RP Minis’ Runes: Unlock the Secrets of the Stones is a cool little introductory kit into the world of casting runes. It includes a set of runes, a pouch for said runes, a burlap cloth to cast on, and a booklet all tucked into a nice little box for storage. Neither the booklet nor the runes are going to be the last set you want to purchase if you like casting runes, but it’s an extremely convenient way to explore rune casting without breaking the bank.
Let’s dive into the materials, then move on to more about the kit. I was extremely impressed by the overall composition of this kit. I like it almost as much as my Everyday Tarot kit. The RP Minis kits seem to be really good overall.
Materials
This kit is really well put together. It includes everything you need to get started without it being painful. The box you get isn’t like some where you’ll want to just throw it away after unboxing. It’s thick and sturdy, and made to easy store the set without it being painful. It’s also small enough to put away in a drawer or backpack easily.
The runes come in a bluish felt bag. It also includes a thick, beige burlap cloth to cast the runes on. The colors go together and each item is well crafted. The bag feels like the kind given with something like silver jewelry and the burlap is high enough thread count and cut well enough to not really have runs out of the box (it’s not hemmed though).
There are some minor caveats with the runes themselves however. The runes are basically flat glass marbles with a blue opal hue to them. Each rune is painted in gold paint on the surface of the glass. I can imagine this will come off over time, but the paint is extremely thick and the set looks nicer than some of the ones in a similar price point (for the stones themselves). All in all, for the price, this kit is amazing.
The Booklet
The thing that really makes this kit shine and ties everything together is the booklet. I have never really used runes before so more complicated works didn’t make all that much sense. They were overwhelming without taking the plunge. I just had been on the fence about doing so.
This booklet is short, small, and packs a lot of information without it being too overwhelming. I’d recommend reading something else after reading this booklet, but this booklet will get you a good way there. Unlike a lot of tarot kits or decks, the booklet is enough to really get you started.
It includes a very brief history, the theory and philosophy behind the runes, the rune meanings, and finally, a few casts (equivalent of tarot spreads). The history includes enough for context but obviously doesn’t go very in depth. The theory and philosophy spans a couple pages, but sets the stage for using the runes. The two casts are simple and efficient, but you’re going to want more if you like it. You’re no expert from it, but you can dabble for quite a while.
While I usually rip on most tarot packs for the booklet being this short, this booklet manages to pull it off. There’s just enough more content to make the booklet feel self-contained instead of just a piece of what the author may have wanted to say. There are only 24 runes which means fewer pages are spent on just the meaning of each item. The result is impressive for a booklet weighing in just over 40 pages.
The Kit
While each piece of the kit is nothing to write home about on its own, the pieces all go together and the price point makes them awesome. The box is good enough to contain everything and keep it safe without looking cheap. The booklet it includes is more than enough to get started. For the items themselves, the kit is well thought out.
You get a way to keep your runes, a way to cast, and a way to keep everything all together. Aesthetically, everything goes together as well.
While you could arguably make your own kit for cheaper, you would still need a book and a box which would be harder to source for cheap. The kit won’t be the last rune related thing you want once you get going, but it allows you to explore as you want without having to be out a lot. It also saves time with a package where everything fits together already. This kit also makes a great gift.
Caveats
The runes are small and made of glass. They are painted on the surface instead of etched in and painted like a lot of nicer sets. All of that being said, I haven’t noticed any issues, but I can’t see them having too much longevity. I expect them to last somewhere around 6 to 12 months at most looking this nice before the paint starts to wear away.
If you like divination or rune casting, you’re almost certainly going to want to upgrade both the book and the runes themselves at some point. If you know for sure you want to cast runes, start with a nicer set and a better book (unless you don’t know what you should be looking for). Should you be a bit more unsure, or just want something to try out, this kit is perfect. I’ll probably upgrade from this kit at some point, but I can just throw it in my bag for trips or similar.
Should You Get It?
If you have any interest in rune casting but don’t want to commit too much, this is the purchase for you. The kit is well made and each item is good quality. I didn’t have any notable defects with anything and everything matches well. It’s as pretty as it useful too.
The booklet packs more than most tarot booklets. You may want to upgrade, but you can definitely hold off for a while and search for what you really want to do with runes, if anything. You get more than enough to really try out rune casting without the materials being cheap feeling. I plan to research more on the subject before my next purchase.
Get it here and try it out!