Book Review! Rune Equations
There is always something to learn; there is always a different angle of approach. Whenever I feel a bit stale or unsure, I take it as a sign that it's time to take a deeper look at my practice. I work with the Elder Futhark. It's a language of connection with which I feel at home, and it's worked for me from the beginning of this part of my path. On occasion, I have tried working with the Northumbrian Futhark, but it never clicked. It seemed so foreign, so Other.
Enter Rune Equations, by Simon H Lilly. Here we have a well-laid-out book which is accessible to beginner or longer-term practitioner. Lilly lays out the runes, their poems, pronounciations, and meanings with simple elegance. This book is meant to be used.
In incorporating both the Elder and Northumbrian Futharks, Lilly arranges the runes in an almost seamless manner - those of us used to Elder only will be a bit surprised at some of the order of the runes, but it's good to stay on your toes, and he makes it clear as to why he chooses the layout.
There's been a long-going debate as to whether Dagaz or Othala are the final rune in the Elder Futhark. Lilly chooses Dagaz as the final rune before the last, Northumbrian, aett, and it works well as a transition - new day, indeed.
Though I have not yet done a reading with the Northumbrian Runes, I have been using Lilly's book as a reference for my Elder readings lately, and it has provided some fresh insight. I feel I might have been gettig a bit "rote"about my readings when I was at the shop on an almost-daily basis. Picking up this volume has shaken things a bit, in the best way.
As an example - I usually read Algiz (here, Eolx) as the antler or the elk-sedge (grass(*edit: a very sharp grass which can cut you if you don't know your way around it) along the river's edge), and take it as a sign of needing protection (offensive or defensive). Lilly includes "...the thighs and vulva of the Earth Goddess..." in possibilities. Thus, "expansion of life," and "harmony with surroundings" are also in the mix under "Divinitory Meanings." While there have been times when (as elk sedge) I have read it to mean working in harmony with the landscape (figuratively), the idea of "expansion of life" is a new twist. It is in keeping with one of the shapes that always springs to my mind - that of a prayer stance - arms raised to the sky.
The book is filled with such small treasures of "aha" which can bring another layer of depth to readings.
For those wishing to refresh, and add, to their language, I do recommend this book. It is available from the author at Etsy.
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