A Practical Guide to the Runes: Their Uses in Divination and Magick

by Lisa Peschel

This ancient oracular practice has been rediscovered in the twentieth century as we try to simplify our complicated existence.

A Practical Guide to the Runes provides in a concise manner:

• Complete descriptions of the 25 runes in divination
• Four rune layouts
• Instructions for making runes and accessories
• Meanings and uses of the runes in magick
• Step-by-step guidelines in carving runes and creating talismans
• Charging of talismans
• Differences between bindrunes and runescripts

Take charge of your life to make the choices and changes you desire.

Genres: Divination, Nonfiction, Occult, Reference, Witchcraft, New Age, Spirituality

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Omdog · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I stumbled across this at B&N I bought it on the spot and proceded to dog-ear it into oblivion. I don't think the cover is attached at all anymore, and the thickness has doubled what with all the post-its and scraps of note paper stuck between the pages. Marks of a good and well loved book.

This was one of the first texts I'd bought having anything to do with magick or divination. I was currious, and had flipped through a couple friend's copies of Blume's book which did absolutely nothing for me other than translate the runes to english characters.
Peschel has a straight-forward approach that makes the instructional portions of the text seem almost conversational. What I liked best about it was that she doesn't "Preach" anything, and she doesn't sound pompus when relating stories of her own or others's experiences. Also, she doesn't cover concepts too detailed or complicated for anyone just beginning a study in divination or magical tool making. One of the most important things I remember getting from this book was the sense that this was just a tool, a jumping off point.

The most useful portions of the book I found were the instructions on how to create your own set of runes, and both the interpretations in divination as well as in magical use.
The tables in the back are open to interpretation, and I rarely use them.

[Rianne Heartfilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really interesting if you read the small script.
I am interested in Runes and I like to write in my agenda in Runes, mainly so noisy people can't read it.

However I'm not interested in Divination. I'm studying way too much things for that. Besides I don't really believe in that kind of stuff. Okay maybe if someone else did it for me but now. With that I'm too much of a Hermione Granger.

The idea of the way of writing them an all the meanings behind it for magick purposes is on the other side interesting.

I bought this book in Dublin in the old Museum, when I was there two years ago with my best friend. I still want to go back, it is a lovely city. I've been there in the Winter, I want to see it in the summer.

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edition: Лиза Песчел, Руны для начинающих.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as it reads, its a practical guide to the Runes.

[Carrie (The Butterfly Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! It is so helpful, not only does it give great meanings to the runes but it also says how they are used it magic and the layouts and such are just perfect! Love this book so much!

[Ocean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Contains a few interesting ideas, but is a strange clash of 80s witchcraft and ideas about runes that result in creating was is basically gibberish out of them. Much of that can be a sort of take it or leave it sort of thing if it wasn't also marred with the occasional folkish (racist) sentiment. Despite not really being a text focused on Heathenry specifically, it contains a few mentions of racist Heathen rhetoric and concepts peppered throughout the text. Extremely unfortunate to find.

When it came to discussions of divination, the text pointed out that divination is not in the business of fortune telling. Then, in example after example, gave instances of fortune telling. So I'm not sure exactly what the author meant by that. It also contained a mention of using runes to get a status on missing persons or pets which I thought was just absolutely cruel and unethical and a great way to give yourself wrong information.

Also the rhetoric of "strength of belief informs magical power / efficacy" is repeated a lot in this book, which is a great way of blaming the individual for any failures of a system. Didn't work? Well you must not have believed hard enough. Also just an unethical approach.

I'd give it less than one star if I could.

[Vakaris the Nosferatu · Rating 2 out of 5]

all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu

About the Book: This book will teach you rune meanings, both the alphabetical and the ones for divination. With a lot of great tips, examples, and resources, it’s a well put together book for beginners.

My Opinion: There’s very little history. A lot of opinions and interpretations that don’t seem to be based on anything other than feeling. And way too many “do this, but if you don’t want to, then don’t do it“, or “you can make up your own rituals too“.

[Ashton S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informational, a great starting point!

[saturn daughter ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as an introduction to runes. I am currently completely new to this subject
and I am glad I got this book for my introductory studies.

I think the meanings for each rune is really good and straightforward. The layouts are completely structured for runes only and the author made it clear that it is not so good to use Tarot layouts for runes, as both work completely different.

The book had big font, nice pictures and the author could transmit her thoughts really well.

I liked to know runes are representations of natural forces and that to grasp deeper meanings from them, we ought to look around us and observe nature.

Recommend! ~

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introductory book to rune symbolism and interpretation. It's sometimes a bit too new-agey, but it at least won't overwhelm someone who is just beginning to explore the system. I recommend reading the Icelandic and Anglo Saxon rune poems while reading the section about divinatory meanings. It will help to give a better idea of what the original users thought about the system they devised!

[Phillip Goodman]

this book helped to convince me that i could write in ancient norwegian, i couldn't but oh well.......

[Robert Alvarez the Psychic Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Runes: Their Uses in Divination and Magick," by the late, great Lisa Peschel is a very good book about the Runes (Elder Futhark Runes, to be precise) as well as excellent information on how to make Magick with the Runes, Runecasting spreads, and practical and somewhat extensive information on how to make one's own Rune sets.

In spite of the fact that this book 171 numbered pages, it is truly abundant with information on Elder Futhark Runes, general and highly informative meanings, their ideal uses in Magick (for example, Fehu is ideal for attracting money, Gebo/Gifu for attracting a romantic relationship, Thurisaz for Protection and Victory, etc.), not to mention excellent information for creating one's own Runestones sets.

Although I have previously read books and taken classes on Runes, these last few months the Runestones have spoken to me in a way they never spoke to me before. Which is why I am reading another book on Elder Futhark Runes, as well as having begun a deeper dive into the Womanrunes, but I digress.

I also found the guidelines on preparing for Magick with Runes to be applicable to general Magick, Witchcraft and Ritual.

This book has officially become one of my reference books, and I think at this point between Tarot, Oracle Decks, Runes and Playing Cards, I might need an entire bookcase devoted just to reference books.

[Sudipta Nandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good start with runes. The chapters have appropriate flow of words and presentation. However, at first, the rune casting makes me think that it is similar to tarot card. But, then it becomes interesting. Especially, the rune magic and binding rune chapters. I love the significance of number 9 and the word "harmonious" for binding runes.

I love the application of directions, color and moon phases in the said magic. The rune casting cloth and rune bag are interesting too.
However, a little more is required for the cons of poorly binded runes. I mean, as a novice, I may make a irrelevant binding rune not meeting its goal.
P. S. The rune script is fun too.

[Idea Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book as an introduction to runes & in that it serves well. This book is like a directory of rune shapes with a short description of what the symbol represents. At the time I didn't know where I could get runestones so I made my own using clay & paint. This book does make it that accessible & is meant for that level of beginner. The other reviews indicate that it's a shallow interpretation & may even be biased by the author's own interpretation. Still, this was an easy book to start with.

[Jerilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice beginner guide.

This book is a nice beginner guide to make you aware and give you ideas. Magick, Divination is very personal and in order to find and be guided to your personal style that you are comfortable with and what works best for you, I suggest you read many books on Divination and Magick, including this book. One book will make you aware, many books guide you to what's best for you and your Decimation and Natick works.

[Toria · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's someone's personal perspective on each of the runes and also some other rambling. It's not thorough, not historical, and overall empty. Each rune gets only 2 or three short pages, including giant picture, and the "practical" instructions are sad.

Could inspire your interpretations if you're looking for that, it's just not what I was looking for.

[Kattie Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful and creative

I enjoyed the many meanings behind each rune and especially the one thing I feel that can be applied to any kind of Divination: think! Intuition has so much significance and I appreciate that the writer offers insight but still telling the reader not to blindly follow instructions.

[Raven Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource for learning the runes. I would wait to pick this up if you aren’t experienced to some degree in witchcraft/Wicca/Paganism because it does draw on knowledge you’d need to know a bit of before jumping in, especially for the last sections of this book. Otherwise, great resource!

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is so opinionated, and I love it for her. It's wild to me that some of the runes have completely different names than what I know them as. The interpretations are also different than what I've learned- but in a refreshing twist kind of way, not a "what are you talking about" way. I liked this a lot.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short read is great as a starter book for getting into runes! The first half of the book is a solid reference for doing readings and it had a solid appendix of various rune based information.
Even after reading it it will be my reference book as well for a while to come

[ᛗichelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
Read this book for the basics, creation of talismans & bindrunes, ceremony & general magickal workings. Do not read this book to interpret the meanings of the runes. There is no solid description of them. It was closer to the authors opinion, instead of the traditional meanings, and many of the rune meanings were later contradicted in the book.
ᛏ

[aegruam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple book intended for a novice of rune magick. Succeeds in its goal, though it is at times very dated having been published in the 80s. Still useful as a beginning tool and guide for beginning ritual runic practice.

[Serj · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome resource, not only does it have multiple descriptions for each rune and its reversal, but it also details how different tunes interact with each other. I have a lot of dog ears on this one

[August · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming little resource for my project! Definitely interested in making a set of runes as well now.

[Rabbit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basic & trivial

[Adam Kościuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Intro ;)

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super reference book on runes.

[Aelswith Haugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! And the author was a wonderful person, so sad to hear of her passing in 2020

[Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surfing and to the point with lots of valuable information for anyone interested in runes.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marking as read though it's really a reference book. More personal insights than historical.