Secret of the Runes

Rating:
Summary: Von List was a fraud
Review: As a piece of history, The Secret of the Runes is a fine addition to anyone's library on the runes. As a good source of information on the runes of the ancient Germanic peoples it is a total flop.

Von List made much of his interpretations of the meanings of the runes out of whole cloth. He lists eighteen runes as his futhork (which we know never existed before his writings) based on the eighteen runic formulas within the Havamal. As we have discovered since (and was probably known in his time) these eighteen stanzas in the Havamal are not associated to just one rune, but to a series of "bind-rune."

If you are looking for a piece of history, I highly recomend this book. Otherwise, get one of the books by Edred Thorson or Freya Aswinn.

Rating:
Summary: Von List was a fraud
Review: As a piece of history, The Secret of the Runes is a fine addition to anyone's library on the runes. As a good source of information on the runes of the ancient Germanic peoples it is a total flop.

Von List made much of his interpretations of the meanings of the runes out of whole cloth. He lists eighteen runes as his futhork (which we know never existed before his writings) based on the eighteen runic formulas within the Havamal. As we have discovered since (and was probably known in his time) these eighteen stanzas in the Havamal are not associated to just one rune, but to a series of "bind-rune."

If you are looking for a piece of history, I highly recomend this book. Otherwise, get one of the books by Edred Thorson or Freya Aswinn.

Rating:
Summary: Armanen Futhork
Review: For misinformed poeple, this book has no direct relation to National Socialism and its doctrines. Guido von List has definetely been demonized by modern propaganda and subjective historians. The Secret of The Runes has little to do with National Socialism, and for those who expect a clear connection, with List being the monstruous, unsrpululous racist-nationalist as he is usually presented, it will be a disappointment. However, I still recommend it to anyone who holds an interest in the occult aspects of the Third Reich and Occult Organizations in the German speaking lands in post-World War I Europe. It is, after all, a question of interpretation. It may prove informative and of special interest to students of the roots of Nazi ideology and symbolism after reading Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke's "The Occult Roots Of Nazism".

Rating:
Summary: The Source for True Armanen Runelore
Review: Guido von List was the leader of the Armanen-Orden, the single most important magical order of the 20th century. This book deserves to be on every thinking Odinist/Asatruar bookshelf... Many of List's ideas influenced the most important thinkers of the modern Heathen revival, including Edred Thorsson.

The Armanen-Orden still survives, and von List's Futhork is no less powerful today than it was when it was revealed to him in 1903. In English speaking lands, Rune-School-Armanen continues his tradition - [...]

BUY THIS BOOK!

Rating:
Summary: Guido von List - Aryan Prophet and Rune Magician.
Review: Made available through the efforts of translator Stephen E. Flowers, _The Secret of the Runes_ is a unique work by the German Ariosophist and Volkish rune magician Guido (von) List. Guido von List was an important figure among occultists and Pan Germanic nationalists who borrowed from the Theosophy of Madame H. P. Blavatsky as well as ancient Aryan (Teutonic and Indian) legend to create a unique system of rune magic. From his childhood days, Guido List was prone to mystical fantasy, and at a young age visited the catacombs under the Saint Stephen's Cathedral in his native Vienna and declared that he would build a Temple to Wotan there. Taking his inspiration from early Germanic religion (Wotanism, or Wuotanism) including references from Tacitus and the Eddas, neoromanticism, and later incorporating elements from Theosophy, Guido List developed a system of Armanenism which was supposedly the earliest belief system of the Germanic (Aryan) tribes. In this book, Guido List explains the role of the runes in uncovering early Germanic belief. An important substructure underlying von List's conceptions is his baptism into Roman Catholicism, which he believes serves as a cover for more ancient pagan beliefs which have been subsumed by Christianity. List shows the importance of the runes and the unique meaning of each of the runic elements. Subsequently he shows how the runes were incorporated into such systems as heraldry, freemasonry, folk tradition and belief, and even into baked goods and pastries, as well as holidays. List notes that early Germanic (Aryan) society consisted of individuals who served as farmers with three principal classes (castes), that of the peasantry, the military, and the nobility/intellegentsia (Armanen). List defines an occult doctrine in which he outlines what Flowers translates as the "biune-bifidic-dyad", the "triune-trifidic-triad", and the "multifidic multiune-multiplicity". List shows how each of these relates to God and the need for man to conform his will (his ego) to that of God. List also presents a system of reincarnation in which Aryan individuals fallen in battle are taken up into Walhalla. In fact, List himself was to write another important novel named _Carnuntum_ dealing with the Germans under the Roman empire as well as encounter an individual named Tarnhari who was a supposed reincarnation of an Aryan chieftain. List incorporated racial notions of Aryan supremacy into his writings and of course was politically aligned with Pan German nationalists who wanted to see Austria united with the other Germanies. List's ideas were used to found a masonic society, which later was to embrace National Socialism. Subsequently, many indidividuals associated with National Socialism and the NSDAP were to examine List's ideas and writings and find them interesting in furthering their own agenda. Hopefully, further materials of List's will be made available in English one day; however, currently this remains one of the few available items for those interested in studying this individual, Volkish prophet and Ariosophist in the late Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries.

Rating:
Summary: Guido von List - Aryan Prophet and Rune Magician.
Review: Made available through the efforts of translator Stephen E. Flowers, _The Secret of the Runes_ is a unique work by the German Ariosophist and Volkish rune magician Guido (von) List. Guido von List was an important figure among occultists and Pan Germanic nationalists who borrowed from the Theosophy of Madame H. P. Blavatsky as well as ancient Aryan (Teutonic and Indian) legend to create a unique system of rune magic. From his childhood days, Guido List was prone to mystical fantasy, and at a young age visited the catacombs under the Saint Stephen's Cathedral in his native Vienna and declared that he would build a Temple to Wotan there. Taking his inspiration from early Germanic religion (Wotanism, or Wuotanism) including references from Tacitus and the Eddas, neoromanticism, and later incorporating elements from Theosophy, Guido List developed a system of Armanenism which was supposedly the earliest belief system of the Germanic (Aryan) tribes. In this book, Guido List explains the role of the runes in uncovering early Germanic belief. An important substructure underlying von List's conceptions is his baptism into Roman Catholicism, which he believes serves as a cover for more ancient pagan beliefs which have been subsumed by Christianity. List shows the importance of the runes and the unique meaning of each of the runic elements. Subsequently he shows how the runes were incorporated into such systems as heraldry, freemasonry, folk tradition and belief, and even into baked goods and pastries, as well as holidays. List notes that early Germanic (Aryan) society consisted of individuals who served as farmers with three principal classes (castes), that of the peasantry, the military, and the nobility/intellegentsia (Armanen). List defines an occult doctrine in which he outlines what Flowers translates as the "biune-bifidic-dyad", the "triune-trifidic-triad", and the "multifidic multiune-multiplicity". List shows how each of these relates to God and the need for man to conform his will (his ego) to that of God. List also presents a system of reincarnation in which Aryan individuals fallen in battle are taken up into Walhalla. In fact, List himself was to write another important novel named _Carnuntum_ dealing with the Germans under the Roman empire as well as encounter an individual named Tarnhari who was a supposed reincarnation of an Aryan chieftain. List incorporated racial notions of Aryan supremacy into his writings and of course was politically aligned with Pan German nationalists who wanted to see Austria united with the other Germanies. List's ideas were used to found a masonic society, which later was to embrace National Socialism. Subsequently, many indidividuals associated with National Socialism and the NSDAP were to examine List's ideas and writings and find them interesting in furthering their own agenda. Hopefully, further materials of List's will be made available in English one day; however, currently this remains one of the few available items for those interested in studying this individual, Volkish prophet and Ariosophist in the late Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries.

Rating:
Summary: Secrets of the Runes
Review: This is a classic book on runic magic. A lot of New Age writers [copy] his occult ideas. The Right misunderstands him and the Left smears him. One of the most lied about men in occult history.
This book is well worth the price. Even though many of his ideas have been used by other occult writers, and some of his ideas on magic are standard New Age rite, it is always interesting to visit the soucre where these rivers sprung. Hopefully, all of Von List's book will be made ready to an English speaking market.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: This is an incredibly interesting piece of work written by a truly enigmatic and fascinating individual. Guido Von List was an expert in Indo-European linguistics, Norse mythology, German folklore and had a broad understanding of etymology, anthropology and archaeology. He obtained this knowledge during his life-long study of the esoteric roots of pre-Christian Germanic society.

There have been many vocal detractors of List and his work, especially in the decades following the conclusion of World War Two. His writings have been described as "fascistic" and "fantastic". Perhaps List understood better than his critics did that documenting the racial/philosophical/religious/linguistic roots of the ancient Aryans was never meant to be a demonizing process.

'The Secret of the Runes' (first published in 1908) offers the reader a chance to explore many of List's basic themes in a very easy to read format. The translator and editor, Stephen Flowers, treats his subject matter objectively and fairly. Not once is there a hint of heavy handiness of politically correct whitewashing. The work is allowed to stand on it's own.

'The Secret of the Runes' is not a piece of work that will appeal to everyone. Modern practitioners of Wicca or "rune magik" will most likely find this work offensive for it's pro-Nordic, racial themes. However, anthropologists, mythologists and those who study language or the occult will undoubtedly find many interesting nuggets of information thanks to Lists' exhaustive research and insight.

Rating:
Summary: excellent!
Review: Von List presents the arangement of the runes as the northern Hiroglyphic script which transcends phoenetics and reaches into cosmic philosphies, which were a teaching of Armanen brotherhoods. (Ar= noble)

For example a certain rune will be known by various names for exampe Thorn is also Thurs etc. So basically this book presents a breaking down of the futhark and a reassembling. A short book that can be read in one sitting.