Revival of the Runes: The Modern Rediscovery and Reinvention of the Germanic Runes

Description

The scientific and esoteric history of runic studies from the Renaissance to the modern era * Explores the five periods of runic revival: the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Romantic period, the early 20th century, and the late 20th century * Examines the use of runes by the foremost magicians and scholars of each era, including mystic and scholar Johannes Bureus, who developed his own integrated system of runology known as Adalruna * Reveals how the Nazi misguided use of the runes showed a lack of comprehension of what was being discovered by scientific rune scholars of the day In this exploration of the history of the runes from 1500 CE to the present day, Stephen Edred Flowers examines the five periods of runic revival: the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Romantic period, the early 20th century, and the late 20th century. For each period, he discusses both the scholarly studies and those focused on the esoteric mysteries of the runes--and how these two branches of study were at first intertwined yet diverged in later revivals. Focusing in particular on the first runic revival, Flowers examines the use of runes during the Renaissance by the foremost magicians and scholars of the era, including mystic and scholar Johannes Bureus, the "grandfather of integral runology," who developed his own system known as Adalruna. In his examination of the runic reawakenings of the early and late 20th century, Flowers looks at how the runes were employed as part of a reassessment of Germanic identity, one school of which led to Nazi Germany. He explains how the Nazi use and abuse of the runes was misguided and revealed a lack of comprehension of what earlier rune scholars had discovered through their extensive studies of the past. He also offers a fresh look at the work of Guido von List and clears him of his guilt by association with the Nazis. Detailing the multilayered history of the runes, the author reveals the integrated way the predecessors of today's rune workers thought and conceived of the runes, highlighting how their discoveries helped shape modern magical practices and scholarly studies. He calls for a return of integral runology as was practiced during the Renaissance and before. By reuniting the two branches of runic study, blending the scientific with the magical, we make way for new discoveries in runology and a chance for a full-scale reawakening of integrated runic knowledge.

Stephen Edred Flowers, Ph.D., received his doctorate in Germanic languages and medieval studies from the University of Texas at Austin and studied the history of occultism at the University of Goettingen, Germany. The author of more than 25 books, including Lords of the Left-Hand Path and Original Magic, he lives near Smithville, Texas.

"Revival of the Runes is the most thorough presentation of the history and development of the runes, both historical and--most important-the magical esoteric side. This book provides various alternative theories regarding the origins of the runes and follows their trail from the 1500s onward (after a brief consideration of the earlier period), through the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the 20th century. The author also dissects and discusses rationally the Nazi specter very effectively. This work is an intellectual heavyweight to drool over--very academic and rich in terms of source material referenced in the footnotes and bibliography. It is a must for serious students and practitioners." * Freya Aswynn, author of Northern Mysteries and Magick * "Stephen Flowers's new book is a valuable chronological account that shows how the ancient wisdom of the runes has continued since ancient times and has been renewed throughout history by notable masters of the Northern tradition. This wide-ranging historical account of the runes is a comprehensive and erudite work that brings together many strands and historical currents into a coherent narrative. It is a valuable addition to the author's fine body of work on the history and practice of the runic tradition and deserves to be on the bookshelf of every person with an interest in the runes." * Nigel Pennick, author of Runic Lore and Legend * "Roughly two millennia ago, the ancient script of the runes was first codified, carved, and communicated by an unknown Germanic-speaking innovator whose vision absorbed elements of the neighboring Roman world. Although the traditional runestaves could later be employed for mundane purposes, their earliest associations were imbued with the sacred, and it is no wonder these stark and angular signs have exerted a fascination that continues right to the present day. The labyrinthian story of their decline and rediscovery, their use and abuse, is ably related in Revival of the Runes by Stephen Flowers, a trained runologist who is equally at home in the scholarly and spiritual domains. The results of his excavations are by turns exciting and disturbing but always culturally insightful and enriching." * Michael Moynihan, Ph.D., coeditor of TYR: Myth--Culture--Tradition * "The runes have enchanted people through the ages--the zeitgeist has been projected on these old signs from the Viking Age. In the 17th century Johannes Bureus combined runes with ideas from both folklore and Renaissance high magic. In the age of Enlightenment, runes and Viking myths were used for educational purposes in the Nordic countries. Most infamous is the Nazi regime's misuse of runes. In this book Stephen Flowers, today's foremost expert on rune magic, goes through different currents where runes are center. It is an invaluable contribution to both academic and practical esoteric knowledge of the mysteries of the runes." * Thomas Karlsson, Ph.D., author of Nightside of the Runes * "An essential read for anyone who wishes to understand the runes as they relate to the reawakening of Germanic spirituality taking place today. Revival of the Runes provides a thorough and scholarly history of the runes, from their origins with the Older Futhark, the later development of the Younger Futhark, the runic resurgences that followed their decline in the Middle Ages, up to the present revival of which Stephen Flowers himself has been an essential part. This book examines runology from a scholarly as well as the magical standpoint of an accomplished runic practitioner. Revival of the Runes documents the survival of the runes over time and their repeated return to our awareness, showing that for us, like Allfather Odin himself, the mysteries of the runes are eternal, just waiting for us to take them up." * Berkeley Harbin, Drighten of Woden's Folk Kindred * Acknowledgments Preface Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Introduction Binding Together the Ideas of Science and Magic One The Runic Tradition--An Overview Two The Decline of the Tradition Three From the Renaissance to the Baroque Four The Enlightenment Five Romanticism Six The Beginnings of Scientific Runology and Neo-Romanticism Seven The Turbulent Dawn of a New Germanic Rebirth Eight Runology in the Age of the Third Reich Nine The Runic Renewal Ten The Rise of Contemporary Scientific Runology and the Re-Emergence of the Rune-Gild Eleven An Integral Runology for the Future Appendix I Chronology of the Runic Revival Appendix II Runic Origins of the "Peace Sign" Bibliography Index "An erudite, wide ranging, and inherently fascinating study, Revival of the Runes: The Modern Rediscovery and Reinvention of the Germanic Runes is a deftly crafted, original, and assiduously diligent study of the history and use of the Runic alphabet in antiquity down through the 20th Century." * Midwest Book Review *