About Rune Root
Rune Root is a small multi-medium home studio & ritual practice located in Richmond, VA. It is a space where the tangible world of craft meets the intangible realm of intention, where the ancient wisdom of symbols intertwines with the modern journey of self-discovery, and where the rhythms of nature are honored in every creation and every conversation. It is the physical manifestation of a deep yearning for connection – connection to the earth, connection to timeless stories, and connection to the authentic self that resides within each of us.
Mac, Weaver of Rune Root
I am Mac, the founder and the sole weaver of this practice. My journey here has been one of seeking – seeking meaning in a world that often feels disconnected, seeking authenticity amidst societal noise, seeking a way to live and create that honors the deeper rhythms of life. I don't adhere to traditional spiritual or religious beliefs; I am an atheist, grounded in the observable world, fascinated by science, and deeply reverent of the undeniable power of nature and the human psyche. Yet, I have found profound wisdom and guidance in the timeless language of story, symbolism, and ritual.
For me, to be a weaver of ritual and cyclical embrace is to consciously choose a way of being in the world. It is to recognize that ritual is not about dogma, but about intention – about imbuing everyday actions with presence and purpose, creating moments of focus that anchor us and guide us. It is about finding the sacred not in external deities, but in the inherent beauty and intelligence of the natural world and the intricate workings of our own bodies and minds. It is about acknowledging that life, like nature, like our own physiology, is cyclical. It moves in phases – seasons of high energy and outward expression, times of quiet introspection and rest, moments of shedding and renewal. To embrace this cyclical nature is to cease fighting the natural flow and learn to dance with it, finding strength and wisdom in every turn of the wheel.
The Home Studio
This studio is nestled within the quiet embrace of my home in Richmond, VA. It is not a factory, not a sterile workshop, but a living, breathing space infused with the energy of daily life and the focused intention of creative practice. Here, the scent of simmering natural dyes mingles with the subtle fragrance of candles curing. Here, the rhythmic click of needles or the hum of a sewing machine accompanies the quiet contemplation of symbolism. It is a place where the veil between the mundane and the meaningful feels thin, where the simple act of making becomes a form of embodied meditation, a way to ground intention into tangible form. Being a home studio means every piece, every offering, is infused with a personal touch, born from a space that holds my own life, my own practice, my own connection to the cyclical nature of existence. It allows for a level of intimacy and intention that feels essential to the heart of Rune Root.
Pathways to Connection
Ritual Candles
These are not simply scented candles; they are tangible anchors for intention, infused with the potent energy of symbols from nature and mythology. They are tools for creating sacred space, for focusing your will, and for connecting with powerful metaphors for aspects of the human experience.
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Earth-Dyed Wear
A direct conversation with the earth. Using plant-based dyes, often foraged with respect, I transform vintage and secondhand garments, giving them new life and imbuing them with the colors and stories of nature. Each piece is unique, bearing the beautiful imperfections inherent in nature's own artistry.
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Menstrual Health Coaching
This practice is deeply rooted in the understanding of cyclical living and the power of body literacy. I work with women to help them reconnect with their bodies, understand the subtle language of their menstrual cycles, and reclaim their inherent feminine power.
Learn MoreAbout The Runes
At the heart of Rune Root, particularly within our ritual candle offerings, lies the ancient language of the runes. These aren't just markings carved into stone or wood; they are a system of potent symbols, each vibrating with layers of meaning, each a doorway into understanding the world and ourselves in deeper ways.
The passage from the Hávamál, an Old Norse poem presented as the words of Odin, offers a vivid glimpse into this arduous quest:
I know that I hung on a windswept treenine long nights,wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin,myself to myself,on that tree of which no man knowsfrom where its roots runWith no bread did they refresh me nor a drink from a horn,downwards I peered;I took up the runes, screaming I took them,then I fell back from there.
This isn't a call to worship Odin; it's an invitation to contemplate the profound truths embedded in this story. The power is not in worshipping the source of the story, but in the story's ability to illuminate the power within you.