ELDER FUTHARK · 24 RUNES

Spreads

A spread is the order in which the stones are drawn and what each place speaks of. All of today's spreads are modern; most spread with the rune books of the 20th century.

MODERN INTERPRETATION

Single Rune

1
Origin
The simplest and most common form of modern rune reading; the "rune of the day" is one.
Layout
One stone is drawn from the bag.
Places
  1. Answer: the heart of the matter, the day's main energy, or the point to focus on.
Good for
Daily direction, quick clarity, questions like "What should I pay attention to today?"
How to read it
A single stone is not a verdict but a mirror: you think about the day in its light.

Past · Present · Future

123
Origin
A modern layout inspired by the three Norns who weave fate: Urd (what was), Verdandi (what is becoming) and Skuld (what shall be).
Layout
Three stones side by side, from left to right.
Places
  1. Past: the influences and roots that prepared the present.
  2. Present: the situation, energy or challenge at work now.
  3. Future: where things are likely to lead if the course does not change.
Good for
Questions about where a process comes from and where it is going.
How to read it
Read each stone on its own, then join them from left to right like a story of cause and effect.

Four-Rune Relationship Spread

1234
Origin
A modern layout made for questions about relationships.
Layout
Four stones side by side.
Places
  1. Your energy: the feeling, intention and outlook you bring.
  2. You: your stance and expectations in the relationship.
  3. The other: the feelings, intentions and attitude they bring.
  4. Outcome: the shared direction your meeting may lead to.
Good for
Couples, partnerships and questions of harmony.
How to read it
The first two stones speak of you, the third of the other; the fourth shows where the two meet.

Five-Rune Cross

12345
Origin
A cross layout developed in modern reading books.
Layout
One stone in the centre and four around it: left, top, bottom and right.
Places
  1. Centre: the heart of the question and where things stand.
  2. Left (past): the causes that led here.
  3. Top (aim): the conscious goal, or a strength you can draw on.
  4. Bottom (obstacle): inner resistance, or what needs letting go.
  5. Right (outcome): the step to take and where it can lead.
Good for
Complex decisions and situations that need a deeper look.
How to read it
The horizontal line tells of time (past, present, outcome), the vertical of the inner world (obstacle and aim); read where they cross, in the centre.

Free Scatter

Origin
The method closest to the lot-casting Tacitus describes; nine stones nod to the nine worlds of the myths. Not in the app, for interest.
Layout
Nine stones are taken from the bag and cast freely onto a cloth.
Places
  1. Stones near the centre: the most pressing focus.
  2. Stones near the edges: secondary influences.
  3. Face-up stones speak of what is active, face-down ones of what is not yet seen.
Good for
A broad look at life, a view of the year ahead.
How to read it
The stones are read in groups, by how close they fall to one another.

This guide draws on historical sources and modern rune literature, written in our own words. What is attested and what is modern interpretation are kept apart.

History of the Runes →