Horse Shoe Layout
Difficulty: Easy
The Horse Shoe is an old classic tarot layout. It is more advanced than the 3-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 4 other runes that help the reader understand how to deal with the Future better. The runes are to be read as follows:
- The Past: This rune represents past events that are affecting the question.
- The Present: This rune represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
- Hidden Influences: Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
- Obstacles: This is the challenge. Obstacles might be avoided, or you may have to deal with them.
- External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts about this situation from people around the querent.
- Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
- The Final Outcome: This rune represents what would happen if the suggestion is followed.
Your Horse Shoe Reading
Obstacle  Sowilo |
||
Hidden Influences  Ingwaz |
External Influences  Jera |
|
The Present  Thurisaz |
Suggestion  Mannaz |
|
The Past  Berkano |
The Outcome  Ansuz |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
Berkano
Berkano is a rune of desire, fertility, birth, growth, regeneration, renewal, new beginnings, celebration, and liberation. A love affair or new birth. A prosperous partnership, team, enterprise, or venture.
Ill-dignification suggests something may be stunting the growth process. It may be necessary to examine your choices, and to go back and correct mistakes before moving forward again. There could be family problems or someone close to you that has you worried. Wreckless abandon, going wild. Loss of consciousness, deceit, sterility, stagnation.
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, defense, and aggression. Reacting forcefully, as if theatened. 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.
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, labor, work.
Obstacle - This is the challenge.
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 reigns 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, honor, 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.
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 labors 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.
Mannaz
Mankind, the Self; the individual or the human race. Your attitude toward others and their attitudes towards you. Friends and enemies, social order. This is the rune of help. Intelligence, forethought, creative ability, divine awareness.
Ill-dignification suggests a problem with authority, or possibly a conflict with people of a different culture. Mortality, blindness, self-deception, manipulation, cunning, slyness. A warning to be more careful of people, to pay closer attention to their motives. This rune may indicate a period of depression and suggests waiting or seeking consultation before making any important decisions.
The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
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.
