Rune Cards

Rating:
Summary: MAGICAL AND BEAUTIFUL
Review: Don't let this little set fool you-it packs a wealth of information in a subtle and beautiful way. It's a set of 30 rune cards in a little black box. Each card is in black & white, which may turn off a few people, but they don't know what they are missing! The artwork is really superb - something that I can't always say for many other decks that are done in color. Just because a deck is done in color, does not mean that the artwork is good! The artwork in this deck really brings the runes to life. I almost feel that the lack of color forces you to really see what is going on in the incredibly detailed pictures. Each picture seems to have been lovingly crafted, with a great deal of thought and insight. Each scene has the appropriate rune in and amongst the detail of the drawing. It's almost like a puzzle, where you have to find the rune. This actually helped me remember the rune sysmbol, as it is always hidden in a clever place!
Some scenes are more detailed than others; the Yew card, for instance, whose rune is otherwise known as Eo, or Eoh, is a masterpiece of twisted, winding branches and roots of a giant Yew tree, with a dragon curled behind it. There are human skulls tucked among the gnarled roots, and water pours from one of them. Hooded figures hide under the tree and two spindles lie in front of what I believe is a door under the tree. There is much in each card to ponder, so much to work with. These cards are perfect for meditative work or rune spells. The imagery is turly other-worldy and mystical.

Unlike some other decks, the cards are pretty sturdy and are a good size; not too large, not too small. The set comes with a thick booklet which gives a very thorough history of the runes. There is more information here than in many rune books that I have read. The author gives an example of the Three World System spread, which I did not really care for; I have my own speads that I prefer, as most people do. But the main thing is that these cards have given me insightful and meaningful readings like no other deck that I have used. One might very well ask, "Why have a card deck based on a rune system, which was traditionaly made from wood or stone?" Well, once you see these cards, you will understand why; that the well-drawn, well-executed card can give you details and connections that will set your imagination running. It gives you visual clues and rememberances that help you understand for yourself what each rune means, and help you remember the meaning. And because there is so much to discover in each card, you will find yourself coming away with even new meanings from the same card. The author does not claim to know exactly how each rune should be interpreted. He has a thorough grasp of the history (what little we have), but does not tell you that his way is the only way. He leaves plenty of room for individual interpretation. It is written in an easy, personal way, that is perfect for someone who is picking up the runes for the first time, and for someone who is an old friend to these symbols. In otherwords, no matter what your level of skill or experience, I think you will find the booklet interesting & helpful. I do wish, however, that the booklet was a book instead of a booklet. I also wish that the author could elaborated a bit more on the meaning of the runes. What is in the booklet is good, but I would have prefered more.

Personally, as I first began to use these cards, I really felt as if the long, long-ago world of the Anglo-Saxon people was closer at hand; as if I were truly connecting with the ancestral spirits of these people, and of the way that they saw the runes. I have used these cards for guidance, spellwork, and pathworking. I have also used them in conjunction with rune stones, and have found the comination to be quite powerful.

I can't guarantee that you will love this set as much as I do. To each his or her own! But if you want to engage in deep exploration of the runes, I feel you will really find these cards invaluable.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Well Done Rune Deck
Review: This is one of the Best Rune Decks out there only out done by the Power of the Runes deck. It is based upon the Anglo-Saxon Futhork which has long been ignored by most runemasters. The art work is done in a pen and ink style that is based more on the Christian influence upon the old Anglo-Saxon beliefs. For instance the Thorn card has demons and devils prancing on a card that is associated, even by the Anglo-Saxons, with a thunder god. Unfortunately, it includes a blank rune, the invention of Ralph Blum and never existed before him. Still all in all well worth having.