Tag Archives: Ralph H Blum

The Book of Runes

Ingeborg Svea Norden reviews The Book of Runes: A Handbook for the Use of an Ancient Oracle: The Viking Runes with Stones: 10th Anniversary Edition by Ralph H Blum in the Bkwyrm archive.

Blum The Book of Runes

To people seriously interested in the runes, this one has become infamous. The research is way out in left field, depending heavily on non-Germanic religious texts and Blum’s personal experience with divination. Most other authors I’ve read would disagree violently with his interpretations of the runes: his notes on Thurisaz, for instance, say the exact opposite of Gundarsson’s or Aswynn’s. Maybe one of my current rune students had the best idea: “When I get home, I’m throwing that book in the trash!” Blum is also the author of “Rune Play,” which is just as bad as his first book.

You can find this book at Amazon, Abebooks, and Powell’s.