Kenaz Rune Tarot Spread

With Raidho, we move forward in the world and with the next rune in the first row of the Elder Futhark, Kenaz, we explore our inner frontiers. This rune, associated with Freya, is a rune of soul alchemy and deep feminine wisdom. The latter should come as no surprise since this rune is etymologically associated with the word ‘cunt.’

Jump to the Dragon’s Breath Kenaz Rune Tarot Spread

How about we all pause for a minute and contemplate this. A word that is associated with deep wisdom, cunning, poetry (kenning), cleft, matrilineal relations and the Goddess’s vaginal opening was twisted by patriarchy into the worst of all the bad curse words… Interesting, yes?

Kenaz is also associated with wounds, blisters, fever, and infection – all parts of us that are in need of healing due to excessive heat (masculine/yang energy). Yet, we also need the heat and light of the torch rune to shine into the darkest corners of our souls for healing. This can be a tricky rune to understand and work with… Mainly because the work of soul alchemy, though based on simple principles of integration and balance of the Elements, isn’t easy. This is, for instance, why the Tarot, with its four suits representing the four Elements + Spirit, is a lifelong study.

We Need the Wisdom of Kenaz to Keep Moving Forward

Invariably, when we start moving forward in the world with the Raidho energy, we will encounter stumbling blocks on our path which will require the strength and wisdom of Kenaz. What is unhealed within will be reflected at us in the outside world, in one form or another and sometimes in our own bodies.

The shape of the rune is that of a crevice or the open mouth of a dragon. In its positive aspect, it represents healing and the controlled use of fire.

In the Tarot, we would look at Temperance for a Major Arcana correspondence.

The Anglo-Saxon rune poem for Kenaz:

The torch is known to every living man
by its pale, bright flame; it always burns
where princes sit within.

Interestingly, the Norse and Icelandic rune poems focus more on the wound aspect of the rune and the Icelandic poem ends with ‘…abode of mortification.’ You can read more about holistic rune meanings for Kenaz HERE.

Kenaz – “The Dragon’s Fire”

Kenaz (ᚲ) is more than the torch that lights our path — it is the inner hearth itself. It is the heat that animates the body, the spark that stirs creativity, the word that shapes worlds. Where there is heat, there is life; where the flame withdraws, we find the frost of Hel’s realm. Kenaz teaches us to tend that fire wisely — to master our will rather than be mastered by it — so that the same force that can scorch and destroy can also illuminate, heal, and inspire.

This rune is the breath of the Red Dragon that dwells within. In its raw form, it is primal will — the fierce drive that fuels transformation. Steadied by Raidho, this fire finds rhythm; expressed through Kenaz, it becomes language, art, and action; shared through Gebo, it becomes a gift; and in Wunjo, it multiplies into joy. The question is never whether you possess the fire — but whether you will wield it or let it consume you.

The following spread is designed to guide you through that initiatory journey. Use it for personal transformation work, especially when you feel the inner flame stirring — during kundalini awakenings, creative surges, or the “wise-woman fire” of menopause. Light a candle or torch if you can, and approach this reading as a sacred rite.

The Dragon’s Breath: A 7-Card Kenaz Rune Tarot Spread

1. The Spark – What is awakening the fire within me now?
The ember at the heart of this working. What inner or outer force is calling the Red Dragon to life?

2. The Flame of Will – What drives my fire forward?
The primal will that fuels transformation. What force within me seeks expression through Kenaz?

3. The Breath of the Dragon – How does my voice shape creation or destruction?
Words are flame. How does my speech, spell, and song wield the power of life and death — and how can I use that power with wisdom?

4. The Forge – What must be tempered for this fire to serve rather than consume?
Here lies the trial of Gullveig. What lesson, boundary, or discipline must I embrace to master my inner fire instead of being devoured by it?

5. The Gift – How is my fire meant to bless the world?
The Gebo stage. How can I direct this heat into something that nourishes, inspires, or heals others?

6. The Flame Shared – What happens when my fire meets another’s?
The Shaw quote in practice. What synergy, joy, or expanded creation arises when I exchange this spark with others?

7. The Joyful Blaze – How can I sustain the flame without burning out?
The Wunjo culmination. What practice, mindset, or offering keeps my fire steady, bright, and joyful over time?

CLICK HERE for a sample reading with the Dragon’s Breath Tarot Spread.

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