Customer Reviews

Northern Mysteries and Magick: Runes & Feminine Powers

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is the fourth printing of "Northern Mysteries and Magick" and if you are into runes or Scandinavian mythology and mysteries then it is easy to see why it has been so popular. Starting with a short piece on the northern tradition in perspective, it proceeds quickly into a detailed section on runes. For each rune it gives the Germanic, Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse names, the phonetic value and the traditional meaning as well as an illustration of the rune. Beneath this there is a detailed analysis of the rune in terms of the culture of the time, it's derivation when known, other words it is associated with, how it was related to specific Norse gods and myths, and various other pieces of information as appropriate. While the information is detailed the writing style is not very technical in nature and so creates a flowing, easy to follow read that anyone can understand.

Following this section is an excellent piece on runic divination including the nine worlds of Nordic mythology and how they relate to the conscious. Divination methods discussed include the basic fourfold wheel and the more detailed eightfold wheel techniques. This is followed by a very informative section on runic magic and traditional magic techniques and beliefs. Each of the traditional Scandinavian gods is presented with a detailed profile that includes their name in Norse, English, Dutch, and German, their primary element, secondary element, color, number, totem animals, personal sigils, magical items, the purpose for which they are typically invoked and the runes used for them.

The book ends with a chapter on feminine mysteries that includes a short piece on the practice of Seith (mostly the casting spells and enchantments), an examination of Odin and how he related to the feminine mysteries, and detailed profiles of the feminine gods such as Frigga and Freyja. For those who are interested in runes, northern magic beliefs and systems, or just a detailed account of how runes and magic were used historically and what they meant to the people of that time it is a highly recommended read.

While the rune information in this book is quite good. There are several deficiencies. First, her claims are not supported by adequate citations to any sort of literature or research apart from her own observations and those of a handful of friends. So if we want to do further research, we cannot rely on Aswynn to provide a trail to sources. The bibliography reads more like a recommended reading list rather than a proper bibliography. The result is that one simply has to take her word for everything that she claims. Not good enough. Second, she continually interjects anecdotal and snide remarks about Christianity. Although I am not a Christian and did not grow up in a Christian culture, I found this to be distracting. Her claims about the "hardiness" and the "warrior" quality of the Northern People are called into question by her claims that they were forced to convert by the sword. (How do "soft" Middle Eastern people overcome the "fierce" Northerners...this is a strange contradiction). Histories that I have read claim that key leaders converted to Christianity and that this was the way in which it spread. Moreover,is this pseudo-history at all necessary to her main subject? Aswynn's lack of clarity and internal contradictions make her claims less credible. Aswynn also tends to use a rather patronizing tone when it comes to modern Wicca. She claims to have progressed beyond Wicca to Asatru. Again, is this really necessary? While arguing that the runes can only be understood within the Northern Mystery tradition and framework, she "dares" to posit that an 8th chakra exists below one's feet. How is it that a purist in Asatru feels that it is not hypocrisy to bastardize another tradition's teachings? All in all, an interesting book as far as the runes go, but poor citations, personal bitterness which colors the prose, unnecessary one-up-manship, and contradictions within her own arguments detract from the value of Aswynn's insights.

This book gets two thumbs up from me. One for the material in the book, the other for the CD. Freya Aswynn is to be highly commended for her work in this area which is a blend of scholastic research and soul searching. There are some aspects that differ from a purely academic approach to Runelore and Northern Magic, but the book also illustrates the powerful results from this sort of magio-spiritual work which is rooted in academia and made manifest through personal experience.

The CD is chilling and awsome in the recital of the Havamal and vibration of the runes. I highly reccomend it.

this book is a must have. It is absolutely fantastic and has a lot of depth to it. Wonderful information on the deeper meanings of the Runes and their relation to the Northern Mysteries as well as a good look at the Northern Gods and Goddesses. A high quality book.

While Freya Aswynn's self-intention is strong, her research isn't. She makes some laughable errors and assumptions in Rune lore. Many instances can be cited, however, by way of example, her assignations of classical astrological signs to what she is calling the 12 palaces is totally arbitrary and distracting. Her knowledge of Old Norse is also evidently deficient, as shown by her calling the Hall of Vidar "Landvithi." That is a glaring error. The home of Vidar is called Vithi, not Landvithi. Be that as it may, she thinks her "Landvithi" means "white land" or "broad land." Vithi means neither. It means Forest Home. If she really understood the arrangement of the Halls, she calls palaces, she would have named 13, not 12. I might also suggest, rather than howling like a rabid dog, she try to devote more of her energy to delving, with a level head, into the real mysteries of the ancient tradition. The Norse-Germanic sages were far more evolved than her "hair-raising" CD might lead one to believe. The ancient tradition was not invented in Hollywood for the likes of Lon Chaney the wolf man. Perhaps Ms. Aswynn has missed her calling! Coming from this ancient Germanic culture that has never died, I, for one, find Ms. Aswynn's exposition of the material not only pathetically meagre, but remarkably funny. The Runes are cosmic mysteries that are closed to such self-important Hyenas like Ms. Aswynn. They can only be approached with a keen, clear, cool mind, stong and sharp enough to penetrate their infinite depths. Odin is the exemplar of the inspired aristocrat, not the howling lunatic. If Ms. Aswynn wishes to be a berserk, let her try. I doubt she has the brains though. The English readers deserve better.

A very interesting and in-depth look into the runes of the Elder Futhark, complete with a description and folklore of each of the 24 runes (three to four pages on each rune), a guide to rune divination, a section on rune magic, and even a section on Nordic Deities connected to the rune lore. Freya Aswynn is a real authority on this matter, and has written a brilliant and thorough book. It goes beyond an overview, and if one is serious about learning the runes, it is a dense, but incredibly informative and effective work. The accompanying CD makes it even more worthwhile. And for the amount of information included in the book, the price is very reasonable. This is an excellent buy. Readers new to runework should note, however, that there are quite a few different rune futharks, so doing a little research about which one you choose to study may be of some value if you're looking to "dive right in" to practice.

Its a descent book. The interpretations are plausable and Freyja Aswynn's writing style is very readable. However, her Wiccan background does show in this book and her interpretations are on a somewhat "Vanic" level on occasion...which can be problemic considering the fact that the runes are an AEsiric mystery and operate on a level of "consiousness" and relates on a logic based/Self level while the Vanic Mysteries (sorcery, shapeshifting, shamanic arts, ect.) are on a "nature" based level and tends to be based on intuition and feeling. Freyja does seem to add her own "twists" to the interpretations. At any rate it is good reading material and offers alot of insights into the mysteries of the runes. For a more AEsir oreinted look at the runes (as it should be), read Edred Thorsson's/Stephen Flower's works: Runelore, Futhark, At the Well of Wyrd, and Nine Doors of Midgard. I suggest starting with these books to lay a good foundation and other books should be seen through this lense. In the name of Woden, Sigurd, and the Great Wyrmtyr!

Out of all my rune books, this one is probably my favorite... well, tied with The Runes Workbook by Leon D. Wild.

It's a great book for beginners, yet it's very in depth. I love her writing style for some reason, its simple but with a touch of wisdom.

She covers the basics with runic history, rune meanings with a few pages dedicated to each rune. There are also rune meanings for divination and magic. She also includes alot about psychological and spiritual takes on the runes.

I don't have many problems with this book, just that she uses Wiccan holidays/wheel of the year, and while they're similar to the norse she actually uses the wiccan names. About the whole negative magic/cursing thing... I don't mind her inclusion of that, it's natural to include the darker side of things. However she could have put in an ethics section not to tell people "no, you can't do this", but to warn them about the consequences that come with doing that type of stuff.

Anyway... I really like this book, it's great for both the beginner and the advanced rune worker... I use it all the time for the rune descriptions, divination, and magic meanings. I havent found a better book with all of this information in one place.

Freya must be one of the most serious authors on the subject. She writes about the runes with a very strong, well studied background on their history. I find it obvious this is her passion and way of life. The CD that accompanies the book is out of this world! If you are a person who makes your own runes, her chants on the CD will vibrate those runes and give them power! A very interesting book written only like Freya could write!

This book is in its fourth printing for a reason: It is a classic. Not the sort that sits on a shelf to be shown off, but the sort that is studied like a college textbook.

Undoubtedly, Freya Aswynn has made the runes her life's work, which is what makes her books stand-alone. This reviewer owns seven rune books, only two are ever referenced: `Northern Mysteries and Magick', and Aswynn's first book: `Leaves of Yggdrasil'. Anyone can write a book on the runes, and obviously many do, but there are very few who work from the position that Aswynn does, and that is lifelong experience and dedication.

Her loudest critics are those that cite the Rune Poems as the gospel of all runic information. Even a cursory glance at the runes will confirm that they are not static, and that the Rune Poems are merely a starting point - far from a definitive guide. Freya's work takes the reader into realms unexplored, into unknown and exciting territory, something that makes many people very uncomfortable. But for those who embrace a challenge, who enjoy thinking outside of the norm, and who are tired of reading the same runic information rehashed, this book is for you.

I recently read another book that has done the same thing, one that asks the reader to remove themselves from rigid perspectives and tedious patterns, that book was `Völuspá - Seiğr as Wyrd Consciousness'. If Asatru is to lift itself from the quagmire that keeps it misidentified to Wicca and other New Age practices, then it must explore its most profound depths from the inside, instead of having them determined by those who view it only as history instead of the vibrant folk faith it is.