Reddit reviews Taking Up The Runes: A Complete Guide To Using Runes In Spells, Rituals, Divination, And Magic

https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Up-Runes-Complete-Divination/dp/1578633257

This is the best guide to runes currently on the market. It's written by a Heathen (Norse polytheist) priestess and witch who specializes in rune work. Even some of the more conservative Heathens who won't variate from the lore recommend it. The book is both a guide to divination and rune magic all in one.

Many people I know who seriously work with the runes will periodically stain them with their own blood as an offering. The runes are considered to be independent spirits by many, rather than just a divination "tool" and should be treated very respectfully and cautiously. Remember that they are embedded in a cultural context and it's important to understand Heathen cosmology and theology properly to work with them. A few recommended resources: this book, this one and this site.

Diana Paxson's Taking Up the Runes is very well-regarded by almost everyone.

And if I can sneak in a bit of self-promotion, while learning the runes myself (not that I'll ever be done learning) I created a playing card deck with runes, images, and meanings on them. It's helped some of my friends learn as well. It's mostly based on the meanings given in Taking Up the Runes, plus a little bit of extra I've picked up here and there.

My first piece of advice is to completely divorce in your mind the tarot and the runes. They are two completely different systems. The tarot were developed by Ceremonial Magicians in the late Victorian Age, and the runes are an ancient symbol set used by an ancient culture as a language and magical symbols. In fact the runes are a whole system of magic.

To really get started with runes you have to read up on each one and the history behind each. Divining with them is as simple as grabbing a few and scattering them and reading their meanings but you'll need to background about each letter for that to work. Here are a few sources that I like for runes.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jordsvin/Runes/Rune%20Of%20The%20Month/Index.htm - Ignore how this site looks. because it hasn't been updated in a while but each article on the runes is very well written by a couple who know the runes very well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1578633257/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1459023490&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=rune+divination&dpPl=1&dpID=51eexi1vgZL&ref=plSrch - A great book on the whole system of magic that the runes are. I really like this one as it doesn't try and "culture wash" the runes. Instead she frames each meaning historically so you can get a better understanding of why things are as they are.

http://www.amazon.com/Rune-Poem-Jim-Paul/dp/0811811360 - This book is a translation of the original Norse poems that the runes are mentioned in. It doesn't offer much in the way of interpretation so you are meant to take your own from it. It gives you a reference point to think about when meditating on the runes.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

I would also advise patience. Runes are powerful symbols, runes convey messages, runes influence the world around us. Not being familiar with the runes could make you regret this decision for the rest of your life. This requires a lot more than a day to think about.

What actual message are you trying to convey? That would certainly help us help you. I'm not a runic scholar myself, in any sense. Although, I've heard great things about the first half of this book. I haven't read it myself yet but I did recently purchase it.

I would ignore almost all online sources for that sort of thing.

The most historically accurate source of runes, by one of the most respected authors, is here - https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Up-Runes-Complete-Divination/dp/1578633257/ref=sr_1_2?crid=5RT9VX1B0Q8U&keywords=taking+up+the+runes&qid=1572210026&sprefix=taken+by+mino%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-2

This is one of the best: https://smile.amazon.com/Taking-Up-Runes-Complete-Divination/dp/1578633257

She compares a bunch of different meanings provided by various people, explains the history and the uses, and generally gives you the clearest foundation.

Also: avoid Blum.

Taking Up the Runes

The book that I found most useful is Freya Aswynn's Northern Mysteries and Magick.

A great source is also Diana Paxson's Taking Up the Runes.

Love your set. Enjoy your journey!

Edit: You may also find this site useful.

Taking up the Runes, by Diana Paxson, is pretty good.