Customer Reviews

Esoteric Rune Magic: The Elder Futhark in Magic, Astral Projection and Spiritual Development (Llewellyn's World Magic)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Cooper's background in wicca and thelemic magic "corrupts" the runic content of this book according to critics. However, I find that his explanation of the aettir very meaningful in both divination and magic. I also found the astral projection section to be similar to my own trance travel while using runes as focal points. I keep this book close to hand and refer to it often, and I've quoted it in my website on runes.

If you've read anything published by Llewellyn in the last ten years, you pretty much know what to expect from this.

A cutesy cartoon cover designed to appeal to the teens and stunted young adults that form Llewellyn's core audience. The Norseman on the cover is the runic equivalent of Silver Ravenwolf's "Barbie on a broomstick".

Information that is inconsistent, unsubstantiated, or unexplained (for example the author does not spend any time telling the reader why the given names of the runes do not correspond to most other books).

Writing at a sixth grade reading level at best.

Llewellyn has managed to insult my intelligence - indeed, that of all self respecting Witches and occultists - yet again. So why two stars instead of one? Only because there is nothing in here that will cause harm to the newbie. Even so, you are better off sticking with Thorsson.

I have written a few very positive reviews of the runebooks I have collected over the years. Unfortunately, this is not one of them. Try as I might, I can not get past the poor writing, lack of basic research, and plain New-Age fantasy.

What little useful information may be sprinkled here & there within its pages is made worthless by the sheer nonsense of the context in which it sits.

If you want a companion to take you off with the fairies, this may be for you. If you are looking for something actually based on the historical runes, there are plenty of much better books to choose from.

Rudiments of Runelore

Runic Amulets and Magic Objects

Sweyn
The Rune Primer

Why are the runes such a rich topic for people who want to divorce them from their roots and enmesh them in other systems?

Cooper rattles off all sorts of correspondencies for the runes with no rationale offered for how he arrived at them. They certainly aren't traditional. The system he espouses is most decidedly rooted in ceremonial magic rather than Germanic lore.

Taking the runes out of their cultural context divorces them from their true power and can be dangerous to newbies who don't understand the forces involved. I refer any interested readers to the Saga of Egil Skallagrimsson for a demonstration of what can happen when would be runesters don't know what they're doing.

For purposes of learning to use the runes for magic, steer clear of this book. I gave it two stars because I found his telling of his astral adventures rather entertaining. Also, it's better than any of Donald Tyson's rune books, not that that is difficult to accomplish.

I liked the relaxation and visualization exercises in it. The interpretations of the runes are good, and the book is easily readable. I enjoyed it, but there wasn't anything really outstanding about it. I would reccomend it for people interrested in studying runes.

Excellent book. The author describes everything well and gives the reasons. Unfortunately criticized. Certainly to read and try. For me one of the best about Runes!

Excellent shape and quality for a used book, and it shipped quickly and with great efficiency. Thank you very much, I'm sure any future business we do will be as satisfactory.