Rune Games: Osborn, Marijane, Longland, Stella: 9780140191264: Amazon.com: Books (original) (raw)
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A Rare Treasure
I bought my copy in the '80s, and only after collecting several shelves of rune books do I now appreciate what a treasure this one is.This is one of the few esoteric rune manuals to focus on the historical rune poems, and other literature of the period, for the esoteric interpretations. It is well researched, and honest about the parts that are speculative.This book sticks to the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, rather than trying to theorise about the Elder Futhark as most other popular books do. This puts it on much firmer historical ground.Given the multitude of far inferior rune manuals that have been churned out since this one was written in 1982, this deserves to be in the book hoard of anyone interested in esoteric runology.SweynThe Rune Primer: A Down to Earth Guide to the Runes
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Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2019
This book is both esoteric and scholarly. It studies the Anglo Saxon Futhorc, and connects dots which other studies miss because of their perspective. Recommended for all students of Runosophy.
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2016
After reading Rune Games I realized that many of Osborn’s and Longland’s insights have been hijacked by other authors without giving Marijane and Stella credit. That sucks. Even so, Rune Games still stands out above most of those other books because of the authors’ speculative process of unveiling the Runes.
While many of their speculations are off base and even go so far as to connect the Kabbalah and Christianity with the Runes, sometimes their efforts still bear forth fruitful and enlightening insights. For instance, their contemplations on the aettir are beautiful.
Some other speculations, or what I would call contemplations, revolve around the Rune shapes, their meaning and the animals, objects, plants, gods and other things associated with them, as well as, what types of men they are talking about, what constellations might be inferred from them, numerical and phonetic values, and many other things. Even though some of the authors’ conclusions are woefully incorrect, the questioning process they go through is one of the more valuable gifts they offer to the reader.
If we follow suit and allow our learning, personal insights and experiences to shine through as they have done, it’s inevitable that we will be blessed with many gifts from the Runes. That’s the big take-away for me.
Unlike other Runic streams, Rune Games is of its own genre in that it’s not influenced by the Purist, Thorsson’s, or Blumist’s schools of thought, but arises from their own studies of the Rune poems, Nordic histories and stories, Eddas, and personal experiences. While they are not historically accurate all the time, and while they fuse together conflicting systems, what they do offer is another way at looking at the Runes, and while it might not always be fruitful, sometimes it is.
For instance, they integrate Kabbalistic and Christian philosophies and cosmologies, which, in many cases conflict with the Nordic traditions. Even so, there’s still something that can be learned when comparing and contrasting these systems.
One thing to consider when you open this book is that the authors utilize the English Runes. This enables them to fit together many of their own personal philosophies, such as the introduction of a fourth aett. They do this to inject the Grecian Elemental System: Frey’s (Earth), Hagel’s (Water), Tir’s (Fire), and Oðinn’s (Air). The fact that the Nordic traditions held Fire and Ice to be the primary elements and the others to have arises from them does not deter the authors from projecting the Greek system into the Runes.
One last thing I believe important to mention is the authors’ stance on the objective power of the Runes. They believe the Runes have lost their collective power and only reacquire their magic through the “creative mind of the person casting the runes” which they state is done by reconstructing the caster’s “conception of reality, or a specific portion of it, and thereby” generating “a ‘magical’ change in his surroundings” (141). In essence the authors adhere to the belief that the Runes’ power and effectiveness is seen only through the psyche of the caster by making the unseen known to them. While I agree this is a powerful and magical gift of the Runes, I also believe they have so much more to offer.
All and all I feel this book has something to teach, especially when it comes to the speculative process the authors take. The free association with occult numerological and symbiotic relationships can turn up many a wondrous connection between the Runes, which in turn can help the caster see and understand the forces that are working within his or her life. That alone is worth considering. As for a stand-alone book or introduction to the Runes, I would not suggest this book. If you are looking to compliment your Rune knowledge though, the contemplative techniques, unique fusion of other systems, and eight games or castings have some value.
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Check out my books
Rune Yoga: Staða & Galdr
Rune Correspondences by Frodi Ingsson
6 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2015
Have not finished it yet. Content is as expected, all fine.
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2007
Runes were used in ancient times by the Germanic and Norse-speaking peoples of northern Europe for inscriptions, magic, and fortune-telling. Now Rune Games introduces the Angle-Saxon 'Rune Poem', and uses the runic letters as oracles, showing how the runes may be used like the Chinese I Ching for meditation and self-development as well as prophetic divination.
There are eight games, arranged in order of increasing complexity, designed to stimulate the intellect and the imagination, releasing potentials which are hidden from the everyday, non-magical mind. Players can project the possible outcome of particular aspects of their lives, and perceiving the degree to which they create their own fortune, they can take firmer control of their future.
9 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2007
I bought my copy in the '80s, and only after collecting several shelves of rune books do I now appreciate what a treasure this one is.
This is one of the few esoteric rune manuals to focus on the historical rune poems, and other literature of the period, for the esoteric interpretations. It is well researched, and honest about the parts that are speculative.
This book sticks to the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, rather than trying to theorise about the Elder Futhark as most other popular books do. This puts it on much firmer historical ground.
Given the multitude of far inferior rune manuals that have been churned out since this one was written in 1982, this deserves to be in the book hoard of anyone interested in esoteric runology.
Sweyn
The Rune Primer: A Down to Earth Guide to the Runes
5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Treasure
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2007
I bought my copy in the '80s, and only after collecting several shelves of rune books do I now appreciate what a treasure this one is.
This is one of the few esoteric rune manuals to focus on the historical rune poems, and other literature of the period, for the esoteric interpretations. It is well researched, and honest about the parts that are speculative.
This book sticks to the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, rather than trying to theorise about the Elder Futhark as most other popular books do. This puts it on much firmer historical ground.
Given the multitude of far inferior rune manuals that have been churned out since this one was written in 1982, this deserves to be in the book hoard of anyone interested in esoteric runology.
Sweyn
The Rune Primer: A Down to Earth Guide to the Runes
Images in this review
16 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2014
The only regret I have is there no EBook version.
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2004
I managed to get a copy of this book from a thrift-store.
I can't believe how lucky I was!
For anyone who wants to know how to use runes, and how to use them well, this is the book to buy!
I really can't stress it enough!
9 people found this helpful
Top reviews from other countries
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Canada on June 28, 2017
This is a book that came highly recommended and I wasn't disappointed.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 15, 2018
4.0 out of 5 stars Rune Games
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 10, 2010
I have read dozens of books on runes and divination, some better than others. However, this is one that is very different. It can get a bit technical at times and I feel that some of the authors' points are a little forced, but if you want a different perspective on the runes and how to use them, then this is for you. The authors use the Anglo Saxon runes and rune poem as their base, which is unusual to begin with. They then analyse and examine how the runes related to life in the times they were first used and how they were affected by and affected the new religion, Christianity. A different and interesting work on the runes.
One person found this helpful