Norse Nine Worlds Spread

[rachelcat]

I was reading Runecaster’s Handbook by Edred Thorsson and once again encountered the nine worlds. It was more fun to create a spread than to diligently study my runes, so here is the result! Obviously, I’m neither a Norse scholar nor religionist, so comments and corrections are welcome.

From searching around, I find that Thorsson’s is a common arrangement of the worlds (see attached illustration), but there are many others. This is obviously 4 sets of opposites, plus a center, to make 9. But it can also be divided into 3x3 (using the numbers below): Upper level 5, 7, and 9; middle level 1, 2, and 3; lower level 4, 6, and 8. That appropriately puts the Vanir (old gods) in the upper level and the giants in the lower, instead of being in the middle horizontal plane as they are below.

(Remembering The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will give your readings some flavor, especially its depictions of elves and dwarves and its reverence for the western destination of the elves and ring bearers.)

Norse Nine Worlds Spread

---9
---7
5-----2
---1
3-----4
---6
---8

Horizontal Plane

1. Midgard (Middle Earth)–Center. Deal face down to turn up and read last!

2. Niflheim (Mist (Ice) Home)–North. What is not happening around you. What is stopped or stagnant.

3. Muspellshiem (Fire Home)–South. What is happening around you. What is moving or changing.

4. Jotunheim (Giants Home)–East. People or things going against you. Troubles or challenges.

5. Vanaheim (Old Gods Home)–West. People or things going for you. Assistance or assets.

Vertical Plane

6. Svartalfheim (Dark Elves (Dwarves) Home)–Inside. Your body and health, instincts, needs, desires, and emotions.

7. Ljossalfheim (Light Elves Home)–Outside. Your appearance, thoughts and ideas, plans, and reason.

8. Hel (Underworld)–Below. A message to you from the ancestors and earth spirit about the unconscious, hidden, or unknown. The influence of the past.

9. Asgard (Gods Land)–Above. A message to you from sky spirit about inspiration, creativity, morality, aspiration, and ambition. What is known, accepted, or honored.

1. Midgard (Middle Earth)–Center. You relating to your issue, the synthesis of all the other cards, and the outcome of your issue.

[septimus]

Looks rather interesting, think I will try it.

[Glass Owl]

I think that this spread would be perfect for the Viking Tarot! I haven't really seen spreads based on Norse mythology so this is a wonderful surprise.

[magpie9]

Really interesting! Will try it with Norse and Giants tarots