Celtic Cross Layout
Difficulty: Average
This is probably the most well-known layout. A good, basic layout for beginners to practise with, the Celtic Cross is useful for questions of all types. In this layout, it can be helpful to notice the relationships between the pairings of runes #5 & #9, #1 & #2, #3 & #4, and #6 & #10.
- The significator epitomizes what the reading deals with, the initial situation.
- An added impulse that compounds the significator, which may be either complimentary or contradictory.
- This is what is consciously known (thoughts).
- Unconscious driving forces that may not be known fully (emotions).
- The immediate past regarding the current situation.
- The first future rune indicates the immediate future.
- This rune represents the reader and their attitude towards runes #1 and #2.
- The external influences, the places and people which influence the topic.
- This rune suggests expectations; what is secretly hoped for or feared.
- The second future rune reveals the long-term outcome.
Your Celtic Cross Reading
The Crown |
The Outcome ![]() Ingwaz
External Forces ![]() Fehu
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The Recent Past ![]() Jera |
The Crossing Card
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The Future ![]() Laguz |
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The Significator represents what the main theme of the reading deals with, the initial situation.

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.

The Crossing Card denotes an added impulse that compounds the initial card, whether complimentary or contradictory.
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.

The Crown stands for what the asker is aware of consciously.
Dagaz
This is the rune of the day, daylight, and summer time. This rune heralds new perspective and new opportunity. Breakthrough in awareness, an awakening. Achievement of spiritual equilibrium by coming to the place where opposites meet.
A prosperous time to plan out or embark upon a new project. You recognise the power that is in your own hands. Ambitions and ideals run high. Smart work pays off. Self-reliance, independence, security, and self-assuredness.
Ill-dignification can mean coming to the end of the road, reaching the maximum limit, coming full circle, blindness, confusion, and despair.

Foundation card reveals unconscious driving forces that the querent may not be aware of.
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.

The Recent Past represents past events and concerns.
Jera
Jera is a rune of harvest, abundance, reward, fortune, completion, and putting things in order. The fruits of earlier labours are ripe for the picking. Abundant peace and contentedness due to a nice surplus. The promise of success earned. The life cycle of eternal change which rules the universe.
Ill-dignification can mean a sudden setback or reversal of fortune. A major change, bad timing, conflict, poverty, or getting stuck in a repeating loop.

The Future depicts that which lies ahead.
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.

The Querent represents the asker and their attitude towards the subject of the reading.
Kenaz
This is the primary female rune, representing things such as motherly instincts, guidance and support, intuition, and love. Spiritual visions, revelation, esoteric knowledge, inspiration, creativity, technical ability.
A sign of success, particularly in artistic endeavours. Vitality, harnessed ability, transformation, and reinvention. The pioneer spirit, the power to create your own reality. The power of light, to uncover and inspire.
Female passion and sexual desire. Being exposed, loss of illusion and false hope. It can conversely serve as a reminder that a loss may seem unpleasant, but that it can be a blessing in disguise.

External Forces represents the influence of others in your life as well as trends in your relationships with others.
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.

Hopes and Fears shows the expectations you have concerning the outcome of your question.
Sowilo
Sowilo is the sun; the life source of the world, the destroyer of ice. The life-force, health. A time when you will be able to grab the reins of power to make positive changes in your life. It is a rune of fortune, health, clarity of thought, vitality, accomplishment, and victory. Contact between the higher self and the unconscious.
Success, glory, honour, victory, health, and success. Wholeness, fullness, raw power, primordial force, natural phenomenon, sword of fire, baptism by fire. This very powerful and generally positive rune sheds the light of a sunny day on a reading.
Ill-dignification suggests bad ideals, bad company, tainted victory, trickery. Excessive force, destruction, retribution, bad karma.

The Outcome of your question. Interpret this card in the context of the entire reading and as an indicator of the path you are currently on, but not necessarily bound to.
Ingwaz
This is the rune of male health, fertility, creativity, gestation, and personal growth. Common sense, simple virtue, family, home. The spark of a new idea could start a fire. Often relates to a pivotal point, perhaps a rest stage, a time of relief, of healing and regeneration. A time when loose ends can be tied, freeing one to possibly move in a new direction. You must listen to yourself.
Ill-dignification can suggest impotence and circular movement. Production, labour, work.