Customer Reviews

Goddess Runes: A Comprehensive Guide to Casting and Divination With One of the Oldest Known Rune Sets

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

 

 

Although I believe Atwater's claims about the antiquity of these runes is wrong (I have personally never seen another historical rune system resembling this one except only in the vaguest sense, even though the author claims it to be older than the Elder Futhark), the divination system in and of itself is quite interesting. Unlike other rune systems, which are generally used in divination by pulling runes out of a pouch and placing them in a set pattern much like Tarot card spreads, these runes are tossed and interpreted based upon the spacial relationship between the stones.

Atwater also includes a good deal of information on how to interpret them and provides examples of casts she did for others with her sample interpretations.

Don't read this book for accurate historical information on runes or the cultures that made use of them as alphabetical and/or magical symbols. However, if you are just seeking a unique divination method, this could be a very useful book for you.

This book is wonderful. When I first got it, I read it in one day, because I couldn't put it down. This is the divination system that I use above all else. Ms.Atwater writes in a way that is clear and easy to understand, and has a lot of examples in her book. Although I am not a fan of the stickers at the back for putting on stones, they provide a good basis for painting or carving them onto various items. I am simply one of those purists that believes that if you are going to make runes, you don't use things like stickers;) All this said, though, this is one of the best books on divination that I have ever read. Ms.Atwater knows her subject matter and has put out a book that is completely original.

I was very taken by this book when I read it. In fact, I spoke to the author several times afterward - who is a very charming women. I found it to be a very interesting form of rune casting and another alternative to the elder runes. If you are an opened minded person, you should take the time to read this excellent book. After you read it, please visit PMH's website.

First let me say, if this book interests you check out Atwater's earlier version, "The Secret Language of the Runes" which is much better. This one is basically a version that has been reworked to appeal to the teenage Wiccan fluffy bunny crowd complete with overly dramatic language, emphasis on near death experiences, and arguements saying the whole world once worshipped a Great Goddess.

While the first book seemed to be written from the heart (even though the authenticity is questionable), this book seems more like a parody designed to make the author appear foolish. It's as if the editors or publishers were writing their own book with their own agenda and only included Atwater's text as an afterthought.

Even the author's life story section was changed from an honest account of her experiences, as included in the original book, to become something so dramatic it was almost silly. It seems the author wasn't too happy about this and seems to drop hints here and there in the book to the effect that she was being coerced into changing her book. In one section she even states that one of the publishers renamed her book to "Goddess Runes" so she went ahead and renamed the runes "Goddess runes" to fit with that.

Also, in comparing the original book with this one there are direct contradictions. For instance, in the original book the author specifically condemned purchasing commercialized, standarized runes (she says you should make your own) but in this book that paragraph has been deleted and replaced with one where she recommends buying them from a gift shop or other recommended vendors or making your own using the "stickers" in the back of the book. That's right, stickers!

The first chapters of the book waste a lot of time discussing Marija Gimbutus questionable theories about all pre-historic societies worshiping a Great Goddess and tries to claim supposed pre-historic origins for this rune set although later on the author clearly states that she hasn't been able to find much information about the origins of the set. Even so the book is advertised as teaching the oldest known rune set, even going so far as to say these "Goddess Runes" are the elder runes and the Elder Futhark are the younger runes.

I have no problem with people coming up with their own oracle systems along with their own interpretations for their symbols and I have no doubt these systems can work for some people, but I do have a problem with people who invent supposed pre-historic origins for their system and then try to pass it off as an ancient system to an unsuspecting, naive public.

Surprisingly, the original book didn't have those problems. It simply called the runes "The Runes of Njord" and proceeded to discuss the interpretations that Atwater intuitively gave them. In my opinion that was a far better approach than what was done in the "Goddess Runes."

Incidentally, her first book, "The Secret Language of the Runes" has a recommendation on the back from Edred Thorsson and is also spoken of favorably in his book about the Vana Troth, "Witchdom of the True".

This is my first rune book and it captivated me. I am a Druid initiate and have been looking for tools. I never really considered runes, but this book jumped right out at me from the bookshelves. Needless to say, I bought it and have not regreted it since. Although the back said it would explore "how to make your own runestones" there was only 1 page about it. Well, that was all right. Very detailed rune descriptions, with pictures concerning the examples of casting. I liked the fact that Ms. Atwater says it is _your_ energy and _your_ own interpretation that is important, what feels right to _you_, not others. Being a Druid, I value this. Great book and introduction to runes.

The key word on the cover is "runes", and many will assume that runes are the major topic of the book. Many will also assume this from the product description. Many may be disappointed.

This set of symbols is the author's own creation, and bears little resemblance to the characters defined by academics, and most other speculative books, as runes, ie the Germanic "Elder Futhark" runes.

Claims that this set is an "older" version of the futhark runes are just not supported by any academic source on runes.

By all means read this book for the Goddess content, which I am sure will inspire many, but be sure to pick up a reliable book on runes first. Any of these will do.

Runes (Reading the Past, Vol 4)

Rudiments of Runelore

Runes: An Introduction

Runic Amulets and Magic Objects

From an Asatruar's point of view: any book that says your interpretation about the runes is what matters isn't based in ancient lore. I'm sorry people, but no matter how much you try to use Thurisaz to help your love life, it AINT GONNA WORK. Why do i say this? In one of the Sagas, a rune master came across a sick girl; he found under her bed a whale stone with runes carved into it; someone tried to make her fall in love with him. Why didn't it work? because he used the wrong runes. If your interpretation is what mattered most, then the spell would have worked, wouldn't have it? And runes are meant to be made out of wood; rune STONES were 2 ton monuments.

If ever I need reasuarnce that the vast majotity of people in the world are stupid, I remind myself this book exists. It's great. Really.

RTR