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Hello everyone, Maybe this question has been asked before, if so I apologise.

I would like to know what are the 2 or 3 best books about runes for beginners.
Does anyone have any experience with runes?

Thank you

Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic by Edred Thorsson would be a pretty solid book to start with.
Rune Magic: The History and Practice of Ancient Runic Traditions, by Nigel Pennick gives a wider overview of runes through history in different cultures if you want more knowledge from a different source to contrast and verify, etc.

I read probably six or seven different books on the runes when I was studying them. These two are the best of those I read in my opinion.

Of course the Edda is the first adress regarding the runes. However, don't forget it is related to island and does not cover the whole area, also it was written around the year 1000 a.c. and has quite a huge influence related to christianity.

"Leaves of Yggdrasil" is another one I can recommend, but it is something you should read when you have already studied the runes a little bit.
" Helrunar" by Jan Fries is one of the best books in this matter, recommended for both advanced and beginning rune practicioners.
"Exploring the northern tradition" by Galina Krasskova for background studying.

I may come up with some more, but I am in a hurry atm.

Thank you for your help.
I have created a rune set. but have absolutely no knowledge on runes.
the main issue I have is that most of the books on runes I've seen are a little complex for an absolute beginner.
also there seems to be some different interpretations and systems according to different authors.
but I will check out those books you both suggested and go from there.
thanks again!

First you should also consider WHICH runes you would like to use. There is not simply THE ONE rune set. There are dozends of variants, differing from the regions and also the time periods, some have more then 20, others have less. Of some the general meaning is not even known yet.

Therefore you should first do a background check about runes in general and from which cultural background they are comming from.

the main issue I have is that most of the books on runes I've seen are a little complex for an absolute beginner.
also there seems to be some different interpretations and systems according to different authors.

Well, we are talking about a set of symbols which is meant to express everything there is in the world. Of course it is a little bit complex, if you try taking it on straight forward. Instead try to start step by step, first basic research, then one rune at a time for a basic understanding and then you will get a first picture what this is all approximatly about. But like any other direction one could spend a whole life in this metter and would still be able to find some new things.

The Problem with different interpretations of different authors is the same problem as you will have in any other magick tradition. The thing is, read the stuff and take what makes sense for you or what makes you curious and from this base you go on and find your own impressions. Those interpretations may only be your guidelines, runes are not something you can entirely catch just by reading books. In this matter I guess you will find the book "Helrunar" quite useful as it does not specificly follows the own authors interpetations and excludes everything else, but encourages the reader to go based on some basic introductions and recommendations on his own hunt of knowledge and to question things what he was told.

Ramscha

If you're looking for a place to start (and choosing one system to work with first is excellent advice) I always advice the Elder Futhark. There are many branches that come down from it but if you understand where they started, I think, that they're easier to understand.

The other thing you need to understand when working with runes is the culture in which they come from. Way back when - the rune for wealth means cattle. HUH? [confused2] Well, in that culture you could measure a persons wealth by the size of their herds. Without that cultural understanding - you'll miss out on a lot of what the runes have to teach.