Tarot Fellow
Reading the Runes — Beginner Guide to Elder Futhark by Kim Farnell
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Reading the Runes by Kim Farnell is an accessible introductory guide to the Elder Futhark — covering the 24 rune staves, their Norse mythological roots, divinatory meanings, and practical casting methods for modern rune readers. Clear, well-organized, and free of jargon, it’s the ideal first book for anyone beginning a rune practice rooted in Norse-pagan tradition.
Description:Quick Specs
- Author: Kim Farnell
- Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser
- Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
- Best for: Beginners learning Elder Futhark divination, rune meanings, and casting methods
Rune Reading Beginner Book Grounded in Elder Futhark Tradition
Kim Farnell holds an MA in cultural astronomy and astrology and has worked as a professional astrologer since 1990. Reading the Runes is her practical entry point into the Elder Futhark, the oldest runic alphabet, comprising 24 characters arranged in three groups of eight called aettir. Each aett is associated with a Norse deity, Freyr, Heimdall, and Tyr, and the tripartite structure shapes how the runes are understood and read. The name Futhark derives from the phonetic values of the first six runes: Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho, and Kenaz.
The book includes the official rune course material for the British Astrological and Psychic Society, giving it an institutional grounding that is rare among beginner rune texts. Most introductory rune books draw on a single author's interpretive framework; Farnell's incorporates the four ancient rune poems, the Icelandic, Norwegian, and Anglo-Saxon poems, which are the oldest documented primary sources for individual rune meanings. Reading the poems alongside modern interpretations gives beginners a direct connection to the historical record rather than relying on reconstructed or invented traditions. Browse my runes collection for physical rune sets to use alongside this guide.
Elder Futhark Rune Casting Methods and Combination Reading
Farnell covers the full cycle of practical rune work: choosing or making your rune set, energizing it, and then using a range of traditional casting spreads suited to different questions and experience levels. She begins with single-rune pulls and three-rune spreads, the most accessible formats, before moving to more complex layouts. Importantly, she addresses rune combination reading, the practice of interpreting how adjacent runes modify each other's meaning within a cast, which most beginner books ignore entirely. This combinatorial dimension is what moves a rune practitioner from keyword lookup to genuine interpretive fluency.
The book is organized to serve as a course rather than just a reference. Farnell opens with the history and mythology of the runes, placing the Elder Futhark within the Norse cosmogony centered on Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Each of the 24 runes is then covered with its historical meaning drawn from the rune poems, its divinatory application, and its placement within the three aettir. The dimensions of 8.8 by 5.5 by 0.5 inches make it a pocket-sized reference that travels well with a rune pouch for on-the-go readings.
How to Use Reading the Runes by Kim Farnell
Use this guide to build Elder Futhark knowledge from mythology through to active casting practice.
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Start with the Elder Futhark Overview
Begin with the Elder Futhark overview. Farnell traces each of the 24 runes to Yggdrasil and Norse cosmology, providing mythological context before individual meanings. This explains why runes work for divination beyond simple keyword memorization.
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Study the 24 Rune Profiles with the Ancient Poems
Work through the 24 rune profiles with the four ancient rune poems Farnell includes. These poems are the oldest primary sources for rune meaning, and reading them alongside modern interpretations grounds practice in documented historical evidence.
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Begin Casting with a Three-Rune Spread
Begin casting with a three-rune spread using Farnell's layouts. She explains combination reading, how pairs of runes modify each other's meaning, letting you progress from single pulls to more complex layouts as familiarity with the Futhark builds.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I stock this book because it is one of the few beginner rune titles that cites primary sources. The inclusion of the four ancient rune poems gives students a direct line to the historical material, not just a modern author's interpretation of it. Farnell's background in cultural astronomy and astrology means she approaches the runes as a system within a larger cosmological framework, which produces more substantive explanations than books that treat runes as a standalone fortune-telling tool. If you are also looking for a physical rune set to work with alongside this guide, explore my tarot and divination books collection for complementary texts.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Elder Futhark has 24 runes in three groups of eight called aettir, each linked to a Norse deity: Freyr, Heimdall, and Tyr. It is the oldest runic alphabet and most widely used for divination. The name Futhark comes from the first six runes.
Kim Farnell holds an MA in cultural astronomy and astrology and has worked as a professional astrologer since 1990. The book includes official rune course material for the British Astrological and Psychic Society, grounding it institutionally.
The book covers rune history and Norse mythology, all 24 Elder Futhark meanings with the four ancient rune poems, advice for making and energizing a rune set, multiple casting spreads, and guidance on reading rune combinations within a full layout.
Reading the Runes focuses on Elder Futhark divination, while more advanced texts by authors such as Edred Thorsson move into rune magic. Farnell's book is the right starting point for learning rune meanings and casting before adding magical work.
