Tales from the Ironwood

The subject contained herein has taken on a new and significant meaning for me. In fact, several subjects at one time quite marginal have now taken center stage. Written from 8 - 15 May 2026 ********* In considering the practice of the Runes—particularly as a path toward true Rune Mastery—one encounters a subject too often misunderstood or insufficiently emphasized: the necessity of personal discipline within one’s way of life. Discussions on the matter frequently avoid speaking directly and affirmatively about moderation, preferring instead merely to reject the extremes of asceticism. This raises an important question: does Rune Mastery demand ascetic discipline, or may such concerns be set aside altogether? Before proceeding, it is necessary to define our terms. By Rune Mastery , I do not mean a purely academic understanding of the Runes—their history, symbolism, or linguistic significance—but rather mastery of the practical and esoteric art of Rune-work as taught by Rune magicians ...

This portrait of Friedrich Marby was begun on 28 December 2024. Marby is one of those figures that is filled with contradictions. His work, as perhaps the first modern Rune Magician, however is highly influential on most who practice Rune Magick today. Some simply avoid mentioning him while others distort his life based on their own political and social outlooks. ********* Friedrich Bernhard Marby was born on 10 May 1882 in Aurich, Ostfriesland, a historic region in what is now Lower Saxony, Germany. A pivotal figure in esoteric and magickal Rune practice, Marby was the first to develop the concept of forming Rune postures with the body—a practice he called Runengymnastik (Rune Gymnastics), which is now more commonly known as Rune Yoga. Marby provided detailed occult explanations for the energies and benefits associated with his practice. However, like many early 20th-century Rune Magicians, much of what is said about Marby consists of half-truths and distortions—shaped by both his fie...

This essay was originally written on 4 July 2019. Perhaps, with numerological significance, it came to serve as the eighteenth chapter of my book, Tales from the Ironwood . It was in 2016 sometime that I attended my first Rune Yoga class. I had learned of the practice sometime earlier with my first read of Edred Thorsson's Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic. Over the years, I have come to teach Rune Yoga on many occasions to several dozen students. I continue to explore its power and mystery each day. What follows contains a few minor edits and updates from that work which was published in 2019. ********* I was excited, if not perplexed, when I received an invitation to a class on “Rune Yoga.” Skylands Ásatrú Fellowship always placed a major emphasis on education. There were classes offered on a wide range of subjects from “Cosmology” to “Eschatology.” But what exactly was “Rune Yoga?” While I had never practiced yoga, I was quite aware of its popularity. There must be at least a h...