An accessible, in-depth exploration of the runes as a living spiritual tradition. Diana Paxson has distilled her many years of experience working with the runes into this essential source book. Readers will learn the historical meaning of each individual rune and its use and meaning now, in contemporary culture. But, Paxson reveals, the real power of the runes comes from internalizing them and using their symbols as sources of wisdom and power. At the end of each chapter are rituals and spells for all levels of ability that aim to help internalize the attributions, meanings, symbolism, and use of the runes. Everything regarding runes is covered in this definitive workbook, from the history of runes and how to make your own rune sets, to how to work with them on a psychic, spiritual, and magical level.
Diana L. Paxson Book order
Diana L. Paxson crafts narratives that delve into the realms of fantasy and historical fiction, while also exploring nuanced perspectives on Pagan and Heathen religions. Her writing excels at intertwining myth, history, and spiritual traditions, creating worlds that feel both familiar and otherworldly. Paxson explores archetypal forces and their relevance in the contemporary landscape. Her approach to both fiction and nonfiction underscores a profound interest in forgotten lore and the revival of ancient wisdom.







- 2021
- 2017
Odin
- 284 pages
- 10 hours of reading
Odin is arguably one of the most enigmatic and complex characters in Norse mythology. Revered since the Viking Age, Odin has been called the greatest of the gods--the god of words and wisdom, runes and magic, a transformer of consciousness, and a trickster who teaches truth. He is both war god and poetry god, and he is the Lord of Ravens, the All- Father, and the rune master. Odin: Ecstasy, Runes, and Norse Magic is the first book on Odin that is both historically sourced and accessible to a general audience. It explores Odin's origins, his appearances in sagas, old magic spells, and the Poetic Edda, and his influence on modern media, such as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Each chapter features suggestions for rituals, exercises, and music, so readers can comprehend and become closer to this complicated god. Author Diana Paxson, an expert on Viking-era mythology, provides a complete portrait of Odin and draws on both scholarship and experience to provide context, resources, and guidance for those who are drawn to work with the Master of Ecstasy today.
- 2013
The Wolf and the Raven
- 332 pages
- 12 hours of reading
Set in the tumultuous fifth century, the story follows Sigfrid, a blacksmith, and Brunhild, a warrior-in-training, as they navigate their destinies under the influence of Wodan, the god of magic. Sigfrid forges a legendary sword, becoming a hero, while Brunhild transforms into a raven priestess. However, personal sacrifices and conflicts with authority lead to their isolation. Bound by love and fate, they must confront the challenges that arise from their connection, as their union has the potential to reshape their world.
- 2009
Sword of Avalon
- 424 pages
- 15 hours of reading
Continuing the saga of the inhabitants of Avalon, a young boy raised in secret after his parents are killed by traitors returns home to prove his worth and lead his followers to victory while wielding the newly forged sword Excalibur
- 2008
Trance-Portation
- 277 pages
- 10 hours of reading
The ability to move from the ordinary into an altered state of consciousness is one of the most valuable skills in both magic and religion. From the ceremonial magician to the shaman, using trance work to explore inner realms is essential to the magical process of healing, transcendence, and wisdom desired throughout diverse occult and spiritual traditions. TrancePortation offers a comprehensive and multispirited way to enter the inner realm. Blending the modern world with the ancient arts, TrancePortation's first three chapters, Travel Planning, Crossing the Threshold, and Getting Started, offer preparatory suggestions including meditations and relaxations, breathing, warding, shifting gears, and returning. Drawing on examples from varied traditions, from Western Mystery to Native American, Ancient Celtic to Eastern Mysticism, and peppered with folk lore and tales from popular science fiction stories, TrancePortation explores spiritual journey work extensively, offering readers the chance to find their own ways into the inner realm, encounter their own guides and fellow travelers, and create divine relationships with the deities and gods and goddesses that they meet.
- 2008
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ravens of Avalon
- 416 pages
- 15 hours of reading
Marion Zimmer Bradley's beloved Avalon saga continues in 'a fine tribute to Bradley and the real-world triumphs and tragedy of Boudica.' (Publishers Weekly) Epic in its sweep and peopled by the remarkable women who have always inhabited Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ravens of Avalon expands the legendary saga that has enchanted millions of readers over the years and is sure to please Bradley's loyal readership and anyone who loves wonderfully told stories of history, myth, and fantasy.
- 2007
A Journey to Fulfillment and RenewalIn Essential Asatru, renowned author and priestess Diana Paxson demystifies an ancient, rich, and often misunderstood religion, and offers a practical guide for its modern followers.Filled with clear, concise instructions on living Asatru every day, this truly accessible guide takes you on a journey from Asatru's origins in Scandinavian and German paganism to its acceptance as an official religion in the 1970s.Essential Asatru also includes:• A complete history of Asatru gods and goddesses, including Odin, Thor, and Ostara• The life values, such as honor, truth, fidelity, and hospitality, that shape Asatru's tenets• Indispensable information on rituals, rune casting, ethics, and divinationEssential Asatru is an elegant and splendid introduction to a centuries-old religion that continues to enrich and fascinate its followers today.
- 2004
Follows the lives of two women in Atlantis and the destinies that will shape the fate of their descendents.
- 2001
Priestess of Avalon
- 448 pages
- 16 hours of reading
This is Eilan's story and follows her through the three stages of life: maiden, mother and old woman. Eilan is born in A.D. 249 to the Roman citizen King Coel and the High Priestess of Avalon, who dies while bearing her. She is sent to live with her Roman father, where she is known by the Roman version of her name, Helen. After a decade with King Coel, Eilan returns to Avalon to be initiated into the sisterhood of the goddess. As a maiden, Eilan again attaches herself to Rome when she falls in love with the charismatic Roman Constantius. The Roman noble takes her away from Avalon and, before long, Helen bears him a son, who later becomes Constantine the Great. Helen's status in Roman society allows her freedom to travel about in the Pax Romana. As Helen is confronted by the spread of the new Christian religion, she draws frequently from her own knowledge of the goddess to deal with her life and with the people that surround her. Priestess of Avalon was an unfinished manuscript, but Diana L. Paxson, an accomplished author in her own right, completed it for Bradley posthumously. Here then, is the fourth -- and last -- installment of the Avalon series. It is the only book in the series that travels beyond the boundaries of the British Isles, but it keeps to Bradley's tradition of a story told through the eyes of a strong female character.
- 2000
Set in a post-conflict Britannia under King Artor's rule, the kingdom faces unrest as a new generation yearns for past glories. Medraut, born of betrayal, seeks both the crown and the queen, while Artor embarks on a campaign in Gallia, leaving Guendivar to govern. As his absence stretches, doubts arise about his return, and the realm descends into chaos. The struggle for unity and peace intensifies, with Artor's potential return as the only hope to mend the fractured kingdom and avert further turmoil.