Ways Of Casting The Runes

There are probably hundreds of different ways to lay the runes for a casting. What is given here is
only a selection. It is by no means exhaustive.

I would suggest that you try some of these, going for the ones with which you feel comfortable before
trying your own ideas out. The reasons for this are many, not least of which it is important to
familiarise yourself with the runes and how they are read as a group before progressing.

It should also be remembered that you may have some personal thoughts on the meanings of the runes
at the time you are carrying out the casting, which you should not dismiss out of hand. The meanings
given here are basic, and again by no means exhaustive. You may for example wish to use all
the reverse meanings given, even though some runes look the same either way up. Experience is the
best teacher, and you must always do what you feel comfortable doing. Don’t go along with something
just because others do – make up your own mind.

Another means of casting the runes consists of five runes, called Odin’s casting. Again these are laid
down from right to left, with the third rune slightly raised from the remainder. I read these as being
two pages within a book with the third rune being that which is either holding the pages together, or
conversely, stopping them from being turned. I use a similar layout in Tarot readings.

Similar layout could be used with seven runes.

You could also consider using a 12 rune casting, linking each rune either with a month or with a sign
of the zodiac. This is usually laid out in a circle, as in Figure 7.3, although I have seen many
variations of this.

Yet another suggestion would be what is sometimes called the rune-cast method. Basically, you ‘shuffle’ the runes within their pouch, and having formed a circle of string on the floor, empty the pouch into it.

Those runes nearest to you have the greatest meaning. Should any have fallen outside the string circle,
these can be ignored; likewise if they fall on the string or have fallen face downwards.

There are many more ways of casting the runes, and no doubt you will find one suitable for you.
Experiment and practise.