A Handbook of Rune Magic A Handbook of Rune Magic Edred Thorsson SAMUEL WEISER, INC. York Beach, Maine rll'St published in 1984 by Samuel Weiser, Inc. Box 612 York Beach, ME 00910 Seventh printing, 1992 Copyright © 1984 Edred Thorsson All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any fonn or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, without per- mission in writing from Samuel Weiser, Inc. Reviewers may quote brief passages. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 84-S0386 ISBN 0-87728-548-9 MG Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.4B- 1984. Contents List of Abbreviations ........................................ ix Preface ..................................................... xiii Introduction ................................................ xv Chapter 1: Rune Knowledge ................................. 1 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 Origin of the Runes ..................................... 3 History of the Runes .................................... 5 Runic Practices ......................................... 11 The Runic Revival ...................................... 14 Traditional Rune Lore and Asatru ....................... 17 Chapter 2: Lore of the Elder Futhark ........................ 19 Fehu .................................................... 20 Uruz ................................................... 22 Thurisaz ............................................... 24 Ansuz ................................................. 26 Raidho ................................................. 28 Kenaz .................................................. 30 Gebo .................................................. 32 Wunjo ................................................. 34 Hagalaz ................................................ 35 Naudhiz ................................................ 38 Isa ..................................................... 40 Jera .................................................... 42 Eihwaz ................................................. 44 Perthro ................................................ 46 Elhaz .................................................. 48 Sowilo ................................................. 51 Tiwaz .................................................. 53 Berkano ................................................ 56 vi FUTHARK: A HANDBOOK OF RUNE MAGIC Ehwaz ................................................. 58 Mannaz ................................................ 60 Laguz .................................................. 62 Ingwaz ............................................... '.' 64 Dagaz .................................................. 66 Othala ................................................. 68 Chapter 3: Theory of Rune Magic ........................... 71 The Rune World ....................................... 71 Manifestation of the Rune Row ..................... .... 72 Elements ............................................... 74 Streams ................................................ 75 The Soul and Personal Power Concepts ................. 76 Basic Theories of Rune Magic ........................... 78 Chapter 4: Rune Work ..................................... 81 Foundations of Rune Magic ............................. 81 Runic Meditation ....................................... 95 Talismanic Magic ....................................... 98 Stadhagaldr ....... .. .... . ............................. 124 Sign Magic ...................................... ..... . 133 Other Forms of Magic ................................. 135 Appendix A: Pronunciations of Old Norse .................. 139 Appendix B: On the Translation of Modern English into Runes ..................................... 141 Appendix C: On Poetics ................................... 143 Appendix D: Tables of Runic Correspondences ........ ...... 145 Glossary .................................................. 149 Bibliography ............................................... 155 List of Abbreviations All translations from Old Norse, Old English, and other old languages found in this book are those of the author. An attempt has been made to strike a balance between poetic and literal translation, but often favor is given to the literal for the sake of correct understanding. In such cases, notes may be added. A-S B.CE. CE. GMC GO MS OE ON pI. sig. Anglo-Saxon (OE) Before Common Era Common Era Germanic Gothic Manuscript Old English Old Norse plural singular Transcriptions of Old Norse Terms Certain special Germanic graphics have been transliterated in this book. The following are in keeping with certain spelling conventions of the Middle Ages: ~ dh p th ~ 0 OONI Acknowledgmen ts I wish to acknowledge the help and inspiration given to me by my allsherjargodhi, Stephen A. McNallen. I also wish to thank my wife Nancy, without whom this work would have been impossible. Preface The present work is actually a second version of a manuscript originally written in the Armanen-system, which was completed in 1976 C.E. Soon thereafter, I discovered the deeper, long hidden power of the Elder Runic Tradition-which is transpersonal and fundamentally independent of the misinterpretations and manipula- tions of uninformed individuals. This misinformation has unfor- tunately been the hallmark of almost all books on operant runelogy which have appeared in recent years. In 1979 C.E., the revised manuscript of Futhark was complete. However, it has taken four years for it to find a publisher with the ability to bring it before a readership. During the intervening years, I have continued my investigations into the runes on all levels, and some of my ideas have evolved-based upon exoteric as well as esoteric work. Almost no changes have been made in the 1979 version, however, since it was, and is, fundamentally sound due to its foundation in the eternal traditional futhark-system. It is hoped that these more developed ideas will also be able to find a larger audience, and it is to that end that the Institute for Runic Studies, Asatru, and the Rune-Gild were founded in 1980 C.E. As it stands, Futhark remains the first step in learning the "ABC's" of the esoteric wisdom of our Germanic heritage. EDRED Contacts For information on the Rune-Gild, of which the author is drighten, readers are invited to write to: Runa-Workshop P.O. Box 7622 University Station Austin, Texas 78712 USA Two Germanic religious groups which are highly recommended, and in which the author is a godhi, or priest, are: Ring of Troth James Chisholm, Steersman P.O. Box 18812 Austin, TX 78760 USA and, The Odinic Rite John Yeowell, Director BCM Runic London, WC 1. ENGLAND Introduction Much has been hinted at concerning the runes and their magical power in recent books. However, none of these works has delved into the practical magical uses of the ancient Germanic runes and the system they embody, and in which they are in turn contained. It is the avowed intention of this work to rectify this dismal state of affairs, to deal with the practical side of the half-forgotten, much neglected runic system of magic and mysticism. This is still one of the most powerful forms of metaphysical thought available to the Westerner and one which he himself developed. The roots of runic tradition have been hidden from our view for several hundred years, but now the long-awaited age has arrived, in which the power of the runic mysteries will again become manifest. Among English-speaking magicians rune knowledge had been steadi- lyon the decline since the days of King Cnute, but their lore never completely died out-especially in Scandinavia, where runic incanta- tions (galdrar) continued to be practiced until fairly recent times. This work is intended to invoke the runic force in the minds of all men and women, so that their lore and mysterious power may again be born to rise to the level of their former splendor in the English-speaking world. The runes embody the greatest and the smallest secrets of nature, and they are the keys to those secrets-for they are indeed the secrets themselves. Too long have these magnificent tools of magic been allowed to atrophy in dusty tomes. Now their ways are again made known to those who would be wise. Rune lore represents an important part of the oldest tradition of initiatory wisdom-magic known to the Germanic world. The ancient Goths, Scandinavians, Germans, and English all knew the power of the runes, and they were bound together by a mighty guild of runemasters, who taught their craft throughout all the tribes of Northern Europe. It would seem wise for the descendants of these forebears to turn to the runic power to regain the depths of their xiv FUTHARK: A HANDBOOK OF RUNE MAGIC hoary wisdom. For if we are to believe their lore, these ancestors never died but rather were reborn, generation after generation, always keeping their secrets with them-until now, they are us. Through the runic keys we may again unlock these secret recesses of the soul and thus unleash wisdom and magical power for our own use today. The runes and the runic system, as an eternal expression of world laws, may be constantly put to new uses without in any way violating their timeless and archaic characteristics. Therefore, they are now used in systems of psychological integration and cosmologi- cal investigation-both of which are actually firmly based on precepts found in the Eddas. One of the most potent aspects of the runic system of magic and philosophy is its/openness and lack of dogmatism. Information given in this book is intended to be a guide for the talented and inventive vitki, who should use it as a stepping stone toward becoming a true philosopher in his pr her own right. Again, the traditions of the Eddas and sagas are the best indicators of the spiritual directions the vitki should take in order to get the best results. In ancient times every free man was his own priest-so it should be today. As far as a plan of development and initiation is concerned, it is suggested that the aspiring vitki should read through the entire book, developing a personal version from the complete system given in the following pages. However, even today there exists a rune guild that provides a more systematic initiation for the dedicated vitkar. This book is divided into three main sections, containing the knowledge, theory, and practice of runecraft. This, coupled with other viable books on magic, forms the basis for a fairly advanced level of initiation. It is impossible to express the vastness of a system as all-encompassing as the Kabbalah or Vedic literature in a book of this or any other length. Putting even this basic system of mainly practical rune magic in one volume has been quite difficult. It is hoped that further interest in the runes will be kindled, so that future books dealing with divination, cosmology, wisdom-lore, and so forth, may be produced. There have been several books and articles written in the last few years that connected the National Socialist movement in Germany with the runic cult and rune magic. Indeed, the Nazis made use of the runic forms in their most external and manipulative aspects. The beginning rune vitki of today may take some strange comfort from the fact that the runes showed themselves to be such potent symbols in the twentieth century! But it must be strongly emphasized that the runes and indeed the Germanic spirit itself was not at the heart of this "bureaucratic blasphemy," but rather it was a