Runes Yes or No

How a yes or no rune reading works

Each of the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark carries its own answer: yes, no or maybe. You draw a single rune, and its meaning sets the verdict. Runes of strength, joy and harvest, such as Fehu, Wunjo or Jera, lean towards yes; runes of blockage and waiting, such as Isa or Naudhiz, lean towards no or maybe.

Fifteen runes can come out reversed, and then the answer usually shifts: a rune that says yes upright may say maybe or no when it lands upside down, because its energy is held back. The other nine look the same both ways up, so their answer never changes.

What to ask the runes

Closed, specific questions work best: "Should I take this job?", "Is now a good time to make a move?", "Will the trip go well?". Avoid questions with two parts and questions that ask for a date. If your question is open-ended, try thethree-rune Norns reading instead, which shows the past, the present and where the situation is heading.

What "maybe" means

A maybe isn't a dodge. It means the answer still depends on something within your reach, or on something that hasn't happened yet, and the rune's explanation tells you what. Perthro, the rune of mystery, tends to answer maybe because there's information you don't have yet; in that case, ask again later, once the situation has moved.

You'll find each rune's answer on its own page in the guide to the 24 runes.

A yes or no rune reading is for entertainment; don't make health, money or legal decisions based on a rune.