Runic History:

[Marvin]

Hi Everyone,

Let me try this again. (The first didn't upload, maybe it timed out?)

I will put a book list at the end of the post, (to give you a more scholarly view of everything).

Each Rune Row has a slightly differing history depending upon which culture they came out of. The Early Germanic people, the Norse (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), the Frisians, Saxons, Angles, and Jutes, (The Anglo-Saxons), and the Celts all had their own systems of divination. Each were part of a series of migrations/invasions of Europe.

The Celts have Ogham, and knew about the Runes (probably through the Druids) but (probably) didn't use it much.

The Germanic groups had Runes, related religions, and outlooks, which differed somewhat from the Celts.

The Celts had the Tuathe De Daanan (The Children of the (Earth) Goddess Danu.) They fought againt the Fir Bolg and the Chaotic/Shapechanging Fomorians. They infused the Celts with the belief that they had three Divine gifts: Music, Magic, and Warfare. Another belief that the Celts have is much like th asian belief of Karma and Reincarnation. The Celts valued Creativity, and Individualism (much like the Native American Tribes do).

The Germans had the Aesir, Vanir, and the Giants. They did not (as far as I can tell) believe in Reincarnation. The Germans valued Order, and Political Unity. To them magic was a means to an end, not a central part of life (Ki/Chi/Prana/Chai/Mana/Medicine/Magic).

(There are nine worlds in Norse/Germanic belief. The worlds of: The Aesir Gods, The Vanir Gads, Men, Elves, Dwarfs, Fire (Giants), Frost (Giants), The Dead, and The (Other) Giants.)

The basic story is that Odin/Wodan was trying to stave off Ragnarok (the Twilight of the Gods, The End of All Worlds). To gain eloquence/poetry, he sacrificed an eye, to gain the runes, and their power, he sacrificed himself. For nine days and nights, he crucified himself (nailed himself to a tree), with no food or drink (much like a Native American Vision Quest). When he gained them, they burned themselves into him (bringing him into harmony with the universe), and through him came to us.....

Now, this is the basic story for all of the Rune Rows. But which of them were the first?

Different theories are being fought over in the Halls of Academia about which Rune Row (set) is the oldest. My pet theory is that it was once about 40 in number, wih feminine runes to balance all of the masculine runes in the various sets. (I am in favor of an expansion of perhaps the Frisian/Saxon/Northumbrian set to include: Earth (planet, Mother Goddess, and our home), The cycle of life (youth/adulthood/maturity), Life/Death (cycle of creation/recreation, remember life never stops!),
Motherhood, Child raising, Parenthood and others....

Books:

Recommended Books:

1) The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Runes By: Sirona Knight ISBN 0-8069-4994-5 $9.95 USD
Although it only covers the Germanic Runes, it has a lot of casts, and many magical runic practices.
(This one fits in the palm of my hand!)

2) The Complete Illustrated Guide to Runes By: Nigel Pennick ISBN 1-86204-100-8 $19.95 USD
This one covers all of the classic rune sets (even the Armanen). It has history, some runic practices, etc..... (It is a large book!)

Not Recommended Books:

Books by Edrid Thorson.

Why? Every magical system colors its practitioners, just as every practitioner colors their magical system. Mr. Thorson is very good at what he does, but he started in the Armanen System.
This system came out of German Nationalism (the NAZIs) and their beliefs.

If the Nazis had won, none of us would be able to openly discuss many of the things that we can openly. I couldn't be friends with Aurora, or Gisela, (or God forbid Dominatrix!) I couldn't teach my kids or have my picture taken with them. I could (probably?) talk to Richard, or Thomas, maybe.

Me, I tend to like everyone (who lets me!) And I will not abide being told who to see/talk to, who I can buy from, interact with, etc....

The Armanen Runic System (though today sanitized) still has that stigma, and I would rather that all of you start with the Classic systems, that have less of a bias as to race, class, color, etc.

I hope that this helps all of you,

Marvin

[Cowhead]

Marvin,

Thank you for this, and for your detailed replies to some of my questions in another thread. There's lots of interesting material here -- it will take me a day or two to digest it, I suspect. You're very generous with your knowledge and your time, and I appreciate it.

Cheers!

-- Cowhead

[Marvin]

Hi Guy,

Any time! It gives me incentive to get better! Which gets harder as you get older/married/kids etc.....

So, Thank You!

Later,

Marvin

[Aurora]

Marvin:

Thanks for sharing the history data. There is a lot of interesting information. It seem that the formal study of the Runes is not so simple as I was thinking.

Love,
Aurora

[Marvin]

Hey Lady,

Just remember, the runes can be used without history, etc... in a sense all you need is your intuition/feel for the information coming to you. The reading that you did for me when my mom had surgery was right on the money! It warned me to have flexibility, and to be aware, two things that without which I world have been blindsided by events both that day and since.......
to praphrase: It's better to bend like the bamboo under the snow, than break like the oak tree under the weight....
BTW, I now Owe you a favor/reading!
(BTW, my Totem is a 900 lbs. White Tiger. Don't know if it's a Tom or Queen, you usually don't ask! It sleeps a lot, hence the name I was given...... Sleeping Tiger)
And that's part of my medicine...........
(Sometimes, All I think he/she stays around me for is that I'm a fire sign (Sagi) LOL! ./}

Take Care,

Marvin