Casting the Runes

Personally, I’ve always liked the most basic version of runecasting – grab a handful of runes, or the ones tht feel right to you, throw them down, and interpret them. However, there are plenty of runic layouts to choose from if you like a more structured approach. A lot are pretty much Tarot ripoffs and I won’t repeat here, but the three most common I will describe in brief.

The Rune of Odin/One Rune Reading

You use this method if you want a simple question answered. It can be a yes or no – Will I do well on that History test? – or a simple question such as, How will SoandSo react to me asking him/her out? Basically, focus on the question and draw out either the first rune you touch or the one that calls to you. Then interpret the rune to get your answer. There’s nothing to it. Of course, your answers might be a bit vague at times. Some people suggest that a positive rune = yes and a negative rune = no.

The Norns/Three Rune Reading

Again, there are two ways of looking at this. The first step, however, is the same. Draw three runes and set them next to each other. That’s the easy part. Now, depending on your situation, you choose one of the two reading methods below:

A: The first rune is the situation you’re in. The second is what action you should take. The third is the probable results if you go through with that action.

B: The first rune is your past – what led up to your problem. The second is the problem you’re in. The third is what is most likely to happen if you continue on the same course of action you’re already on.

Nine Runes Reading

This is my personal favorite. No layout, no set meanings… it feels the most natural. Take nine runes and hold them in your cupped hands. Close your eyes, focus on the question, and scatter them over the cloth/table/whatever. If any runes fall off your casting cloth or whatever you’re using them, it’s up to you if that makes them more or less important. Usually, the runes that fall face up describe your current situation. Runes close together might be one thing, or forces helping eachother. Runes far apart are conflicting. The most important are in the center. The runes that landed face down represent the most likely outcome, or incoming forces. Turn them over like the pages of a book to preserve the way they fell.

There are a lot more layouts, but those are the ones I use most often. Happy casting!