Runes: "Double Chevron" Spread

An explanation of Runes (opens new window)

For the third reading, I used another spread from Krasskova’s book. The Double Chevron spread, which consists of two intertwined “V’s,” helps people to look into the Well of the Wyrd and uncover any spiritual influences that are in their lives. In this spread, Runes 6, 7, and 8 intersect Runes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 at Runes 2 and 4. The corner Runes 1, 5, 6, and 8 are the external influences on the questioner. The interior Runes 2, 3, 4 and 7 are the internal influences coming from the questioner.

 My question for the Runes was “Do you have any guidance for me about my brain injury.” I am at a crossroads on what my direction in life should be now. I felt the need to consult the Runes about this.

 For the external influences, I drew (1) Dagaz, (5) Eihwaz, (6) Perthro and (8) Thurisaz. (Their traditional meanings are “day,” “horse,” “dice” and “thorn.”) Dagaz said to me to expect rapid change, and Eihwaz pointed out that the transformation will come from the Worlds. Perthro indicated that that source would be the Well of the Wyrd, whilst Thurisaz counseled that this would be a focused change.

 The internal influences were (2) Fehu, (3) Algiz, (4) Isa and (7) Hagalaz. (Their meanings are “wealth,” “elk,” “ice” and “hail” respectively.) Fehu told me of the connection from the Gods, one of which is protection (Algiz). Isa, to me, represented the dynamic interactions that are provided by having boundaries. Hagalaz told me again of the descent into the Realms of the Dead. As I go into those places, I will be protected with gifts from the Gods, which also includes firm boundaries.

From the entirety of the reading, I see that my injury placed me between the Worlds of the Dead and the Living, where I have a foot in both. My injury has transformed me and I must embrace it, instead of fighting it. Since public blogging is now an aspect of my new direction, I can be a voice for all the animals.

Divination: Norse Runes: 12 Rune Life Layout

Because my life is in flux, I decided to do the Twelve Rune Layout known as “the Runic Wheel” for a life reading. “The Runic Wheel” is ideal for me to read accurately and wisely. I did the layout on May Eve (Walpurgis Night), since it marked the change between the light and dark halves of the year for the Norse. This crack in time was a good time to do a life reading.

 As I prepared to do the reading, I laid the Runes out counter-clockwise as directed by the layout. I noted each triadic grouping as well as any natural grouping such as “Self,” “Health,” and “Relationships.” During the divination, I looked for any particular messages from the Runes.

 Starting at the Nine o’clock position of “Self,” I drew Ansuz. For me, this Rune means that I am under the protection of the Gods. After I became injured, I felt the presence of the Gods come into my life. They have been guiding my life since.

 At the Eight o’clock position of “Material Position,” I drew Ehwaz. I interpret this Rune as “movement and adaptability.” Any new ventures that I start would be successful. However, I need to seek cooperation from other people to reach my goals.

 At the Seven o’clock position of “Communication,” I drew Isa. Because of my brain injury, communication with others is difficult. Isa reflects this blockage in my brain. What this Rune counsels me is that I need to wait first before speaking, so I do not stutter. 

 At the Six o’clock position of “Family and Home,” I drew Uruz. My family is like the wild Aurochs represented by Uruz. We are strong, passionate, and mentally ill. Managing our illnesses is like riding the Aurochs, but together we are able to do it.

 At the Five o’clock position of “Pleasure and Creativity,” I drew Berkano. This is the Rune of birth and rebirth. For six months, I have been struggling with a long fallow period of doing nothing. My zest for being creative has been noticeably absent. Drawing Berkano gives me hope that I should see the start of renewed creativity and the desire to write again.

 At the Four o’clock position of “Health,” I drew Dagaz. For me, Dagaz means “breakthrough, relief or some sort of dramatic life change.” Since my brain injury affects my over-all health, it makes becoming healthy, problematic. Because of this, I have made very slow progress in returning to good health. This Rune tells me to expect positive changes and improvement.

 At the Three o’clock position of “Relationships,” I drew Nauthiz. My brain injury creates difficulties because I miss social cues, frustrating me and other people. Nauthiz, the Rune of “need and obstacles,” informs me to be patient and use as much self-control as possible.

At the Two o’clock position of “Sex Life,” I drew Othila. For me, this Rune means “a sense of belonging, legacy, the Ancestors.” As I pondered this, I decided that the Ancestors are with me and want me to enjoy my husband. After all, that is how our line is continued. (This is their legacy to me.)
 
At the One o’clock position of “Ideals and Dreams,” I drew Mannaz. I understand this Rune to be “family and community.” My ideals and dreams arise from supporting my family and community. By serving my community, I can achieve my own ideals. 

 At the Twelve o’clock position of “Ambitions and Aspirations,” I drew Wunjo. For me, this Rune means “success and joy.” I was stumped as to how to interpret this Rune in this position. “Joy” could be a goal for me. I intend to do something joyful each day such as bird watching.
 
 At the Eleven o’clock position of “Friendships,” I drew Jera. This Rune means “harvest,” which I interpret to be: “I will reap the benefits of my friendships.” By maintaining the high quality of my relationships, my social life will improve. 

Finally at the Ten o’clock position of the “Subconscious,” I drew Kenaz. A part of my injury is being disconnected with parts of my brain. Kenaz, “the Torch,” will help me to illuminate these parts. Eventually, I will become more integrated, and more in touch with my subconscious.

 Looking at the Triads, several pictures emerge. From “Self” to “Material Position” and “Communication” flow Ansuz, Ehwaz, and Isa. From the Gods come my material comfort. However, I need to be still and ponder my good fortune.

 From “Family and Home” to “Pleasure” and “Health” flow Uruz, Berkano, and Dagaz. Deriving strength and robustness from my family, I can be reborn into a new period of creativity. By being reborn, I will receive a breakthrough in my recovery from my brain injury.

 From “Relationships” to “Sex Life” to “Ideals and Dreams” flow Nauthiz, Othila, and Mannaz. Because of the obstacles of learning social cues, I need to be in contact with my Ancestors. From them, I receive a sense of belonging. Now I can support and be supported by my community. 

 From “Ambitions and Aspirations,” “Friendships,” and the “Sub-conscious” flows Wunjo, Jera, and Kenaz. Since I seek harmony, I will harvest good friendships. With the help of my friends, my subconscious will be illuminated to me. 

 The Triads present a cycle building up to confirm that my struggles in relating with others will be rewarded. The connections between me and other people will improve. As long as I honor the Gods and the Ancestors, I will have a synthesis of vitality and testing which will help me overcome my ordeals in communication.

 The Runes for communication and relationships includes Isa and Nauthiz, reflecting my handicap. However, balancing this out is Jera, which tells me that if I am patient, I will reap a good harvest. Meanwhile, the Runes of self and the subconscious is Ansuz and Kenaz, which says to me that the Gods will connect me to myself. Adding to this is my sex life denoted by Othila, the Ancestral Home. My life may be in flux now, but this is necessary for me to achieve a breakthrough as denoted by Berkano and Dagaz.

Divination: Norse Runes: Six Rune Layout

 Six Rune Layout is the same as the Five Rune Layout with the sixth Rune under the fifth one.
The Five Rune Layout

To find out what Odin had to tell me, I did the third Rune casting on Wednesday. My question for Odin was, “How do I learn to handle future conflicts.” Using the Six Rune Layout, I cast the same layout as the Five Rune one, and added, “Fresh Influences Affecting the Situation.” “Present” was Eihwaz, while “Past” was Berkano, “creating a new life.” “Help” was Kenaz, “insight and solutions,” while “Fate” was Mannaz.  The “Result” was Fehu, “wealth and good fortune”. Meanwhile, “Fresh Influences,” was Mehwaz, “change and adaptability.” Odin is telling me to use creative thinking and group support, and I would become wealthy in my relationships.
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The common theme in my Runes castings was Hagalaz, Eihwaz, and Mannaz. This crisis has caused me to assess my overall situation as a person with a brain injury. I need to be patient with myself and others. With the support of the group, I will be able to grow from this conflict, and handle other ones as well.

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NOTE: A more experienced Rune caster noted the following "Well done, however, when trying to compare things (such as the advice you would receive from three different deities), it's best to change just one variable at a time. So, for example, you could try to see how different lay-outs would work on the same day for the same deity OR you could try to see how the same lay-out would work for different deities on  different days OR you could try to see how slight changes in the wording of your query change the outcome. As it was, you changed three variables (the days, the wording of the query, and the lay-outs), so now you do not accurately know which variable changed the outcome."

Divination: Norse Runes: Five Rune Layout

 Five Rune Layout          3

                                2    1    4

                                      5

To seek out Freya’s advice, I did the Five Rune cast on Monday. I asked, “What can I learn from this conflict.” The Five Rune Layout adds “Help” and “Fate” to the Three Rune Layout. The first Rune was Gebo, “gift,” the second Othila, “the ancestral legacy,” and the third Perthro, “luck.” “Help” was Hagalaz, while “Fate” was Nauthiz, “need, hardship.”

Looking at the layout, I see that this conflict is a gift. Help in the form of a crisis means that the group therapist can see how we fight and guide us through our conflict. Acknowledging our legacy means recognizing that we have injured brains, which greatly affects our perceptions. My fate was that I needed to experience this conflict to deal with my strong emotions. Perthro, Freya’s answer to me “dare the fight,” i.e. take the chance.

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To read the introduction to these divinations: Three Rune Layout

 

 

Divination: Norse Runes: Three Rune Layout

 Three Rune Layout:  1  2  3

To practice Rune casting, I used several Runic layouts – the three, five, and six tile ones. I did the readings in one week on particular days. (Saturday was the day of the Norns, Monday – Freya, and Wednesday - Odin.) Focusing on a single problem, I wanted to see if the answers from these various Gods would differ. I wanted advice on my conflict with another person in my therapy group for people with brain injuries.

The questions I asked for each casting focused on how I could handle this conflict and to learn from it. Processing strong emotions with an injured brain is difficult. I often find myself screaming and shaking at small irritating things, which is normal for people with brain injuries. In my therapy group, my goal is to learn how to deal with strong emotions in a constructive way.

 

To consult the three Norns, I did the Three Rune Layout on Saturday. I asked “What do I need to do to not react to this person’s provocation.” The first Rune, “The Root of the Problem,” was Hagalaz, meaning “chaos, crisis, and sudden change.” The second Rune, “the Present Situation,” was Eihwaz, “reassess the situation.” The last tile, “The Most Probable Outcome,” was Mannaz, “the support of the family.” The Norns were telling me to head off disaster by delaying my reaction, and to instead seek help from the group. By me asking for the group’s help, we could all learn about regulating strong emotions.