Discovering Runes

For this price, or much more expensive book, this one can't be beat. Just wanted a little information about runes after hearing about them and this book has it all for a beginner. The pictures are just lovely, lots of history, great purchase.

Beautiful and insightful book by very knowledgeable and experienced author. I would highly recommend it.

[This will be the second time I've tried to post a review on this title. The first was never posted.] Bob Oswald's book on runes reflects the care, attention, and obvious pleasure that also go into his handmade rune sets. Discovering Runes, along with Sweyn Plowright's Rune Primer, deserve a spot in any collection, and will appeal to those newly interested in the subject or those who have devoted much time and energy into study and practice. For those just starting out, both of these titles would save you a great deal of time, energy, and expense, since so many other titles reflect a serious lack of research and understanding. The pictures alone in Discovering Runes would be worth the price, but it's Bob craftsmanship, insight, and experience that shows on each and every page. A treasure trove.

If you are interested in runes mainly for divination and your own personal practices, and need some simple practical directions, then this book is what you are looking for. Bob has had a long experience creating exquisite wooden rune sets for sale, and using his own sets himself. He has certainly looked deeply into the old sources on runes, and has based his methods and information as much as possible on those traditions. There are plenty books of unreliable New-Age, and contrived hocus-pocus on runes out there. However, like his wood creations, Bob has made this book with skill and care. He is honest about both the historical information, and his creative insights. Well done Bob! Sweyn Author The Rune Primer

I just received my copy of Bob Oswald's "Discovering Runes", and I am incredibly impressed with it! Having seen his work before, I knew that his writing skills were good, and that his knowledge of Runes, and Rune making, was phenomenal, but this book is just ... well, out of the ballpark! It absolutely takes your breath away. Photo's throughout are full color, and beautifully set up with candles, flowers, lovely wooden boxes, and so much more! As an example, the picture on the back cover shows, amongst other things, an octagonal candle holder, with Rune glyphs on the outside edge, and a place in the center for a tea light candle. What great thought went into all of this. When I wrote to the author, complementing him on his use of candles, he noted that he, as I, use candles as part of ritual and ceremony. While he himself did not set up the layouts, it is clear that his energy is there - the energy of someone who cares very much about his work. I could spend all day talking about the photo's alone! There is an extensive bibliography at the end of the book, as well as an index, and several blank pages to make notes in. Topics covered include the origin of the Runes, using them for divination, ways to interpret them, using Runes in dowsing, BindRunes, Gandr Magic, and Rune transcription. This book can easily be used by students of all levels, and it is an excellent reference source. Perhaps more important - it is a lovely book, and gifts its readers with a "time out" from the day-to-day of life while they are journeying within its pages.