The history of the runes is mysterious. According to Norse mythology, Odin, the chief of the gods, hung himself in self-sacrifice from the world tree Yggdrasil for nine days and nights in order to receive cosmic wisdom. This was granted to him in the form of the runes. The word rune is derived from rúna, an ancient Germanic word meaning whisper or mystery. The runes make up an alphabet that, with local variations, was used across most of northern Europe from pre-Christian times until the thirteenth century. This book explains the meanings of the runes and the Norse mythology that underpins their basic concepts. The straight, angular lines of the runes are ideal for carving into bone, wood, or stone, or forming with twigs. Different methods for making runestones are described with instructions on how to use them for divinatory and magical purposes, from making talismans to petitioning the Norse gods. In addition to the history of runes and how to use them, this pack comes with 36 handy cards so that the wisdom of the runes can be carried with you at all times. The cards include handy carry-size information on the 24 runes and their meanings, plus some essential runic blessings and wishes.

The "Rune Oracle" cards are rich in beautiful imagery--along with the accompanying book, Rune Mysteries--are a shortcut to the esoteric rune system. Here, old American witchcraft and European practices meld into a contemporary evolution of the Northern magickal lore. Boxed set--25 full-color cards.

NOTE: THIS LISTING IS FOR THE BOOK ONLY. There is a separate listing for book + card deck. Revised and expanded second edition, 2018. New edition includes additional interpretation information for each rune and 17 new rune layouts. In 1987, women's spirituality foremother and wayshower, Shekhinah Mountainwater, experienced a "goddess-lightning strike" of inspiration and created a set of 41 woman-identified rune symbols for divination and personal growth. Twenty-five years later, I discovered Womanrunes and created an expanded means of interpreting, using, and exploring these powerful, magical symbols. Discover and explore... *the herstory and development of Womanrunes *how to interpret Womanrunes *how to make your own Womanrunes *how to lay out and read Womanrunes

The Book of Runes is something very special: a part of the ancient past and, perhaps, a part of your future... Based on a tradition over one thousand years old, the Runes are seen by many as a contemporary Oracle and collectively, have established themselves as a remarkable aid in practical decision making. A huge success with over 900,000 copies sold, since its original publication in 1983, The Book of Runes has proved to be a modern classic. For this, the 25th anniversary of the work, Ralph H. Blum has expanded and refined the runic system, making the Runes one of the most profoundly useful self-help tools of the new century.

This guidebook will help you discover the oracular nature of the runes and how to use them as a magickal tool for insight, protection, and luck.

Arthur E. Waite and artist Pamela Colman Smith's Rider-Waite Tarot (1909) is the most popular Tarot in the world. Today, it is affectionately referred to as the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot in recognition of the high quality of Smith's contributions. Waite and Smith's deck has become the gold standard for identifying and analyzing contemporary Tarot and other meditation decks based on archetypes. Developments in both visual and literary history and theory have influenced Tarot since its fifteenth-century invention as a game and subsequent adaptations for esotericism, cartomancy, and meditation. This analysis consider Tarot in relation to established modern and postmodern art movements, such as Symbolism, Surrealism, and Pattern and Decoration Art, as well as the concepts and theories informing both the dominance and the dissolution of the modernist "grid" and hierarchical priorities. This work also explores the close connection between Tarot and the invention of the literary novel and includes new material on the representation of Tarot in film and fiction. A new chapter addresses the growing influence of the archetypal "shadow" and "shadow work" on Tarot as an artistic form, narrative genre, and practice in the new millennium.