[.uk] Taking Up The Runes: A Complete Guide To Using Runes In ... (ISBN 1578633257)

Book Description:
Although many of us first encountered runes in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, this sacred alphabet is by no means a fabrication for books or movies. Similar to Hebrew letters in the sense that each symbol contains a meaning that transcends its original function as a letter, the runes are practical, flexible, and effective symbols with a variety of uses. Today, the best known application of rune lore is divination: chips or stones marked with runes are drawn, cast, or laid out in patterns like tarot cards. In Taking Up the Runes, Paxson delves into the ancient historical meaning of each rune and explains their contemporary uses and meanings. We discover that the real power of runes comes from inside ourselves when we find the wisdom and power within each symbol and internalize them.

Better than most:
This is a well written compilation of the ideas of modern popular esoteric rune authors (Aswynn, Thorsson, Pennick, etc). It should not be taken as a book about historical pre-Christian rune use, but seeks to adapt more recently invented techniques and ideas into a religious setting based on Germanic mythology. Seen in this light, the book is a useful reference of current popular rune usage. It will not appeal to the more re-creationist or academic rune students, but offers an abundance of examples of New-Age and ecclectic adaptations of the runes. Although it does go beyond the New-Age manuals by seeking to present these ideas in a "Northern Tradition" context, I would have liked to see more distinction made between modern and historical information. Although this book is firmly in the "speculative" category, it does present some historical background, and is a cut above the New-Age fluff that dominates the majority of esoteric rune manuals. Sweyn The Rune Primer

An extremely good resource for those truely interested in the runes.:
The book is split into chapters for each rune, explaining the lore behind it, the history behind it, the uses, the differant uses both for divining and spells, and all sorts of things. Its a very complete guide, but not for the the light student, for the person who is very interested in studying runes from a very deep perspective only. the book is very lengthy but in my opinion very worth it.

Wonderful Rune Resource:
Diana Paxson is one of the experts in this field and her book is a treasure. It's easily read and understood. Great experiential exercises to really get one in touch with the Runes.

excellent rune-lore!:
I enormously enjoyed and appreciated this book! A long-awaited tome from one of the leading lights of the Norse revival. Diana L. Paxon is well known to many as a prolific author of fine historical fantasies, including the Wodan's Children trilogy and her current continuation of the Mists of Avalon series begun by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Yet to some she is also well respected for her work with the Ring of Troth and the Hrafner kindred, which has revived the ancient oracular practice of seid-working. This is a major work arising from years of study, a series of practicing runic workshops, and the contributions of many others in the Nine Worlds of Norse retro-heathenism. It collects an immense amount of both academic scholarship and traditional and modern lore, and weaves it all together into a complete course of initiation into the runic cosmos of divination and sorcery. One of the elements that distinguished the revival of Asatru is the reliance on genuine history and surviving texts, as opposed to the all too frequent Wiccan tendency to just make up happy fantasies about the Celts. This is a substantial and comprehensive work of Old Norse secrets, revealed in the New World. Very highly recommended indeed! The other reliable pagan writers in the field include Edred Thorsson, Freya Aswynn, Kveldulf Gundarsson, Nigel Pennick, Jan Fries, and many academic sources. Avoid New Age fluff at all costs! And read the Eddas as soon as possible.

Good book:
I have not had a chance to read all of the book yet but it seems quite interesting. I love the runes and any knowlage I can gain is a plus.