I loosely follow a Norse runic path and have used my runes now for a long time and, as I would have thought would be the case with most practitioners, I have a personal ritual surrounding casting based on what I have read/felt over the time that I have been doing it.
I have never really talked to anyone about it and what I was wanting to ask, if it is not too personal a question, is this.....

Prior to casting who do you pay tribute to/ask guidance from?
I'm not asking to hear your wordings as such (but if you wanna share don't let me stop you ) just a little info.

I've always paid tribute to Odin, asking for his guidance as discoverer of the runes, but nothing more specific than that.
My casts have always been pretty accurate and have felt right, so I don't reckon I'm doing owt wrong just wondering what others do really?

By all means tell me to keep my nose out?!?!?

I have a husband for my rune casting needs, but he doesn't do anything like that. He's of the opinion that Odin, and the rest of Asgard, expect him to get on with things without bothering them unless he really needs them.

He's pretty accurate too

Thanks for the reply Esk.

When I began I had the same approach to your husband, but changed about 10 years ago because it felt right to do so.
Having had quite a break from them I've come back to my runes in the last 12 months or so andI've had this feeling that things might not be 100% as they should, not bad just a little 'off path' and the only thing I've ever changed is my pre-cast approach.
Something to ponder, me thinks.

And of course there is nothing in the lore that actually states that the runes were used for divination.

Els - who uses the runes for divination regardless

There is very little that I'm sure of with runes, apart from the fact that they work!?!

When I got my runes, I had no idea about lore or their origins (or owt about them really) and it was a long time before I learnt anything 'formal' about it (not sure that formal is the right word, but )
I've always gone with what feels good. 'bout 10 years ago I got deeply into trying to be very 'correct' about doing things but now I'm going with the premise of if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I ask advice from the Runes themselves.
They've come to me in the past to help, advice, warn, give info and they've always been totally accurate in everything they've said. Don't know anyone else who goes to them in this way. They've also given me advice on how dest to do readings.

I hold them to my heart for various reasons. Including to allign my intengrity beyond my thoughts and fears that may influence my mind, influencing my reading.

I don't really use them for divination so don't have any ritual surrounding that. For other purposes it tends o be more focus and visualisation of the nature of the Rune itself rather than calling on any deities.

Thank you to all who have commented on this thread, you response have been enlightening - which I knew they would be.

Thanks for sharing.