Are Runes and Ogham Magic?

People often ask in the comments of my videos if I can help them with runic tattoos. "What rune can I get that means loyal and honest?" they ask. Or "What rune brings good luck in studying at school?". And this video will hopefully explain why I can't help, because that's not always how runes worked.
The writing systems of our ancestors often seem mystical, magical and wreathed with misty secrets from a long time ago, as though simply writing one of their ancient letters down might cure sickness or bring wealth or power. I wish it were as simple as that! I'd be rolling in dough!
Alphabets are usually just alphabets unless you write things down in very specific ways. Whether they're Phoenician, Old Norse, Proto-Germanic, Thai, Old English, Ogham, Latin, Welsh, or Hebrew. Unless you actually have the lore to go along with the letters you write, anything you scratch or draw is just graffiti. And I'm not sure lore made up by a weird poet in the 1920s counts as real Ogham lore, just like I'm not sure lore made up by German nationalists in the 19th century counts as real Norse lore!

But hey! At least it's sunny!

Go and check out ‪@TheEsotericaChannel‬ for some proper scholarly treatments of ancient magic. Then go and check out ‪@JacksonCrawford‬ for some proper scholarly treatment of runes and Old Norse language and culture.

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