Divination Offering - Rune or Ogham Reading Through the End of the Year

[jprussell]

This offering is now closed for new questions, but if you have something pressing before I offer another, reach out by DM here on dreamwidth or through my email (linked at my webstead: https://jpowellrussell.com). Those of you who have already asked and not yet gotten an answer, I'm on it and will have those shared in the next couple of days. Otherwise, see you next time!

It's been a while since I've done this, so I figured I'd offer to do a divination reading on whatever questions you think I might be able to help with from now (Sunday, December 22nd) through the end of the year. Just post your question here or send me a dreamwidth message or an email if it's private. Just one question per person, please, but follow-ups should be fine, unless I get way more folks asking than I expect.

A few things on how I tend to approach this, though we can make adjustments on a case-by-case basis, if needed:

1) The two divination systems I'm comfortable with are the Runes and the Ogham. If you have a preference, let me know, but generally speaking, I prefer the Ogham for more magical/spiritual/psychological questions (unless they're specifically Heathen), and the Runes for most practical stuff or anything directly involving the Germanic Gods and Their worship. Not that they can't both answer a full range of questions, I just tend to find them easier to interpret that way in those situations.

2) For most questions, I find some variation of a three card/stave spread in the shape of (roughly) "Past/Present/Future" or "Situation/Action/Outcome" to be most helpful. Sometimes specific questions might call for something a bit different, but when in doubt, that's what I'll go with.

3) As a slight addition to the above, when cards or Runestaves draw attention to themselves in ways I didn't intend (popping out of the deck while shuffling, two cards drawn when I meant to get one, one of the lots bouncing out of the tray I drop them in, that kind of thing), I tend to interpret that as "you need this extra information, pay attention."

4) I'll do my best to convey both the specific cards/staves I got in what positions, and what their "generic" meanings are (at least to me), but then also to synthesize everything into a whole picture. This last bit is largely intuitive, and often is more precise at the risk of being less accurate (example of what I mean: "it will rain tomorrow" is less precise than "it will rain between noon and 1:00 pm tomorrow," but if it rains at 5:00 pm, the former was more accurate because it was less precise), which is why I give the choppier/less synthesized pieces as well as how I think they fit together.

5) I'll be doing family stuff for the holidays, including a bit of travel, so please allow at least 24 hours for me to respond with an estimate on when I'll answer your question. I anticipate being able to do the reading for most within 24-48 hours of posting, but again, if way more folks take me up on this than I expect, that might change.

At any rate, ask away, and a blessed (late) Solstice, merry (early) Christmas, and happy (early) New Year!

Jeff

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Jeff, it’s Anna, and yes that works for me! Thank you!

A new course for the new year

[borealbear]

Hey, hope you had a blessed Solstice too, and a wonderful Yuletide celebration. And thanks for doing these. I'd love to offer something similar eventually, inspired by the likes of Kimberly Steele and you, but I need a lot more study and practice before I'm comfortable divining for others.

Anyway, my question. I'll keep it brief and vague, both to spare you a bunch of boring personal detail and to avoid interfering with the results of the divination. I've been looking for a new sense of direction in life for a while now, and next year I'll have the chance to embark on a study program that could well give me that. On the other hand, it's quite a long commitment, and it involves a field with some aspects I'm excited about, but others I'm deeply ambivalent about as well. So: what are my prospects if I commit to this program? If you don't mind I'd prefer the Runes over the Ogham, since I'm learning the same system, so comparing your interpretations to mine and seeing how they show up in my life might be helpful. Thanks again!

Re: A new course for the new year

[jprussell]

Thank you for the kind wishes, and for you and yours as well!

As for the divination, of course, it's good practice. I'd propose for yours asking "What does Borealbear most need to understand about committing to the study program he is considering?" with the spread "'Setting' (what's going on around you relevant to the question), 'Work' (actually doing the work of the program), and 'Outcome(s)' (what is most likely to come about if you do, in fact, do the program)."

I'm planning on trying to get to a bunch of readings today, but if not, certainly in the next couple of days.

Oh, and as for doing it yourself, I'd say it's good to develop some confidence, but also, you'll likely want to offer something like this (or do a reading for a friend or something, whatever's a good baby step past personal readings) sooner than you might feel comfortable. I was pleasantly surprised how helpful some folks found some of my first readings for strangers, and it helped to deepen my intuitive feel for the Runes and the Ogham as well.

Anyhow, happy Yuletide!
Jeff

[(Anonymous)]

Hey JPRussell, please delete my previous comment and respond to this comment. Thank you.

- Psychedelic_Raccoon

Greetings JPRussell. I have two questions I’m hoping to receive divinations on, but I cannot decide between the two. One question I feel a sensation in the gut to ask about, the other comes from maybe a more practical place. Perhaps you can coin flip and see which question to address. Since I don’t believe anything in this universe is random, which question you answer may be instructive.

1. A divination on what I should do or know this year with regards to working on myself as a human being such that I can find a suitable partner. I have followed advice from my parents and Ecosophians on what to do to make yourself into someone that attracts the right sort of partner. I have mixed intuition as to whether such a meeting of souls will happen this year, but I think focusing on the process is healthier than the outcome.

So to rephrase my question: “what should I be working on this year towards my goal of finding a loving partner?”

2. I’d like to enquire as to what sort of creative or recreational pursuit I should focus my time on in the new year. Indications seem to promote gardening or a similar grounding activity, but I am also picking up writing and learning a new language again.

Feel free to address or modify the question you answer in whatever way you think works best. Thank you so much, and a Happy New Year to you and your family.

- Psychedelic_Raccoon

[(Anonymous)]

In light of the New Year, I would like to get my spiritual life into some shape other than flat on its back wheezing. Which of these two JMG inspired branches would be the better for me to focus on: joining AODA, getting involved in the GCC, thus sticking with SoP based practices; or picking a version of the LBRP and using other materials to build a religious/devotional practice on my own alongside it?

[michele7]

Thanks for this, Jeff! My question is...what do I need to focus on in 2025? Thanks!

Michele

[jprussell]

Hi Psychedelic_Raccoon,

Sorry for being a bit slow to get back to you. Taking your advice, I flipped for it and ended up with the first one regarding a suitable partner.

I'd propose asking the Runes "What does Psychedelic_Raccoon most need to work on this year toward finding a loving partner?" with the spread "Setting (what's going on around you and in your life relevant to the question), Work (whatever you actively do toward the goal), and Outcome(s) (what's most likely to come about if you work in the way indicated by the reading)."

If this works for you, I'll ask in the next couple of days and share the interpretation soon thereafter.

Thanks for the kind wishes, and a happy New Year to you and yours as well!
Jeff

[jprussell]

Howdy,

I've not yet worked out a good one-question way to handle either/or decisions, so I'd propose asking the Ogham (seems fitting, given the subject matter) the two following questions:

"What does anonymous most need to understand about joining the AODA and/or the GCC and sticking with the SOP?"

and

"What does anonymous most need to understand about building a spiritual practice based on the LBRP?"

For both, I'll use the spread "Setting (what's going on around you and in your life relevant to the question), Work (what to expect from actually doing the set of practices involved), and Outcome(s) (what is most likely to come about from picking this option)."

If that works for you, I'll ask in the next couple of days and share the interpretation soon thereafter.

For what it's worth, before doing the reading, I'd share that I faced a similar conundrum when getting started in spiritual work: I have a very strong affinity for the Heathen Gods and it seemed clear that was the direction my religious life should go, but when looking for magical training, nothing seemed "just right." Through prayer and meditation, I ended up deciding that it was important to follow JMG's advice to follow a defined course "by the book" for my first foray, and given the worth I found in his advice, I wanted it to be one of his. Due both to its flexibility in which Gods are called upon and the feeling that I needed a better balance of Solar and Telluric energies in my life, I ended up going with his Druid Magic Handbook, and then branching out into the Dolmen Arch when I had to put advanced rituals on hold for my second daughter. I would not have expected to walk the Druid path when first starting out, but it's been greatly valuable to me.

At any rate, as I said, I'll do the reading and let you know what comes up for you, as your mileage will almost certainly vary!

Cheers,
Jeff

[jprussell]

Hi Michele,

Sounds good! I'd propose asking the Runes "What does Michele most need to focus on for 2025?" with the spread "Setting (what's going on around you and in your life that's most relevant to the question), Focus (whatever you need to pay most attention to), and Outcome(s) (what's most likely to come about if you do, in fact, focus on what's indicated)."

If that works for you, I'll ask in the next couple of days and share the interpretation shortly thereafter.

Cheers,
Jeff

[jprussell]

For all still waiting on your readings, my apologies! I've done the draws/casts for everyone who asked by the 26th, but haven't written up the interpretations yet (I'm scrambling to finish up the first draft of the book I swore to write in 2024 and wrangling kids over the holiday break). All of which is to say, I'll be posting them in the next couple of days.

Cheers,
Jeff

[(Anonymous)]

That looks very reasonable to me, thank you!

Job search

[mysteries_abound]

Hi Jeff-
Thank you so very much for all the writings you share; I especially enjoy your book reviews and have gotten a lot from reading your reviews of rosary books in particular. I don't comment on your writing, but get a great deal from it.

If it's not too late to get in on the action, I'd like to ask a question. Runes would be helpful as it's a practical question. I recently took an 18 month break from my primary career for elder caregiving. My elders died this year so it's now time to return to my regularly scheduled programming in the work world. I do have some apprehension about possible ageism as well as the length of time I was away from my main job as perhaps making my search a bit more tedious and difficult than it has in the past.

So my question is: What is the likelihood I will find a good paying job that I enjoy in my field in the first quarter of 2025?

Thank you,
MJ from MA

Keeping faith

[(Anonymous)]

This request is tricky to word well. I'm married with children, and the marriage has been very different from my picture of good for several years. I think my question is:

"What responsibilities do I need to realize are not truly mine?" or alternately "How can I keep faith with my promises?"

(I always read and find helpful your comments on Magic Monday, and thank you for this offer.)

SamChevre

[michele7]

That's perfect! Thank you!!

[(Anonymous)]

Saying a spiritual practice based on the LBRP might not be the best wording, while the heathen version is the one I did being the best of the options, I (so far anyway) don't otherwise worship those gods.

I tried to think of how best to ask this, and thought it might come down to the ritual. AODA isn't a perfect fit for me, but it might be the best I can do right now, the GCC looks appealing and it's a spiritual framework I can begin with and go from there. But joining would require the SoP, which I like on paper, flexibility, balance of energies, etc. In practice though, I have never been able to get it to stick for very long, no matter how often I try, it always ends the same way. A while back, I experimented by trying the Heathen LBRP, to see what would happen; the experience was completely different, it immediately slotted itself into my routine and I didn't miss it for eight months. There are many reasons it fell apart, personal spiritual problems I wasn't ready to accept then, etc., but it's gotten somewhat better, so I'm back to looking for a spiritual framework, thus the GCC, but then the ritual...

I do think there is something about the SoP itself that doesn't play nice with me, or it's too weak and I really need the industrial strength cleaner that is the LBRP. If so though, that would mean no AODA, and needing to take the old GCC manual, JMG's Druid books and trying to piece together a spiritual framework and practice on my own. I'm not currently interested in the full on ceremonial magic path, not in a position to commit to that right now even if I was.

The question around AODA is fine, the SoP is not the only reason to maybe not join after all. The second part, I'd focus more on the LBRP itself, the long term benefits of sticking with that, is it so great it's worth making other stuff harder?

[jprussell]

Fair enough!

Hmm, a few thoughts, before proposing a new set of questions. First off, I first tried the Heathen LBRP when getting serious about religion/magic, and I had some very strong-feeling reactions. For the reasons I mentioned above, I ended up switching into the SOP for the Druid Magic Handbook (if Isaac Hill's Heathen Golden Dawn had been available at the time, I very well might have gone with that, but it wasn't, and here I am - likely all to some end). I found the SOP lacked much in the way of "feeling" when I started, and even 2-3 years of practice later, it's not as much as I felt with the LBRP+MP, but my other spiritual work is proceeding well, so I assume it's doing its job.

Secondly, after doing the DMH work for a while, I considered joining the AODA for some community/support, but after talking to some other folks in JMG's community, I decided against it. I've heard mixed things, with the negatives mostly being potential infection by too much of the politics of the day. On the plus side, the newly ordained Bishop in the UGC, Claire, is one of AODA's Archdruids and a (the?) Bishop of the GCC, and she's lovely. All of which is to say that you can quite readily do almost all of the spiritual work the AODA offers solo, if that turns out to be a better path.

Thirdly, though you might already be familiar, just in case not, I figured I'd float a couple of other options. First, if you find the LBRP congenial, have no particular bond with the Heathen Gods, and feel called to Druidry in some shape, there's always the Celtic Golden Dawn. I gave the book a read through when trying to work out what to do for myself and decided it was less amenable to bringing in Heathen Gods than the DMH, along with the thought I needed to be careful bringing too much more solar energy into my life. Also, if you find the GCC attractive, but are not sure about it as an organization, there is also the UGC, which has a different set of benefits and downsides that might fit you better. Lastly, the Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose work can be done with either the SOP or the LBRP. Just to say that you might not have to pick between AODA or totally building from scratch.

Now, with all that said, would these two questions (with the same answer spreads as above) work better?

"What does anonymous most need to understand about joining the AODA and/or the GCC?" (cut out the bit about the SOP)

"What does anonymous most need to understand about using the LBRP as his/her banishing ritual?"

Once again, let me know if you think these need any tweaks, and once we have it nailed down, I'll do the reading in the next couple of days.

Cheers,
Jeff

Re: Job search

[jprussell]

Hi MJ,

First, my condolences for your loss, that's rough.

Secondly, thanks so much for your kind words. It's gratifying to hear that my writing helps some others besides me.

And not too late at all, I'll be taking questions through midnight central time tomorrow (the 31st).

As for the question, I agree the Runes sound good, and I'd propose this slight modification: "What does MJ most need to understand about finding a good paying and enjoyable job in the right field in the first quarter of 2025?" with the spread "Timing (what to understand about the constraint of 'First Quarter'), Seeking (the work of the job search process, not called 'Work,' like I usually use for most spreads to avoid confusion), and Outcome(s) (what is most likely to come about if you follow the course you have in mind now/is described in the 'Seeking' part).

You may have noticed that I wiggled around the "likelihood" part of your question, which might be frustrating. On the one hand, I have not yet worked out a way to directly ask for likelihood of outcomes, so I didn't want to bake that into the question and possibly confuse the clarity of the answer. On the other hand, the answer almost always includes good information that gives some insight into likelihood, so I'll try to make sure to emphasize that in my interpretation.

If that works for you, I'll ask in the next couple of days and share the interpretation shortly after that.

Thanks,
Jeff

Re: Keeping faith

[jprussell]

First, I'm sorry to hear about your challenges - marriage can be tough, and kids can make things tougher, despite how wonderful they are.

Might I propose asking the Runes "What does SamChevre most need to understand about his responsibilities and promises?" with a spread of "Setting (what is going on around you and in your life), Responsibilities and Promises (a way of looking at these things that will help you think about them more clearly) and Outcome(s) (what is most likely to come about if you act on the insights from 'Responsibilities & Promises')."

If that works for you, I'll ask in the next couple of days and share the interpretation shortly thereafter. If you want to change anything about it to better get at what you'd like to know, no problem.

Also, thank you for the kind words, I'm glad to hear I've been helpful.

All the best,
Jeff

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks, those questions should work fine. If I can't really join the GCC without the SoP, then specific mention can be cut out, if it is the problem the reading could indicate that.

I'm not great at sensing energy, or knowing when things are working. When I feel something with the SoP it's hazy, sometimes with a certain brightness to it, but also sometimes grey. The impression I get is like, with me it can shine a light on problems, imbalances but can't actually do anything to help with it. The LBRP brought mental clarity, focus and some degree of energy, things that kept the process going rather than running out of steam.

I am familiar with the Celtic Golden Dawn, but Celtic gods have always been a closed book to me. I'm not Heathen but I like the gods and mythology, the symbolism all makes sense and has meaning to me, so it works, and it's the best of the three currently available options. I had forgotten about the UGC and its monastery (as well as the FHR), if it's up and running again it might be something to keep in mind, so thanks for that!

Yes please and thank you!

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for this generous offer, and happy new year! I'd like a divination too, if I'm still in time.

I have a specific question about the MSc I'm studying for. I'll try to phrase it as best as I can.

"What do I need to know about my current university studies, and is it a good idea to switch curriculum?"

To give you some context (but not too much), I'm thinking whether I should just drop out, continue with the curriculum I'm currently enrolled in, or go for a third option of switching to a more theoretical cv.
Hope that's clear enough.

Again, my best wishes for 2025

Huske

Re: Keeping faith

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you, that sounds like a good way of summarizing my question(s). I will look forward to seeing the spread and interpretation.

SamChevre

Re: Job search

[mysteries_abound]

Howdy Jeff,

I definitely struggled with how to ask the question, so thanks for your clarification about how to do this. Since I do not yet do divinations myself wasn't sure. As I'm a researcher I often think in probabilities, but get that divination systems likely don't 😀. Thank you for your generous offer to do this, especially when raising a young family takes so much time and energy. No rush.

[borealbear]

If you don't mind another reader chiming in, your experiences with these traditions and rituals sound very familiar to mine in many ways. I also really like a lot of the philosophy behind the AODA/SoP approach, but found it didn't click with me in practice.

Even if I ultimately ended up with the Heathen GD, I'm also unsure and ambivalent in some ways the whole religion aspect of it, but I figured I'd give it a honest try and see where it takes me. I also asked JMG on one of his MM posts way back, and IIRC he said that you don't necessarily need to have a super close and devoted relationship with individual Gods to do a course of magic like this, as long as you approach it with the proper respect and open-mindedness (obviously I'm paraphrasing here).

In any case, I can definitely relate to the struggle to choose. If you do end up on the Heathen GD path, I'm also looking for people who might be interested in helping form a loose group around it that could hopefully blossom into a full Order in time (along the lines of the Druidical GD), so I thought I'd mention that this door is open if you do go this way.

Hope you find a good and fulfilling path that suits your needs!

Re: Hi Jeff

[jprussell]

Runes
Asking - "What does Princess Cutekitten most need to know about 2025?"
Draw
Setting: Ehwaz (Murky)
Work: Isa
Outcome(s): Berkano (Murky)

My Take on It

Alrighty, to do this reading, I opened a sacred space, called upon the Wyrds (Norns) and concentrated on your question while shaking the Runestaves vigorously. I then dropped them in a dice tray, said a prayer to the Gods who help me with divination, and then drew three staves without looking, using the spread "Setting (context), Work (doing the thing you're considering), and Outcome(s) (whatever is most likely to come about if you do what you're thinking about). If I drew the stave right side up, it is "bright," and if I drew it face down it is "murky," which is roughly equivalent to drawing a card reversed in systems like Tarot. In the system of interpretation I use, "murky" means either that the forces represented by the Rune are manifesting in an unhelpful or harmful way, or else that they are somehow "blocked" - not manifesting fully or at all.

With that, on with the reading! At first glimpse, this does not look like the rosiest of readings. For "Setting," we have Ehwaz (Murky), which means "Horse," and so stands for the kind of in-sync partnership that a horse and rider have at their best. Coming up murky, this Rune suggests that what will be going on around you this year is characterized by a close partnership somehow gone awry - lost, soured, or maybe by getting lost within it, no longer enough of an individual. I don't know if Prince Cutekitten is still in the picture, but if so, this Rune very often has bearing on marriage and the spouse. For the "Work" (in the broadest possible sense) you'll undertake this year, we have Isa, which means "Ice." In Germanic myth, ice often stands for "order" (as opposed to chaos), but in a neutral, rather than wholly positive sense: structure, organization, and stability, but also lack of movement, rigidness, and lack of change. Since it is also the "I" Runestave, it also often speaks of the ego (again, in the neutral sense of "your own idea of who you are and what you're consciously aware of as yourself," rather than "an over-inflated sense of yourself"). Coming up "bright," rather than murkky, this seems to point more to the positive side of these things. All of which is to say that this year, you will likely be called upon to "draw into yourself," not in a sense of total isolation, but in the sense of tending to your own needs and beliefs more so than others. For "Outcomes," we have Berkano (Murky), which means "Birch Goddess," and stands for birth, death, and rebirth. It is a classic divination mistake to take any symbolic representation of "death" as meaning literal death, so I would not read it this way, but coming after Isa, I might take this as a warning against withdrawing too much or focusing overmuch on "holding things together" to the point of stagnation.

Putting these together, it seems as if your main challenge for the year will be to find the right weight to put on yourself - neither too much nor too little, but that you will be pulled toward too much/the wrong sort of focus on a close partnership, which if you allow to happen, will be stultifying. Your best bet would seem to be focusing on what brings you life and renewal, without getting lost in appearances (both Isa and Berkano can be associated with a focus on "the surface").

Please let me know if you have any follow up questions, and if you're willing, I'd very much appreciate hearing whether this struck a chord or felt off, and if so, in what ways.

Cheers,
Jeff

[jprussell]

Runes
Asking - "What does FJay most need to know about what happened in the last decade of her life?"
Draw
Wyrd: Nauthiz
Werthende: Hagalaz (Murky)
Sculd: Ansuz (Murky)

My Take on It

Alrighty, to do this reading, I opened a sacred space, called upon the Wyrds (Norns) and concentrated on your question while shaking the Runestaves vigorously. I then dropped them in a dice tray, said a prayer to the Gods who help me with divination, and then drew three staves without looking, using the spread "Wyrd (what affected the last 10 years from beforehand), Werthende (what happened during the last ten years), and Sculd (what is most likely to come out of the last ten years, either already passed from the standpoint of today, or still maybe to come). If I drew the stave right side up, it is "bright," and if I drew it face down it is "murky," which is roughly equivalent to drawing a card reversed in systems like Tarot. In the system of interpretation I use, "murky" means either that the forces represented by the Rune are manifesting in an unhelpful or harmful way, or else that they are somehow "blocked" - not manifesting fully or at all.

As for the reading, it sounds like you had a rough time! For "Wyrd," what was set down before the last decade that had a bearing on it, we have Nauthiz which means "need." You had a lack of something necessary, and felt that lack keenly, which was almost certainly unpleasant, but might have been a source of strength and determination. "Werthende," the happenings of the last decade, came up as Hagalaz (Murky), which means "hail" (as in frozen precipitation, not a greeting), which is the Rune of crisis. The fact that it came up murky implies that you were not ready for this crisis/these crises, and that rather than being the impetus for change and growth, it/they might have just left you unready and/or unwilling for what you needed to do. For "Sculd," what was most likely to come out of all of that, we have Ansuz (Murky), which means "God/Divine Ancestor," and of the Gods, is most closely linked with Woden (Odin) and His strengths/gifts. Coming up murky indicates delusion, confusion, or a lack of synthesis.

Putting all this together, it reads to me as if you were lacking something, and then got hit exactly where that lack would hurt the most, and this has left you left you at a loss for what to do. So, ouch. One point that jumps out at me is that Ansuz (Murky) can at times indicate Woden's gifts of persuasion and eloquence turned to bad ends (for you), and so it might be a warning that you have or might fall under the influence of someone who holds out the promise of solving the confusion and weakness that has come from your crises, but in a way that is ultimately to your detriment. To make all this a bit less bleak, I think the spark of hope in this reading is, oddly enough, Nauthiz in "Wyrd" - just as "necessity is the mother of invention," powerfully felt need can be a spur to determination and achievement. I'm going out on a limb a bit here, but this seems to say to me that you might have been given a test, and somehow turned away from it, rather than rising to meet it. To the degree that the effects of all this hardship are still shaping your life, look to your own strength for the way through.

Please let me know if you have any follow up questions, and if you're willing, I'd very much appreciate hearing whether this struck a chord or felt off, and if so, in what ways.

Cheers,
Jeff