Horse Shoe Layout
Difficulty: Easy
The Horse Shoe is a classic layout. It is more advanced than the three-rune reading, yet simpler than most other layouts. It is a versatile method that can be used for most queries, though there are other layouts which would go into more depth. Like the simple Past, Present, and Future layout, it contains these runes in positions #1, #2, and #7, but also has four other runes that help the reader understand how to deal with the future better. The runes are to be read as follows:
- The Past: Past events affecting the question.
- The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
- Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
- Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
- External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
- Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
- Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.
Your Horse Shoe Reading
Obstacle  Hagalaz |
||
Hidden Influences  Gebo |
External Influences  Uruz |
|
The Present  Wunjo |
Suggestion  Naudhiz |
|
The Past  Elhaz |
The Outcome  Laguz |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
Elhaz
Elhaz is concerned with security, protection, and defence. Warding off of evil, shield, guardian. Connection with the gods, awakening, higher purpose, divine inspiration, channelling energy or spirits, spiritual enlightenment. This rune is connected to shamans and alternative medicine that are no longer popular in today's society. May indicate a need of retreat for introspection.
Follow your instincts. Elhaz warns that people may want to push you into doing something against your will. You must stand your ground to maintain the rewards of your success or to maintain a position earned.
Ill-dignification warns you to watch for people taking advantage of you. Be careful not to take on their burdens. Can mean hidden danger, deception, confusion, reversal of fortune, weakening of the divine link. Taboo, warning, peril, repugnance. A creative drought.
The Present Card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
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.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
Gebo
Gifts, in the spirit of both giving and receiving. Gebo is one of the runes of love, relating to partnerships and generosity. Matters related to exchanges. This rune can suggest an important favour and self-sacrifice as a reward in itself.
Ill-dignification can mean selfishness, loneliness, desperation, over-sacrifice, or bribery.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
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.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
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.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.�
Naudhiz
Naudhiz warns about awareness of one's limitations. But resistance builds strength. Delays, restrictions, confusion, conflict, and the will to defeat them. Endurance, survival, determination. Patience and endurance are called for. Innovation, adaptation, and independence. The will power to direct fate.
An opportunity may not be what it seems. You may want to wait before making any important decisions. Tension in relationships is likely. If a risk has been taken, results are still forthcoming. Stress, and frustration are also associated with this sign.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
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.
