Runes are an incredible spiritual tool with an amazing history. As a Tarot reader, I have always had an interest in ancient forms of divination, like runes. I love being able to learn from my ancestors and incorporate their ways of living into my modern life.
I believe we can gain so much knowledge from these ancient practices, using their spiritual practices in our own way. So, I wanted to look at rune spreads. In this article, I will go through a range of rune spreads that are perfect for beginner readers.
What Are Runes?
When we want to incorporate ancient spiritual practices into our lives, it is super important to be respectful and aware of what we are doing. Because runes are so old, we should remind ourselves of the history of the practice before we begin with rune spreads.
The oldest form of the Runic alphabet is the Elder Futhark, which can be dated back to the 1st Century. Runes were a writing system for many Scandinavian people. However, the rune alphabet is linked to mysticism and religion of the time. It was much more than just a writing system!
As our ancestors believed that every rune has a magical and spiritual power, they engraved these symbols on pieces of wood or stone. This allowed them to carry the magical energy of runes around with them at all times. Many Scandinavian people believed that runes allowed them to connect with their Gods and explore the secret powers of the universe.
There are 24 runes in the Elder Futhark runic alphabet, and you can find their meanings in my in-depth guide about the rune meanings.
How to Prepare for Rune Spreads
Like any form of divination, it is really important to be prepared before you start your rune spreads. Before I begin working with runes, I will always meditate on them and remember the powers that they hold.
Because of their potent power, I would advise you to cleanse your space before doing a reading. Smudge some sage in the room you are doing the reading and open your windows to allow any negative energy to be banished.
When you have done this, place a white cloth on your altar. If you don’t have an altar, the table or the floor will do! As long as you have cleansed the space, and you feel comfortable, you can perform rune spreads wherever.
If you can, face north. This allows you to link your energy to the ancient Norse gods. Spend a moment to thank the ancient Gods and meditate on the powers of the runes. Always be aware of their history and mysticism throughout your readings.
Rune Spreads for Beginners
When you are ready, it is time to do some rune spreads. Let’s look at the best rune spreads that are perfect for beginners.
Three Rune Spread for guidance
Let’s begin with a three rune spread that allows you to ask the runes about a specific issue that you are facing. This spread is perfect for illuminating any challenges that are affecting you moving forward in life.
In this spread, you are able to ask a question to the runes about something you are concerned with right now.
Pick three runes from your pouch and lay them vertically on your cloth, with the first rune at the top.
The first rune pulled reflects your current situation. The second rune will highlight any challenges that are affecting your current situation. The third rune will provide you with guidance and action.
Three Rune Spread for Past Present Future
Let’s take a look at a popular three rune spread that reflects your past, present, and future, and allows you to gain clarity and understanding of where you are right now and what you need to be aware of in order to progress.
Pick three runes from your pouch and lay them upright on your cloth in a line. The first rune pulled will reflect your past. The second will represent your present, and the third will reflect your future.
This is a pretty general spread, and you don’t need a question for the reading. However, you can ask the runes about a specific situation that you are concerned with. The three runes will reflect the past, present, and future of the situation.
The first rune will show you influences from your past that are affecting the current situation. The second rune will show you the situation right now, and the third rune will represent what the future holds for your situation.
Three Rune Fork Spread
This three rune spread is designed for decision-making. In this spread, the first two runes pulled will represent the two different possible outcomes of the decision. These need to be laid next to each other.
The third rune pulled represents advice from the universe and the Gods. This rune will reflect the critical factor that will allow you to make the decision between the two choices. This rune should be placed underneath the other two.
Four Rune Elements Spread
The four elements can help us on our spiritual journey as they allow us to pay attention to different aspects of our lives.
In this rune spread, four runes are pulled. The first should be placed at the top (north) and represents earth. This rune will highlight anything you need to be aware of regarding practical matters, such as money and the home.
The second rune pulled should be placed to the east and represents air. This rune reflects communication and thoughts. It will usually be linked to those in our lives, and how we can work on our relationships. If you have any issues with communication right now, this rune will highlight it.
The third rune pulled should be placed to the south and this represents fire. The rune will reflect energy and passion. It will usually be linked to your goals and dreams, showing you how to move forward on your journey.
The fourth rune pulled should be placed to the west and this represents water. This rune is concerned with emotions, revealing to you what you need to do in order to curate a happy and peaceful existence.
Five Rune Spread
This five rune spread is designed to help you with an issue you may be facing in life. It is to be placed in a V shape, with the first rune at the top left.
Meditate on your question for a moment before you pick the runes. What do you wish to know from the runes? Try to succinctly express your question to the runes, making sure it can be said in one sentence. This allows the universe to really understand what you are wanting to know.
When you are ready, it is time to pull the runes.
The first rune represents the past influences that have affected the question you have. The second rune represents present influences. It may represent your attitudes or actions, or outside forces that are affecting your situation.
The third rune pulled represents the issue at hand. It shows you where you are right now in regard to the question.
The fourth rune pulled represents action. It shows you what you need to do in order to move forward with the issue. This rune may be a little difficult to read, so make sure you spend a while meditating on it.
The final rune pulled represents the outcome of the situation if you follow the action that the runes have suggested.
Rune Spread for Advanced Readers
I advise you to begin by practicing the five rune spreads listed above first, as they will help you get to grips with the different meanings of the runes.
When you are ready, you are able to expand your rune spread in order to gain more clarity and understanding of your life.
This rune spread involves you dropping the runes instead of placing them. You need to pick nine runes from your pouch. Hold them in your hands for a moment, close to your chest. Allow yourself to connect with the runes and their magic.
Then, drop the runes on your cloth. The runes that are in the center of your cloth are the most important. They reveal to you your present situation and will typically include advice.
The other runes that are spread out on your cloth will represent any other messages that the universe might have for you. They are not as important as the runes in the center, but they are still things you need to be aware of.
Discover the Magic of Runes Today With These Rune Spreads
These rune spreads are designed to connect with your ancestors and ancient Gods, receiving messages and understanding of the universe.
Runes are incredibly powerful, with centuries of magic connected to their symbolism. By working with runes, we are able to gain clarity and understanding.
It is important to always be respectful to the runes. They are powerful spiritual tools, so make sure you go into rune spreads with understanding and respect for their history!
Are you ready to discover the magic of runes and allow them to guide you on your journey in life? Make sure you have my rune guide on hand when performing rune spreads at first, as it will help you learn their messages!