The Book of Runes, 25th Anniversary Edition: The Bestselling Book of Divination, complete with set of Runes Stones

I have been faithfully using this every day. It helps me contemplate things going on in my life. I keep a journal of what I pull every day and have been able to identify patterns which was very helpful to me in working on ways to resolve things and move forward.

I recently re-purchased this product, after losing my original set in a move. I have been using these for several months, when I realized it was very strange that I had never put a specific rune (Isa). I pulled them all out and laid them according to the chart and found I have two Wunjo and no Isa. This is obviously pretty disappointing. So, if you order the set, check your runes for quality control.

Great book, love that it comes with runes.

The book is essential for anyone interested in the Runes. If you buy the book, they send you a set of Runes with your purchase.
Very positive and lovely little book.
Sincerely.
Victoria Chapman

Being a person who knew nothing about rune stones I bought this and boy did it help me. These types of books are reference style but this one takes the cake. It really helped me learn the art and helped me understand the stones that much more. Great buy for beginners and expert alike.

What and interesting book it comes with a set of Runes even the unknowable one.
If you have every thought about learning abut the Runes . This is a good set and book to start with.
Mb

I was under the impression this would be a package including runes. Not sure what the point of having the book is without the runes. For the price, I wouldn't have purchased it.

Purchased as a gift. Great set with stones and Blum book. I've had mine for decades and Ralph Blum is the best. I give this to friends when I find they do not have this great gift.

Didn't like it. Too spiritually based.

Okay, to the obvious, Blum is not a traditionalist. His history is shaky, his western esotericism clouds and distorts, his use of a blank Rune and his Runic order are unnecessary and confusing, and his calls upon God via the Christian perspective is annoying. Also, his continued reference to the I Ching and Tarot as a source of comparison detracts and boxes the Runes into a framework that they are not naturally inclined towards.

Blum believes that when we consult the Runes it is not Universal Forces or Gods or external energies we are connecting with, but rather the Higher Self that calls back to us(39). This stance is a classical New Age/Psychological approach to the Runes. If you take him as an authority on the historical Runes, you would be mistaken, but if you simply listen to his insights and understandings, you will find somethings of value. His easy, non-rigid system is helpful towards loosening up and relaxing into working with the Runes.

One other issue I found disturbing is his God correlations. I know early occultists sought to find relationships between the Kabbalah and all other systems. And while I find this fruitful at times, sometimes the relationships do not mesh, as Blum’s Loki/Mercury relationship. I know they both fall under the Mercurial realm, but as gods, they are quite different (72-73). On top of that, the fact that Blum associates Loki with Odin’s Rune is suspect as well.

Rather than being magical or divinational, Blum focuses on self-cultivation and coming into the present moment. That is a good use of the Runes in my opinion. The problem with this though is that many of the Runes fuse together. Over and over again the author keeps bringing everything back to being mindful, look within, being fully present, having to let things go, and other classical New Ager self-cultivating stuff. While this is helpful for those who seek to use the Runes in this way, it is quite limiting in other ways. The Runes are so much more than reflective self-awareness scratches.

While I do not suggest this as a person’s first Rune book, for those who are interesting in seeing and understanding how the Runes can be applied to self-cultivation, Blum’s book offers a few insights and perspectives worth noting.
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My books
[[ASIN:B09K1RXHSS Rune Yoga: Staða & Galdr]]
[[ASIN:B09MD635J4 Rune Correspondences by Frodi Ingsson]]