Product Description

Runes comprise a powerful system of divination and a path to the subconscious forces operating in your life. In NORTHERN MYSTERIES & MAGICK you will discover how the feminine Mysteries of the North are represented in the runes, and how each of the major deities of Northern Europe still live in the collective consciousness of people of Northern European descent. Chapters on runic divination and magic introduce the use of runes in counselling and healing.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #493201 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 251 pages

Customer Reviews

Garbled and confusing
The problem with this book is that Aswynn's approach is one of a ceremonial magician/occultist with a heavy Wiccan influence. If you don't know anything about ceremonial magic you could end up with the impression that this is truly a book about Norse beliefs and Runes when it isn't. Aswynn does point out that she approaches from that angle but doesn't differentiate what parts of her book are truly Norse and which are ceremonial magic or wiccan ideas. If you know enough to separate the two then you probably don't need this book in the first place!

It's probably okay for Wiccans who want to look at the runes but not set foot outside their own heads. It isn't any good if you want genuine Norse lore or a really good look at the runes because of the way it is presented.

Garbled
Contrary to the blurb on the cover, this book isn't particularly Northern or Norse. Aswynn, who to be fair is honest about her approach and background, tackles the runes from the perspective of a Ceremonial Magician rather than a Germanic runeworker. If you are Wiccan or a ceremonial magician you will recognise a lot of the framework.

If you want a book purely on runes and germanic beliefs this isn't helpful. There is a lot of clutter from ceremonial magic, wicca and general psychology (Jung), occultism and New Age theories that have nothing to do with the Runes or Northern religion. Probably about a tenth (if that) of this book would be useful to you. By the time you've weeded out the dross you'll wonder why you bought it. Also, if you are capable of weeding out the dross, you obviously don't need this book in the first place because you know what you are doing.

It gets two stars because Aswynn tries to be honest about her approach and at least looked at the Rune Poems.

HELIONS Recommendation
This is one of our official texts on The Norse and Runic Magic. It is well written, well researched and an excelent source from which to learn. A MUST for the serious Norse practitioner.