The βThree Runesβ spread, known as the βNornsβ, is one of practitioners' favorites. It is simple yet gives a rich answer, showing a situation in time. You can try it right now: the three-rune reading online is free and needs no registration.
Who the Norns are
In Norse mythology the Norns are three women of fate living at the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. Urd keeps the past, Verdandi the present, Skuld the future. Together they weave the threads of every person's fate. That is why the three-rune spread is named after them: the three positions reflect the flow of time.
How to read the three positions
The first rune (Urd) tells of the roots of the situation β what led to the current state. The second (Verdandi) describes the present: the current forces, mood and circumstances. The third (Skuld) points to the likely outcome if everything continues in the same direction. Note: the future in runes is not rigidly fixed β Skuld shows a tendency you can change.
The meaning of rune positions
Each rune can fall upright or reversed. The upright position strengthens the main meaning, the reversed weakens it, turns it to the opposite or warns of difficulties. A reversed rune in the βobstacleβ or βfutureβ position is a signal to pay closer attention to that area.
How to assemble the answer
Do not interpret the runes separately β link them into a story. For example, Raido (a path) in the past, Nauthiz (need) in the present and Jera (harvest) in the future form a plot: the movement begun temporarily requires patience but will lead to a deserved reward. Practice reading runes in combination, and the spread will speak.
Ready to try? Open the three-rune spread. The rune reference will help with the meanings.
