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 ![]() Uruz |
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Hidden Influences ![]() Othala |
External Influences ![]() Jera |
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The Present ![]() Thurisaz |
Suggestion ![]() Fehu |
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The Past ![]() Ansuz |
The Outcome ![]() Tiwaz |

The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
Ansuz
Ansuz signifies the protection of Odin, concerned with man's connection with the universe, spiritual messages, learning, communication, and the spoken word. Signs, inspiration, visions, and the symbolic power of words and names.
Acceptance of good advice yields blessings in health, harmony, and wisdom. Non-acceptance of good advice results in manipulation by others, misunderstanding, and delusion. Vanity and arrogance may deceive one's self. This rune may indicate that dreams are giving you important messages that you should take note of.

The Present Card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
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.

Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
Othala
This rune is concerned with home, land, and property. What is truly important to one. Group order, group prosperity. Land of birth, spiritual heritage, experience and fundamental values. Inheritance. Aid in journeys.
Othala relates to marriage, family, and things which are fixed and unchangeable, set-in stone. On a spiritual level this is a reminder that your body is the temple and home of your soul, a source of security, increase, and abundance.
Ill-dignification can mean lack of respect, totalitarianism, slavery, poverty, homelessness. Bad karma, prejudice, injury. This is a warning to take care of what you have if you care about it.

Obstacle - This is the challenge.
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.

External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
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.

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.�
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.

The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
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.