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Rune Layouts Runic Divination 
Learning the Runes: The first step in learning to read the runes, is to get to know
them. You should take one rune each day and meditate on it. You should keep a record of your rune readings. Record
which runes are face up, which ones are face down, what you
think each rune meant in the context of your reading, and what
your general impressions were. Even if a reading makes no sense
to you when you do it, the meaning may become more clear to you
later on and you'll begin to pay closer attention to your
instincts. There are many different ways to read the runes. There is
no reliable historical descriptions of runic divination.
You should choose what works for you. Runes can be
"thrown", "cast", or "scattered", or they can be used in a
tarot like pattern. Many books give an upright and inverted
(positive & negative) meaning. Depending on how you choose to
cast your stones will determine how you will interpret them. You need to be consistent in your method. You need to
decide if you will read the stones in a "positive" manner
only or will you read them as they are, "upright" or "inverted"?
By being consistent in your method, you will obtain a greater
understanding in your readings. The following are some types of
readings you may like to try. 
Runecasting Techniques Runic divination, "runecasting", is not "fortune telling".
Runecasting works deeply with the subconscious. The rune
pouch with its runic symbols represents the entire universe.
As you pose a question, your conscious and
unconscious mind is focused toward that question, so that
the rune lots selected are not random selections, but
rather choices made by your subconscious. Runecraft operates on an ancient form of psychology. Even
back in Viking times, there was a remarkable understanding
of the human psyche. They recognized cause and effect, and
the interconnectedness of all things. The word to describe
this interconnectedness was "wyrd", it did not
originally mean something unusual or strange. Rather, it
referred to the far-reaching effects of that which you do.
Fate also meant a destiny destiny created
by your earlier actions. Wyrd was pictured as a web, like
that of a spider. The symbology was excellent. When the
spider steps onto a thread (a path) the vibrations affect
the entire web and that which was contained within the web,
just as our actions affect our immediate world and those
around us, and the actions of others affect our lives. When you do a runic reading, you usually address a
particular issue, and examine the past, the present and
the future. The future is always perceived as changeable.
The runic reading is done as an evaluation process regarding the
question asked. You have an opportunity to look at what has
occurred in the past, what is occurring right now, and
what direction you are headed. A runecaster examines cause and effect and points out a
likely outcome. 
How to do Runecasting Find a suitable place to do the reading. You do not want to
be disturbed. Try to sit facing North if possible, the
direction of the Gods in Norse mythology. Place a small
white cloth on the surface in front of you. You work with
the runes on this cloth. This cloth protects them from
getting dirty and also forms the boundry for the casting. Carefully form a question in your mind. Take your time doing
this, as it is very important that you do not change the
question midway through the reading. Once you have the
question firmly fixed in your mind begin to gently mix the
runes in their bag or holder. Continue to mix the runes
until you feel compelled to take up certain rune lots.
(This is why it is important that the rune lots be of the
same shape and size: so that you can't identify each rune
by shape.) Continue to stir and select lots until you have the correct
number of runes in front of you for the layout you will be
using. Keep track of the order in which the runes were
pulled, laying them in their proper position in the layout
as you pull them. You can use any Tarot layout, or one of
the methods described below. Runes are oracles, and oracles are often obscure. Each rune
can mean many different things. It is up to the runecaster
to decide how these meanings apply to the question at hand.
You may get even deeper interpretations through your own
"gut" reactions to the rune's definition. However, don't
delude yourself in thinking that you have a completely
different understanding of the cast than indicated by the
traditional interpretations. Stick to the recognized
interpretations, but learn to expand on their meanings
through insight and meditation. 
Simple Castings Here is one way to do a rune casting. Reach into your rune
bag, stir them around a bit and pick up a bunch. "Cast"
them onto a white cloth, and see how the symbols land. Some
will be face down and you can ignore them. If a rune is upright,
it has a certain meaning. If a rune is upside down, it has
a different meaning. The combination of the visible runes
affects the interpretation. Sometimes the runes "sing" and
the answer to the question is instantly clear. Here
are the three non-structured castings and some formal layouts. 
Casting the Norns The Norns are the Norse goddesses of fate. Urdh was the
goddess of the past, or what has been. Verdhandi is the
goddess of the present, what is. Skuld is the goddess of
the future, or what shall be. Fate or wyrd was a very
important factor in the psychology of the ancients. A Norns cast is very simple, consisting of three runes, drawn
one at a time from the rune pouch and laid in a row. If face
down, flip them over as if turning the pages of a book. The
first rune represents the past of the situation in question.
The second indicates the present, the path that the querier
is currently on. The third suggests the future, a likely
outcome if you continue on the present path. 
Nine-Runes Cast This method will give a detailed overview of a person's
situation, providing insight into where they are in terms
of their spiritual path, and clarifying the options and
possible outcomes available to them. Nine is a magical number
in Norse mythology. Pick nine runes at random from the pouch.
Hold them between your hands for a moment, and focus on your
question. Then scatter the runes on the
table, floor, or cloth if you have one. Read the runes which
land face up first. These will relate to the current
situation and the circumstances which led to it. How the
runes are read is largely subjective, but in general, runes
lying in the centre are the most immediately relevant, while
those lying around the edges are less important, or represent
more general influences. Runes that are close together or even touching often
compliment each other, or may even represent a single thing,
while runes which fall on opposite sides of the pattern
frequently represent opposing influences. Occasionally, a
rune will land completely off the cloth or fall off the
table. Some people consider such runes to be particularly
significant, while others ignore them completely. Once you have looked at the runes which landed face up
(and remembered which ones they are), turn over the rest
of the runes without moving them from their positions. These
represent outside or future influences, and will point to
possible outcomes. It is up to you to decide what the
various positions and patterns in a reading mean, but once
you have come up with a few general rules, try to stick with
them. Consistency is very important.
However, rune readings by their nature are very fluid,
subjective things. Try not to impose too much order on your
readings by inventing set meanings for every triangle,
square and tetrahedron. Runes are like people - you never
know how they will get along together until you introduce
them. Look at the patterns and relationships that appear in
each reading and see what interpretations make sense to you. 
Click below to continue learning about Runic layouts 
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