A real 'rock' star: Feeling the future in his hands
Brian ManzulloDonny Winter rolled two-dozen clear quartz stones between his hands.
He focused on them, giving them his energy.
Carefully, he passed them to Brooke Blanchard, a Charlevoix senior, who repeated the ritual at his request. Blanchard tossed the stones onto a dark blanket draped over the table, and Winter went to work.
Winter, a West Branch sophomore, reads runes, or small rocks with ancient letters carved into them. Each letter is like a hieroglyphic, with some meaning designated for each symbol.
"They're very similar (to tarot cards)," Winter said. "Except, reading runes focuses on a more distinct timeline into the future."
According to Winter, runes are more vague on the specific questions tarot cards are known for answering, but they work together to contribute to the end result: a more accurate look into the future.
Blanchard's toss scattered the runes in an unusual way, Winter said. Like a stair-step pattern, they crossed and ascended the length of the table.
The placement showed a progression that Winter believes indicates Blanchard's path up to, and beyond, her graduation this May.
"I think it was incredibly accurate," Blanchard said. "I really enjoyed how all the pieces fit together, and how it's all on a timeline."
Winter began reading runes after overcoming his skepticism and joining the Registered Student Organization Open Grove Society.
"I actually had no affiliation with any form of divination way back when," he said. "I never really was interested in such things. I didn't think they were real or anything."
After spending time with members of Open Grove and learning about different forms of fortune telling, Winter saw a gap in the group he could fill.
"Actually, there were no rune readers at the time," he said. "I thought, 'I would like to do something that makes me unique in the group.' As soon as I started, it struck me and I really enjoyed doing it."
As he has learned more about reading runes, Winter said he has come across a lot of misunderstanding about what he does.
"A lot of people have a generally negative connotation about rune reading," he said. "I don't think it's evil or anything. It's just a way of making people feel more confident about the future and themselves. It's not affiliated with any religion - it was just created to benefit people."
Benefiting others is what Winter said he enjoys most. In particular, offering hope to people who may feel lost.
"There is always a possibility that things will change for the better," he said.
studentlife@cm-life.com
