Indian rune set in a pouch — Black agate

Twenty-five stones engraved with the elder futhark, presented in their fabric pouch; the characters are carved and then picked out.

A deep matte black, sometimes crossed by a paler gray band, polished to a greasy luster.

What tradition says. A protective stone in most Mediterranean traditions, it is credited with steadying and bringing you back to calm.

Use & care. Drawn blind, hand in the pouch, one to three depending on the question asked. Keep them in the pouch: the stones scratch each other if left loose.

• Agate is a banded chalcedony: its bands mark the successive deposits of silica in a volcanic cavity.
• A natural piece: shade, veining and dimensions vary from one example to the next

A decorative object for personal practice. It is no substitute for medical advice or treatment.