If you’re fasciated by runes, you’re not alone. Runes occupy a prized place in divination. The runes we use today in divinatory settings are actually thousands of years old, systems that reach deep into ancestral wisdom. It can definitely feel intimidating if you’re wondering how to read runes! But it doesn’t have to be. In this list of the 10 best books for learning runes, you’ll find books that teach you how to read runes for beginners as well as more intermediate to advanced books for learning to read runes. The variety of learning runes books here will tell you all about the runic alphabet, the history and culture of the Norsemen, and how to learn to read runes for divinatory purposes.
Be sure to check out other books on divination here on the blog:
- “The 15 Best Tarot Books: From Beginner to Advanced”
- “The 15 Best Advanced Tarot Books for Experienced Readers”
- “Learn Numerology with the 10 Best Books about Numerology”
- “Learn Palmistry with the 10 Best Books to Learn Palm Reading”
- “Learn Dream Interpretation with the 15 Best Dream Interpretation Books”
And now for the runes…
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Learning Runes for Beginners
The Beginner’s Guide to Runes by Josh Simonds
Get started on your quest to learn to read runes with Josh Simonds’ The Beginner’s Guide to Learning Runes, which focuses on the Elder Futhark runes. This guide to learning runes includes sections on rune origins, rune practices, and rune meanings. You’ll learn to create runescripts, bind runes, and use runes for divination. Brief (172 pages) but comprehensive, this is as book any aspiring rune reader will want to check out.
How to read it: Purchase The Beginner’s Guide to Runes on Amazon
The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum
Is The Book of Runes the best book to learn runes? Maybe. The Book of Runes by cultural anthropologist Ralph H. Blum is perhaps the most famous and influential book on learning runes out there; it’s been trusted for beginners who want to learn rules for almost 30 years. And it’s no surprise why: Blum situates runes within their cultural, historical, and divinatory context. Blum discusses consulting the oracle of runes, runemal (the art of rune casting) and runecraft with three ceremonial spreads.
It’s also nice bonus that this book also comes with a pouch with all 25 runes, so you can get started with runes right now. In that way, you’re getting not only a comprehensive guide to help you learn to read runes, you get a bonus set of runes to start your practice with runes.
How to read it: Purchase The Book of Runes on Amazon
A Little of Runes by Cassandra Eason
I love the “A Little Bit of” books and have recommended them here before. You can see the complete series on Amazon, which stands at present with 28 different books on all kinds of New Age, witchy, and divinatory topics. In A Little Bit of Runes, you’ll learn all about basic to intermediate topics in runes. For example, you get choosing, making, and dedicating your runes; basic methods in casting and interpreting the runes; rune magick; and creating runic objects.
How to read it: Purchase A Little Bit of Runes on Amazon
Runes for Beginners by Lisa Chamberlain
Learn the runic alphabet with Lisa Chamberlain’s Runes for Beginners. This. book focuses on how to read runes for beginners. Chamberlain’s easy to read approach takes the mystery out of runic divination and using runes in your magic practice. Some of the topics Chamberlain covers includes situating runes within Norse mythology, how to make your own runes, and detailed tables of correspondence.
How to read it: Purchase Runes for Beginners on Amazon
Rune Reading Your Life by Delanea Davis
This modern guide to runes steers readers on how to use runes as a tool of empowerment, self discovery, and becoming fully present. In Part 1, Davis introduces us to the runes. In Part 2, Davis includes a sample 30-day practice with runes. And in Part 3, Davis supplies modern meanings for the ancient runes. Some of the topics find in Rune Reading Your Life that you won’t find elsewhere are the psychology of runic symbols, manifesting outcomes, and runes in the world today. This book also comes with cards with the runic symbols on them so you can started with learning runes right away.
How to read it: Purchase Rune Reading Your Life on Amazon
Learning Runes for Intermediate and Advanced Readers
Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic by Edred Thorrson
Edred Thorsson is one of the biggest names in runic studies. Since he’s published several books, I chose Futhark to be the one that represents him in this list. That’s because Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic is the best book for learning runes at the intermediate level. Thorrson addresses a wide array of topics in Futhark, such as rune knowledge, lore of the Elder Futhark runic alphabet, the theory of rune magic, and rune work, including rune magic, runic meditation, and sign magic.
Once you’re done with Futhark, read Thorsson’s other, more advanced work. Find it all here on Amazon.
How to read it: Purchase Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic on Amazon
Lost Teaching of the Runes by Ingrid Kincaid
This book for intermediate to advanced student of runic studies focuses on tying the Wheel of Life with runes. Kincaid tells “stories” and pens poems inspired from the Northern mysteries like Gar and the Circle and Nighogg in the roots. In Kincaid’s book, the runes are vividly alive as she helps readers learning runes connect to ancient wisdom in our modern life. The book also includes guided meditations.
How to read it: Purchase Lost Teaching of the Runes on Amazon
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Runes by Judy Ann Nock
I have several of the books in the Modern Witchcraft series, which currently stretches to 10 books. The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Runes is the perfect book for intermediate and advanced rune readers. Judy Ann Nock’s book goes beyond the basics, exploring topics like getting to know both the Elder and Younger Futhark, witch runes, the Orgham runes of the Celts, choosing a rune system for you, rune keepers, rune casters, rune magick, and the difference between physical and metaphysical runes. There are a lot of rune books out there, but The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Runes truly sets itself apart with a blend of unique content, easy to grasp theory, and practical wisdom you won’t find in other books about runes.
How to read it: Purchase The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Runes
Taking Up the Runes by Diana L. Paxson
In Taking Up the Runes, Diana L. Paxson synthesizes major rune theories in one volume. This is especially helpful because you get all the runic theories explained and analyzed in the same spot rather than having to find and read multiple books. If you’re serious about learning the in-depth history, theory, and application of runes in daily life, Taking Up the Runes is the book for you. This comprehensive guide to learning runes also includes using rune in ritual and spellwork.
How to read it: Purchase Taking Up the Runes on Amazon
Wild Soul Runes by Lara Veleda Vesta
Lara Veleda Vesta’s Wild Soul Runes helps intermediate to advanced rune practitioners learn how to create a rune practice that works for them. Vesta goes over how to make a rune alter, create rune ceremonies, incorporate the Germanic/Anglo Saxon wheel of the year, and prepping for and beginning a runic practice. What sets Wild Soul Runes apart is how Vesta highlights the ancestral connection to feminism. The result is an empowering, often eye-opening look at runes.
