A rune reading is a method of divination that reaches back into the frostbitten bones of Northern Europe’s past. Long before the tarot emerged, the Norse peoples were casting runes, small carved stones marked with letters from the Elder Futhark. Each symbol represents not only a sound from the ancient alphabet but also a force, a concept, a movement in life. In a rune reading, these symbols are drawn, cast, or placed into patterns that reveal hidden truths.
There are 24 runes in the traditional Elder Futhark set. Because the system is so lean, learning the meanings is more like memorising a compressed major arcana than a full tarot deck. Every rune carries weight.
Tarotsmith’s rune system draws from the same spread structures used across our other oracles. This means if you already know how to use a Celtic Cross or three-card spread in tarot, you already know how to navigate a rune layout. But unlike tarot, rune positions don’t rely on reversals. A rune is either present or it’s not. The shape of the casting, the relationship between runes, and their symbolic loadout determine what’s being said.
To begin your rune reading, select from one of the available rune sets on the site and choose a casting style. Whether you’re doing a quick three-rune pull or a full spread, each reading pulls from our symbol map to interpret the ancient signs into modern relevance. Rune divination cuts through self-deception and reveals where you are in the storm.
Draw One Rune
Draw Three Runes
The Blind Spot
The Cross
The Horse Shoe
The Ankh
The Celtic Cross
The Decision
Relationship Reading #1
Relationship Reading #2
The Love Triangle
The Path
The Game Plan
The Astrological Method
