1. Are your products hand-carved?
Yes and no. I do use motorized tools, but each item is carved individually - they are not mass-produced by machine. The runes and talismans are carved using a Dremel tool, which is a hand-held electric rotary carving tool. The pieces are cut with a bandsaw, and they are sanded using a disk sander. Some people believe that runes should be made using only hand tools, but I'm afraid that would put the cost of my runes completely out of reach for most people. When I do rune magic for myself, I have a special carving tool that I use to cut the runes. However, my personal rune set was made just like all the rest that I sell, using motorized tools, and they work just fine.

2. Are your runes and talismans stained?
No. I prefer using a simple Danish wood oil finish to let the natural colour of the wood come through. I do have red ochre powder available for those who wish to stain their runes in the traditional manner.

3. I heard that runes should be stained with your own blood - do I really need to do that?
There are several references to blood being used in rune magic in the old sagas. However, you shouldn't do anything you feel uncomfortable with. Red ochre is a perfectly acceptable substitute for blood, and if you wish, you can add a few drops of your blood to the stain. Just remember to take great care, using a sterile needle and disinfectant.

4. How long are the cords for the talisman pendants?
The cords for styles A and C (the bindrune and the vertical runescript) are 24 inches long, with a clasp in the back. The style B pendants slip on over the head, so the cords are a bit longer - about 26 inches, or 28 1/2" including the talisman itself (they fit over my husband's head, and he has the biggest head of anyone I know).

5. Can you make me a custom talisman to, say, help me get a job?
That depends. If you provide me with the specific runes you want, or have a name or word you want translated into runes, I can carve them into a pendant for an extra $3.00. However, I will not construct a rune script, bindrune or runic spell for you, or advise you on which runes your should use. The runic combinations I have on my talismans are for general purposes, and will (at the very least) do no harm, but I will not accept the responsibility that comes with doing rune magic for a specific purpose for someone I don't know. If you want to do rune magic, you should put in the effort to read and learn about the runes so you can do it yourself.

6. Can you do a rune reading for me?
No. In addition to the reasons stated above, I'm frankly not a very good reader, or at least not a very consistant one. I only do readings for myself and sometimes for friends, and even then not very often. There are plenty of very good, professional readers out there who can do a rune reading for you.

7. I want to tattoo runes on my arm - which runes should I use?
That's entirely up to you. A tattoo is a very personal thing, and I would not want the responsibility of deciding something that a perfect stranger will be making a permanent part of their flesh (see Question 5, above). If you read through my Runic Journey site, this should give you enough information to decide on your own which runes you want to use.

8. What should I do with my new rune set to 'attune' it to me?
That depends entirely on your own preferences and spiritual tradition. Some people construct elaborate rituals for this purpose, while others just put them to work right away. I've found that just handling and using the runes frequently helps 'tune them in' to the energies of the person using them. If you are concerned about other people having handled your runes, one way to clear them of residual energies is to bury them in the ground or in salt for a few days.

9. Someone told me that you should never buy your own runes - that someone else has to buy them for you. Is that true?
I've heard the same story about Tarot cards. I've also heard that you must buy your own set and never accept one as a gift. I've also heard that you should never let anyone else touch your runes, and (conversely) that you must let the person being read touch your runes. I have no idea where these 'rules' come from, but as far as I can tell, there's nothing to it. Do whatever feels right and makes sense to you.

10. Can I have a rune set made in a different kind of wood?
Generally, no. I used to be able to get small, 'sample' sized pieces of 1/4" thick wood, but I can't any more. This means that getting a special wood for you would involve making a special trip to my supplier (1 1/2 hrs round trip), buying a piece large enough to have milled and thicknessed, and paying the minimum milling charge. On very rare occasions they will have smaller pieces of the size and thickness I need, but it's pretty hit and miss and likely wouldn't been the wood you wanted anyway. Sorry.

11. Hey! Where's the blank rune?
There isn't one. The blank rune (or 'Odin's Rune', or 'Wyrd') was invented by Ralph Blum, author of 'The Book of Runes'. Blum explains in the introduction to his book that he started out using a rune set someone gave him, not knowing the first thing about them, and sort of made things up as he went along from there. The blank rune was one of those things, and there is absolutely no evidence that it was ever used historically. Because of this, I don't supply a blank rune with my rune sets. However, a lot of people like to use a blank and get successful readings with it, so if you really want one I will send you one at no charge. I just want people to understand where it comes from before they decide whether or not they want to use it.

12. I've lost or broken one of my runes - can I have it replaced?
Yes. Just send me your name, address, the rune(s) to be replaced, and the type of wood your set is in, and I'll send you a replacement free of charge.

13. Wouldn't it be better if I made my own runes?
In general, yes. However, many people don't have the tools or the skills needed to do a satisfactory job, and you wouldn't want to use a set of runes that you didn't like. Also, I've found that it helps to be intimately familiar with the runes before starting a project like that, and the best way to become familiar with them is to use them. Most people seem to start with a store-bought set of runes, and then go on to make their own once they have some experience using them.

14. I've played hnefatafl before, and the rules and the board were different. What gives?
Unfortunately, there was no medieval equivalent of Hoyle or Parker Brothers, so the rules for games and even board layouts tended to vary considerably. In the case of hnefatafl, I've seen boards anywhere from 7-by-7 to 17-by-17 squares in size. Also, in most cases no one thought to actually write down the rules, so most of what has come down to us is reconstructed from scattered references and more modern versions of the games. The rules I have for my games are based on what seem to be the most commonly accepted ones, but feel free to use your own variations.

15. What do the runes on the wands say?
There are two sets of runes carved into the wands. The first is the complete runic futhark (alphabet) in its traditional order. The second is the word 'Yggdrasil', which is the name of the World Tree from Norse mythology. The idea is that the wand represents the Tree itself, with the energies of the runes flowing along it.

16. I can't decide which of your two books I should buy. What's the difference between them?
The "Raido" book (the larger one) is fairly in-depth, with lots of information about the history of the runes, their meanings in a mythological and psychological context, various methods for doing rune readings and magic, etc. The smaller book, "Runic Journeys", was written specifically for people who want to learn how to read the runes or just to understand their meanings better. It's more of a practical learning aid and daily workbook, with brief descriptions, keywords, meditation images, and space for notes for each of the runes, plus exercises you can use to 'internalize' their meanings. So, if you want to learn all about the runes, get "Raido". If you just bought a set of runes and want to learn how to read them, get "Runic Journeys". Or buy them both (they're cheap!).

17. Does this stuff really work?
Runes are tools. In the hands of a skilled or motivated person, they can work very well. However, I can't guarentee that you will get the results you want, any more than the manufacturer of a crescent wrench can guarentee that you will be able to fix your car. It's up to you.

Tara Hill Designs
P.O. Box 23074, Milton, ON L9T 5B4
Ph: (905) 878-5473
E-mail:
Created: Friday, December 29, 1995
Last Updated: Wednesday, September 14, 2005