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Spreads 1

Spreads are a useful divinatory tool. They are arrangements of rune ranging from one to twenty-four runes. Each position in the spread has it own significance and thus the order in which runes are drawn helps to determine their meaning in the reading. For any spread there are three main aspects to consider

1. Number of Runes

The number of runes in a spread determines the amount and nature of the information provided. As a rough rule, the more runes in a spread, the more work you will have to do as reader. With a 3-rune spread you can easily tell your client the full meaning of each of the runes. However with a 7-rune spread your client risks information overload if you do this. Not only do you have more runes to consider but you have to work harder drawing together the pertinent aspects and producing a summary interpretation that the client can easily absorb

Spreads of 1-3 runes are ideal where the reading is focussed around a decision which needs to be made. 4-6 rune spreads can be related to a decision but at least as important as the outcome is the need to take full account of contributory factors. Spreads of 7 or more runes are generally best used when a full picture is required of a situation or issue. It may be that action from the querent is called for but a short-term decision is not usually as important to these spreads as the need to establish long term direction.

2. Meaning of Each Position

Any given rune has a multitude of potential meanings many of which will not be appropriate to the issue under consideration in a reading. The spread is a tool used by the reader to narrow the message of the runes. Each rune can perform one or more of the following functions.

• DESCRIPTIVE - It can describe a situation, eg "Your life feels like it has come to a standstill"
• ADVISORY - Commenting on a situation and offering guidance, eg " Beware of deceit at this time. Choose your friends carefully"
• PREDICTIVE - It can suggest how events may turn out in the future provided the rest of the reading is heeded, eg " A positive end is likely with economic prosperity and emotional fulfillment"
• REPRESENTATIVE - It represents a person, animal or object, usually, but not exclusively, the literal meaning of its name or what its glyph depicts, eg Lagaz (Lagu) could be a lake

The more runes in a spread, the more diversity in functions the runes in that spread are likely to serve. In a single rune spread, the rune has to describe the situation, offer some guidance and give an idea of outcome. In a 7-rune spread though it is quite feasible for each rune to fulfil a single function. The title of a position in a spread can act to limit the functions that a rune in that position can perform and accordingly narrow the range of meanings available.

Let us consider this with a practical example. We have a 2-rune spread. The first position is entitled "Situation" and the second is called "Outcome". We can be fairly certain that runes in the first position will be descriptive and runes in the second position will be predictive. However since the purpose of divination is to provide guidance (as considered in the previous lesson) there must be an advisory function in the spread somewhere. In fact the meanings offered by the two runes in the spread are equally likely to offer an element of advice. However if we were to change the title of the second position, making it "Advice" then we can expect the guidance function to reside with that position and meanings offered by the first position rune to confine themselves largely to those which describe the situation.

This illustrates the importance of giving careful though to the titles of the different positions in a spread and hence to the function performed by those positions.

3. Shape of the Spread

There can be an element of sympathetic magic in spread design. The layout of the spread itself is intended to reflect the desired outcome. This can be illustrated by considering some possible shapes that can be produced by using three runes.

If we ignore the fact that with just three runes there is more than an element of "eye-of-the-beholder" in these shapes, the shapes themselves may potentially have cultural significance s. The first is an equilateral triangle and since the three runes are an equal distance apart this might suggest they are equally important in the reading. Shape #2 is like a letter "L". In Britain those learning to drive have to have an additional "L" plate on the car as a warning to other drivers. The L shape then in Britain is associated with learning. The third shape resembles an arrow. We generally associate arrows with instruction and/or direction. A sign with an arrow upon it is not only illustrating a possible direction, it is ordering us to go that way.

Just because a shape is possible though does not mean it will be of use, or indeed that all shapes are equally good. Shape 1 would be difficult to apply, it is too mathematical and abstract. If the client wanted to know what lessons could be learned from a given situation then shape 2 might be applied. It would work in Britain and be understandable in English-speaking countries where the initial letter of the verb "to learn" is indeed "L". In drawing up spreads it is important to understand that the recognition and connotations of shapes may vary from region to region. There are few shapes that can be said to have universal meaning. Shape 3 is possibly one that does. It would be good for use in a reading with someone who feels that they have lost their way and was seeking new focus/direction in their lives.

In this lesson we have been introduced to the concept of rune spreads which are a powerful divinatory tool. We have seen how the choice of spreads is influenced by what one is trying to achieve. Moreover it then assists in narrowing the range of meanings from all those which are possible to those which are appropriate to a particular reading. We introduced the 4-function rune model which is overly simplistic but useful for learning purposes. Because rune reading is a mystic process we are not normally aware of the mechanisms underlying it. However an awareness of them at this stage will prove helpful for the next lesson when we start looking at actual spreads.

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Lesson 15 - Comprehension Tests, Reading and Further Exercises

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