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:1. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Runes by Nigel Pennick2. Way of the Runes by Bernard King3. Runes: Reading the Past by R.I Page4. Runelore: A Handbook of Esoteric Runology by Edred Thorsson5. Nordic Runes by Paul Rhys Mountfort6. Taking up the Runes Diana L Paxson7. Runecaster’s Handbook Edred Thorsson8. Poetic Edda by either Hollander, Crawford, or Larrington9. Prose Edda by Jesse L. Byock10. Hávamál Meditations: Embodying Oðinn’s Teachings by Frodi Ingsson (forthcoming)11. Runes of Transformation by Kaedrich Olsen12. Helrunar by Jan Fries13. Runes and Magic by Stephen E. Flowers14. Rune Yoga: Embodying the Runic Energies by Frodi Ingsson (forthcoming)15. Rune Workings: Meditations and Rituals by Frodi Ingsson (forthcoming)

This is a very well written book. It is very exciting and informative. Please keep in mind, that this book comes from the perspective of modern day ideas and beliefs of the magic and value and usage of the ruins from the modern day practitioner perspective. The book does not necessarily come from a evidence-based scholarly perspective on the historical usage and meaning of the runes. The author is obviously a modern-day practitioner or supporter of pagan mysticism. Not to say that this book is bad or wrong but it is definitely written from a modern day view of the runes and the mythology related to them. If you want a scholarly resources for research purposes this book might not be for you. However, there are some really great scholarly research-based books that better encapsulate the actual historical usage and believes of the Norseman of the past.

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.

This guide book is an invaluable asset if you are going to start reading runes. It helps with a guide to how this divination came about, offers descriptions of what each rune means and even talks about how to make your own runes.There is so much information in this book and it is well written that anyone who is new to runes could easily get away with only having this book and not needing any other guide.

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!

I lost all excitement for this book on page 4 with “Yet Norse myth also recognizes the power of the feminine and is inspirational for men and women alike”. This seems to imply only women can inspire women and men only men.It then goes on to extol Freya’s virtues as if women need to have a bone thrown, because it was Odin who discovered the runes.The myths and legends vaguely mention goddesses- where other sources I’ve read seem heavy laden with the feminine presence. Though honestly, this was a cursory glance. I tried to continue reading, but couldn’t get past the arrogant tone of the writer’s voice.I’m returning it tomorrow, and will continue to search for a resource...hopefully one without a misogynistic bent.

If you are new to Runes. Get this first before you get into Freya Aswinn or Edred Thorrson. It's awesome. Always keep it around. Honestly You won't be disappointed. Well written. Easy to understand yet gives you a great course in the runes. Also has a lot of historical information. For the reader of runes who isn't completely uneducated in runes and knows some. It's not a dumbed down version it's a concise well spoken book. +++++

This book can take one from beginner to intermediate level, in runes. As well as give a background history about them. Along with poems to help you remember the Runes. The 4 stars is for the repeated use of the racist author,"Freya Aswynn" who repeatedly makes racial slurs, against minorities amongst other things. The Nazi's already abused the Runes and almost destroyed this sacred art completely. Let's protect it from such perversions so that it can benefit ourselves and mankind and not be lost forever.

Best book of runes I have ever read, instructive and eloquently written, in more than simply rune lore but also history of many cultural religious material, has become my foremost book on the subject and holds pride of place in my library, my compliments to the author!

Author has written a clear explanation of his approach to reading the runes which is easy to understand and appears to be a simple and easy to use method. Also makes a reasonably sensible interpretation of the available source material. Fairly matter of fact and pleasantly lacking in the propaganda for a particular world view or pagan faction which is usually present in this sort of book

Firstly, the title is somewhat of a misnomer as the author uses the Elder Futhark throughout, which is of course Germanic.Mr Mountford offers some insightful and original interpretations of the rune poems in order to elucidate the sacred staves. However, he is under the mistaken impression that Odin sacrificed his eye in order to discover the runes, when the lore is quite clear that this was an entirely separate event.

After reading the reviews I was really disappointed with this book. Maybe for hard core rune users this is a good book but for someone still finding their way I felt it was really lacking.