In the mood for present buying…
December 1st, 2010 | 
Author: There are so many books on runes out there that it is difficult to choose. If you are looking for a good rune book for your beloved runester, then I would suggest getting two: ‘The Rune Primer’ by Sweyn Plowright and ‘Discovering the Runes’ by Bob Oswald. Both books are fairly recent (the Primer being an expanded edition), and both are by authors who are highly experienced and passionate about their subject, but there the similarity ends. The two books complement each other well: the Primer is a no-nonsense guide focusing on academic and historical facts, while Discovering the Runes is a beautiful and inspirational book, packed full of pictures, magickal correspondences for the runes and techniques blending contemporary pagan ritual with rune work. What the Primer lacks in wow factor (definitely present in Oswald’s full colour book), it makes up for by being one of the few texts out there that refuses to get carried away by confecture.
The Rune Primer, Sweyn Plowright, 2006
Click here to buy The Rune Primer: A Down-to-Earth Guide to the Runes
This is a really good antidote to the many rune books out there which simply reiterate meanings and correspondences found in similar works. Plowright has set himself the challenge of sorting the wheat from the chaff and debunking, providing a short ‘myth-buster’ of a text which is immensly useful for anyone trying to study the runes and work with their energies.
The Primer includes the originals and translations of all the rune poems, discussion of the different rune alphabets, source texts, key authors and myth-busting on various topics including the blank rune and runic astrology.
Discovering the Runes, Bob Oswald, 2008
Click here to buy Discovering Runes
This book is so pretty that I can’t help but love it. Bob Oswald has dedicated many years and much passion to the runes, providing resources for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. It is a great shame that there are some printing errors in the book (e.g. the Eihwaz rune has a picture of Isa) but there is also lots of inspirational advice, a plethora of correspondences and lots of ideas for the enthusiastic runester. The book only features one rune poem per rune (the Anglo-Saxon rune poem) and doesn’t give attributions for its correspondences; for this reason I would recommend getting in in conjunction with Plowright’s book above as – both books are by passionate souls well versed in their fields, but with very different approaches.
If neither of these takes your fancy, then how about Nigel Pennick’s Complete Illustrated Guide to the Runes - an adventure through the world of runes taught by a rune practitioner who definitely knows his stuff (even if he’s not telling us how he knows…)
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Runes, Nigel Pennick, 1999
Click here to buy Complete Illustrated Guide – Runes: How to Interpret the Ancient System of the Runes
Nigel Pennick’s illustrated guide takes you through the various rune alphabets, colour correspondences, rune yoga, divination, astrology, talismans, gods and goddesses – and much more. There is a wealth of information available in this A4 guide, and it is written in a clear and accessible style.
If you still haven’t found what your looking for, have a look at my Rune Library for further recommendations and, if books aren’t your thing, then how about a hand made rune set made using the techniques taught on my Introduction to RuneCraft – these will be available to buy via my shop early next week.
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Fehu
What does wealth mean to you? Money? Possessions? Perhaps it means having enough to eat or having your friends and family around you? In some ways Fehu represents that which we need to survive: warmth, nourishment, love - but it also represents that ...
Uruz
Uruz is the rune of the primal, powerful aurochs. Although the great aurochs are now extinct, nature has provided many other immensly powerful examples for us to work with when connecting with the energy of Uruz. Think of the blue whale, ...
Thurisaz
The mountain, forbidding, implacable. Thrust up from the belly of the Earth. Shrouded in cloud and snow, a land impenetrable to all but the bravest, strongest and most single-minded. Its reflection in the waters is still and alluring, the dangers of the ...
Ansuz
For a rune of communication Ansuz does not lend itself to straight forward explanation. Looking to the nature of its patron deity Odin, may help to explain why. God of the High Seat, Trickster, Shaman, Wanderer, Poet - he is ...
Raidho
The motion of the stars, the dance of the universe, the unseen forces that bind us together. Raidho is that force: the circle, the wheel, the pattern, the motion that drives us forward. To be in tune with Raidho is ...
Kenaz
A torch, a blacksmith, a fever, the warm body of a lover, the inspiration of the artist. Kenaz is just as much about heat as it is about light. With light comes clarity and insight, but with heat comes transformation. Fire ...
Gebo
The gift, the exchange. Gebo embodies the concept of reward for effort, but also of generousity and selflessness which expects no reward. Think about the xxx you put at the bottom of a card, or a letter to a loved ...
Wunjo
Kindred, clan, family, friendship. Wunjo embodies that sense of joy, belonging and well-being that comes from the people who you count as your kin. Wunjo is found in a welcome hug, in the shared memories you laugh over, in the affectionate names ...
Hagalaz
The hail stone, the mother rune, the cosmic seed, the destructive force of nature. There is nothing gentle about Hagalaz. For some it represents mindless destruction, the ruination of carefully laid plans; for others there is a perfect and crystalline ...
Nauthiz
Nauthiz, the need-fire. I see this rune as having a dual nature. It is black, it is the hollow of lack, it is the cold earth, the dark days, the emptiness of loss, of starvation, the dark night of the ...
Isa
Isa, ice. This is a very beautiful rune, exceedingly strong but undoubtedly with an element of danger. Ice has an important role to play in purifying the earth, eradicating disease and pests that have spread during the warm summer and wet ...
Jera
Jera is the twelth rune, its name literally means 'year'. In modern rune calendars Jera is placed at the Winter Solstice which seems appropriate to me as, amongst the runes of winter and darkness jostling on either side of it, it holds ...
Eihwaz
Eihwaz is sometimes likened to the Death card in tarot; it is a rune of transformation and testing, stripping away that which is worn out, diseased or weak so that strong new growth may occur. It is the rune of ...
Perthro
Perthro is one of the most enigmatic of runes, it's meaning is unknown and can only be inferred from the Old English Rune Poem which refers to it as 'ever play and laughter' where warriors sit in the beer-hall together. The ...
Algiz
A figure stands alone in the wilderness, arms upraised to the Heavens; overhead a rainbow appears - the Bifrost bridge leading to the heavens. The Algiz/ Elhaz rune is a rune of great blessing, it symbolises protection and defence. As Elhaz it symbolises the ...
Sowilo
Sowilo symbolises the energy of the sun, the great guiding orb that is carried by the Goddess Sunna in her bright carriage. The rune brings blessings to sailors as it helps them navigate across the unknown waters and, for those ...
Teiwaz
Nobility of character could not be better exemplified than through the great Sky-God Tyr, patron of the Teiwaz rune. He sacrificed sovereignty, wholeness, power and the strength of his sword-arm for the greater good. Although Odin was to take on ...
Berkano
The birch tree is one the fastest spreading trees and Berkano speaks of fast, eager growth. This is a rune of spring, the green shoots rising, flowers exploding in a riot of colour upon the woodland floor, the crying of baby ...
Ehwaz
A steed, a lover, a dream, a nightmare, a union the loss of Self and the embrace of the Other through whom you come to know yourself again. All these things are encapsulated by the Ehwaz rune which represents both the ...
Mannaz
The Mannaz rune is a double Wunjo rune, the rune that brings joy in family and kin becomes the rune of one who blesses clan and society through the strength of self. Mannaz means 'man' (in the sense of 'human' rather than a ...
Laguz
The Waters of Wyrd, the depths of the unconscious, the flow of magic, the dreamworld where creatures of magic and myth roam free. Don't underestimate the power of Laguz, the rune of water. The mysteries of water have long held ...
Inguz
Discussion of Inguz on its way - watch this space Traditional meaning: The divine hero Ing Pronunciation: ing-ooz Number: 22 Gods: Ing, Frey, Freyja Colour: Yellow, orange, green Hour: 09:30-10:30 Half month: May 14th - May 29th Plants: Apple, self heal Body: Third eye chakra, male genitalia Animal: Boar, cuckoo Mineral: Amber, ...
Dagaz
Discussion of Dagaz on its way - watch this space Traditional meaning: Day, daylight Pronunciation: dah-gahz Number: 23/24 Gods: Loki, Verdhandi, Heimdall, Surt Colour: Blue, red Hour: 11:30-12:30 Half month: June 19th - June 29th Plants: Rowan, spruce, hempe Body: Crown chakra Animal: Unknown Mineral: Peridot Aroma: Clary sage, Linden blossom Object of power: Gateway Journeys ...
Othala
Contents on its way - watch this space Traditional meaning: Inheritance, wealth, homeland, farm, family estate Pronunciation: oh-tha-la Number: 24/23 Gods: Odin, Vali Colour: Yellow, red Hour: 10:30-11:30 Half month: May 29th - June 14th Plants: Hawthorn, clover Body: Inherited traits, DNA Animal: Unknown Mineral: Spinel Aroma: Marjoram, Neroli Object of power: Seat Journeys with the ...