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Runic Lore and Legend: Wyrdstaves of Old Northumbria
A practical guide to the Anglo-Saxon Futhark and how runes were used in Old England
• Examines the 33 Northumbrian runes of the Anglo-Saxon Futhark, providing the meanings, historical uses, symbolism, and related tree and plant spirits for each
• Explores geomancy divination practices, the role of sacred numbers, and the power of the eight airts, or directions
• Provides a magical history of Northumbria, as well as a look at the otherworldly beings who call these lands home, including boggarts, brownies, and dragons
• Shows how traditional spirituality is intimately tied to the landscape and the cycle of the seasons
In the early Anglo-Saxon period, the region of Great Britain known as Northumbria was a kingdom in its own right. These lands, in what is now northern England and southeast Scotland, were the targets of the first Viking raids on Britain. This violent influx, followed by the establishment of trade routes with the Norse, brought the runes to the region, where they intermingled with local magical traditions and legends, resulting in the development of a practical runic wisdom entirely unique to Northumbria.
In this guide to the Wyrdstaves, or runic practices, of Old Northumbria, Nigel Pennick examines the thirty-three runes of the Anglo-Saxon Futhark and how they were used in Old England for weaving the web of Wyrd. Sharing runic lore and legends from the area, he explains how the Northumbrian runes are unique because they contain elements from all the cultures of the region, including the Picts, Britons, Romans, Angles, Scots, and Norse. He illustrates how each rune in this tradition is a storehouse of ancient knowledge, detailing the meanings, historical uses, symbolism, and related tree and plant spirits for each of the thirty-three runes. The author describes the Northumbrian use of runes in magic and encryption and explores geomancy divination practices, the role of sacred numbers, and the power of the eight airts, or directions. He also shows how the Northumbrian runes have a close relationship with Ogam, the tree alphabet of the ancient Celts.
Providing a magical history of Northumbria, as well as a look at the otherworldly beings who call these lands home, including boggarts, brownies, and dragons, Pennick explains how traditional spirituality is intimately tied to the landscape and the cycle of the seasons. He reveals how the runic tradition is still vibrantly alive in this area and ready for us to reawaken to it.
• Examines the 33 Northumbrian runes of the Anglo-Saxon Futhark, providing the meanings, historical uses, symbolism, and related tree and plant spirits for each
• Explores geomancy divination practices, the role of sacred numbers, and the power of the eight airts, or directions
• Provides a magical history of Northumbria, as well as a look at the otherworldly beings who call these lands home, including boggarts, brownies, and dragons
• Shows how traditional spirituality is intimately tied to the landscape and the cycle of the seasons
In the early Anglo-Saxon period, the region of Great Britain known as Northumbria was a kingdom in its own right. These lands, in what is now northern England and southeast Scotland, were the targets of the first Viking raids on Britain. This violent influx, followed by the establishment of trade routes with the Norse, brought the runes to the region, where they intermingled with local magical traditions and legends, resulting in the development of a practical runic wisdom entirely unique to Northumbria.
In this guide to the Wyrdstaves, or runic practices, of Old Northumbria, Nigel Pennick examines the thirty-three runes of the Anglo-Saxon Futhark and how they were used in Old England for weaving the web of Wyrd. Sharing runic lore and legends from the area, he explains how the Northumbrian runes are unique because they contain elements from all the cultures of the region, including the Picts, Britons, Romans, Angles, Scots, and Norse. He illustrates how each rune in this tradition is a storehouse of ancient knowledge, detailing the meanings, historical uses, symbolism, and related tree and plant spirits for each of the thirty-three runes. The author describes the Northumbrian use of runes in magic and encryption and explores geomancy divination practices, the role of sacred numbers, and the power of the eight airts, or directions. He also shows how the Northumbrian runes have a close relationship with Ogam, the tree alphabet of the ancient Celts.
Providing a magical history of Northumbria, as well as a look at the otherworldly beings who call these lands home, including boggarts, brownies, and dragons, Pennick explains how traditional spirituality is intimately tied to the landscape and the cycle of the seasons. He reveals how the runic tradition is still vibrantly alive in this area and ready for us to reawaken to it.
176 pages, Paperback
Published January 15, 2019
4 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Pennick
124 books89 followersNigel Campbell Pennick, born 1946 in Guildford, Surrey, England in the United Kingdom, an author publishing on occultism, magic, natural magic, divination, subterranea, rural folk customs, traditional performance and Celtic art as well as runosophy.
He is a writer on marine species as well as an occultist and geomancer, artist and illustrator, stained-glass designer and maker, musician and mummer. He also writes on European arts and crafts, buildings, landscape, customs, games and spiritual traditions. He has written several booklets on the history of urban transport in Cambridge and London . He is best known for his research on geomancy, labyrinths, sacred geometry, the spiritual arts and crafts, esoteric alphabets and Germanic runic studies.
He has written many books in German and has over 50 published books and hundreds of published papers on a wide range of subjects.
He is a writer on marine species as well as an occultist and geomancer, artist and illustrator, stained-glass designer and maker, musician and mummer. He also writes on European arts and crafts, buildings, landscape, customs, games and spiritual traditions. He has written several booklets on the history of urban transport in Cambridge and London . He is best known for his research on geomancy, labyrinths, sacred geometry, the spiritual arts and crafts, esoteric alphabets and Germanic runic studies.
He has written many books in German and has over 50 published books and hundreds of published papers on a wide range of subjects.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 19, 2018
I loved the historic perspective presented in this book, and how well Pennick weaves the evolution of the runes into it.
In "Runic Lore and Legend: Wyrdstaves of Old Northumbria," Pennick delivers the most thorough account of Anglo-Saxon history, mythology, and cosmology. His ability to weave their narrative into the use of the Northumbrian Runes and reveal their modern relevance is nothing less than magickal.
In "Runic Lore and Legend: Wyrdstaves of Old Northumbria," Pennick delivers the most thorough account of Anglo-Saxon history, mythology, and cosmology. His ability to weave their narrative into the use of the Northumbrian Runes and reveal their modern relevance is nothing less than magickal.
June 5, 2020
I'm happy to read anything Nigel Pennick pens, as he is a wonderful historian, researcher, and writer of anything esoteric. Here he focuses on a section of northern England and southeastern Scotland called Northumbria, particularly the Anglo-Saxon runes to be found there. They are not the Norse Elder Futhark that most people who study runes are familiar with. There are 33 Northumbrian runes divided into eight airts, or directions. Along with the names and explanations of these runes, Pennick writes the history and folklore of the region, which include entities with the wonderful names of boggarts and brownies. And, of course, dragons!
There were diverse populations in this part of the world: Picts, Scots, Angles, Norse, Romans, et al. All these cultures added to the various attitudes and actions, and contributed to the kind of runes that came into use. While Christianity came early, pagan practices hung on, and many were incorporated into Church practices. Many of the old ways remained in practice until fairly recently.
If you study the runes, and are only familiar with the Norse Elder Futhark, you will find the information here interesting and informative. And, if you are an Anglophile, you will love the folkways and magic practiced by the people in this particular spot of Britain. If you are like me, you will find this stuff endlessly fascinating.
There were diverse populations in this part of the world: Picts, Scots, Angles, Norse, Romans, et al. All these cultures added to the various attitudes and actions, and contributed to the kind of runes that came into use. While Christianity came early, pagan practices hung on, and many were incorporated into Church practices. Many of the old ways remained in practice until fairly recently.
If you study the runes, and are only familiar with the Norse Elder Futhark, you will find the information here interesting and informative. And, if you are an Anglophile, you will love the folkways and magic practiced by the people in this particular spot of Britain. If you are like me, you will find this stuff endlessly fascinating.
October 12, 2022
*Spoiler Free*
“It is from these ancient times that our traditional rights come, and it is up to us to defend them in the face of those who would take them from us.”
It’s always difficult for me to write a review for a non fiction book. I don’t know if it’s because it’s non my typical genre or perhaps my views don’t always align with an authors. Nigel Pennick, wrote Runic Lore and Legend (Wyrdstaves of old Northumbria), giving his readers a very short 146 pages on content.
What I enjoyed: I enjoyed several of the chapters such as the historical context as well as the mythological portion. These were really well done!
While I think that the runes were very important and a major reason for picking up the book, I think it could have been done better. I don’t pretend to know much about Runes nor how they work but I would have loved to have examples of how they work. Such as in photos etc. Granted, these tunes are very old so perhaps that part has been lost in translation and there isn’t a way to write them in a sentence or use them in a mock up. The way Pennick wrote them just felt a little discombobulated with a few facts thrown in here or there.
I really enjoyed the fact that I recognized some names in this book thanks to The Last Kingdom (show on Netflix). It was pretty cool picking out those names and knowing a little bitch about the people before hand.
Irregardless, I did enjoy many portions of the book and will be passing this one off to my husband to read.
“It is from these ancient times that our traditional rights come, and it is up to us to defend them in the face of those who would take them from us.”
It’s always difficult for me to write a review for a non fiction book. I don’t know if it’s because it’s non my typical genre or perhaps my views don’t always align with an authors. Nigel Pennick, wrote Runic Lore and Legend (Wyrdstaves of old Northumbria), giving his readers a very short 146 pages on content.
What I enjoyed: I enjoyed several of the chapters such as the historical context as well as the mythological portion. These were really well done!
While I think that the runes were very important and a major reason for picking up the book, I think it could have been done better. I don’t pretend to know much about Runes nor how they work but I would have loved to have examples of how they work. Such as in photos etc. Granted, these tunes are very old so perhaps that part has been lost in translation and there isn’t a way to write them in a sentence or use them in a mock up. The way Pennick wrote them just felt a little discombobulated with a few facts thrown in here or there.
I really enjoyed the fact that I recognized some names in this book thanks to The Last Kingdom (show on Netflix). It was pretty cool picking out those names and knowing a little bitch about the people before hand.
Irregardless, I did enjoy many portions of the book and will be passing this one off to my husband to read.
August 30, 2019
Runic Lore and Legend Wyrdstaves of Old Northumbriaby Nigel Pennick
Book Review by Dawn Thomas
176 Pages
Publisher: Inner Traditions / Simon & Schuster
Release Date: January 15, 2019
Runes, Occult, Magic, Divination
I was so excited to read this book. I have several books by this author and am always amazed at the depth of his knowledge. The book begins with the history of Northumbria. It covers the conversion from the Elder Faith to Christianity. The explanation of the airts is wonderful. I love the section on the Nornir and Web of Wyrd. There is an individual definition for each rune and explanations of the differences between the various runic alphabets. There are sections on magic, spells, symbols, sigils, knots, legendary creatures and folklore heroes.
This is an excellent resource for anyone studying runes. I highly recommend this book to anyone serious about studying the history of Northumbria and/or all types of runic scripts.
Book Review by Dawn Thomas
176 Pages
Publisher: Inner Traditions / Simon & Schuster
Release Date: January 15, 2019
Runes, Occult, Magic, Divination
I was so excited to read this book. I have several books by this author and am always amazed at the depth of his knowledge. The book begins with the history of Northumbria. It covers the conversion from the Elder Faith to Christianity. The explanation of the airts is wonderful. I love the section on the Nornir and Web of Wyrd. There is an individual definition for each rune and explanations of the differences between the various runic alphabets. There are sections on magic, spells, symbols, sigils, knots, legendary creatures and folklore heroes.
This is an excellent resource for anyone studying runes. I highly recommend this book to anyone serious about studying the history of Northumbria and/or all types of runic scripts.
January 15, 2025
This is the first book on runes I sought out specifically for information on the Anglican runestaves (named the Jotnar Aett, by author and runemaster Ingrid Kincaid, whose book I read first and whose spirituality much more closely follows that of the Norse tradition).
For the purpose of learning more about the runes, themselves, this offers a basic summary. A majority of the book is the history of the Isles, their famous battles, their rulers, who became their legends/gods, and eventually saints, with the enforcement of Christianity. It, also, had geographical information, giving further insight into the names chosen for Anglican runes, and its land spirits.
The bibliography is nice and long (even if the largest section are books written by the author), so I have lots of follow up reading recommendations!
For the purpose of learning more about the runes, themselves, this offers a basic summary. A majority of the book is the history of the Isles, their famous battles, their rulers, who became their legends/gods, and eventually saints, with the enforcement of Christianity. It, also, had geographical information, giving further insight into the names chosen for Anglican runes, and its land spirits.
The bibliography is nice and long (even if the largest section are books written by the author), so I have lots of follow up reading recommendations!
February 18, 2021
Very interesting and well illustrated.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews