Rune Reading for Beginners

Let’s start by offering some clarity on what exactly runes are. While people have long been reading rune stones for divination purposes, runes are letters from the ancient German alphabet. Those were put on stones, assigned meaning, and now can be used for fortune telling.

Like with the tarot, reading runes can help you better understand your situation and inspire you to work more with your intuition to guide you through your current circumstances.

In this guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know as a beginner to start reading runes. We’ll cover a bit about their history and then dive into some practical rune spreads for divination and look at some rune stone sets.

What Are Runes?

Runes are letters from the early alphabets used by Norse, Germanic, and Anglo-Saxon cultures. They were originally carved into wood, stone, or metal and used both for writing (like we use our letters today) and for magic. Today, runes are primarily used for divination.

The oldest (and most commonly used) runes are those in the Elder Futhark rune set. This is a collection of 24 runes that date to around 150 CE. They were used until about 800 CE when evidence of the Younger Futhark and other runic system began to appear.

The three most well-known runic systems are:

• Elder Futhark: 24 runes, used from 150-800 CE (most commonly used for rune reading)
• Younger Futhark: 16 runes, used by Vikings from 800-1100 CE
• Anglo-Saxon Futhorc: 29+ runes, used in England

The History and Meaning of Runes

The word rune comes from the Old Norse rún, meaning “secret” or “mystery.” According to Norse mythology, runes were not invented by humans but discovered by Odin himself. The Hávamál, part of the Poetic Edda, describes how Odin hung from Yggdrasil, the World Tree, for nine nights—wounded, fasting, and near death—until he perceived the runes.

Rather than being a human creation, runes were eternal, pre-existing forces woven into the fabric of reality, and mastering them granted deep wisdom and magical power. But, it’s not necessarily that the runes themselves are magical. There isn’t much evidence that they were used in the way sigils are. But they were used to write out magical incantations, like we use our alphabet to write magical petitions. And, like any alphabet, the runes developed and evolved over time.

References to runes used for success in battle or childbirth are references in the Poetic Edda and in various archeological artifacts. One of those is the Lindholm amulet, an inscribed bone which dates between 375 CE to 570 CE and was found in a peat bog bears a runic inscription using the Elder Futhark. Scholars believe the intent of the inscription was to involve Odin or other gods and ask for protection. (You can get a good reproduction of the amulet here.)

When Did People Start Reading Runes for Divination?

While runes were used for magical purposes for centuries, it wasn’t until the 20th century that they really began to be commonly used for divination. Their popularity grew massively when Robert Blum published The Book of Runes: A Handbook for the Use of an Ancient Oracle in 1982.

Blum’s book introduced a simplified, intuitive approach that framed runes as a self-reflective tool, similar to tarot, But he also added the blank rune or Wyrd rune, also sometimes called Odin’s rune. This rune symbolized fate and the unknown but it had no historical basis. Despite criticism from scholars and traditionalists, his method made rune casting more accessible to a mainstream audience.

Blum also packaged his book with a set of 25 runes, Blum encouraged beginners to start rune reading immediately, which led to widespread adoption of his system. If you want a copy, you can get it here.

Understanding Rune Symbols and Their Meanings

Each rune in the Elder Futhark is a letter that, when reading runes, represents a concept, energy, or archetype. Here are a few foundational ones:

• Fehu (ᚠ) – Wealth, prosperity, new beginnings
• Uruz (ᚢ) – Strength, vitality, personal power
• Algiz (ᛉ) – Protection, divine connection, intuition
• Raidho (ᚱ) – Journey, movement, life path
• Perthro (ᛈ) – Mystery, fate, hidden knowledge

I’ll be adding all the rune meanings to the site, so you’ll be able to find all the meanings for your rune reading interpretations here.

How to Start Reading Runes

To start reading runes, you’ll need a set of 24 symbols from the Elder Futhark inscribed on stones, wood slices, or tiles. Thanks to Blum, some rune sets also include a 25th “blank rune.”

You have two main options when selecting your rune set. The easiest route is to buy a pre-made set, which comes in a variety of materials like wood, stone, or bone—each offering a unique feel and energy. Here are my favorite pre-made sets you can find on Amazon. I’ll be offering my own rune sets soon, so be sure to check our store for those.

If you prefer a more personal connection to your runes, you can make your own by carving or painting the symbols onto small objects such as pebbles, wooden discs, or clay tiles. This process can help deepen your bond with the runes and their meanings.

You’ll also need a rune bag so you have something to shake the runes in. Most sets come with one, but if you’re making your own set, any small pouch will do. You’ll also want a rune cloth that you can use as a casting surface and protect your runes from chips or damage.

Finally, you’ll need a question or intention. I’ve listed some below.

What Can I Ask the Runes About?

When you consult the runes, you’re not simply predicting the future—you’re tapping into patterns, possibilities, and underlying forces at play, similar to how you do with other divination methods, such as the tarot.

Some view rune casting as a way to align with fate, while others see it as a method for gaining perspective on a situation and potential outcomes. Whether you believe that the runes carry an intrinsic mystical power or that they serve as a symbolic mirror for your intuition, they can be a powerful tool for reflection, guidance, and decision-making.

Here are some questions you could ask the runes:

• Personal Growth: “What lesson do I need to learn right now?” or “What strengths should I focus on developing?”
• Life Decisions: “What do I need to know about this opportunity?” or “What potential outcome should I consider before making this choice?” or “What unseen forces are at play in this situation?” or “What should I focus on to overcome this challenge?”
• Relationships: “What energy surrounds this relationship?” or “How can I improve communication with this person?”
• Career and Finances: “What should I be aware of in my career path?” or “How can I best handle this financial situation?”

How to Read Runes

First, find a quiet place where you can focus. You might light a candle, set an intention, or do the four-fold breath to center yourself.

Next, prepare your question. Rune readings work best with open-ended questions, like those above. Try to avoid yes/no questions.

Then, choose your rune casting method. There are a few ways to perform a rune reading:

• Single Rune Draw – Pull one rune for daily guidance.
• Three-Rune Spread – Represents past, present, and future.
• Five-Rune Spread – Offers insight into challenges and solutions.
• Nine-Rune Cast – Scatter runes onto a cloth and read the ones that land face up.

Finally, interpret your runes and reflect on your reading. Each rune has a general meaning, but its position in a spread and surrounding runes affect the interpretation. Some runes also have reversed meanings, which often indicate blockages or challenges. Once you get a handle on the basic meanings of each, you can start to use your intuition more to guide you to see the deeper meanings.

It’s helpful, especially for beginners, to write down the runes they receive in a journal or planner. This can help you strengthen your intuition and begin to see patterns.

Single Rune Cast

The single rune draw is the simplest and fastest way to consult the runes, making it perfect for beginners or those looking for quick insight. This method is great for daily guidance, meditation, or quick decision-making.

To perform this reading, focus on a specific question or situation, then draw one rune from your set. This rune represents the energy or lesson at play and can offer clarity on what to expect or how to proceed.

If the meaning isn’t immediately clear, spend some time reflecting on how it applies to your current situation.

Three Rune Layout

A three-rune spread offers a deeper look at a situation while remaining simple and easy to interpret. It’s another one that’s good for beginners. One way to work with it is to use a past-present-future format, where:

• The first rune represents past influences.
• The second rune reflects the present situation.
• The third rune suggests possible future outcomes.

Five Rune Spread

For a more detailed and nuanced rune reading, the five-rune cast expands on the three-rune spread by providing additional guidance on what to embrace and what action to take. To perform this reading, draw five runes, one at a time, and place them in a cross formation on your cloth or reading surface:

1. First Rune (Center): The present moment—this rune represents the core energy of your situation.
2. Second Rune (Left/West): The past—factors or events that have led to this point.
3. Third Rune (Top/North): Action steps—what you can do to move toward your desired outcome.
4. Fourth Rune (Bottom/South): Obstacles or distractions—what you need to accept or let go of.
5. Fifth Rune (Right/East): The future—a likely outcome if you follow the guidance of the spread.

This layout gives a balanced perspective by revealing both what you can control (action rune) and what may be beyond your influence (obstacle rune). It is a great choice for navigating complex decisions, personal growth, and understanding hidden influences. Whether you read the runes face-down, turning them over one at a time, or face-up from the start, trust your intuition as you interpret their relationships to each other.

Nine Rune Cast

Once you’ve become more comfortable reading runes, the nine-rune cast is a powerful method for gaining big-picture insight into your life, a specific situation, or spiritual guidance. This cast is more intuitive and open-ended than structured spreads, making it a great choice for seasoned rune readers.

In Norse tradition, the number nine is deeply significant—it represents the Nine Worlds of Yggdrasil, Odin’s nine-night ordeal to gain the wisdom of the runes, and other sacred cycles.

To begin, hold nine runes in your hands, focus on your question or intention, and then scatter them onto your cloth. Imagine a focus point at the center of your cloth. The runes that land closer to the center are the most relevant to your current situation, while those at the edges hold less immediate influence or relate to long-term factors.

Any runes that land together should be read as a group, as their meanings influence one another. Runes that land on opposite sides of the cloth may signal a fork in the road, conflicting energies, or a choice you must make.

Start with the runes that landed face-up—these represent present energies or known factors in your situation. Then, when ready, flip over the face-down runes, as they symbolize hidden influences, external forces, or potential developments in the future.