Runic Book of Days: A Guide to Living the Annual Cycle of Rune Magick
S. Kelley Harrell, foreward by Nigel Pennick
(Destiny, 2018)
Aligning runes to the calendar has a long and rich history. From that tradition and building on the work of Freya Aswyn and Nigel Pennick, Harrell develops a detailed explication of the Elder Futhark and the annual calendric cycle.
Breaking the year in to 24 half month periods, a rune is assigned to each. Beginning with Fehu at the beginning of summer (June 29 – July 14), the calendar runs through the year ending with Dagaz. In this way the meaning of each rune aligns with the moment through the seasons, the harvest cycle, and the pagan sabbats.
For each rune, Harrell provides a detailed explanation of its meaning and how it fits with its timing in the calendric cycle as well as its relationship to other runes. These explanations include both traditional information and associations from history and recent rune workers, as well as the author’s own personal revelations gained during her years of working with the runes.
In addition to each rune’s meanings, Harrell provides a devotional and poetic affirmation. These help instill a deeper understanding of the rune and its place in the spinning of the year.
Runic Book of Days is a wonderful way to get started learning the runes. Begin on June 29 or jump in anywhere. Dive into the mysteries of this ancient system a rune a fortnight.
Even those with knowledge of the runes will find this exercise of interest and may even gain some new insights from the information drawn of the author’s own experience.