Welcome to the Rune-Gild
Rune Gild: Introductory Information
The Outer Hall of the Rune-Gild
Runes are the mysteries that underlie all of the worlds – that which lies hidden in, and gives power to, all things. These Runes pull those who seek them ever onward and upward. Knowledge of them and the quest for their mastery, both within the self and throughout the worlds, is the Path of Odin. This quest leads to transformation – in the Self and in the Worlds.
As a practical matter, the Odian Path has, until recently, been obstructed by a general lack of available information on a refined and authentic level. The Rune-Gild has undertaken to remedy this lamentable situation. But beyond this goal, our intention is to provide a gateway into the practical application of runic principles. It is imperative that a number of individuals be initiated into the intellectual and working aspects of runology. The soul of our folk has little chance of survival – much less of being as great as it is destined to become – if it is not armed with the Secrets of the Self. These secrets are the Runes.
Because knowledge of the Runes has languished under suppression in the distant past, and under ill-conceived superficial studies in the more recent past, it is now necessary that seekers along the true Rune-roads gain deep and sound intellectual knowledge along with more practical work in Runecraft. Knowledge and Work must always go hand in hand.
History of the Gild
The Rune-Gild was founded in 1980ev as the first authentic rebirth of the elder Runic tradition to be available to the new Gilders in about a millennium. Over the ensuing years, the Gild has grown and changed its form as new information and impulses entered into its knowledge base- and as its leadership became more initiated. However, our aim has remained true and steadfast- to see the elder Runemasters again make their wisdom known and felt in the world of their descendants. This is a great task, for those interested in the heritage of the Germanic or Gothic peoples- and this includes all those who live in countries where a Germanic language (for example English) predominates - it may indeed be the greatest task that lies before us. For without the deep level spiritual heritage to guide us we will surely be lost in a morass of cultural confusion. The Runes stand ready, the Masters know their duty, but each Gilder must work for his or her own initiation. The doors of the Gild-Hall now stand open – enter with heart, enter with mind – and learn again the ways of the Runemasters.
With the publication of Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic, Runelore: A Handbook of Esoteric Runology, and Runecaster’s Handbook: At the Well of Wyrd the gates were opened. The time has now come to have those of you who will, enter the first doors of a gradual approach to Rune-Work and Rune-craft. In the Rune-Gild you will be introduced to a graded series of exercises known as the Nine Doors of Midgard. In these exercises you will learn various techniques of Rune-Work: more explicitly of Rune-thinking (meditation/contemplation), Rune-casting (divination), galdor (incantational or verbal magic), making of Rune-tines (talismans) and other forms of Rune-craft (operative magic) and, most important of all, Rune-Work (self-transformational activity), as well as many other techniques that were only touched on in a cursory fashion in Futhark and Runecaster’s Handbook. The first three books by Edred were the beginning – the Rune-Gild itself is a road which is itself a goal.
The curriculum of the Gild is based on the oldest and most traditional runology of the Erulians. From this traditional base – which all profane approaches to the Runes recently published lack – Gild-members will be guided to levels of knowledge completely unavailable through other avenues.
The rationale of the existence of the Gild is this: In olden times there was a Rune-Gild – an intertribal network of those initiated into Rune-Knowledge – this network (or gild) was unique. It was a feature of the established culture in ancient times. The Rune-Gild is in fact a remanifestation of this network. The absolute proof of this is that the leadership of the Gild is qualified in the established intellectual world: its leader in a Ph.D. in Germanic studies with a dissertation entitled Runes and Magic, its members are well-published authorities on the subjects of the Runes and the Germanic tradition. The Gild is not a theater for occultizoid nincompoops or starry-eyed elf-viewers. It is the core of a serious cultural movement. The Rune-Gild has all the hallmarks of the true and authentic remanifestation of the Gild of old. It is a traditional school dependent on personal contact now as it was in ancient times, and it will remain dependent on this contact forever. This is the way it was, the way it is, and the way it shall be forever.
Structure of the Rune-Gild
In the Inner Hall of the Gild there are three levels, or “degrees,” of initiation. These are based on the most ancient steps of learning any skill known in the elder age – that of apprentice, journeyman, and master. In the terminology of the Gild, however, these are reflected in the names or titles: Learner, Fellow, and Master.
The Gild is divided into Inner and Outer Halls. The Outer Hall of the Gild is made up of those who are now working on the curriculum of the Nine Doors of Midgard and who want to be in close contact with the Gild and its Hall-Workings. The Outer Hall is comprised of Learners and Associates of the Rune-Gild. If there is a Leader in your area who is running a Gild-Hall, there will also most likely be Outer Hall Workings and gatherings which you could attend including Rûna-Workshops.. It can not be said too often that the Gild does not deal in “mail-order occultism.” All Associates must be sponsored by a Gild-Master to gain Membership (Learner status), and become apprenticed through in person and direct contact with that Gild-Master.
The Inner Hall is made up of the Drightens and Masters of the Gild, and those Fellows who have been personally Named by a Gild-Master, and who are working through, or have completed, the Nine Doors of Midgard curriculum, or its equivalent, under that Master’s personal tutelage. The Outer Hall of the Gild is not overly formal in its organization- it is rather like an extended magical study group. The practical advantages to actual Association with the Outer Hall are the extensive personal contacts that can be made, information on all the latest developments in the world of Rune-Work, and most importantly the inner keys to making the Hall-Workings true magical bonds between yourself and the Gild-Halls (both Inner and Outer) around the world.
Associates, Learners, and Fellows are encouraged to set up Rûna-Workshops (“runic study groups”) in geographical areas where no Hall exists.
The Outer Hall of the Gild is not overly formal in its organization- it is rather like an extended magical study group. The practical advantages to actual Association with the Outer Hall are the extensive personal contacts that can be made, information on all the latest developments in the world of Rune-Work, and most importantly the inner keys to making the Hall-Workings true magical bonds between yourself and the Gild-Halls (both Inner and Outer) around the world.
A word might be mentioned on the Gild-Masters and Drightens. They are a distinguished group of individuals each with their own area of expertise, each with their own unique gifts to offer the Gild. The Yrmin-Drighten, Edred Thorsson, is the author of a number of books, including the major “textbooks” of Rune-Gild Work. He also holds a Ph.D. in Germanic Studies from a major university. Many of the other Masters and Drightens are similarly qualified.
Goals of the Gild
Among the most important goals of the Gild are the continued development of traditional and transformational Runelore and the dissemination of that system to those who are inspired by the quest for the Runes. We continue to institute Rûna-Workshops around the world. In addition to this, there is an ever expanding network of Outer Gild-Halls open to Associates and Members who are personally invited by a local Hall-Leader to join a Gild-Hall. These span from
It can not be overemphasized that the main work of the Gild is centered in each individual, and its main aim is the self-transformation of each Gilder according to the ancient Odian principles. For it is only from this basis of transformed individuals that the new Gild can be reborn in the full essence of the elder Gild of the Erulians.
For such transformations to occur there come key moments in the individual development of each Runer when personal contact with a true Runemaster is Needed. The Rune-path may begin in solitude, and may end there, but in the middle there comes a time to interact with those who bear the Flame and who can show it to you.
To this end the foundation of the first permanent Hall of the Gild – the Yrmin-Hall – was laid in late 1993 and it was fully erected in the early part of 1994. It is situated on 30 acres of land near
From 1997 to 2005 the Gild held annual Gild-Moots in urban areas around the world – after that time the Gild became more decentralized and its activities became more widespread. At present the Gild is very well-developed in various parts of the
The Work of the Gild can be summed up in the Seed-Word Rûna – “The Mystery,” especially as extended and articulated through the stave: Reyn til Rûna – “Seek toward the Mysteries!” Rûna is the Hidden in the World, and the Sense of the Hidden lying within the depths of the Self. This eternal Quest is the essence of Rune-Work – and its fulfillment is the highest goal of the Gild.
If you choose to Associate with the Gild, for your initial toll you will receive in your first package a copy of The Nine Doors of Midgard – the basic curriculum of the Gild and the Gildisbók – which will take you beyond the curriculum of the Nine Doors and guides you more deeply in the fulfillment of the work of the Nine Doors. This is a one-time fee. Unless and until you are invited to become a learner in the Gild, you will not be asked for any further fees or tolls. Associates are also given access to the Rune-Gild Forums, allowing access to other Associates and Members of the Gild. The toll makes you an Associate of the Gild, which will be certified with a letter from the Yrmin-Drighten. You will also receive issues of the Yrmin-Drighten’s personal communiqué RUNE-KEVELS, which will keep you up to date on all events and publications of the Gild from around the world in the area of Rune-Galdor. RUNE-KEVELS is available to Associates and Members only.
An Analogy
It must be said that not all Associates will want to, nor do they need to, be apprenticed as Learners. You may remain an Associate of the Gild as long as you wish. You will be considered an Associate until you submit a formal letter of resignation, or are expelled. (The latter case happens but rarely in cases of gross dishonor.)
The way the transition is made from Associate to Apprentice is best illustrated by a story.
A young boy, an orphan, wants nothing more in this word than to be a cobbler. He wants to be a master shoemaker more than anything in the world. But he has no family connections to the cobblers’ guild. He goes and camps outside guildhalls and the workshops of the town cobblers. He makes his wishes to be a cobbler known to the guild masters, who, after all, have an obligation to teach their craft – but not to any and all who have a desire to learn it. As they are always looking for those with special talents, the provide the boy with some pieces of leather and some rudimentary tools in exchange for a small token of good faith. The boy observes what he can and begins to work with the materials provided. He shows the masters what he has done as they come and go. One day his work is recognized as being of potential and having merit. One of the masters then invites him to come into the guildhall, where he tells him to start sweeping the floors. The boy has begun his apprenticeship – an apprenticeship that will lead to fellowship in the guild, a tie when he will study under various masters and be guided toward the production of his own masterpiece – in this case a pair of fine shoes or boots which are the manifest testimony to his level of mastery of his craft.
How to Apply
Becoming an Associate allows one to communicate with true Members, and if the desire and talent is there, to attract a Master and become an Apprenticed Learner.
The Doors of Valhalla stand wide open. It is now your Work to step forth through the Doors of Midgard to face the challenges of a new way of being that awaits you within. The Gild stands ready to help you in this Work – as no other organization in the world today can do. We welcome those who now wish to join us in the Runic quest!
If you wish to become an Associate of the Rune-Gild there are two means of accomplishing this task depending upon your geographical location.
- US applicants may complete their registration at Rûna-Raven.
- Applicants outside the US may complete their registration here.
Reyn til Rûna!