Northern Magic: Rune Mysteries and Shamanism (Llewellyn's World Magic Series) Paperback – September 8, 2002

Hail, and a toast to Edred and Llewellyn for a very fine & quality publication! I am so glad this book has been reprinted. A few remarks:Both Llewellyn & Edred Thorsson have renowned reputations that may appear to make for a more-or-less incongruent and unsuitable partnership.Edred Thorsson/Dr. Stephen Flowers is well-known for his highly scholarly, detailed writing style. He does not spoon-feed his readers, but rather encourages thought, investigation and action - reflective of his life in academia, a full (Ph.D) Professor with outstanding credentials - not to pass by his life experience & active engagement in the Arts Magical (he is no 'arm-chair' magician, and a browse through the Rune Gild, as well as Lodestar websites will spark a great deal of investigation in the curious reader).Conversely, Llewellyn isn't necessarily known for publishing 'heavier' academic material, but targets their publications to the gentler reader.These remarks are not at all to suggest that Thorsson is usually 'far too intellectual & thus, dry & boring,' while Llewellyn is 'fuzzy-bunny-beginner101-pop-publications,' but such generalizations would be an accurate consensus among some folks. I don't agree, however.In any event and to the point, this specific publication strikes an excellent balance which should serve to delight and enchant many readers from all corners of the occult niche genre. Thorsson's style here is comfortable and easy, but also engaging and captivating - perhaps his tone is just more conversational, and the brilliance of Aquino's Setian framework of Objective and Subjective Universes is utilized, which is always a treat to fascinate the intellect and spark the imagination & wonder of our very Being.Northern Magic is a series of lessons and magical adventures into the Viking-Era: some of the mysteries of the lesser-known, Younger (or 'Viking') Futhark are revealed (alone, I feel these chapters are worth the price of the book). Thorsson explores and refreshes the Lore, God and Goddesses, the Troth, and many other fascinating topics, each of which could easily be expanded into separate, stand-alone volumes. But the book is by no means a cursory glance, or 'teaser' of these highly engaging topics of interest - rather, he affords his audience with just the right amount of detail, variety, and operative methods by which the budding Shaman or Vitki can jump right and set to work. Rune magic, Seidh, Icelandic Galdor-Staves, Dutch hexology - it's all here and is a great starting point for anyone who hasn't explored Thorsson, and is a shining gem among the other fine publications by Llewellyn.

I have read a few books on the runes and enjoyed all of them. But this book was what I have been looking for. The teaching in this book will help you open a wider path for the odians. I am looking forward to reading and taking the time to jouerny inward and following the path of the runes on a more skillfull way of life. Edred Thorsson knows the truth. :) If you are true to this work you will learn alot. GREAT BOOK!!awilliams6

I enjoy this book and it will find a good spot on my bookshelf. I've been studying the runes and the culture of my ancestors for a few years now and I found this book very helpful. If you are studying Asatru/Odinism or Heathenism or just interested in more information on the cultures then I recomend this book. I am very thankful for finding this book and thankful to all of the people that helped to create and publish this book.

This was an interesting book for me, because I have just started exploring the myths and magico-religious practices of the Germanic peoples prior to their conversion to Christianity. Having read his other books on Runes, I found the small bit he included in this book a help in fleshing out some of the actual physical process of creating Runes.One of the first things I check, in a book like this, is if it has a bibliography and whether the biblio contains scholarly works as reference. Happily for me, it does. Whenever a author makes a claim, I like them to be able to back it up... bibliographies and endnotes (or footnotes) go a long way to making me take a book more seriously.

Well written and thought provoking. I will surely be going back to this book again and again

Wonderful source of information and perspective it's helped in my practices

I am a practitioner of Norse Wicca. I have followed a Norse Pantheon for several years and a lot of the things in this book do not coincide with the way I practice. I follow Skadi and Heimdall. In this book he basically said the that the way you need to go about this is to follow Freya or Odin. I don't think this is the case at all, but to each his own. His perspectives just seem a little skewed. If you would like a good read with a lot of useful information, I would recommend Norse Magic by D.J. Conway. It is also part of the Llewellyn World Magic series and is much better.

So far, this is my favorite book on this subject.