Rune Spreads

You’ve got your runes. Now… what do you do with them?

I suppose you could just throw them all on the table and interpret how they fall — that’s actually a totally legitimate method of divination and a topic that we’ll talk about another day.

For now, however, let’s assume you want something a bit simpler, more organized, and requiring less cleanup.

Sounds like you want a rune spread!

That’s a wonderful coincidence, isn’t it? Because in this post, I’m going to talk about a few of my favorites.

What Are Runes?

When someone is talking about “runes,” they’re usually referring to letters in the alphabets that were native to Germanic peoples starting around the 2nd century. Sometimes they say “Viking Runes” or “Norse Runes,” but technically, the alphabet is called Futhark (a name derived from the first six letters). Since it was a system of writing that developed over a long period of time, there are multiple versions, including Elder Futhark and Younger Futhark.

When someone is talking about doing “magick” or “divination” with “runes,” they’re usually referring specifically to the Elder Futhark Alphabet.

It’s a bit like if people 1000 years from today took the ABC’s and assigned an entire system of divination to it… but it works! So go grab your rune set and let’s start trying out some different spreads.

The Benefit of Spreads

But wait, why do we need spreads, anyway?

For starters, it helps you interpret and organize the information you’re receiving. Regardless of where you believe that information is coming from (higher self, source, spirit, etc), it’s a rough framework.

In my personal opinion, it also allows both sides of the brain to get involved in the process. The right brain (with its skills at visual, creative, and intuitive elements) can get started mapping out the imagery. At the same time, the left brain (with its skills in logic and analytics) can be sorting out exactly how to box everything in.

If you’ve ever done a Tarot spread, we’re dealing with the same concept. Multiple runes are pulled, then laid on the table. The particular order in which they are drawn is assigned a contextual value, and each rune is interpreted within the confines of that context.

Past, Present, Future Rune Spread

A “Past, Present, Future” spread is often the simplest layout to use when getting started with runes, Tarot, or really any other form of divination that involves placing symbols in a pattern. It’s going to give us a glimpse at stuff that happened, stuff that’s happening, and stuff that might happen.

Rune 1 – Past Actions: Background of events, usually recent ones, that have lead up to your current energy.

Rune 2 – Present Situation: Your current status. This could either be a challenge or an opportunity.

Rune 3 – Likely Future: Given your current flow of energy, this is how events are likely to unfold within the near future.

Simple Advice Rune Spread

This simple advice spread is a great way to get information on a particular problem. It gives you more information than single rune dowsing, but is still quick and uncomplicated.

Rune 1 – Current Struggle: The situation you are asking for guidance.

Rune 2 – Advice: Suggested course of action.

Rune 3 – Outcome: The most likely outcome of the situation, should you follow the advice.

Mind, Body, Spirit Rune Spread

This is one of my favorite spreads. It’s like an in-depth snapshot of how you’re doing on all levels — physically, mentally/emotionally, and spiritually.

Rune 1 – Mind: Factors that are influencing you on a mental or emotional level.

Rune 2 – Body: Factors that are influencing you on a physical level, including health.

Rune 3 – Spirit: Factors that are influencing you on a spiritual level.

You can also tweak this spread slightly and make it about your views on a particular situation. For instance, “how am I feeling mentally, physically, and spiritually about my upcoming move?” or any similar questions about significant changes in your life.

Solar Cross Rune Spread

The solar cross spread is almost like a combination of all the previous spreads. It gives you information about your state of being while at the same time offering insight into past and future events.

Rune 1 – You: An energetic representation of you in your current situation at the present moment

Rune 2 – Subconscious Desires: Influences that you are perhaps not fully aware of. Things that lie beneath the surface.

Rune 3 – Recent Influences: Background of events that have lead up to your current energy, outlook, or situation

Rune 4 – Conscious Desires: Influences that you are aware of, but perhaps need to be more fully developed.

Rune 5 – Near Future: The likely outcome in the near future, provided that you continue to follow your current energetic path

If you’ve ever done a Celtic cross Tarot spread, you should be pretty familiar with this one.

Do the positions really matter?

I’ve tried out a lot of different rune spreads over the years. It doesn’t really matter how you lay them out as long as you find patterns that work for you. For instance, you might have noticed that my simple advice spread is vertical and the past/present/future spread is horizontal. Does that actually matter? Of course not.

You could totally run a simple advice spread that goes left to right or right to left instead of up and down. These particular groupings just help me distinguish things. Your mileage may vary.

Further Reading

If you’re interested in runes, I plan to write about it more in the future. For now, let me recommend a couple of books.

Conclusions

There’s a lot more to say about the runes, but this is all I’m saying for today.

Now go ye therefore and experiment with thy runes.

What’s your favorite spread? Tell me all about it.