Powder pink and polished to a shine, these flat rose quartz stones come in a pouch, each with a gold-coloured rune on its face. They are milky and slightly translucent in places, and roughly rectangular with rounded edges. The stones come from India.
Gold on powder pink
On pale pink, the gold signs stand out softly but clearly. The shades vary only a little, so laid out side by side the stones look calm and even. On a darker cloth both the pale stones and the signs show up better.
The word rune once meant secret
Old Germanic languages used the word rune for a secret or a mystery. When Bishop Wulfila translated the Bible into Gothic in the 4th century, he used runa as the word for a secret or mystery. Gothic is the first Germanic language from which a longer written text survives.
A stone of love in tradition
Known in crystal tradition as the stone of love, rose quartz makes this set a kind present for a friend or partner who is curious about runes, whether for Valentine's Day or an anniversary. It is said that a stone drawn blindly from the pouch offers guidance on a question you are turning over.
Hold your question in mind while you take one stone from the pouch. You can look up the meaning of its sign in a book on runes.
Keep the stones in their pouch so they do not scratch each other. Rose quartz can fade over time in strong, direct sun, so the pouch is a better home than the windowsill. Wipe them with a soft, dry cloth.