Nightside of the Runes

“Here Thomas Karlsson takes us on an inner journey to the secrets of the North. His insight brings new light to the topics of Johannes Bureus, the runic mage of the Renaissance North, and to the enigmatic Uthark, first explored by the Swedish runologist Sigurd Agrell. Karlsson’s access to obscure sources makes this work a true gem.” * Stephen Flowers, Ph.D., author of Icelandic Magic and Lords of the Left-Hand Path *
“Thomas Karlsson’s Nightside of the Runes is a curious and fascinating compendium, not just for the largely forgotten theories of the Swedish luminaries from earlier centuries that he resurrects and works with (the Uthark rune-row of the mystical scholar Sigurd Agrell and the Adulruna of the scholarly mystic Johannes Bureus) but also for what it shows of the author’s own personal journey. The first part of the book reveals a youthful and at times naive magician drawing great power from forsaken research, while the second part shows Karlsson himself having blossomed into a fine researcher and seasoned scholar, yet one who is still very much a magician at heart. A careful reader will find numerous insights at both ends of this runic spectrum.” * Michael Moynihan, coauthor of Lords of Chaos *
“The runes, symbolic letters deriving from the primal word referring to ‘secret’ or ‘whispering,’ are the primal mysteries and forces latent in nature, to which the actual rune-stavs are mere markers. The runes take many forms, as does man’s understanding and conceptualization of them, and the rune-rows themselves have historically both expanded and contracted with time. Yet, they keep speaking to those that look for them. In Nightside of the Runes, Thomas Karlsson explores the work of two pioneering Swedish runologists, Johannes Bureus and Sigurd Agrell, and sheds light on this heretofore relatively obscure area of runic knowledge, which is of interest to students of runosophy and all Odinic seekers in their ever-unfolding quest for wisdom.” * Aki Cederberg, author of Journeys in the Kali Yuga *
“Although, Nightside of the Runes was written for a very specific audience, this book is definitely worth a look by anyone studying the occult. The lengthy and impressive notes and bibliography sections provide everything needed for further study or inquiry. This is not by any means a light read, but I found it to be engaging and feel it would be of particular interest to any who like to peel back, layer by layer, in deepening their understanding of the motivation and historical relevance of this or any of the esoteric disciplines. Karlsson reminds us that there are many ways of interacting with all of the magickal arts and that the organic polarities of light and dark flow through every endeavour. Having the benefit of both perspectives provides a wholeness that is only achieved when we embrace each on equal footing.” * Robin Fennelly, SpiralNature.com *

Thomas Karlsson, Ph.D., is founder of the esoteric order Dragon Rouge and Head of Ordo Draconias. He is senior lecturer in history, religion, and philosophy at Stockholm University, fellow researcher at Yale University, and director of the Esoteric Crossroads conferences in Capri, Italy. The author of Cabbala, Qliphoth and Goetic Magic and Amongst Mystics and Magicians in Stockholm, he lives in Tumba, Sweden.

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