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THE RUNES GUIDE BOOK
The Runes is a hardcover guide to the Elder Futhark by Isar Oakmund, illustrated by Sarah Arngren Sharf (Galaxara). Written to bridge the gap between dry academic rune scholarship and esoteric spiritual writing, this is a book that holds both fact and philosophy without sacrificing the integrity of either.
The book opens with the history of the runes and written language, runic alphabets from Elder Futhark through to Dalecarlian, magic in the Viking Age through Seidr and Galdr, meditation and runes, and a breakdown of common misconceptions. An extended mythic retelling of Odin's self-sacrifice to obtain the runes sets the tone for the rune entries that follow. Each of the 24 Elder Futhark runes is given its literal meaning, pronunciation, written use, key words, full meaning, what to examine when drawing, powers of note, worth remembering, an explanation of Galaxara's illustration, and an original short story by Isar. The book closes with the historical rune poems: Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, and Old Icelandic.
25 original illustrations by Galaxara. One per rune, plus the cover.
Features
- Written by Isar Oakmund, illustrated by Sarah Arngren Sharf (Galaxara)
- Covers Elder Futhark history, runic alphabets, Seidr, Galdr, meditation and common misconceptions
- All 24 Elder Futhark runes with full entries and original short stories by Isar
- Historical rune poems: Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse and Old Icelandic
- 25 original illustrations by Galaxara
- Hardcover
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Runes?
A hardcover guide to the Elder Futhark by Isar Oakmund, illustrated by Sarah Arngren Sharf (Galaxara), written to bridge dry academic rune scholarship and esoteric spiritual writing without sacrificing the integrity of either.
What does the book cover beyond the 24 runes themselves?
The history of runes and written language, runic alphabets from Elder Futhark through to Dalecarlian, magic in the Viking Age through Seidr and Galdr, meditation and runes, common misconceptions, and an extended mythic retelling of Odin's self-sacrifice to obtain the runes.
What's included in each rune entry?
Literal meaning, pronunciation, written use, key words, full meaning, what to examine when drawing, powers of note, worth remembering, an explanation of Galaxara's illustration, and an original short story by Isar Oakmund.
Does the book include the historical rune poems?
Yes, the book closes with the Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse and Old Icelandic rune poems.
How many illustrations are included?
25 original illustrations by Galaxara, one for each of the 24 runes plus the cover.
Is this suitable for beginners or is it aimed at experienced practitioners?
Both. It covers foundational history and context alongside deeper philosophical and spiritual material, making it accessible to newcomers while offering enough depth for experienced rune readers.
How does this differ from Runes, Sigils & Bindrunes?
Runes, Sigils & Bindrunes focuses on the visual and creative application of runes, sigils and bindrunes, primarily as design references. The Runes is a deeper literary and spiritual guide to the Elder Futhark, with full rune entries, original stories, historical rune poems and illustrated mythology.
Is this part of a larger set?
Yes, The Runes is designed alongside the Runes Card Deck and Runes Cloth as part of the complete 24 Elder Futhark Runes set. It's also sold separately.
What is the physical quality of the book like?
A hardbound, canvas-textured hardcover, thread-sewn for permanent lay-flat strength, with a scratch-free 170gsm silk dust jacket featuring Galaxara's Odin illustration, and full-colour interior pages on 170gsm silk art paper.
