For Newcomers: Norse Pagan Books To Read (and some to avoid)
The Poetic Edda: Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes by Jackson Crawford
Iâll start off with some words of praise for Dr Jackson Crawford, his Old Norse channel is outstanding, heâs incredibly well spoken and knows his stuff. From analysis of stanzas of the Edda to breakdowns on the identities of different gods and goddesses, these videos are like being in a lecture hall out in the mountains.
When I first started reading up on Norse stories I began with the Lee M. Hollander translation of the Poetic Edda, itâs a beautiful book, and Iâd recommend it to anyone, pagan or not. I think we can all take something out of the HĂĄvamĂĄl. However, had I been able to get my hands on Crawfordâs (at that time unpublished) version, things would have gone considerably more smoothly. No hate towards Hollanderâs translation, itâs one of my all time favourites, but itâs arguably one of the more archaic renditions of the text, and can be hard to read at times.
Reading Crawfordâs version was almost like reading the Edda for the first time. Crawfordâs translation brings out the witty humor in the poems that frequently gets glossed over, and makes for a very enjoyable and profound read.
If anyone is looking for an in depth analysis of HĂĄvamĂĄl, go check out Crawfordâs publication The Wandererâs HĂĄvamĂĄl. Not only does it provide the original Old Norse text beside his translation, but also an extensive commentary on the text, and a shorter reiteration of the poem called The Cowboy HĂĄvamĂĄl, that Crawford wrote in a tone inspired by his grandfather.
Taking Up The Runes: A Complete Guide To Using Runes In Spells, Rituals, Divination, And Magic by Diana L. Paxson
Taking Up The Runes is one of the most comprehensive books on runes Iâve had the opportunity to read. Itâs got something in it for everyone, and Paxson is clear from the beginning that anyone can find wisdom through the runes. One of my favourite aspects of this book is that way that Paxson makes connections between Norse stories and poems to the meanings and definitions she gives to the runes. There are several instances where she points out the relationships between the lessons that the runes teach and the lessons taught in the Poetic Edda, offering a broad perspective of how the runes can be interpreted. Taking Up The Runes takes on a scholarly approach, in that itâs set up in a way that you could spend a whole year exploring the runes and learning their lessons. For people interested in the ceremonial applications of the runes, Paxsonâs book offers in depth meditations and rituals surrounding each of the runes.
Sorcererâs Screed: The Icelandic Book of Magic Spells (GaldraskrĂŚĂ°a) by Skuggi
This book is in the middle of the list for the reason that IT IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS. I was hesitant to even add this one to this list, but Iâve seen too many people coming across this book while throwing caution into the wind.
A good number of these incantations are complex and can be dangerous, both spiritually and physically. I am not a huge rules person. Itâs a pretty looking book and I know itâs so tempting to try these out, but itâs my advice to hold off on this one. On the other hand, experience outranks everything, and people donât get experience by not trying things out. So, if youâre interested in the Screed, I strongly suggest being extremely cautious with what you do with it. For someone new to the practice, the Screed on itâs own I would recommend solely as a academic resource.
That being said, the Screed has been an excellent asset for me and itâs beautifully written, published by the Icelandic Magic Company. Itâs a compilation of magic symbols, alphabets, and incantations put together by Icelandic writer Jochum MagnĂşs Eggertsson (Skuggi) from several different manuscripts. The descriptions accompanying the staves range from none at all to long page long instructions. There are also a few staves with strong christian influences originating from the christianization of Iceland.
The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum
Alright, PSA for this one. This book was the first introduction to the runes that I ever had, so Iâll speak from experience and my thoughts looking back on this book.Â
First off, I think that itâs important to note that Blumâs book is based in a lot of Judeo-Christian perspectives. Which is not wrong per say, but just something completely inappropriate to be in a book meant to be teaching about pre-christian symbology. Blumâs collective works can be seen as a reflection of his own personal spiritual journey, and biased in that way. Throughout his works I also noticed the presence of various christian prayers, that in general seemed incredibly out of place.Â
Secondly, after more experience and exposure to different perspectives regarding the runes, I can say with confidence that there are cases within this book where Blum has assigned his own meanings to the runes. It took me a while to unlearn the meanings of the runes that Blum assigned in his book. While theyâre not all wrong, itâs noticeable that a significant number of his written meanings of the runes are not historically accurate given the primary sources on the runes that we have. This is not to say that the runes canât have different interpretations and be seen from different perspectives, only that the definitions that Blum provides arenât always based on the source material.
Although I wouldnât personally recommend it, this book has a good format, easy to read and information laid out in a to the point manner. The rune spreads that Blum goes over can also be useful to anyone interested in learning about casting. There are things that can be learned from this book, but I think itâd be wise to take it with a grain of salt (or a lot of salt depending on how holistic your spirituality is)
Now hereâs the big one.
Rule of thumb: DO NOT read books written by Stephen McNallen.Â
Stephen McNallen is a white supremacist and founder of the Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA), a known hate group notorious for its racist doctrines. The AFA is listed by the Anti-Defamation League as an âextremist groupâ, and rightfully so. The Southern Poverty Law Center has added AFA to its list of hate groups, calling it a "neo-VĂślkisch hate groupâ.Â
A list of books to avoid, all written by Stephen McNallen:
Asatru Book of Blotar and Rituals: By the Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA publication)
Asatru: A Native European Spirituality
Thunder from the North: The Way of the Teutonic Warrior (AFA publication)
The Philosophy of Metagenetics, Folkism and Beyond (AFA publication)
A Runic Inspiration (co-author Maddy Hutter )
A Book of Uncommon Prayers (co-author Maddy Hutter)
Rituals of Asatru 3 vols. (World Tree Publications)
Asatru: The Soul and Initiation
Asatru Book of Blotar and Rituals (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform)
AFA publications are driven by white supremacist narratives. Be careful out there, research your books, make sure your information is coming from somewhere credible
Feel free to share more recommendations with each other below!
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