fiery torch guiding us through darkness. It is the fire element, creative energy, passion, strength, and hope. Like water, fire is commonly called on for cleansing. Spiritually, the element of fire can burn away old energies, making space for new growth. Because kenaz carries the energy of hope and resilience, it can be a powerful rune to call on when you are clearing energy following challenging times. Kenaz is associated with higher guidance from our spirit guides, allies, and gods. Calling on kenaz can welcome guidance and connection.
Candle spell to cleanse your space with kenaz:
This ritual can act as an energetic reset for when your spiritual practice is feeling stagnant or when you just want to feel more connected. Begin by removing any clutter. Store any items that need to be tucked away, clean off any dust or ash from your altar. Choose a white, black, or red candle of any size for this ritual, along with an appropriate fire-safe candle holder. Write a brief statement capturing your intention for the ritual. Some examples include:
-I call on kenaz to cleanse my space. Empower me to receive insight from my guides.
-I invoke the fire of kenaz to purify this space, I burn away all unwanted energy.
-I clear all stagnant energy in my space and empower my spiritual growth.
-I move forward with passion.
Carefully carve or draw the rune kenaz on the candle, focusing on your intention to purify your space and strengthen your connection to guidance. Read your statement of intention aloud. Charge the candle by holding it in your hands and chanting kenaz. Raise energy for your intention through chanting: focus on pushing the energy into the candle. Kenaz is an amplifier for magick, allow yourself to feel any sensations of energy that come through for you. Once you feel you have charged the candle, light it. Meditate with your candle while it burns. Be open to connection with your guides. You may hold the rune kenaz in your hand while you meditate or you can continue chanting. Snuff your candle out if you need to leave your ritual space.
By the end of your session, your space will be cleansed and your intention to connect with your guides will be communicated. If you are using a larger candle, you can repeat this ritual using the same candle whenever you want to reset.
Always practice fire safety. Never leave a burning candle unattended, never overdress a candle, and always keep the wick trimmed. Keep an extinguisher nearby. This list is non-exhaustive. You are responsible for your own fire safety.
Dagaz
Dagaz represents the power of daybreak: enlightenment, overcoming obstacles, breakthroughs, connection, and vibrant, luminous energy. Daybreak is the beginning of a new day, which brings us fresh energy. Sunlight is often used for cleansing. Some people open their windows and let sunlight bathe their homes. Some people use sun water for cleansing or cleanse their spiritual tools in the sun. Dagaz is associated with ascension and spiritual enlightenment, and as a source of illumination, can dispel unwanted energies.
Morning meditation with dagaz:
Sacrifice and dedication are major themes for the Norse. Getting up early for this exercise is a small gesture of dedication in your journey with the runes. The effort you put into your spiritual practice is seen by the spiritual realms.
Since dagaz represents the brilliance of daybreak, this is a cleansing exercise at dawn. Set an alarm to wake up before the dawn. If you have a set of runes, draw dagaz out of the set and bring it with you. Select a place where you will be comfortable and uninterrupted. That may be a space outside where you can experience dawn fully, or it may be a quiet room with the curtains pulled open. Ground and center yourself while holding the rune. This could be an energetically intense experience for some people, so grounding is a requirement.
Set the intention that you are cleansing yourself and connecting with the energy of dagaz. Allow yourself to enjoy the brightening sky as the dawn begins to approach. Observe any small changes you can perceive, like the sounds of birds or the feeling on your skin.
As the dawn approaches, begin chanting dagaz and welcoming the energy of dawn. While chanting, focus first on the crown of your head, inviting warmth and cleansing light in through the top of your head. Slowly move down your body, drawing the cleansing energy downwards as you chant. You can hold the rune over where you are cleansing if that feels right for you. Welcome whatever sensations of light or warmth come through for you, so long as you find the experience pleasant (stop at any point if you don’t wish to continue.) Some people visualize dagaz spinning away the old energy in purification. Continue this practice of chanting and welcoming energy through your body until you feel you’ve completed the cleansing.
You may choose to complete a body scan to close out the meditation. To do a body scan, perceive the sensations and feelings in each part of your body starting from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. Doing a body scan is an excellent way to ground, it is a supportive way to close out this ritual as you return to your normal resting state.
Once you’ve finished cleansing, you can thank dagaz and the sun and continue about your day. You may choose to journal the sensations and thoughts that came through for you during this practice. Since dagaz is associated with enlightenment and spiritual connection, you may have had messages come through during this experience. Any wisdom that came through is valuable to record.
This post is an introduction to using runes for cleansing. It reflects my personal opinions and perspectives. If you have a connection with a different rune that you feel would work well for cleansing, give it a try! Your connection with the runes is personal, and your intuition can be a guiding light for you as your connection develops.
I offer rune readings and one-on-one rune mentorships. It is my honor and joy to support others through readings and as they develop in their own personal connections with the runes. If you’re interested in hearing more services or if you have any questions about this blog, please reach out.
Sources
*Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org. The links below are affiliate links. I receive a portion of the purchase of any book through the link. It comes at no additional cost to you. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores.
Brekke, W. (2023). The complete guide to runes: An essential reference for runelore, meanings, divination, and magic. Sourcebooks, Inc. Available from Bookshop here: https://bookshop.org/a/121930/9798886508239
Mountfort, P. R. (2003). Nordic runes: Understanding, casting, and interpreting the ancient Viking oracle. Destiny Books. Available from Bookshop here: https://bookshop.org/a/121930/9780892810932
Simonds, J. (2020). The beginner’s guide to runes: Divination and magic with the Elder Futhark runes. Callisto. Available from Bookshop here: https://bookshop.org/a/121930/9781647399160