Nordic Runes: Understanding, Casting, and Interpreting the Ancient Viking Oracle

When you find an author that discusses esoteric topics with clarity, simplicity, and above all, experience and knowledge, you know you have found a good author. When that same author offers academic references and clearly stated personal opinions, you know you have found a great author. Mountfort falls under the second category. I really appreciate Mountfort’s efforts to include a variety of different sources when discussing the Runes. I definitely got the feel that he is well researched and practiced and not just regurgitating what others have said. I like his writing style and honesty. Rather than paint some mystic associations he is down to earth and practical. His main intention is to introduce the divinational aspects rather than the magical and developmental ones. Though, he does offer a little bit on these as well. The authors correspondence section of the Runes gives us some traditional names, sounds, imagery, and definitions, as well as, the traditional poems associated with each Rune, their meanings, keywords, and myths/legends related with them. The myths and legends part I really liked. This is by far the best introductory book on the Runes I have come across. This is the fifth book on my suggested Rune Reading List. While not on my suggested read list, I also encouraged you to get Rune Correspondences by Frodi Ingsson so that you can add things that are meaningful to you as you learn more about the Runes. 1. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Runes by Nigel Pennick 2. Way of the Runes by Bernard King 3. Runes: Reading the Past by R.I Page 4. Runelore: A Handbook of Esoteric Runology by Edred Thorsson 5. Nordic Runes by Paul Rhys Mountfort 6. Taking up the Runes Diana L Paxson 7. Runecaster’s Handbook Edred Thorsson 8. Poetic Edda by either Hollander, Crawford, or Larrington 9. Prose Edda by Jesse L. Byock 10. Hávamál Meditations: Embodying Oðinn’s Teachings by Frodi Ingsson (forthcoming) 11. Runes of Transformation by Kaedrich Olsen 12. Helrunar by Jan Fries 13. Runes and Magic by Stephen E. Flowers 14. Rune Yoga: Staða & Galdr 15. Rune Workings: Meditations and Rituals by Frodi Ingsson (forthcoming)

I just finished reading this book and I am really impressed. Only a small part of the book is about the "how to" of rune casting, which is how it should be. The book covers a lot: the ancient historical origins, commentaries on 19th and 20th revivals, and commentary on how much of rune lore today came from BCE, to name just a few subjects. I was particularly impressed at the treatment of the various translations of the runic texts and meanings, allowing the reader to choose the most accessible way to use the runes. As a history major, I loved the first part of the book that went into the Norse tales of Odin and the Norns, so much so that I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up a couple books on Norse myths and legends to read up in further detail. I highly recommend this book to novice and seasoned rune casters alike, a real joy to read!

Over the past several years, I have found this to be the best book to learn about and study the runes. It is a balanced book that covers the history, the individual runes, and divination. It is very readable. In Rune FB groups, this is one of the books most often suggested to beginners. I have a number of books, but always come back to this one.

Excellent rune book. This is the 3rd or 4th different rune book I've gotten over the 25 years or so I've been reading runes. My last name is a rune and my ancestry is Nordic/Germanic so this is a passion of mine. I even have the whole runic alphabet plus a few bind runes tattooed into a design on my back. I got to see authentic ancient rune carvings in Sweden in 2010. This Nordic Runes book is an excellent mix of history and useful info for throwing readings. The author really knows his stuff, so it's not dumbed down, and it's a great choice for the experienced rune reader. Yet it's not too complex and confusing for someone just starting out. I paid full price for this. I was not given a product discount for an honest, unbiased review, or compensated in any way.

Interesting read. Very informative

This book is very helpful and informative for those interested in learning about runes. It’s a great book for all users experienced or beginners. It has very detailed information about each individual rune. It also has a great deal of information about rune casting and offers several different ways to use runes for divination. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in runes.

I have studyed runes for decades. i liked the reciting of the lore for each rune. It is important to me to know the lore. The author has a fresh point of view, compared to others. Like reading Thorson can be dry...like a collage professor. Dont get me wrong...Love Thorson, just when doing research one needs mutiple points of view and styles of addressing the information. It is easy the read and understand, even for a newbie, but doesnt bore someone who has been on this path for decades. A uuseful reference mateerial

I've been working with the Elder Futhark runes for a couple years now, and this has been my go-to book since I purchased it. It gives information on the history and historical context of the runes, all their meanings and associations, as well as insight into divination. This is a good starter book if you're interested in working with the Elder Futhark runes.

An truly inspiring read. The knowledge of runes is beautiful but the way the author transmits it is a plus side of this book, making it quite a pleasurable read.

So far the book is a great foundation and starting point into the nordic runes it's myths, I'm pleased I chose this particular book.

This is an amazing book! The writer knows the subject. The book contains the right amount of information and is straight forward. This book met my expectations in learning about Runes, I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the subject (I was a complete novice in that matter).

Great book to learn everything about the runes!

This provides a wonderful historical and mythological background for runes. It makes for an excellent accompaniment to a practical guide on how to use runes. I love how passionate the author's narration is, it makes this so much fun to read!! It has really taught me of the beauty behind runes as beacons of light that can help me find self enlightenment. All runes, no matter how negative- emphasize how there is renewal and rebirth after disaster ^^ LOVE IT FIVE STARS