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  Sowilo |
||
Hidden Influences  Ehwaz |
External Influences  Isa |
|
The Present  Ingwaz |
Suggestion  Ansuz |
|
The Past  Mannaz |
The Outcome  Kenaz |
The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
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 Present Card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
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.
Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
Ehwaz
This rune typically signifies big changes – changes for the better. Transportation. May represent a horse, car, plane, boat or other vehicle. Slow but steady progress is indicated. Trust, loyalty, harmony, teamwork, an ideal partnership.
This rune also strengthens adjacent runes, adding clarification and solidarity to their meanings when in doubt. It is also connected with science and higher education. Communication reaches peak harmony.
Ill-dignification could mean a change is craved. Haste, disharmony, betrayal. Feeling trapped. Paranoia and superstition.
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 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.
External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
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.
Suggestion - The recommended course of action.�
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 Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
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.
