ABSTRACT
Ritual probably predates all linguistic activity, and it simultaneously serves multiple functions. In northern Europe, magic inscriptions using runes were so resonant that they survived cultural transmission for over thirteen centuries. Magical alphabets are known to all cultures that use writing, and the Germanic tribes of Northern Europe are no exception. In order to assess the psychological resonance of rune magic, as well as to understand any biological and cultural components to this particular kind of ritual magic, people must understand the long history of the use of these symbols. From the psychodynamic side, all of these techniques likely put the recipient into a more participatory cognitive frame, allowing him/her to projectively identify with the object. The various encryption and verse forms used in charms and runes set them apart as ritual utterances.
