Runic Tarot - MJS Tarot

As the name suggests, the Runic Tarot combines runes with tarot. Whilst it’s true that many decks incorporate runes, (Haindl Tarot, Pearls of Wisdom, and Light Seers Tarot to name just a few), the Runic Tarot is different in that it incorporates various rune systems. Thus the runes are a focal part of the cards. I pre-ordered this deck because I’ve wanted to increase my knowledge about runes for a while and this seemed a great way to do so. Now that it’s arrived, I look forward to letting the learning begin.

The Runic Tarot Deck

These cards are very dark in colouring and so at first they didn’t draw me in as much as I had hoped. I think that’s in part because I was looking for the runes and on some cards I felt like I was playing a strange version of Where’s Wally. Many are obvious but take a look at II The High Priestess and XVI The Tower below and play find the runes. Note, it’s not the symbol on the dragon’s forehead. I discovered that’s a sigil known as Ægishjãlmur. I feel it’s going to take me a while to wrap my mouth around some, okay lots, of the pronunciation. But, much the same as I did with the Llewellyn Tarot, I look forward to it. I see it as part of connecting to the deck.

I have to admit that I didn’t overly connect with the Runic Tarot initially. Yet, as is often the case, the more I looked at them and the more I read about them, the more they grew on me. On my first flip through I pulled out around ten cards that appealed to me. However, on preparing to write this when I went through to choose which cards to photograph, I needed to cull my choices considerably because so many of the cards called to me. And, the more I look at the cards, the more clear their stories become, even without understanding the runic associations. Nevertheless, I still need to, and indeed intend to, put the time into understanding the runes. After all, that’s what drew me to the Runic Tarot in the first place.

As someone with an extensive crystal collection it surprises me that I haven’t done this before, but something compelled me to select some crystals that I felt partnered with this deck. I chose jasper, petrified wood, moss agate and smoky quartz. They, for me, summed up these cards. It feels like a very grounded and powerful deck that through the Gods and Goddesses of Nordic mythology and the representations of the people that honoured them, encourages people to tap into the more primal aspects of the self. I see the 4 of Shields and the 7 of Shields (pictured below) and I see two sides of the same coin and therefore much to reflect on.

Even though some of the art reminds me of something I may have expected to see on a 1970s/1980s panel van, I find I have a visceral reaction to some of the cards. I connected at a deep level with VIII The Strength card so much so that I can easily say, (at this stage), it’s my favourite card in the Runic Tarot. So, when I kept flicking through and saw the 9 of Shields I have to admit I was horrified. I felt really sad and yet I know there’s a powerful truth represented here whether I want to acknowledge it or not.

As I sit and stare at these two cards placed side by side on my desk, I know this is something I need to delve into further. The 9 of Shields represents all that it intends, but all I keep thinking is “yes, but at what cost.” I realise this deck is depicting different times, but is it? The question remains, “who or what pays the price for our success, our luxury, and the representations of our achievements?”

As for the deck itself, I like the card stock and the borderless presentation. They measure approximately 7cm x 12cm and are easy to shuffle. The Major Arcana cards are numbered with Roman Numerals and maintain their more traditional names. These are printed in a Rune-like font at the bottom of the card. Justice is XI and Strength is VIII.

On the Minor Arcana cards, the suits, Wands, Horns (cups), Swords and Shields (pentacles), are indicated by a symbol placed behind the number. This is necessary as sometimes it’s difficult at a glance to make out how many of the particular suit is contained in the image and on certain cards both swords and shields are present. The 9 of Shields (above) and the 7 of Horns (below) provide an example of each. The seven Horns are there but I think they become more clear once you know you’re looking for them.

The Runic Tarot Book

I have to say it’s a nice looking book. It’s a full size, full-colour book that serves its purpose. It provides a starting point for anyone interested in learning more about runes and Norse mythology and will form the basis for my introduction to both as I endeavour to learn more about them. However, much additional research is required to unpack the runes depicted on the Minor Arcana as they’re definitely not given the same attention as those they have aligned to the Major Arcana.

As someone drawn more and more to mythology, I initially felt that this deck would predominantly be a teaching tool, and so the lack of information provided for the Minors felt like a problem. But the more I work with it the more I realise that won’t be the case. It has too much to say, and too much I feel I need to hear. If the book had been super detailed I may have become bogged down with it instead of focusing on the cards and I may have missed a lot as a result. A big book demands attention. At 160 pages this book offers enough without being too overwhelming. At the start of the Major Arcana section there’s a table which shows which God/Goddess and which rune they have linked with each that I feel will serve as a handy quick reference for further study.

For each Major Arcana there’s a full page colour image of the card which can make it easier to find the harder to locate runes. Once found the runes seem obvious but at first glance, as mentioned earlier, some proved a tad elusive. Jera on 0 The Fool seems clear to me now but as the first one I sought to find when I opened the deck I admit I had a what the? moment. In this instance, the book definitely helped me find the rune. Because of the layout, the picture of the card isn’t always on the left hand page because each card has two pages of information attached to it. This isn’t a big thing but it did make me appreciate the books that don’t do that. Although I’d rather this set up than the random notes pages that other books use to combat the problem.

Following the image description are the ascribed meanings along with how they link to Norse mythology, keywords for both upright and reversed positions, and then there’s a section for interpreting the runes which, fortunately for me, includes a pronunciation guide.

The Minor Arcana only has a full colour image for the Ace of the suit. The layout headings are the same however the information becomes more general and the information about the runes isn’t nearly as helpful. There’s no help with the pronunciation, nor is there any story associated with them. For the cards where multiple runes are incorporated, unless you’re blessed with runic knowledge, you need to rely on your own research to discover which rune is which. For example, the 10 of Swords has six runes taken from the Younger Anglo-Saxon Runic alphabet pictured. So whilst you have a starting point, you’re on your own. Fortunately, I found Omniglot.com’s section on Anglo-Saxon runes helpful. The book could have been amazing with a few tweaks. Pictures of the runes alongside their names in the Minor Arcana would have been a great help.

Each court card has a Bind Rune rather than individual runes with an explanation provided under the keywords heading. Elemental attributions are also given for the court cards.

Spreads

Three spreads are included in the book:

Odin’s Sight Spread (4 cards)
Norn’s Spin Spread (3 cards)
Magical Action (4 cards)

I really liked the Magical Action spread. The book states, “A magical action is no different from normal actions. It is often a symbolic representation that is shaped by will and intent and in turn shapes and affects the world.” It was just what I needed to read at the time.

I find this deck definitely has a masculine feel which is a great counter to many of the decks I own. Some of the imagery may appear bleak, especially with the dark colouring, but the book encourages us to see and own our own strength. This isn’t a deck that allows you to focus on defeat – a Viking would never do that after all. This deck tells us to keep going. It’s positive without appearing fluffy. The 5 of Shields in part reads, “Things seem bleak yet there is always a way out. There is always hope when there is life.” It goes on but you get the gist. It encourages you to look for a solution. Keep moving. As such, this is a very motivating deck and I really look forward to discovering what it’s going to teach me.