Nightside of the Runes: Uthark, Adulruna, and the Gothic Cabbala
The book is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the work of Sigurd Agrell. It covers his thoughts on runes, magic and mysticism.
· Sigurd Agrell and the Uthark by Stephen E. Flowers
· The Secret Wisdom of the North
· The Uthark and the Runes
· Runosophy
· Man and His Souls
· Northern Sorcery and Practical Rune Magic
· Rune Yoga
· Runic Divination
· Runosophy and Cabbala
· The Uthark and the Nightside of the Runes
I have been studying runes for many years and was intrigued when I read a preview of this book. Traditional runes using the Futhark system begin with the rune Fehu. The approach of this book is the runes should begin with Ur (also known as Uruz) and be called Uthark instead. I find this approach to make a lot of sense after reading the evidence presented in the book. The diagrams are very informative and makes the information very easy to understand. At the end of Part 1 are a couple of sentences that speak volumes, “When you believe you have reached the bottom, new depths are discovered. When you think you are at the end of a path, you will realize that the journey has just begun. The knowledge about runes is not linear; it is cyclic. When you stand before the completion of Fehu, the gates of Ur will open.” (pages 129-130)
The second part follows the work of Johannes Bureus. This includes the spiritual dimensions of runes and the connection to the Cabbala.
· Prologue: Johannes Bureus, Man of the Northern Renaissance by Stephen E. Flowers
· Gothicism and Western Esotericism
· The Prophets of Gothicism
· The Adulrunes
· Esoteric Gothicism after Bureus
In this section the reader learns about the life of Johannes Bureus. We are told about the importance of the number nineteen and the years 1647, 1666 and 1673. The adulrunes are explained in depth and we are shown their connection with the Cabbala. Also, the author explains about Gothic and Gothicism along with Gothic architecture.
This is an amazing book with in-depth knowledge of runes. The complex information may have to be digested to truly understand its importance. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the study of runes.
