Runes, which have been invented by Germans during the first or second century, were used when the dialects have not yet been separated into North Germanic, East Germanic, and West Germanic. After the discovery of the first runic inscriptions, theories on the use of runes for divination or charms were formed. The runic divination is where certain ideograms found in the runic alphabet, Elder Futhark, are used for making interpretations. This Futhark system has already been adapted to tarot decks. Ralph Blum came up with his Oracle Deck, which has 25 runes tarot cards. He incorporated in each card the corresponding runic symbol.
The rune tarot cards contain 24 cards of the Major Arcana, which are linked to the Celtic mythology's runes. Unlike the standard tarot deck's four suits which represent the Earth's four elements, the rune tarot's suits symbolize the changing seasons in a Celtic calendar: Beltane, Lughnasadh, Samhain, and Imbolc. The Celtic lore considers these four seasons as significant elements in the systems of predictions and divination. The movement of the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon are believed to have power over past and future events.
Twenty-four glyphs from the runic zodiac wheel, together with traditional Norse beliefs, are represented in the Major Arcana cards of a rune tarot deck. Every rune tarot card corresponds to a runic symbol and meaning. The Hermit card stands for the runic symbol, Algiz, which means protection. The Magician card symbolizes the Ansuz symbol, which means signals. The Chariot card stands for the symbol, Ehwaz, meaning movement. The runic symbol, Wunjo, which means joy, is represented by The World card. The Sun card, represents the Sowelu symbol, which means wholeness. The Devil card stands for the Nauthiz symbol, which means constraint.
Each rune tarot pack contains a 184-page guidebook and 76 cards. The rune tarot card's creators, John Astrop and Caroline Smith, also came up with the Elemental Tarot. Other rune tarot decks are the Haindi Rune Oracle, the Power of Runes, the Golden Rune, and the Witches Rune.
