Jeff Russell

No worries - I agree that probabilistic thinking is very useful, but I haven't figured out how to ask specifically for likelihoods, instead having to settle for "reading them in" based on what Runes/Fews come up in what steads in the spread.

That said, on with the reading!

Runes
Asking - "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?"
Draw
Timing: Nauthiz (Murky)
Seeking: Sowilo
Outcome(s): Berkano (Murky)
Other (Fell Out While Picking Up Runestaves after Reading): Fehu (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 "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)." 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.

Putting this together, I'm sorry to say that it doesn't look so hopeful for your specific question, but that said, it indicates that maybe your goal is somewhat misplaced. Let me break down why I think so. For "Timing," we have Nauthiz, which means "Need" and stands for lack of necessary things and the drive to overcome that lack. For seeking, Sowilo, which means "Sun" and stands for the Sun as a source of guidance and life. For "Outcome(s)," we got Berkano (Murky), which means "Birch Goddess," and stands for birth, death, and rebirth. While picking up the Runestaves, Fehu (Murky) fell out of my hand, and I've learned to treat such "coincidences" as an overall commentary on the reading.

Nauthiz (Murky) says that you are feeling constrained by circumstances and unable to exert your will (no surprise there, I imagine). Sowilo for the seeking says that you will find a goal and/or your way to it, especially if you heed "higher" signs in that direction. Berkano (Murky) for "Outcome(s)," however, speaks to stagnation or getting caught up in the mundane. maybe due to surface attractions. Lastly, for a question related to money, getting Fehu (Murky) is extremely unfortuante - Fehu literally means "cow," but at the time the Elder Futhark was put down, cattle were the principle measure of wealth, and the modern word "Fee" comes from the same word, so it basically means the kind of power gained through exchange and generosity made tangible in wealth. In other words, getting this Rune Murky for a money question says "not going well."

What all of this suggests to me is that you might be overly (if entirely understandably) focused on the money side of things, and especially making it in the way you have done so before and know you can succeed at. It seems, though, that this obvious/safe path might not be the best for you, but you have an opportunity to find an unlooked-for way forward. Paradoxically, the advice seems to be that you should shoot for generosity as much as you can, despite feeling like you can't spare anything, and that a clear way forward will come out of the process of looking, but it won't be what you expect, and it might not come in the first quarter. As I said, unfortunately very likely not the answer you're looking for, but hopefully not without some consolation.

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