In this episode of Dark Overtones, Kurt seeks to explore the symbols that inspired this very podcast -- the runes and symbols embedded in Ari Aster's horror masterpiece, Midsommar. Throughout the film, Aster places runes of Elder Futhark at key points, from the barracks where the main characters sleep to the cliff from which the Harga elders leap to their deaths. It seems that these symbols may have deeper meaning in the plot of the movie and its characters. In this episode, Kurt speaks with expert rune reader Wayne Brekke, as well as one of his best friends (and tarot expert) Becca Fanali to explore that possibility. This episode also includes a special event -- an actual rune reading for one of my guests, to expand the meaning of the runes from our interpretation of Midsommar to my guest's life and history. The runes cast for this reading can be seen at this link. You can see all the Elder Futhark runes discussed in this episode here. Wayne Brekke is a Renaissance man in every sense of the word. A man of many talents, Wayne is an expert rune reader (mentored by Kaedrich Olsen), with a concerted knowledge on Elder Futhark and the interpretations of the runes within it. Wayne's rune work (and other work) can be found all over the place, including his podcast Rune Ways (available on Spotify, Apple, and anywhere you get podcasts) and his YouTube channel of the same name. Wayne is also an unapologetic decades-long RPG fan, evidenced by his fantastic website, Dungeon Crate. Rebecca Fanali is a licensed acupuncturist, expert in herbal medicine, and practitioner of different elements of witchcraft. Becca has a long history of interest in the metaphysical, leading her to perform tarot readings and nature-centered rituals and practices. Though not a fan of labels, Becca has an encyclopedic knowledge of issues related to witchcraft, with a particular interest in human connection to nature. Apologies for the few audio changes throughout the episode; they're due to changing devices. Don't worry, you don't lose any of that sweet forbidden knowledge related to Midsommar. All audio clips were taken from Midsommar itself, property of Square Peg Films, B-Reel Films, and A24 Films, all rights reserved.