There are 33 Runes which are taken from the Anglo-Saxon Runes, but which may have some minor differences in form and sound.
The 33 Runes fit into the same pattern as the 33 vertebrae that make up the human Spinal Column. Here we need to recognise that the World Tree and Cosmic Axis is the 'macrocosm' whose 'microcosm' is the human Spinal Column.
- There are 24 moveable vertebrae, broken into 7 - 12 - 5.
- There are 5 fused vertebrae in the Sacred Bone (Sacrum).
- There are 4 fused vertebrae in the coccyx.
The 24 vertebrae link to the Elder Futhark, the 5 fused bones of the coccyx to Ac-Aesc-Yr-Ior-Ear, and the 4 fused vertebrae to Cweorth, Calc, Stan, Gar. The last four are the Four Hallows, contained the Three Grail Runes.
The whole of the Spinal Column links to the trunk of Yggdrasil and to Mount Me-Ru (Me = to measure, Ru = Runes). This can also be seen as 'Mount Su-Me-Ru' where Su = Origins, Me = to measure, and Ru = Runes. The runes start at Feoh at the top and end at the base of the spine.
The 'squirrel' Ratatosk runs up and down the World Tree, symbolic at the microcosmic level to the 'messages' sent up and down the spine, linking the Head Centre (Brain) to the Base Centre (Gut).
At the top of the World Tree is an Eagle, at the base is a Serpent: the aim is to transform the Serpent (Earth-Being) into the Eagle (Divine Being). This imagery can also be found on the Sutton Hoo Mask. This is the process by which Woden transforms himself and gains the Mead of Inspiration - he becomes the 'God-Man'.
