Find out more about OverDrive accounts. Edred Thorsson. Red Wheel Weiser. Runes are the ancient Norse alphabet used for communication, divination, and magical work. In Futhark, American runologist Edred Thorsson introduces readers to the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark, their definitions, and mystic properties. Rune magic reminds me a lot of computer programming and music theory. Edred's book was fun an interesting to read, as his language is both informative yet warm and friendly meaning that many spiritual or magic books I've read in the past are either too woo woo and impractical sounding or intensely pretentious and dogmatic.
His style is matter of fact, yet encouraging and makes the whole process seem joyous and fun to explore Regardless, I will need to read this several times and put into motio Rune magic reminds me a lot of computer programming and music theory. His style is matter of fact, yet encouraging and makes the whole process seem joyous and fun to explore Regardless, I will need to read this several times and put into motion his concept and techniques to make any sense of what I just read here.
The magic isn't in these words: the magic is in the final application and intentionality. Jan 07, James Arseno rated it really liked it Shelves: paganism , occultism , mythology , asatru. Very insightful, but kind of a tough read Thorsson wrote this like he intended to aim at an advanced occultist fanbase. Many of the concepts he uses to explain various aspects of the runes comes from other occult sciences, which can be hard to follow if you're not well versed in.
Good read, but not to "break the ice" in the study of the runes. Advanced rune study. Aug 16, Jordan rated it really liked it. In-depth look at the runes: their meaning, usage, ceremonies, etc. Pretty good reference for rune meaning, theory of magic, and some work he suggest doing with the runes. I feel like everyone's experience with the runes is fairly personal and there's bound to be some speculation with history, but this has good info to get you started on working your own gnosis with the runes.
Nov 04, Elisabet rated it really liked it. I found the explanations of the runes and familiarising oneself with them helpful. I will be using the book as a reference. Mar 02, Jax rated it it was amazing. Quick read. I think this is a great book for beginners that want to explore a lot of options when working with Runes. I would say this is inspired by historical event but not entirely historically accurate. Oct 04, Ellwood Francis Abigail rated it liked it Shelves: spiritual-pagan-occult.
The part where he breaks down the deep meanings of each rune is interesting, but once you get to the rituals you realize he's very much an Odinist. Jan 13, Paula rated it it was amazing. I found Futhark an excellent beginning guide into runic knowledge.
I found the book insightful, user-friendly, and will be reading Runelore soon. Mar 05, Sarah Cook rated it really liked it. Good reference book overall.
Really liked the inclusion of movement and sound for each rune as supporting elements for magical practice. Would benefit from an update to include more on modern, inclusive practice. Jul 02, Kayla rated it it was ok. I was disappointed to see that this book is less about the Futhark, history, runes and meaning and is more about the Germanic side of history.
I felt the book was very drawn out and unfortunately I ended up glossing over most of it. Somewhat esoteric and high-brow, but good to know how complex runology really is.
Must study more. May 28, Alex rated it it was amazing. Very Readable, a good grounding in the use and history of the Runes. Topical advice on using the Runes today, which is most helpful to students of our Northern Heritage, ie our Anglo-Saxon heritage. Best basic introduction. Sep 02, Alisha Ward rated it really liked it. Really fun book to gain knowledge of Rube history and knowledge.
Oct 30, Angele Lauzon rated it really liked it. Very informative and a great starting point. Dec 06, Cortney Potts rated it it was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading, re-reading, and considering the content of this book. Aug 01, Karen rated it it was amazing. A good start from which to build upon a growing knowledge of the runes and runelore. Latin script was used, usually farther than documentation for the Tarot.
Appendix 0 provides to form the initials of a person's name, as shown in Figure 1. But it is up to each interested vitki to come to his or her own conclusions on this matter. Figure 1. Ideographic German house mark.
The esoteric reading is "Between life and death may my estate increase and prosper. Wood is most certainly the favorite medium Figure 1. Runic German house mark. Monographic German house mark: Latin script forming H5 the initials of a person's name.
Metal was extremely popular for talismanic purposes. The bracteates thin metal disks inscribed with runes and various other designs represent an important tradition in magical runic practice. Bone objects also are not uncommon, and these usually are of house marks is most revealing as to the degeneration of the use of connected with magical practices as well. The runes were carved with runes into modern times, but by retracing the path the rune vitki "it her knife points or special pointed instruments dedicated to the may regain some of what otherwise would have been lost.
Heraldic art is an extremely vast topic, and it is beyond the scope One of the most interesting runic practices is that of further of this book to deal with its runic implications. Let it simply and c. The futharks represented in Figures 1.
Through this system a rune may j be represented by a twofold numerical formula. For example, : h : would be indicated by the formula , because it is the first a:1t and the second rune from the left. This is the basic principle upon which magical runic codes work. It should be noted that in the case of the Younger Futhark a curious and uniform alteration in the order of the Figure 1. The ninth-century St. Gall MS portrays several more cryptographic systems of rune writing.
Runes may be magically used in a wide variety of ways. The most common method of rune magic in days of yore was probably talismanic-that is, runes were inscribed into various objects and Figure 1. Coded runic order, altered from the "normal" order of the Younger Futhark infused with psychic power in order to effect some change in the vitki Figure 1.
A dramatic example of this is provided by the Egilssaga, chapter 44, where we read that the hero, Egill, suspects that there is poison in a drink that has been given to him, so he stabs the These cryptic runic systems were most highly developed in the palm of his hand, carves runes on the drinking horn, and colors the Younger Futhark period; however, they most certainly were known runic forms with the blood.
The horn shatters and the poison flows and used in the older period, since ancient representations of the away. Hundreds of runic talismans have survived. Today we may elder row are also clearly divided into aiiir. Two of the most study these in order to gain a deeper understanding of the magical remarkable methods of making secret runic codes are known by the techniques used to create them. The use of poetic runagaldrar runic names branch runes ON koisirunar and tent runes ON tjaldrunar , incantations also was quite common as a method.
The practice of stadhagaldr posture magic or incantation is evidenced by the drinking horns of Callehus. Tent-rune method, used here to spell the name thorvaldr. Later Icelandic customs confirm this usage: for example, the teaching of the alphabet fa young children by having them strike a posture that resembles a letter. All of these practices will be dealt with in detail in the practical portion of this book.
Another important use of the runes, which falls outside the These tjaldrunar should be read in a clockwise direction, begin- scope of the present work, is that of divination. The runic forms ning on the left. Hence, a numerical formula of , , , , ,.. The Roman historian knistrunar work in a similar way, except one may portray a single rune I. IIHi I h.. Runes are especially Guido von List received a spontaneous runic initiation in which the valuable in magical works concerning victory, success, protection, "secrets of the runes" were revealed to him while he lay in darkness, rescue from restriction, love, and the gaining of wisdom.
From that time in to his death in , List worked toward the restoration of what he called "Armanentum. List's aims often were political in nature Although many runic practices, and much rune lore, continued in a such as the unification of his native Austria and Germany , and his myriad of forms long after the coming of Christianity, the systematic theories were to some degree based on the anti-Semitic dogma of the transmission of the sacred rune lore belonging to the ancient vitkar day.
However, it is his runic theories that interest us here. List and eriloz slowly disappeared. By the nineteenth century only developed a magical runic system of eighteen runes which we will scattered pockets of "rune singers" remained in the remotest areas of call the Armanen system.
This was based solely on the textual Scandinavia. However, the runic mysteries are truly something authority of the "Rune-Song" in the Eddie lay "Havamal.
Just as the gods and men retreat into abodes in the Runes , wlfich outlined his interpretation of the eighteen runes recesses of Yggdrasill in order to survive the destructive powers portrayed in this Eddie poem, as well as his thoughts on a wide range released at Ragnarok. This was the first in a series of works patterns of consciousness, awaiting the time when they might be published between and his death in List maintained that reborn into a hospitable world that would again know their lore.
As the eighteen-rune system was the "primal" one, although there is no we read in the Eddie "Voluspa" stanza 59 concerning the renewed hard evidence other than the "Havarnal" to support his claim. Adolf Kummer and Friedrich Bernhard Mar by, who developed a system of "runic yoga" and gymnastics that is worthy of study.
The rebirth process of the runes has not been without pain and Kummer and Marby are extremely important, since it is with their blood. Until now, it seems the vessels were as yet unfit to receive the publications and experiments that the foundations of a practical and wholeness of runic power because these vessels still contained wine traditional system may be laid.
But their ideas generally followed made from foreign fruit. Leaders of the first half of the runic those of List and were not very traditional as far as the runes were renaissance still contained many of the notions and prejudices of the concerned. They retained the Armanen system and further reinforced Christian world in which they found themselves, and in most cases his racist ideas, as did another student, Rudolf John Gorsleben.
Therefore, they often ;orsleben's epochal work Die Hoch-Zei! Whereas the the Ahnenerbe [institute] for ancestral heritage was formed by Armanen system has a tradition dating only from around C. The runes formed an important part of Wirth's Documents of the Viking and pre-Viking ages give us ample clues as thinking, but we do not have many examples of practical applications to how the runes were used, but Spiesberger is forced to neglect much of his ideas.
During the Nazi regime all things "Germanic" were of this material because it is the product of a different organic mobilized and perverted toward manipulative ends. The runic forces system. We know the elder traditions worked, and worked for themselves were used much less than some might have us believe. The ideology of the ex- But to do this, the psychic keys provided by the pioneering technical Cistercian monk [org Lanz von Liebenfels, embodied in his Orden des work done by the modern magicians in the Armanen traditions is Neuer!
Tempels ONT , was most influential in this regard. One brief extremely helpful. This was done basically through the "Christian camouflage technique"; that is, just as the Christian evangelists would employ old The traditional runic systems are based on any of the three ancient futharks shown in Figures 1. The magical system and pagan symbols such as the cross to convert the heathens and then cosmology presented here are found in the Elder Futhark of twenty- gradually infuse those venerable symbols with a contrary signi- four signs.
The rebirth of this lore is founded on a synthesis of the ficance, so too did the Nazis employ old Germanic symbolism which humane sciences of comparative religion, anthropology, archeology, was very popular at that time and infuse it with non-Germanic and linguistics known collectively as linguistic paleontology and the concepts for manipulative purposes. Runes and holy signs were methods of magic. This holistic] view also incorporates the natural abundant in the symbolism employed by the Nazi party, but it is not sciences.
Thus, the methods of traditional rune lore are founded in within the scope of this work to delve into this aspect of runic what is known of a magical system that was developed in days of yore. The hoary eriloz still speak to us through their runes tones and The practical use of the runes as a system of magic other than state controlled and personal development virtually died out or was through the mind runes ON hugrunar they represent in our consciousnesses.
This magical system was, however, only part of a driven underground during the Nazi period. For the ancient Teutonic tribes magic, religion, magician Karl Spiesberger. Spies berger is a widely qualified, "eclec- and laW-including social organization-were expressions of the tic" occultist who has authored books in the Hermetic as well as the same basic divine force.
Therefore, in order for traditional magical runic tradition. His two principal works on runic topics are Runenmagie forms to be truly reborn in Midhgardhr, a vessel for this holistic Runic Magic and Runenexerziiien [iir [edermann Runic Exercises for Everyone.
In these books Spiesberger synthesizes the work of all the German With the dawn of the eighth decade of this century, a northern runic magicians and experts who preceded him, within a pansophical wind blew through the world, allowing the venerable forms of magic, framework.
Although he eliminates all the racist and vi:jlkisch religion, and law to develop again in a syncretic reality. On May 16, elements, he retains the Armarlen system of runes, which by had , the Asalruarmenn those believing in, or trusting in the AEsir become almost "traditional" in German circles! This system of eighteen runes forms a valid and working magical system, and the JThe llse of the term "holistic" deserves some comment here.
It is interesting present work in traditional runic system s owes much to Spies- III no l c- t h. I" tv,,11 twill ',. The I:l1glish words "tHlly,""h,l! Although there had been precursors to this event earlier in the decade, it represented the crystalizing nexus of the movement that has come to be known as either Asatru the faith of the AEsir or Odinism.
These organizations are primarily "religious" in orientation; all the tenets of this noble faith are too complex to enter into in this work. Besides, their general lack of dogmatism defies a quick synopsis, and any attempt at such would only do disservice to the remarkable breadth of religious expression and experience found within the perimeters of Asat ru.
However, let it be said that the efficiency of the magical system presented here can only be increased by an understanding of and adherence to the holistic principles of this faith, since this is the kind of atmosphere in which the rune lore was first practiced. This guild is dedicated to the teaching of runecraft and to a program of initiatory magical development within Asatr u and according to traditional rune lore.
Information contained in these sections may be applied directly to magical practice, and the intellectual understanding arising from this lore will serve to increase the depth of ritual experience. Further amplifications of this rune lore may be obtained from the tables of correspondences printed as Appendix D. Each section is headed by the standard runic form exemplified by the majority of runic inscriptions in the elder row along with its numerical value.
Alternate forms of the rune found in various inscriptions also are given, followed by the phonetic value of the rune.
This preliminary table concludes with an esoteric interpreta- I ion of the namets and an ideographic interpretation of the runic loim. I,, 1,. A synopsis of the interpretation is given as a group of key words that serve as convenient vessels for containing the larger body of Fehu is the raw archetypal energy of motion and expansion in the knowledge.
This formula bolized by the charging bovine herd and by wildfire. The cosmic fire is invaluable to the rune vitki as a tool in all phases of rune magic, and of Muspellsheimr is instrumental in the creation of the world, but it together with the form, it is the principal medium through which the is also the principal agent in its destruction of Ragnarok.
The fire- runic force finds expression. These formulas are very flexible and giant, Surtr. The siiidhur sg. Kummer and F. This rune rules the basic force of fertility. The leads to d fnamic evolutionary force. Fehu is the rune of eternal final division concerns the various uses of each individual rune for, becoming. Along with several other runes, this describes the holy magical or mystical purposes. More specifically, fehu is the archetypal spring. This is evident from ences that can be integrated once the basics have been mastered and the most mundane meaning o'f its name: "money" or "cattle" an understanding of the relative power contexts of each rune within contrast Ovrune.
This root word originally meant mobile wealth or the futhark paradigm has been reached. Later this term was used for "money," hence the modern English word "fee. This is an aspect of GO faihu: cattle, mobile property the psychosomatic complex that may be best described as a mobile OE foeh: cattle, money and transferable magical power. Fehu is the directed expansive force Phonetic value: f that facilitates the projection of soul entities and magical power from I 'rson to person, or from a person to an object.
Esoteric interpretation of name: mobile property; power. In the mythology this is Creation! Also, she was the source of sustenance for the cosmic giant Ymir. This is also the unmanifested energized Stadha: essence from which the cosmic ice and Audhumla were originally Both arms slanted upward, the left formed. Face toward the sun. This is the cosmic seed, the world force analogous to the semen virile.
Magical workings: 1. Strengthens psychic powers. It contains the mystery of the formulation of the self, a 2. Channel for powertransference or projection; the sending rune. Drawing the projected power of the sun, moon, and stars into just as the multiverse is framed from the various worlds.
Uruz is the the personal sphere. Promotion of personal and social evolution. Increase in personal monetary wealth. This mystery may be demonstrated through the shape of the stave, as shown in Figure 2. Uruz is the eternal reservoir of archetypal patterning. Because of its shaping power, uruz is a rune symbolizing wisdom and lore, as the pattern of preserved tradition that is sprung from the natural order. Just as this indicates a healthy society one in 2 accordance with natural order , so too is this a rune of good physical health in the personal realm.
It is the rune of vital strength and GO urus: the aurochs virility. Ideographic interpretation: the horns of the aurochs" or falling drizzle. The TH- Vital strength rune is a symbol of lightning and thunder and is equated with Mjollnir, the hammer of Th6rr.
This weapon is the destroyer of the etins and the protector of Midhgardhr and Asgardhr. Th6rr is in many ways similar to the giants ilhursarl in his size and brute Stadha: strength, and is therefore ideal as a counterforce to them. The AEsir IT Bend at the waist, with the back horizontal constantly strive to maintain their enclosures in the multiverse, and and parallel to the ground.
Arms and finger- the power of this rune is invaluable in this effort. The idea expressed tips point toward the ground; the head should by this aspect of thurisaz is identical with that of the hammer sigri. Shaping and forming circumstances creatively through will Vanir and expressed in mankind. Just as the thorn protects the rose, and inspiration. Healing and maintenance of good mental and physical health.
It is the 3. Bringer of fortunate circumstances. Induction of magnetic earth streams. Thurisaz is a projectable form S. Realization of causality. Generally, this may work as a limitation and 6. Knowledge and understanding of the self. That is, any rune that is essentially energetic e. Thurisaz is also a rune of regeneration and fertilization. ON thurs: giant This is the cosmic phallic power. This force is received from the elbow, hand on hip, with the palm grasping AEsir and transformed in humanity to be reexpressed toward the the hip bone.
Face east or south. This ecology of power works in tandem with that described by 6dhinn's reception of rune wisdom and subsequent expression of that wisdom to mankind.
Defense active. Destruction of enemies, curses. Awakening of the will to action. In Norse 4. Preparedness for generation in all realms. Love magic. Knowledge of the division and unity of all things. This is the ecstasy that leads to the formation of a body of lore and wisdom.
This is the rune of the word, song, poetry, and magical incantation galdr as a container and expresser of magical force. Ansul is a magical ancestral power, one that has been handed down from generation to generation along genetic lines. The ancient Cermanic peoples knew that they were "descended from their Gods," 4 as the genealogies of their kings, heroes, and clanic chieftains show. Names: GMC ansuz: a god, ancestral god The power link between gods and men was, for them, unbroken.
It GO ansus: a runic god name remains so. Through the power of this rune the realization of the OE os: a god link between the ancestral gods and their people may be regained. Increase of both active and passive magical powers and through the paths of the Nine Worlds of Yggdrasill. Good advice and judgment according to right are ascribed to 2.
Convincing and magnetic speech, and the power of suggestion inidhc. Acquisition of creative wisdom, inspiration, ecstasy, and divine ritual; that is, arrangement of energy and actions according to a communication. Here the emphasis is on the right 4. Banishing of death and terror through knowledge of Odhinn.
Raidho is the channeling of force according to natural laws along I he right road leading to the right result. It describes, and analyzes, a.. This rhythm is embodied in all the worlds of the multiverse. GO raidha: wagon, ride lhrough rhythmic action and ritual dance the vitki may perceive and OE nidh: a riding, way blend with the personal rhythm, and in turn become one with the ON reidh: riding, chariot world rhythm and dance.
This is the rune of that rhythmic ritual dance, which still should be practiced today. Reaching this goal is not an end but a transform a- chariot of Thorr. I ion and new beginning for another outward expansion. Ideographic interpretations: a wheel under the chariotEijin In popular tradition it is a symbol for the Vehmic Court, and as the view:7'V.
This is expressed by such natural phenomena as the daily Ritual rudh radh ridh redh rodh path of the sun and the cycles of nature and humanity.
The left leg should internal order found expression in institutions that were a balanced " ' ,;1. F,lce symbol of the "way back to right," through the conscious efforts of ' II III asatruarfolk to recover the essence of the primal order.
This 1. Strengthens ritual abilities and experience. Access to "inner advice. Raises consciousness to right and natural processes. Blending with personal and world rhythms. The mystery of the creation of a third from the combination of 5. Obtaining justice according to right. I wo is also an aspect of kenuz, Opposites are bound together in an ' 'sthetic fashion and the results of that union brought into II.
Kenaz also is important to the concept kin, and especially to that I',lrt of clanic tradition that professes a unity of the living and dead members of the clan, existing in a syncretic form of conscious life I orce.
Phonetic value: k Key words: Galdr: Esoteric interpretation of names: the controlled fire; crema- Controlled energy kenaz kenaz kenaz tion. The Gothic and Old Norse names are secondary- Ability ku ka ki ke ko internal fire, inflammation, etc. Cremation fingers of the left hand are pointed, project- as a funeral rite facilitates the transference of the psychic aspects of ill. The fire is always IV1. I :;1 rt'ngthening of abilities in all realms.
Kenaz is the ability and the will to generate and create. In the latter case, gebo describes the sexual life force used in fertility magic and that used in shamanistic Gebo is the rune of "god," that is, the eminent unconscious magical practices. By the power of this rune persons are bound together through an act of will in order to effect a result. This stave symbolizes the Stadha: root force of runic orders, the retinue system, etc.
Arms are stretched out in an it is also a rune of ecstasy. It is the mystery of ecstatic magical power angle forming an X, with hands directly over that is perceived and retained by the vitki as numinous knowledge. This is the rune of sex magic. Sex magic was practiced in ancient Germanic Magfca] Workings: times, especially for the acquisition of numinous knowledge and I.
St'x magic. Sigurdhr, the greatest of Germanic heroes, was initiated 2, Sex magical initia tion. J, Mystical union. After m. Place the Phonetic value: w fingertips of the left hand on the crown of the Esoteric interpretation of name: relationship of beings head. Keep the right arm close at the side. Ideographic interpretation: the clanic or tribal banner, or weather vane. Strengthens links and bonds.
Invocation of fellowship and harmony. Banishes alienation. Binding runes toward specific purposes see bind runes, etc. These beings are then bound together in an organic '" whole, which is exemplified in the world of men by the clan and tribe. GO hag]: hail Wunjo is the mystery of the harmonious existence of varied OE hteg]: hail affiliated forces.
In the clan this is the source of the highest human ON hagall: hail joy. I1'1 force in the maintenance of societies and guilds. Wunjo is the energy that binds different fields of force together I,kographic interpretations: the connection of two standing and is therefore an invaluable concept to rune magic.
With this 1w. I," luviqu« :II: or the primal snowf l. Evolution within framework hug hag hig heg hog Ymir was formed from the juncture of world fire of Muspellsheimr Protection hul hal hil hel hol and world ice of Niflheimr.
This "seed" concept is empha- hhhhhhhhhh sized in the Old Icelandic Rune Poem Hagall is a cold grain and a shower of sleet Stodhur: and a sickness of snakes I. The snowflake forms itself along the sixfold pattern of the old holy sign : replace: N : in the Younger Futhark. This is a complete runic combination ritual of great power when properly performed. Hagalaz is the complete model containing the potential energy of 1. Stand in cross position. Face north, take neutral power in the multiverse, which is born from the dynamic, nine full inhalations, then turn with the sun generating, evolving unity of fire energy and ice antimatter.
This exercise may be sacred and mysterious of numbers, there are nine worlds in performed from the east during daylight Yggdrasill, 6dhinn hung for nine nights on that tree to gain the hours or at sunrise. This is the number of a completeness that leads to a birth of greater power 2. All the second runic forms may be derived from the sixfold hagalaz when it is placed within a solid figure see Figure 2. Melll'llly take in no impressions during this operation; try to m.
Figure 2. The mother rune: the s"lid hagalaz. Completeness and balance of power. Mystical and numinous experience and knowledge. Evolutionary, becoming operations. This idea originated with the creation of the Nornir.
At that time resistance was born in the universe, laws of causality 10 went into action, and the seeds of the "destruction" of the world of Names: GMC naudhiz: need, fatalistic the gods were sown.
This must not be understood within the context compulsion of any type of "moral evil" or similar concepts. Naudhiz is the cosmic force used by the powers that form the "fates" Stddhur: of mankind and the world. For an analysis of the Germanic concept of 1. In Futhark , rune master Edred Thorsson reinitiates us into our heritage, explaining the mysteries of a profound system of thought and practice that underlies our developing Western culture.
Futhark covers both the spiritual heritage of ancient runic lore and the practical steps we can take to draw on rune power. This complete book of rune instruction includes rune history and lore, its basis in metaphysical thought and mysticism, complete definitions of the twenty-four runes of the Elder Futhark, and the etymology, phonetic value, and interpretation of each rune.
The reader will learn how to perform chants and rituals using runic energy, how to sign and send runes, and how to practice runic meditation. The author's presentation of this powerful system is lucid and profound, and provides a valuable tool for spiritual transformation and self-development.
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