Deck Review: Runes and the Gods Oracle

• Author: Séléné
• Illustrator: Thyonesca
• Publisher: Destiny Books – https://www.innertraditions.com/runes-and-the-gods-oracle
• Date of publication:  2024 (French), 2026 (English)
• RRP: US $25.00 / UK £20.00
• ISBN: 979-8-88850-374-4
• Reviewer: Linda Sever

In recent years there seems to have been a resurgence in interest in Runes, possibly because of the popularity of the television series “Vikings”, films such as “The Northman” or the widening interest in Scandinavian “Heathen” bands like Wardruna, who created the music for “Vikings”, and Heilung, who carry out dramatic rituals as part of their performances, with runes forming a central part of all the above. In particular, there have been a number of publications of Rune Tarot and Oracle decks, ofttimes combining tarot systems with runic practices.

Most of you here will know that the runes were (and are) originally an alphabet, predating our Latin script, across Northern and Germanic Europe. No one really knows when and where they originated but there are many well-recorded academic theories. But it seems that they were used quite soon for divination and magic, prayers and curses, carved onto amulets, on stones and pieces of wood, which, it is believed, were cast onto white cloth to beseech the gods and predict future events for the family and community.

However, in recent times, as mentioned above, there has been an increase of card decks, with accompanying guidebooks. Some contain solid information and link the runes to a divinatory system, others are pure UPG or Unverified Personal Gnosis, devised from personal experiences and imagination.  This deck is not one of the latter.

Firstly, it is interesting that this is a translation from the original French, the first time I have encountered a runic deck developed in France. I would like to read the original French version to see if many changes were made in the translation.

The author is Celine Susini, also known as Séléné, who describes herself as an author, runecaster, vitki (a form of sorcerer) and a librarian. Her previous work includes S’Initier a l’art des runes divinatoires – Self-Initiation into the Art of Divination with Runes (Jouvence, 2022). She also does readings, makes handmade rune cards and runs training workshops from her Instagram account and website. The artist is Tiffanie Uldry, also known as Thyonesca, who states she takes inspiration from the worlds of fairy and legends, the 19^th century and the Belle Epoque art movements, especially Art Nouveau.

The deck and book come in a traditional hard back box, with a side opening. It could have benefited from having a ribbon to keep the cards in place as they fall out quite easily.  The box and book cover are predominantly dark blue and gold in colour, which adds to the effectiveness of mystery around the runes. The image on the cover is the same as on the front of the guidebooks and on the Uruz card – it shows a woman, baring her breasts and wearing an Auroch’s horns. The intention is to represent Auðumla, the mythical cow who licked the salty ice to reveal the first being, a giant called Ymir, whom she fed with her milk and thus the universe would not have been in existence without her.

The cards are good stock, slightly glossy and slightly larger than the usual tarot size card, so are quite easy to shuffle. There are 50 cards in total, 24 to represent the individual letters of the Elder Futhark, the best known of the runic alphabets which has 24 letters. It is known as the Futhark as these are the first six letters of the runic alphabet. The other 26 cards represent different gods and goddesses from Norse mythology, for example Baldr at 25, Eir at 26 and Freya at 27. They are all beautifully hand drawn with obvious inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement, which I love, and are coloured in using mute colours, manly greens, blues, yellows, browns and greys. Each card shows a scene from Norse mythology or links to some aspect of the myths. Superimposed on the drawings is the individual rune relating to the card, numbered and one keyword for interpretation. The rest of the cards name the deity and a word for what they represent, again based on the myths and sagas.

The guidebook is excellent. At 225 pages, all images in full colour, it contains solid historic and academic information, based on extensive research by the author of the myths and sagas, derived from the Prose and Poetic Eddas, the main texts relating to Norse mythology, how the runes have been used over the centuries from their first discovery, including how they were used for magic in the Middle Ages. The pantheons of the gods and goddesses are introduced to those new to the subject area, the Cosmogony and Cosmology are detailed and how to use the cards with some good layouts and questions to ask. Each individual card is shown on a full page, followed by a brief description of the rune in the myths, plus its interpretation from the different rune poems, first written down between the 11^th and 13^th centuries. It is then broken down into different sections – the divinatory meaning, plus the interpretations if the question is about love or work. Each section concludes with short rituals you can carry out to invoke the energy and magic of each rune.

This is one of the best guidebooks I have come across relating to runes, whether oracle or tarot. All the information demonstrates excellent factual and spiritual knowledge based on study of the original texts. There is nothing “fluffy” nor new age about the deck nor the book.  It will link you to the energies of the runes and to the deities and will give you exceptional readings. The runes always provide a reader with straightforward, honest readings and this deck will definitely help you in furthering your learning of this ancient system of divination and magic.  Highly recommended.

Author Bios:

Séléné is an author, vitki, and librarian who has worked with the runes for more than 25 years. She gives consultations as a runeworker and medium, offers training workshops on rune casting, and crafts handmade runes and talismans.

Thyonesca draws inspiration from fairy tales, legends, history, and mythology and is influenced by artists of the Belle Époque and Art Nouveau style.

You can purchase Runes and the Gods Oracle deck from: https://www.innertraditions.com/runes-and-the-gods-oracle and from all good online bookstores.