The Nine Doors of Midgard: A Complete Curriculum of Rune Magic

by Edred Thorsson

Through nine "lessons" or stages in a graded curriculum, this book takes the rune student from a stage in which no previous knowledge of runes or esoteric work is assumed to a fairly advanced stage of initiation.

Genres: Magic, Divination, Magick, Paganism, Occult, Nonfiction, History

279 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Stephen Edred Flowers (born 1953) also known by the pen-name Edred Thorsson, is an American Runologist and proponent of occultism and Germanic mysticism. He has over two dozen published books and hundreds of published papers on a disparate range of subjects. Flowers advocates "Esoteric Runology" or "Odianism", an occultist version of Germanic Neopaganism.

Reviews

[Äsruþr Cyneaþsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essentially a curriculum of the Rune-gild, Thorsson here presents a complete system of runic initiation and self-deification along the lines taken by Odin. Difficult and lengthy application of the processes contained within this work will lead to the remanifestation of the self. The density and difficulty of some of these concepts will deter the novice and rightly so. Excellent and essential for those who shall.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally I was going to use this book for a year and a day rune training. I have read most of his books and have been working with runes for 7 years so I finished my courses and reading this book sooner. The lesson plan that Thorsson created is for at least 5 years. I did it in less for the reasons I stated above.

This book is fantastic if you want to truly understand the Elder Futhark. Each chapter has exercises, lists of literature to read, and meditations to work on. Nine Doors of Midgard will show you how to memorise, cast runes, write your own rune poetry, galdor, and stadha (rune yoga). There is also information about the Nine Realms. I found the map of Yggdrasil to be incorrect because I use the Edda as a source and my personal gnosis.

The section on seidr I found to be very short. Some pathwork is also done with the runes in order to reach the other realms. I don't like the information given on pathworking. It's reckless and dumb. A better book for pathworking would be The Pathwalker's Guide to the Nine Worlds by Raven Kaldera.

All in all not bad, but could be better. Then again I don't just work with Oden so that could be it too.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the compiled curriculum for new members of the Rune Gild, an organization that Thorsson had been running for a few years at the time of publication, and which is still active today. It is not a book one can just read and “know,” it is a structured work plan that takes many months or even years to complete. Really, as a curriculum, it is likely to be more effective for someone who works in the context of a school like the Rune Gild, or at least in combination/contact with other like-minded students of varying levels of accomplishment.

The training one gets with this book is how to work with the runes and more generally with Norse-inspired magic, as interpreted through the particular lens of Thorsson’s own work. Thorsson describes his approach as “Odian,” rather than “Odinist,” with “Odinists” being worshippers of the god Odin and by extension the other Norse gods, while an Odian aspires towards self-deification using Odin and the Norse pantheon as models or goals to attain. This puts Thorsson’s approach somewhat outside of the mainstream of neo-pagan or “heathen” religion, and even makes it somewhat “dark” or dangerous in that context. Self-deification is most frequently associated with “Left Hand Path” or Satanic groups, although anyone who reads this expecting a Nordic version of the Satanic Bible is sure to be disappointed.

I do think that this book will have some value outside of its original intent, however, in serving as a very well-defined curriculum of work in magical training. Others looking to construct that kind of training in occult or magical systems might be able to glean definite guidance by referring to it.

[Raven Wells · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Reviewers were almost unanimous in their opinion that this manual was only for those totally dedicated to the Germanic path of personal development”

This quote from one of the many introductions to the revised editions stated it perfectly. This book is ONLY for people interested in their particular Gild. There’s not much to use for other paths.

The author constantly promotes the Gild which makes this book basically a pamphlet with examples for their tradition. He constantly refers to his other books which gets annoying.

If you’re interested in spending 5+ years doing the work DAILY for this gild, go ahead and purchase this. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

[Mathew Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who wishes to become serious about learning the runes needs to read this book.

Understand that it's not just a read through, but one which will challenge you.

I could not more highly recommend this book. Very wonderfully well done.

[Ben Neis-Eldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to find a more comprehensive curriculum of norse magic. Thorsson and his Rune Guild take Asatru and Odinism to another level of personalization that it very true to the journey of a vitki.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Esoteric knowledge. Will use this book in my personal works.

[Flora Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book, full of exercises i strongly recommend.

[Angele Lauzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well laid out. Informative easy comprehension

[Silfrinlogi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good insight.