The Runes Workbook/L.Wild

[Maggie]

The Runes Workbook, by Leon D. Wild


Has anyone used this book? Have an opinion on it?

Maggie

[Rick]

Well, after browsing through the it at amazon.com, it looks like it's primarily composed of materials regurgitated from previous authors. Just in the first few pages, there were a half dozen or so erroneous assertions presented as fact, without offering a single source.

It seems very 'new agey'. I wouldn't trust it as a reference, & definitely wouldn't pay money for it. There are too many good rune books available.

[Maggie]

<sigh> I have __The Elements of the Runes__ by Bernard King, and __Runelore__ by edred Thorsson. Thorsson makes my head hurt when reading too much. This one appealed to me because it was a "step to step Guide", looked to have things presented in more digestible chunks. What ones would you recommend instead?

Maggie

[Rick]

Here's the reference list I give to my rune students:

Uncle Ricky's Rune Resource List
---
BOOKS

“Must Haves”

NORTHERN MYSTERIES & MAGICK by Freya Aswynn
FUTHARK by Edred Thorsson
THE POETIC EDDA trans. By Lee M. Hollander
ELEMENTS OF RUNES by Bernard King
TEUTONIC MAGIC by Kveldulf Gundarsson
---
“Should Haves”

PRINCIPALS OF RUNES by Freya Aswynn
RUNE MAGIC by Nigel Pennick
HELRUNAR by Jan Fries (advanced)
TEUTONIC RELIGION by Kveldulf Gundarsson
THE NORSE MYTHS by Kevin Cossley-Holland
---
“Also Recommended”

RUNES by R.I. Page
Any works by Edred Thorsson, including RUNELORE
---
WEBSITES

www.northvegr.org (lore)
www.irminsul.org (links)
www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=10509 (meanings)
www.mackaos.com.au/Rune-Net (online learning resource-$16 annual membership fee)
www.aswynn.co.uk (Freya Aswynn’s home page)
http://www.runaraven.com (books)
www.runesbyragnar.com (Denali Institute)
fellowshipoftherunes@yahoo.com (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fellowshipoftherunes/) (email list)

[Maggie]

Thank you very much. I've always been a little surprised that runestones are what 'works' best for me. I have finally told myself that's the way my Scandinavian great grandparents are making themselves heard, since by the time my generation grew up they'd lost the family 'culture wars' to the German Lutherans................ :D

Maggie

[boydshocot]

I have just read the book and i really enjoyed it and learned alot from it. It is not like other books that just explain it to you there are actually exercises. it can take a while to read it depending how much time you spend on the exercises. i thought it was a great book and learned alot. it is not going to make you a master of the runes but it will get you going and help you all along the journey.

[KellyP]

I read the book and had mixed reactions.

As Rick has already noted, the author is condensing material from other sources. If you take a look in the bibliography you will see the primary sources are Thorsson. Unlike Rick, I am not a fan of Thorsson or Aswyn.

The two positives to the book are the inclusion of the Rune poems which I think are critical to a study and appreciation of the past. I also like the workbook nature of stepping through the runes with guided questions. I don't always agree with his chants associated with the runes but they serve as a starting place. Most of the questions are good starting points for meditation whether you feel they are rune related or not.

Seems as though I wrote a review of this book and posted it to another group. If I find the review I will share.

[Rick]

A couple Asatruar were telling me that Diana Paxson has a new book coming out in April or thereabouts... anyone heard anything of this?

For those that may not be familiar with her work, she's sorta become the defacto rune master of The Troth since Edred Thorsson parted ways with them...

[KellyP]

A couple Asatruar were telling me that Diana Paxson has a new book coming out in April or thereabouts... anyone heard anything of this?

For those that may not be familiar with her work, she's sorta become the defacto rune master of The Troth since Edred Thorsson parted ways with them... Looks like this (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1578633257/qid=1107924323/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-7979845-9194304?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) may be it.

[Rick]

Thanks, O Druid of the Prairie

[Maggie]

I read the book and had mixed reactions.

As Rick has already noted, the author is condensing material from other sources. If you take a look in the bibliography you will see the primary sources are Thorsson. Unlike Rick, I am not a fan of Thorsson or Aswyn.

The two positives to the book are the inclusion of the Rune poems which I think are critical to a study and appreciation of the past. I also like the workbook nature of stepping through the runes with guided questions. I don't always agree with his chants associated with the runes but they serve as a starting place. Most of the questions are good starting points for meditation whether you feel they are rune related or not.

Seems as though I wrote a review of this book and posted it to another group. If I find the review I will share.

It actually was the workbook aspect that appealed to me, made it seem a little less daunting.

You guys do know Paxson writes fantasy fiction, yes? I actually first encountered her work when I found __Brisimagen__.

Maggie

[Rick]

Yep... outside the Asatru community, she's probably best known for her fiction. But if you follow KellyP's link, this doesn't appear to be a work of fiction...

[Maggie]

Yep... outside the Asatru community, she's probably best known for her fiction. But if you follow KellyP's link, this doesn't appear to be a work of fiction...

I'm amused easily these days. That's what made me blink. Since I'm not Asatru, I had no idea of her other work! :) And no, this new one appears to be written while wearing her other hat.


Maggie