"Only if it's a good one," he grinned.

"What will I be doing this evening?" Chris asked, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

Chris blushed a little, but the stuff about reaching deep inside himself to face a hopeless situation resonated on a completely different level, given all his recent family issues.

"Well, then I think I'll stop by tonight. Chinese and a movie?"

"It's a little early in the day for Chinese," Chris teased.

Chris nodded. "I can swing by later this afternoon."

"Sure," Chris said with a grin. "What's your question?"



[ooc: I'll have to do that after lunch.]

"Okay, I used the spirit stones and the cross spread," Chris said, consulting the handout.

"The Cross spread is used to plot the arc of your life and the forces acting on it. It is the most popular spread, giving a very complete view of the situation. Spirit Runes are most commonly used for questions about mysticism, spirituality, and religion.

The left rune represents an important element of the past. Othila is the homeland. Land was the purest form of immovable wealth in Norse civilization, distinct from the movable wealth represented by Fehu. This rune speaks of stability and safety stemming from inheritance, both material and genetic. With respect to the question asked, consider the background of the people and families involved...

The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Fehu is the rune of cattle, the symbol of wealth in the old Norse civilization. Since Fehu is the first rune in Frey's aett, it is a rune of fertility as well. As seen here reversed, it can represent barrenness or the loss of wealth. Some interpret Fehu as representing children, in which case the reversal may portend the distancing of a child from her or his parents.

The top rune represents a force that works for you. Man refers to Mankind and your interaction with the whole of human population. This rune is reversed, suggesting a separation from your fellow man. There is a lack of harmony in your interaction with others, either because you do not accept society or society does not accept you. Alternatively, this rune may also represent your separation from nature, and your ability to rise above the base level of being. As the rune is reversed, this may suggest an incomplete level of spiritual attainment or an intellectual block.

The bottom Rune represents a force that works against you. Inguz is the rune of completion and fertility. The presence of this rune suggests that tasks which have been initiated will come to fruition. This rune is associated with Ing and Frey, it is this connection that explains its connotations of both fertility and sexuality. The variant of this rune shown here is reminiscent of the twin strands of life, and of the challenge and rewards of bringing together things complimentary.

The right rune represents the critical element of the future, at the core of the final outcome. Nyd is frequently seen as a powerfully negative rune. You have drawn the rune reversed, which will lessen some of its effects. Generally Nyd represents loss, sorrow, and a hard journey with lessons learned. Nyd reversed here might be cautioning that the lessons might go unheeded representing repeated mistakes. The rune here might also be representing a minor loss or a nearly avoided catastrophe. Be careful, things are tricky and require strong attentiveness. "

Chris considered all that. "So I hope that you won't hold the whole Thanksgiving debacle against me if you're supposed to consider the background and family of the people involved in your love life."

"Good," Chris said, with a relieved smile.

"Oh, good point," Chris said. "But, then again, I'm also related to Phoebe."

Chris looked down. "Yeah, he was really good to you while you were sick."

"I don't think you really need to do anything special," Chris said.

"Yeah, but he was a total jackass to you," Chris pointed out. "So he owed you."