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The Way of Wyrd Paperback – January 1, 2013

by Brian Bates (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 472 ratings
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Sent on a mission deep into the forests of pagan Anglo-Saxon England, Wat Brand, a Christian scribe, suddenly finds his vision of the world turned upside down. The familiar English countryside is not what it seems: threatening spirits, birds of omen and plants of power lurk in this landscape of fallen terrors and mysterious forces. With Wulf, a sorcerer and mystic, as his guide, Brand is instructed in the magical lore of plants, runes, fate and the life force until finally he journeys to the spirit world on a quest to encounter the true nature of his own soul.
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  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Hay House
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    5.12 x 0.79 x 7.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1781800170
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1781800171
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hay House; UK ed. edition (January 1, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1781800170
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1781800171
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.12 x 0.79 x 7.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 472 ratings

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Brian Bates

Brian Bates

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4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
472 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

RC
5.0 out of 5 stars The Teachings of Wulf
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
Felt a lot like the Carlos Castaneda don Juan series but based in Anglo-Saxon shamanism rather than Yaqui shamanism. Not entirely a surprise: the two types of shamanism are not so different.

I did feel this author told a more interesting story, admittedly fiction. In this tale the narrator's inner endeavors and experiences in the spirit world are explained more clearly. Based on shamanic journeying via Michael Harner's teachings, I feel this book did a nice job of exposing readers to the shamanic / spirit world experience in an entertaining way without trying to say too much (which never works) and without leaving it too vague (which isn't helpful in a practical way).

Overall I found this very entertaining.
13 people found this helpful
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Ken Korczak
4.0 out of 5 stars A book about magic that gives the reader a genuine feeling of magic
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2013
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Over the past couple of years I've occasionally seen mention of a book called THE WAY OF WYRD by BRIAN BATES on sites such as Facebook and other online forums. It was one such prompting that motivated me to investigate what this book is about. I was surprised to discover it was published 30 years ago in 1983.

After reading The Way of Wyrd, I can understand its enduring popularity and the fond and even reverential praise it garners from fans.

This is a fictional tale centered on Anglo-Saxon pagan spiritual teachings and mythology. The year is 674 A.D. It tells the story of a Christian monk from England who is sent to some location on the European mainland so that he can study the gods of the Saxons. His purpose is what was always the purpose of Christians of that era - to find out just enough about the ancient pagan systems so that they could wipe it out and displace it with Christianity.

The young monk who gets the assignment is the humble and meek Wat Brand. Shortly after arriving in Saxon territory, he meets a shaman of extraordinary wisdom and power. This Saxon sorcerer, Wulf, immediately agrees to teach brand everything he can about the power of the pagan gods and spirits. The book plays out as a kind of master-student series of lessons in Saxon spirituality.

There is a spectacular amount of magical activity among the blissful natural setting of an unspoiled European forest. This combination of magic couched within skillful descriptions of sparkling rivers, pungent green forests and dramatic mountain landscapes appeals to those of us who long for an increasingly lost, pristine planet -- long before earth was tainted by the pollution and ravages of the Industrial Age.

Either by design or by accident, the author benefits from the aura of J.R.R Tolkien. He chooses to call the land of the Saxons "Middle-Earth" which leverages the magic of The Lord of Rings. It's true that Tolkien didn't exactly invent the term Middle Earth, but he might as well have. Tolkien was the first to popularize Middle Earth as a modern description for what the ancients referred to as Midgard, Middenheim, Manaheim, or Middengeard.

Tolkien first encountered the term in 1914 when pouring over rare fragments of centuries old documents. He found this line by the Anglo-Saxon poet Cynewulf:

Éala éarendel engla beorhtast / ofer middangeard monnum sended.

Which translates to:

Hail Earendel, brightest of angels / above the middle-earth sent unto men.

Before Tolkien, no one was using Middle Earth as a popular description of pre-Chrisitian Europe, but now it's fair game for all.

While I enjoyed nearly every page of The Way of Wyrd and give it my near-top recommendation, I think the criticisms of how Saxon spirituality is portrayed are fair. Many question the authenticity of the presentation. The Way of the Wyrd reads as much (or more) like a modern New Age conception of magic as it does a scholarly documentation of what the pagan Saxons actually believed and practiced.

In the introduction of the book, Bates makes a strenuous case that his work is a faithful and accurate rendering of Saxon magic. He says his narrative is based on a 1,000-year-old manuscript written by a Christian monk who serves as the model for his character Wat Brand. He also provides a lengthy bibliography of resources.

But I say, no way. Granted, I'm not an expert in pagan spiritual practices, but my strong impression here is that the author granted himself copious poetic license and overlaid much of this with his own modern interpretations.

Also - the structure of the narrative is one that is tried, true and familiar - the story plays out as a series of lessons between master and student, the same vehicle that Carlos Castaneda used to churn out his best-selling (and phony) series of tales of a sorcerer and his apprentice. Richard Bach also used this structure in Illusions - as did many other authors - all of which hearken back to the Platonic dialogue developed in ancient Greece.

There's nothing wrong with adopting this formula; it's just that, Brian Bates is obviously a crafty writer who knows how to write a crowd-pleasing yarn - leverage a little Tolkien, execute the tale with a time-tested formula, and take as many liberties as you need to make the information appeal to a modern New Agey audience.

Good for him, I say, because we're all winners. The Way of Wyrd is a beautiful book which has bolstered interest in the ancient pagan beliefs of Northern Europe - and those beliefs were more sane and sound than what passes for modern mainstream religion today.
16 people found this helpful
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Jason
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, must have for anyone who studiesy the old ways, or wants to see history as it was written come to life.
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2015
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Love this book. I read it years ago and wrote it off as a flight of fancy, but years later I was surprised to find out the Yaqui Indians of Sonora Mexico had similar beliefs/capabilities when I read The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda. My question is; how did Anglo Saxons from Europe and Natives from Central Mexico develop the same skills? Or if you believe they're both stories B.S., how did the claims of very specific skills come from 2 people who never interacted. Specifically I'm referring to in this story where he teaches the Christian to jump using the "Web" that emanated from his solar plexus, and in the other book where the old "Man of Knowledge" jumped using his "fibers" that emanated from his solar plexus. I like to believe it lends credibility to the entirety of the claims in both books; and that makes the world just a little cooler place to live.
26 people found this helpful
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Kenneth Leslie Mcfall
5.0 out of 5 stars the way of wyrd
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2010
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the way of wyrd is about the new/old way of seeing everything as connected...much as the shaman or druid of the past would. the author sought to find out about the "way" and instead found himself doing the way. it is well-written and gives,in an easy-going way, insight into things we are learning(read rediscovering) about ourselves and the world around us. it is informative and researched to reach all levels of interest. i would highly recommend it to those who have felt the "pull" of the wyrd.
4 people found this helpful
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Dee
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2013
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I really enjoyed this book. When I read the description I wasn't sure what to expect and found the characters very engaging. The character Brand leaves the monastery where he is a scribe to find out about the ways of pagans. His journey is very enlightening as his world is turned upside down. It was a very enlightening book to me because I learned about what the lives of pagans were like, and particularly a pagan sorcerer. I definitely recommend reading this book.
3 people found this helpful
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patmca
3.0 out of 5 stars interesting
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2013
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Interesting but inconclusive and not really currently applicable. Thought provoking and kept my interest as a glimpse into life and thinking of the period.
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Gustavo da Nova
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, mighty story
Reviewed in Brazil on December 28, 2023
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I believe that a story well told has many truths to reveal.

Well, Brian Bates knows how to tell his story. And, in doing so, he unveils many mysteries, both of history and of spirituality.

Many teachings are contained in the experiences of the protagonist as well as in the explanations of his sorcerer guide.

It is a must-read for all those interested in genuine spirituality and those who wish to begin to understand the Way of Wyrd.

Amazing read!
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Petra Schwartz
5.0 out of 5 stars Gefällt!
Reviewed in Germany on March 23, 2023
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War genau, wie ich es mir vorgestellt habe.
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Oswaldo Naldi Netto
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2020
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Amazing book
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Stéphane Lecoq
5.0 out of 5 stars Fab'
Reviewed in France on January 10, 2017
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One of my favorite book on chamanism ever! As simple as that! I just love it and read it several times...
Enjoy!
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Sandra Lacey
5.0 out of 5 stars I Want What He Has!
Reviewed in Australia on May 25, 2018
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Vivid writing took me there and it was a great read! For any Pagan exploring the Underworld (if you dare) gives one a glimpse into the organic ways of wyrd.
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