Reading the Runes for Others

Reading the Runes for Others

The most important thing to bear in mind when reading the runes is that mesterious, ancient symbols are never, ever flippant. Even if they are consulted on a trivial matter, the Runes will swiftly strip away the nonsense and address an issue that is much more important and life-changing. Like Tarot cards and other forms of divination, the runes will tend to focus on dramatic events, strong emotions and periods of soul-searching. If you draw a single rune to provide the reading, it is important to remember that this drama may either have occurred in the past, be happening right now or will manifest itself in the future. Whatever it might be, you can be sure that the runes will home in on it so don't immediatly assume that a troubling rune, such as Hagalaz or Uruz, is the certain next step in a person's  fate. The event indicated might just as easily have already happened and it may be that you are being consulted in the aftermath of the experience.

The First Step

When you begin a rune reading, it is a good idea not to attempt to look into the future immediatly. Begin by drawing a single rune to represent the background to the reading. It may be that this rune alone will immediately answer the unspoken question of your client and provide the solution to a problem. However, it may just as easily reveal the problem that is weighing on your client's mind.

The Second Step

After interpreting this initial rune, put in the back with the others and turn your attentiion to the present circumstances. You may choose either to draw another single rune to represent the present or to lay out a few runes in one of the simple arrangements, such as the three Norns pattern ( something i will explain in further posts ), to provide a general impression of the present circumstances. If this portion of the reading is accurate, you can safely assume that your attempt to part the veil of the future will be too. Now return to their bag or pile and mix them again.

The Third Step

The person for whom you are reading should now mix the runes together and choose a number of runes to represent the general pattern of the future. It's best if you have already decided which arrangement is to be used and can tell the enquirer how many runes are needed. If you like, you can literally cast all of the runes onto a plain, flat surface ( tradition suggests a plain, white cloth ) and allow your intuition to guide you to the ones that are to be read. However, this is generally considered to be too confusing for a beginner, so perhaps at the stage its best if you stick to one of the more formal arrangements.

The Fourth Step

If the person from whom you are reading does not feel that their concerns have been adequately dealt with by now, you can return to the first or second step to answer any specific questions. Remember, the runes never provide flippant answers, so if they start to repeat the messages that they have already given, that is all that your client is permitted to know at this time. You may also wish to examine your client's date and time of birth according to the runic calendar to ascertain their life purpose. It might also be an idea to translate your client's initials into runic script to provide further information concerning their character and fate.