Ankh Layout
Difficulty: Kind of tough
The Ankh Spread is for questions about the causes behind trends. It is similar to the Celtic Cross and Secret of the High Priestess layouts, but it covers the reasons behind the circumstances in question differently, perhaps giving a better explanation of why things are the way they are.
The loop of the upper section of the ankh reveals the spiritual background and causes of the situation, while the stem of the base focuses on prospects for the outcome.
The first two runes represent the two parent causes of the situation. They will either complement each other or show two opposing sides of a conflict, depending on how they relate. These are the significator runes of the Ankh layout.
3. This rune shines light upon the early causes of the trend in question.
4. Pinpoints the causes that triggered the current situation.
5. Reveals the spiritual perspective of the subject at hand.
6. This rune examines the reasons why this course of action had to unfold, as a means to this end.
At this point, it is good to pause to soak in the meaning of the first six runes before moving forward to the last three runes. The last three reveal prospects for the future.
7. The Next Step gives clues about the immediate future.
8. Surprising Experiences encountered en route to the result.
9. This represents the result.
Your Ankh Reading
| Early Causes | Higher Perceptions  Uruz |
Triggering Causes |
 Fehu |
Necessary Conclusions |  Laguz |
| Significator #1 |  Thurisaz |
Significator #2 |
 Wunjo |
Next Step |  Hagalaz |
 Raidho |
||
Surprising Experiences  Tiwaz |
||
Outcome  Isa |
Significator #1
Wunjo
An omen of prosperity on the horizon. Projects relating to creativity, art, or intuition are favoured by this rune. A sign of comfort, pleasure, comradery, joy, and harmony.
Glory, ecstasy, and spiritual frenzy. If controlled, success and general increase of one's personal stock. If unloosed, over-enthusiastic zeal can lead to maniacal raving, going berserk. Don't blow your top.
Significator #2
Hagalaz
Sudden storm without warning, natural disaster, catastrophe, uncontrollable forces, destructive weather, especially hail or blizzards. Can be a sign of sudden disruption, chaos, and delays. Stagnation, pain, loss, suffering, hardship, sickness.
A trial by fire, temperance. Recovery from crisis leading to completion of a story. This rune is said to relate to the hidden desires of the unconscious mind, which may indicate the need for meditation and spiritual guidance.
Early Causes
Fehu
Fehu is one of three mother stones. This rune deals with earning success in matters of material gain or the increase of knowledge. It reveals an impending influence of prosperity, abundance, fullness, and happiness. It can indicate climbing the social ladder. Other key words are: vitality, energy, power, mojo, foresight, fertility, creativity, motion.
Triggering Causes
Laguz
Laguz is related with water and the sea. Flow, a fertility source, the healing cycle of constant change renewal. This is a strong feminine rune of intuition that also relates to fertility.
Heightened imagination and psychic abilities. Dreams, fantasies, mysteries, the unknown, the occult. A breakthrough in awareness. Success in travel or acquisition, but presenting the possibility of loss.
Ill-dignification suggests you're taking things too hard. Prevent your emotions from running wild. This indicates of a period of confusion. Lack of creativity and feelings of being in a rut may lead to bad decisions and poor judgement. Circumstances may be beyond your control, so the trick is to adapt. Terror, circular logic, avoidance, cowardice, madness, obsession, despair, perversity, sickness, depression.
Higher Perceptions
Uruz
Self-improvement is the ideal of this rune, which indicates the formation of a pattern of success. Responsibility and authority earned raise one's personal stock. New awareness makes it possible to capitalise on new opportunities, and this rune's appearance suggests that opportunity is about to knock. This rune suggests a period of wonder and adventure before adaptation settles in. Beginner's luck, freedom, electricity, action, courage, strength, tenacity, understanding, experience. Masculine sexual potency.
Necessary Conclusions
Thurisaz
Thor, the Thunder god. Male core fertility. Thurisaz has to do with strife, conflict, combat, defence, and aggression. Reacting forcefully, as if threatened. Instinctual will, eroticism, a catalyst for change. A purging flood, a cleansing fire, catharsis.
This rune suggests that now may not be the best time to make any hasty decisions. Perhaps time should be set aside to reflect.
The Next Step
Raidho
A rune of action and movement, Raidho indicates that business is about to pick up. Travel and movement are suggested, both in immediate terms and those of overall lifestyle. An adventure, journey, vacation, relocation, personal evolution, or other conceivable change of place or perception. Mind expansion.
Knowing what you want and going for it. The personal in rhythm with the world, the dance of life. Raidho's connection to the number 2 is a reminder that there are two sides to every story. Be careful not to get side tracked into a disruptive misadventure that could set you back.
Surprises
Tiwaz
Tiwaz is the warrior rune, and also one of the runes of love. It is concerned with self-knowledge, self-actualisation, leadership, authority, rationality, honour, justice, and self-sacrifice. Opportunities should be seized. Success is indicated by this rune, particularly in competitive and legal matters.
Ill-dignification can mean writer's block, creative slump, over-analysis, over-sacrifice, injustice, imbalance. Conflict, strife, and losing in competitive matters. A lack of passion, miscommunication, even a separation. The male in a relationship may be involved for superficial reasons.
The Outcome
Isa
A mental block presents a frustrating challenge. A standstill, when patience is a blessing, it is a good time search within one's self for clarity, a great opportunity for meditation. This rune reinforces runes around it.
Ill-dignification of this rune may mean ego-mania, self-absorption, blindness, and dissipation of willpower. Delusion, deceit, guile, stealth, ambush, plots, grievances, treachery, betrayal.
