The three runes that fall in the left black column of this diagram lie in the past, or are influences that are passing away. the runes in the centre blue column relate to the here and now, and the runes in the right white column have to do with the future and influences that are just beginning to come into play. One can read the rows to see the progress of the matter in the spirit, mind, and matter planes through time. Also, the columns may be read as an outline of the main influences on a person's psyche, mind and emotions, and physical existence at different points in the past, present, and future.

The central ninth rune in this spread is the crux of the matter, and often can be the answer to a question. It also acts as a "verb" for the runes in line with it. For instance the sequence of runes that fall in the 1-9-5 position have the ninth place rune as the active transformer in that runic "sentence" or "noun - verb - object" relationship. The first rune, being the spirit influences of the past (first rune), affects the consciousness of the person in the now (ninth rune) and thus influences hidden or core factors in the future (fifth rune). One reads the runes then, as vertical and horizontal columns, but also from bottom left to top right, and top left to bottom right. Another example: the 2-9-4 runes can be read as the synthesis by the conscious mind of a hidden force or motivation from the past into the spiritual reality that is just coming into existence. With practise, using this "sentence" structure for reading groups of three runes can give you a very deep and rich rune reading with the Odin's Eye layout.

Through experimentation and meditation I discovered these runic correspondences to the Nine Worlds. There are, of course, many other valid groupings of the runes to the Worlds, according to one's intent. Since each rune has different levels of meaning, by placing it in a particular domain, one can summon specific aspects of the rune. Because the runes are grouped in aettir (families) of eight, to assign a rune from each aettir to each of the Nine Worlds requires using the following aettir's first rune as one of the nine. Therefore, are used twice. This system and some others like it came to me in my studies, and I am sure that there are many other possible runic combinations and ways to visualise the Nine Worlds. You should explore these possibilities for yourself. What is important is that you must first familiarise yourself with the Germanic cosmos and the runes if you are to gain the ability to use them to for spirit travel, protection, divination, and magic. The individual must develop and awaken the runes and the cosmology within the self: there is no easy substitute for this, and it can and should take some time. Exploration and experimentation are paramount in rune work, which is by its nature a very personal undertaking. I think there is no one correct way of reading runes, or of faring the Worlds, except the way that you develop yourself out of your own experience and the inspiration of the Gods. As it turns out, this way is also the way that WORKS.

I read somewhere that there is no evidence for the use of the four directions in Germanic magic or cosmology. I cannot agree with this. We have a great deal of evidence that the four directions were as important to the ancient Germanic tribes as they were to the ancient Celts and probably every culture on Earth. In the Eddas, there are mentioned the four Dwarfs who hold up Ymir's skull (the sky). Their names are Northri, Austri, Sudhri, and Vestri: North, South, East and West. We are told Niflheim is to the north, and Hel also is in that direction, but lies ever downward. We are told also that Jötunheim lies to the East, and Muspelheim to the South, from whence the fire Giant Surtr someday will come in flame. Vanaheim then must lie in the West. People must orient themselves in the plane of the world in order to travel, and most especially to sail, at which the Germanic folk have always excelled. The less obvious orientation is the vertical one. The worlds of the vertical axis of the cosmos have to do with the spirit realm, as the Worlds of the four directions have to do with the elemental forces that make up the Earth plane.