There are several choices when it comes to finding suitable spreads for rune reading. You may find a particular spread that you feel comfortable with and stick to that one, or you may wish to use a variety of spreads. It is probably best to begin with something simple, because it can be confusing for a beginner to deal with too many runes at once. As you gain more experience, you can use more complex spreads that will provide more information.
Before making your decision about which spread to use, you must consider the client and his or her requirements, the issue in question, and how you yourself feel at the time of the reading. If you don't feel like laying out a host of runes and you consider that a simple spread will offer sufficient information, then go with your feeling.
When your questioner has a decision to make, a spread of one to three runes is ideal. A larger number of runes is useful when a fuller picture is needed.
When you are using spreads rather than simply throwing the runes, the method is to choose the runes from the bag, place them face down in the spread formation on the cloth or surface you are using, and then turn them over horizontally, always from left to right.
Drawing a single rune is the simplest method. It does not enable you to look at a situation in detail but it can provide a quick answer or it can help you or your questioner to make a decision. Clear your mind and think of your question and then pull one rune from your bag. Consult the meaning of this rune and see how it applies to the question. If you wish to use this for yourself, you can take one rune every morning to show you the sort of day to expect.
One rune can be used in this way to answer a specific “yes or no” type of question. In this case, if the rune you have pulled from the bag is oriented in the upright position, the answer is yes. Runes that cannot be reversed should always be considered to be upright.
Spreads that use three runes are extremely popular. They are easy to use and they offer a reasonable amount of information. There are many different three-rune spreads but here are two useful ones:
Position 1: The problem or issue at hand
Position 2: The best course of action
Position 3: The likely outcome if the advice of the runes is taken
Position 1: The questioner's present physical condition
Position 2: The questioner's present mental condition
Position 3: The questioner's present spiritual condition
Here are two ways of reading this spread:
Position 1: Past wishes in relation to the question
Position 2: Present wishes and how the questioner feels about the situation
Position 3: The wishes and feelings of others and how they affect the situation
Position 4: The questioner's heart's desire that he or she keeps hidden from the world
Position 1: The basic influences that surround the question
Position 2: Problems and obstacles that may affect the outcome
Position 3: Positive influences at work
Position 4: The immediate outcome
In this spread, two of the runes perform a predictive function, so this is particularly good for matters of money and business.
Position 1: The situation
Position 2: The obstacles
Position 3: Supportive forces
Position 4: The short-term outcome
Position 5: The long-term outcome
This layout can be used in two different ways.
Position 1: The past
Position 2: The present state of mind
Position 3: The possible future
Position 4: The basic influences underlying the question
Position 5: Events and factors that will help or hinder a successful outcome
Position 6: The most likely outcome
This particularly useful for a questioner who wants to know about his or her career, and it is sometimes called the “career mirror.”
Position 1: The questioner's current position
Position 2: The challenge being faced by him
Position 3: The questioner's greatest strength and ability
Position 4: The questioner's past experience with regard to the matter at hand
Position 5: The questioner's future plans—and their usefulness or otherwise
Position 6: The future outcome
Position 1: The things that fate is throwing at the questioner
Position 2: Things working in the questioner's favor; also expansion, growth, fertility, and pleasure
Position 3: Force and strength, though a difficult rune can suggest weakness
Position 4: The core of the question and the questioner him- or herself
Position 5: The questioner's skill, purpose, and ability
Position 6: Dangers and forces opposing the questioner, also the effects of greed, anger, and fear
Position 7: Hidden factors and things that aren't as they seem
This spread involves reading the runes in pairs.
Positions 1 and 2: The issue or problem
Positions 3 and 4: How the past influences the current situation
Positions 5 and 6: The advice the runes are offering
Position 7: The outcome of the situation if the questioner follows the advice that is given
The runes in this spread are read in pairs.
Positions 1 and 2: The issue at hand.
Positions 3 and 4: The reasons for the problem.
Positions 5 and 6: Solutions and ways of resolution.
Position 7: The result and final outcome.
This formation is an ancient symbol also known as the Magic Square of Saturn. The position numbers of the lines add up to fifteen and the The position numbers in the whole square total 45.
The bottom row represents the past.
Position 8: Influences from the past
Position 1: The basic past influences
Position 6: The questioner's attitude to those past events
The middle row represents the present.
Position 3: The hidden influences that are operating at the time of the reading,
Position 5: The current state of affairs
Position 7: The questioner's attitude toward the present influences
The top row represents the future.
Position 4: The hidden obstacles, delays and problems that can affect a successful outcome
Position 9: The best possible outcome
Position 2: The questioner's response to the outcome.
Position 1: The major past influences that bear upon the questioner
Position 2: The unconscious response to the major past influence
Position 3: The conscious response to the major past influence
Position 4: The results of the influences that have led to the present state of affairs
Position 5: The present
Position 6: The current unconscious responses
Position 7: The current conscious responses
Position 8: What happens if the questioner does nothing to alter the flow of energies
Position 9: The major outcome of the question at hand
Position 10: The unconscious response to the outcome
Position 11: The conscious response to the outcome
This spread is used when you need a precise answer to a complex question. This spread also gives an overall view of life for the past six months and the coming six months
Positions 1, 2, and 10: The first quarter; the questioner's present state of mind
Positions 5, 6, and 7: The second quarter; helpful or opposing influences in regard to the question
Positions 3 and 4: The third quarter; what will happen if things continue in their current direction
Positions 8 and 9: The fourth quarter; possible outcome of the question six months from now
Position 11: The overall tone of the spread.