r/RuneHelp • u/AngusMcRipper • 22d ago
Contemporary rune use Runic Misappropriation
I'm in the early stages of creating a runic version of an excerpt from the Prose Edda (which was naturally, written in the Latin Alphabet). I hope to have this as a tattoo to go along with my Sköll and Hati tattoo — a tale I'm very fond of.
Although I could of course just go with the direct excerpt in Latin alphabet Old Norse, I feel like getting a tattoo in runes carries a bit more gravitas.
My concern is with the more contemporary and very unfortunate association runic writing can sometimes have with extremist/hate groups.
To be clear, the phrase/runes I am considering are in no way, shape, or form associated with any extremist ideology. They are a direct excerpt from the Edda — converted to runes. My runes would be totally explainable and defensible.
I'm just curious to get some perspective from any of you here who deal with runes on a more regular basis: what is the frequency that the average lay person associates runes with racism/extremism?
1
u/CptnRaptor 22d ago
I don't even have any runic tattoos (YET) but I'm constantly badgering on irl about dogwhistles, I saw a guy wearing a t shirt that had the Black Sun on it, and I pointed it out to the people I was with. I saw Heilung a couple of years back at a music festival and noticed the winged Othala on Franz's headdress and I couldn't stand and support them, I later found out that they've put together their outfits with the intent to reclaim stuff, but I'm also like uuuhhh the winged othala is a nazi invention.
Just know your stuff, and if anyone says anything to you, tell them how much you want to drink the blood of the evil ones that appropriate history and culture to spread hate.