The Viking Runes are an oracle, a form of divination similar to the I Ching. Runes do NOT foretell the future, but provide a snapshot of the way the energies are flowing or in existence at the time of a reading. If use of the Runes is said to have an ultimate goal, it would be enlightenment and bringing one closer to the divine.
Now, all that being said, you should know pretty much what Runes are and how to use them, right? No? Then I guess we need to provide a bit more information.
The Runes are stones, pieces of wood, pieces of paper, some sort of individual pieces that marked with a glyph. These glyphs were used by ancient peoples as a form of alphabet, but also used to "mean" something. The Poetic Edda tells us that the Norse god Odin hung from the Yggdrasil (tree of life), wounded by his own blade, and before he fell he spied the Runes and captured them for mankind. The Poetic Edda also gives us some basic meanings for the glyphs.
However, unlike the I Ching, Runic interpretation did not come from a set book. The meanings of and use of Runes was transmitted orally, leaving us in modern times to sort of find our own way or rely upon another who has found their way. As mentioned, the Poetic Edda gives us a clue, but is somewhat vague.
There are many writers who have put forth Runic interpretations. Most Runecraft uses the elder Futhark - 24 glyphs which were traditionally divided into 3 sets of eight (or Aett as it was referred to). The first Aett was known as Freya's Aett, the second was Heimdall's Aett, and the third was Tyr's Aett. The name Futhark comes from the letter "value" of the first 6 runes - Feh, Ur, Thurs, Ass, Reid, Ken. The names of the Runes varies, too, depending on the writer. For example, Feh, Fehu, Feoh are just three such "acceptable" derivations. Some writers will add in a 25th Rune, the Blank or Wyrd Rune.
As you can see, it gets somewhat confusing. BUT, the user must decide for him or herself what interpretations will guide a reading. When first starting to utilize the Runes, it's probably best to pick one book that makes sense to you and stick with that. Once you become more familiar with the Runes, you can add other writer's interpretations. These interpretations are just that and should be guided by what the Runecaster feels and intuitively understands about the Runes.
Actually using the Runes varies, too. Some will draw a single (or Odin) Rune from a bag. Spreads vary from 3 Runes to several (12 or more) with each position representing something different, such as past influences, the nature of the issue at this time, the challenge called for, likely outcome, etc. Some people will say draw the Rune for a place in a spread, replace that Rune in the bag and repeat for each position on the spread, thereby allowing each Rune to speak to each position. Alternately, the Runes are kept out as they are drawn, limiting the available options as one proceeds through the spread. Casting involves mixing up the Runes in your hands, the bag, a cup, whatever, and allowing them to fall - usually onto a cloth. The cloth may be delineated in certain ways so that Runes that fall into different areas are read differently. Some read only face up Runes, others read all Runes with the face down (or occluded) Runes meaning something slightly different than the "original" meaning. Sometimes the patterns of the Runes themselves when they fall are read. Several of the Runes have both an upright and a reversed designation. Most writers apply different meanings based on the same general idea to upright or reversed placement.
Most writers emphasize the importance of the "issue" one is consulting the Runes on. It should not really be a question, but more a statement of what's happening and a request for guidance. For instance, instead of asking "How will a new job work out?", as an issue it could be expressed as: "the issue is a new job. I'm scared and unsure about which path to take. Please provide me guidance on this issue." The Runic meanings point to those aspects of the situation that are of the most importance at the time. Many proclaim that the Runes can "override" your issue and speak to a different issue.
How do Runes work? We cannot really know this, but there are several theories. Some link Runecraft with Carl Jung's ideas on synchronicity - that what seems to be random chance is actually "intended". If there exists this place or plane within which all the answers and truth are known, Jung's synchronicity idea would say that the specific Rune being drawn is because the Rune itself is linked to that place or plane.
Others purport that the Rune(s) that are chosen are influenced by either the divine, the Universe, the Cosmos, or some astral being as being the right one for the issue at hand.
Along shamanistic ideology, some contend the Runes themselves have been imbued with a "spirit", and energy. Like attracts like, so while you don't know the secret energies, your chi, psyche, ki, spirit (or whatever else you may call it) is transmitting this energy which "pulls" the proper Rune into your hand.
Still others view the Runes as being so vague that the true meaning comes from within as we reflect on key words. In other words, we're really finding the answers ourselves within ourselves.
We do not need to completely understand the how and why of it to be able to derive meaning and consequence from using the Runes, though. Does it really matter how or why something works providing it does?
As noted there are many variables to Runecraft. I would be wary of anyone who proclaims a right way or a wrong way to using the Runes. Such limitations sort of defeat the base purpose of the Runes. I encourage someone who wants to explore Runecraft to be very open-minded and not limit themselves to one writer or another. Become familiar with various methods and meanings and stick with what feels right to you. This will be especially easier if one meditates and/or communes with spirits.
Hradi Og Ro (peace and tranquility) and may you enjoy your explorations in Runecraft.