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jprussellDoing divination with the Runes was actually the first occult thing I learned to do, and since then I've also picked up the Ogham. I do a daily reading for myself with one or the other, and as needed for specific questions where I'm looking for guidance. But I've never done a reading for someone else, and I think it's time I give that a shot.
So! Do you have a question that some additional information might help? A decision you're contemplating? If so, let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to answer. Fair warning, as I said, this is my first shot at other folks' questions, so I can't guarantee how helpful or accurate I'll be! That being said, I wouldn't be offering this if I didn't think I could help.
In your comment, let me know your question, any details or context you think might be relevant that you're willing to share, and whether you'd like me to consult the Ogham or the Runes. For what it's worth, I tend to go to the Ogham for spiritual or magical questions and the Runes for life-direction or practical questions, but I've used both for all sorts of questions. If you have a simple "yes/no" question, I find that easier with the Runes.
With all that out of the way, fire away!
Thanks everyone, but this offer is now closed! Next time I'm offering readings, I'll post here again.
So! Do you have a question that some additional information might help? A decision you're contemplating? If so, let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to answer. Fair warning, as I said, this is my first shot at other folks' questions, so I can't guarantee how helpful or accurate I'll be! That being said, I wouldn't be offering this if I didn't think I could help.
In your comment, let me know your question, any details or context you think might be relevant that you're willing to share, and whether you'd like me to consult the Ogham or the Runes. For what it's worth, I tend to go to the Ogham for spiritual or magical questions and the Runes for life-direction or practical questions, but I've used both for all sorts of questions. If you have a simple "yes/no" question, I find that easier with the Runes.
Thanks everyone, but this offer is now closed! Next time I'm offering readings, I'll post here again.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-23 07:06 pm (UTC)Asking - "What trade/skills sould Tamanous be good at that would bring in enough resources for his family to live on?"
Draw
Setting: Algiz - "Elk" or "Protection"
Work: Ansuz - "Ancestral God (Woden)"
Outcome(s): Othala (Murky) - "Homeland"
Follow-Up Asking - "What does Tamanous most need to understand about the Outcome(s) drawn above?"
Follow-Up: Laguz (Murky) - "Lake"
My Take on It
Okay, given the context you gave for your question, I had to chuckle a bit at some parts of this reading, as the short version is that this reading says "do some thinking/talking work" of the sort it sounds like you're trying to get away from, but I think there might be more going on here that has to do with what question(s) to ask than that simple answer implies. So let's step through it.
Algiz is a bit of a tough Rune, with different commentators attributing fairly different meanings to it, but the feeling I'm getting here, in Setting, is that something about the world around you, your life, your context is risky/dangerous, but that the risk is double-sided. There's an opportunity in it if you know how to handle it well. Given the question, it seems likely to point to something about how the trouble and disruption created by the Decline will create opportunities for those who know how to spot them.
For the Work, I drew Ansuz, which is the Rune of Woden and all that he stands for, but most of all his links to speech, thinking, consciousness, and magic. When it indicates a profession, it indicates an intellectual or a priestly sort of person. For this reading, then, it seems to be saying that the work that best answers your question is some kind of brain-work, likely of the "talky" kind. More on this in a moment.
So far, so good, but then for Outcome(s), I drew Othala (murky), which means that it landed face down. "Murky" is roughly equivalent to drawing a card "reversed" in card-based systems, and in the system of interpretation I use, it means either that the qualities represented by the Rune are manifesting in an unhelpful or unwanted way, or that they are somehow blocked and not manifesting enough or at all. Othala is the Rune for "homeland," whether the small scale (your family's household) or the large (your nation), and it emphasizes the kind of "freedom" you have from orderly and positive relations and interchanges with those around you, guided by appropriate boundaries. For this to come up murky in this question for the Outcome is concerning. It implies that pursuing this course of action would lead to something bad or unbalanced in that sphere.
Because I was troubled by this, I asked "what does Tamanous most need to understand about Othala (murky) as the outcome for this question?" and I got Laguz (murky) - "Lake". Laguz has come up a lot in these readings I've been doing, and it's been murky most times, which is interesting. Laguz is the Rune of "the deep," and pretty much anything that Carl Jung would bring up about the symbolism of deep water applies here. There's also a connotation of "challenges" or "tests", and when it comes up murky, the idea that these challenges are being avoided, most likely out of fear.
As I was trying to work out what to make of this seemingly contradictory reading, it struck me: maybe we are asking the wrong question. Perhaps the qualifiers of "both be good at and would bring in enough resources/money" is drawing your attention in less helpful directions. The interpretation I'm leaning toward is that your (very much understandable) concern with the "practical" side of this question - where do you already have skills to make the transition easier, what will be fairly easy to start making money with - may be drawing your attention away from what you most need to be focusing on. It might be that some amount of "being bad at it" and/or not getting "enough" money/resources are a necessary step. Or perhaps your assumptions about what "good at" and "enough money/resources" mean are artificially constraining what you're considering.
I'm sorry I don't have a more immediately concretely useful answer, like "go start a drywalling business," but that's what I got. Happy to do some follow up questions if any of that strikes a chord and brings some to mind.
Re: Which job to take?
Date: 2023-05-23 07:10 pm (UTC)I will try to do your reading this afternoon or evening and get it posted by tonight, but the way my last week or so has been going, it might be tomorrow before I'm able to write it up and post it.
Here's what I propose:
I'll ask the Ogham, as your phrasing "treat me better" seems to imply an emotional/spiritual angle that I think the Ogham might give better guidance on. I'll ask two questions:
"What does anonymous most need to understand about how job offer F will treat him/her?"
and
"What does anonymous most need to understand about how job offer B will treat him/her?"
For these, I'll modify the spread I've been using for most of these slightly and use "Company, Work, and Outcome(s)" - where "Company" will focus more on the organization and the people and the like, and "Work" will focus more on the actual tasks and projects you'll be doing.
Let me know if you think I ought to modify any of that (like using the Runes instead of the Ogham), but otherwise, I'll get the reading done and posted soon.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-23 07:29 pm (UTC)Asking 1 - "What does anonymous most need to know about worshiping Pantheon G for the long run?"
Draw
Setting: Quert - "Apple"
Worship: Nuin (Reversed) - "Letter"
Outcome(s): Gort (Reversed) - "Field"
My Take on It
For setting, you got Quert, which is a Few of fulfillment or reward. It seems this pantheon has brought some kind of "gift" - maybe healing, or the fulfillment of something long hoped for, or maybe it's just opened up your life somehow. As I drew Nuin (Reversed) for the worship itself, it would somehow be isolating - again, not necessarily a bad thing. A monk or a hermit is "isolated" by his form of worship, but it's not bad for him. For the outcomes, though, I drew Gort (Reversed), which implies getting wrapped up in circumstances or in your own ego - in short, more focus on the kind of "here and now" things the Personality cares about, rather than the "higher" things the Self might focus on. Might this pantheon, or the "gifts" it has already brought you, appeal to you in such a way? For example, being drawn to the Norse pantheon over, say, the Egyptian because it's more metal/what my ancestors did/has already done so much good for me.
Asking 2 - "What does anonymous most need to know about worshiping Pantheon I for the long run?"
Draw
Setting: Huath - "Terrible"
Worship: Coll (Reversed) - "Hazel"
Outcome(s): Gort - "Field"
My Take on It
The juxtaposition of Gort (Reversed) in the first question and Gort in the second, both for "Outcome" is striking, especially for an either/or question like this. Also striking is that the Ogham Fews have elemental attributions, and both readings brought up a lot of Fire. In this second reading, literally every card is some kind of Fire (I can explain all that more if you find the Four elements useful and meaningful symbolically). This suggests to me that a key issue in this decision is your Will and/or Passion.
At any rate, for this second asking, for setting I got Huath - "Terrible", which is a few of patience and waiting, gathering your strength, not acting rashly. So this suggests that you have had some reasons to hold back on Pantheon I, maybe you're unsure about what worship here would mean for you. For the worship itself, I drew Coll (Reversed) - "Hazel", which indicates a hesitancy or withdrawal, maybe a fear of failure. Taken together with the Setting, this seems to say that you have gotten some invitations/indications to worship here, but you have been some combination of prudent and worried about what engaging would mean. At least starting out, the worship would likely be somewhat hard/scary/challenging. The outcome, though, is Gort (upright), which is the Few of slow, patient, indirect progress. Think of Ivy slowly climbing up the highest tower, or of water finding its way around obstacles to flow on its way. This suggests that determination in the face of your initial difficulties would lead to success.
Please let me know if you have any follow-up questions, and while it's not required, I find it very helpful to get feedback on what strikes true, what seems off, and the like, so I'd welcome that if you're willing to share.
Re: A reading
Date: 2023-05-24 12:41 am (UTC)Cealin
no subject
Date: 2023-05-24 02:47 am (UTC)The point about isolation. If I went that route, it would be blending a pantheon with JMG's traditions/practices that I don't think many other people are doing. I'm not looking for community either way, but it is easier when others have laid more of the groundwork, something I can check my own assumptions against if nothing else. The reading I did myself also pointed to a gradual diminishing of interaction with the gods ending with a focus on the self, which seems to line up with what you said. I have no idea what that might mean, both pantheons are too new to me, no ancestral connections or cool image attached. Doesn't mean there isn't something that will trip me up later.
The second one's very rocky beginning is accurate. I probably should've focused on a different god I had less ambiguity about.
I would like the hear the elemental breakdown here, if you don't mind. The point about will is something I know I need to hear. :)
no subject
Date: 2023-05-24 03:14 am (UTC)So, if you're doing material from one of JMG's traditions, some or all of these ideas will likely be familiar, and it's just their application to the Ogham that might be new if you're not doing the Druid Magic Handbook or Druidry Handbook. The Ogham has 25 "Fews" (letters), grouped into five "Aicme" of five Fews each. Each Aicme is associated with an element - Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Spirit, in that order (which may sound familiar if you do the SOP). Within each Aicme, each Few is further assigned one of the elements, but in a different order: Spirit, Fire, Air, Water, Earth. What this means is that each Few can be described as "[Element] of [Element]" - so, for example, Gort is the "Fire of Water," which means that in some sense, it represents whatever is "Fiery" about Water.
From your first reading, Quert is the "Earth of Fire," Nuin is the "Air of Air," and as mentioned, Gort is the "Fire of Water". From your second, Huath is the "Spirit of Fire," Coll is the "Water of Fire," and again, Gort is the "Fire of Water."
Most systems of Western esotericism make use of these traditional elements, but they have slightly different connotations and correspondences in different systems. In JMG's Druid Path that I am currently walking, Air is the intellect, Fire the passion/will, Water the emotions, Earth the body, and Spirit, well, the Spirit, that which integrates the other four. The reason I called out the double meaning of Fire is because it is all about what drives you to act - the default state is to be driven by your passions, which just happen to you. As you develop your will, though, you can define what your will is, and so come more and more to drive yourself.
Given the prominence of Fire in both questions, but especially the second, I suspect the worship of these pantheons will interact with that part of your personality rather strongly.
Re: Which job to take?
Date: 2023-05-24 06:32 pm (UTC)Asking 1 - "What does anonymous most need to understand about how job F will treat him/her?"
Draw
Company: Phagos (Reversed) - "Beech"
Work: Muin - "Back"
Outcome(s): Tinne - "Iron"
My Take on It
Okay, for Company, we got Phagos (Reversed). Phagos is the Few of wisdom and knowledge, especially that gained by long experience and handed down from the past, so getting it reversed implies that this company is somehow failing to learn from experience, or is acting in some kind of ignorance, maybe especially trying to do the "new thing" when it would be better off doing what's tried and true. I have some guesses about what direction that might take in today's world, but I'll set that aside for now. The Work itself, for you, though, is Muin, which is a somewhat complex Few, but has something to do with being enabled by "wider" or "higher" factors, whether spiritual or communal, such that you can you do and get what you want. It implies that you would have the support or freedom or insight to do some work that you really find interesting or worthwhile. For outcomes, Tinne is the few of conflict, struggle, and decisive action, though since it came out upright, there's an implication that you can win said struggles, if you respond to them with appropriate decisiveness and aggressiveness - think the positive side of "martial" values. Given the other two Fews in this draw, it's not crazy to me to guess that the conflict might come out of the company's misguided overall direction and the insight you have into your own work.
Asking 2 - "What does anonymous most need to understand about how job B will treat him/her?"
Draw
Company: Nuin (Reversed) - "Letter"
Work: Tinne (Reversed) - "Iron"
Outcome(s): Ur - "Earth"
My Take on It
Hmmm, one thing that jumps out at me about this one that didn't for the first asking is that all of these Fews are some flavor of Air, which may or may not mean much to you, depending on how familiar you are with the traditional Western esoteric four elements. Nuin is the "Air of Air", Tinne is the "Air of Fire," and Ur is the "Air of Earth." What this means is that Nuin is whatever is "Airy" about Air, and Tinne is whatever is "Airy" about Fire, and so forth. Air is the element of intellect, abstraction, communication, and beginnings.
Now, onto the spread. For Company, I drew Nuin (Reversed). Nuin is the Few of communication and interchange, and so drawing it reversed implies isolation of some kind. So, this company is somehow "cut off" from the outside - maybe it is not following the trends of its industry, maybe it is privately held and so insulated from market dynamics, or maybe it is "out of touch" with what's going on in the world, for better or worse. For work, I drew Tinne again, but this time reversed. Tinne (Reversed) implies all of the conflict, but without the implication that decisive action by you is favored. Instead, it says that there is something about the work that you do not understand or are not ready for, that you need to better understand or prepare for. Again, this is in a context of some kind of "conflict," so it might not be a matter of lacking the raw skills for the work, but instead it might be challenges around applying it - maybe your boss, maybe clients, or maybe the overall "mission" might in some way be "against" you. All of that being said, the Outcome(s) of this job would be Ur, which is the Few of things coming together to make something new, passion, power, and creation. The ability to take ideas and concepts and to make them real somehow. Possibly relevant considering what community we're both a part of, but it's also a Few magic. I can't quite say why, but I'm getting a bit of a feeling that the creativity spoken of here might be, hmmm, outside of or in reaction to the work, rather than the direct result of it - something like "doing this work will give you the insight and motivation needed to do something else creative." But that last bit is a vague hunch, take it or leave it.
Please let me know any follow-up questions you have, and I'd especially find it helpful if you share what out of this (if anything) strikes a chord or makes sense of something in your situation, so I can further calibrate.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-24 07:58 pm (UTC)Just saw your comment on ecosophia; thanks for offering divinations. The one question I have on my mind at the moment is: What should we do about Mama Bunny? Not sure whether Ogham or Runes would be better - I have no experience with either.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-24 08:01 pm (UTC)For background, I am in a PMC type role and over the past 3 years (wonder why), I have gradually made major shifts in myself and worldview part of which includes dabbling in my own divination (Coelbren alphabet), disentangling myself from influences I view as malign, and generally putting myself far more out in the world. During this time, I realized I didn't know what I wanted to do, so decided to just focus on developing discipline.
A few weeks ago my mind clicked and multiple areas seemed to coincide into an idea that I have been gradually developing and executing on with I hope an ambitious but realistic goal for myself with the long term vision of being self-employed. One aspect of my idea which really stuck with me was that I feel it would help bridge communication divides in truly positive ways, while also giving a path to freedom of my time and energy that I don't feel I have ever really had in hindsight.
I suppose this question is more for the Runes too.
Thank you for your help, I won't ask for any refunds ;) Let me know if some other information would be helpful too.
Will my arts and crafts society be successful?
Date: 2023-05-24 08:48 pm (UTC)Thanks for doing this. I can see you are already swamped!
I want to take all of the old, unused buildings in my town (and other towns in my state) and get the civic leaders to help me make them available for struggling craftspeople: weavers, glassmakers, blacksmiths, etc. Sort of a "hotspot" for crafts and art. It's a state with lots of old mill towns with run down buildings.
So my question is, will creating this society of arts and crafts be successful?
Relationship question
Date: 2023-05-25 12:56 am (UTC)My question: Is my selective dating approach the right one for myself and my son?
Background: I'm going through a horrible divorce, and am years into it but getting close to the end. I've decided to seek a new relationship but I'm finding myself limited in who I'm interested in pursuing. I'm only interested in single mothers of children near my son's age, who are interested in merging families eventually, who I otherwise find attractive. This severely limits my pool.
I don't have a preference for what system you use, and leave that up to you. Thanks!
New Job
Date: 2023-05-25 10:15 am (UTC)I am about to start a new job and am wondering what you see on that subject.
Blessings to you.
Rooby
Thinking of quitting my job
Date: 2023-05-25 02:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-25 02:55 pm (UTC)If it's alright, I propose asking "What does anonymous most need to know about what to do with Mama Bunny?" with the spread "Setting (context), Deed (the thing to do), and Outcome(s) (what is most likely to happen if you go through with the proposed deed)." Also, this feels a bit more like a Rune question to me, so I'll go with those.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-25 02:57 pm (UTC)"What does dabilahro most need to understand about making his/her 2023 business goal more ambitious than generating income once this year?" with the spread "Setting (context), Work (setting a more ambitious goal), and Outcomes (what is most likely to happen if you do set the more ambitious goal)."
Re: Will my arts and crafts society be successful?
Date: 2023-05-25 03:00 pm (UTC)That being said, here's what I propose to ask: "What does betwixtworlds most need to understand about the plan to create an arts & crafts society?" I'll use the spread "Setting (context), Work (following through on the plan as currently conceived - creating the society, convincing civic leaders to get on board, securing the spaces, and so forth), and Outcomes (what is most likely to happen if you pursue this course of action).
This seems more like a Runes question to me, so unless you'd prefer otherwise, I will ask them.
Re: Relationship question
Date: 2023-05-25 03:03 pm (UTC)I propose asking "What does anonymous most need to understand about his current approach to dating?" with a spread "Setting (context), 'Work' (following through on the plan to use these criteria), and Outcome(s) (what is most likely to happen if you follow this proposed plan).
I'll do your reading today and post when I get the chance to write it up.
Re: New Job
Date: 2023-05-25 03:05 pm (UTC)I will ask "What does roobyalien most need to understand about his/her new job?" with the spread "Setting (context), Job (the job itself), and Outcomes (what is most likely to come about due to starting the job)."
I think this sounds more like a Runes question, so I will ask them, unless you'd prefer otherwise.
I'll do the reading today and post it when I get a chance to write it up.
Re: Thinking of quitting my job
Date: 2023-05-25 03:07 pm (UTC)I propose asking "What does anonymous most need to understand about quitting his/her job?" with the spread "Setting (context), Deed (the quitting itself), and Outcomes (what is most likely to happen if you go through with quitting)." I'm getting the feeling the Runes are better suited to this one, so I will ask them, unless you feel otherwise.
I'll do your reading today and post when I have the chance to write it up.
Cheers,
Jeff
Re: New Job
Date: 2023-05-25 03:27 pm (UTC)Excellent. Thank you.
Re: Thinking of quitting my job
Date: 2023-05-25 04:10 pm (UTC)Re: Will my arts and crafts society be successful?
Date: 2023-05-25 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-26 06:32 pm (UTC)Asking - "What does anonymous most need to understand about what to do with Mama Bunny?"
Draw
Setting: Naudhiz (Murky) - "Need"
Deed: Gebo - "Gift"
Outcome(s) Jera (Murky) - "Year"
My Take on It
Hmm, this one is a bit tough to put together. For the Setting, I drew Naudhiz (Murky), which speaks to some kind of "friction" outside of yourself - maybe you are constrained by outside forces, or you are forced to deal with mundane practicalities rather than focusing where you would prefer. As for what to do with Mama Bunny, I drew Gebo, which is a Rune of hospitality and generosity. This would seem to indicate that you should do something kind for her. Unfortunately, the Outcome is Jera (Murky), which implies that you will not get the outcome you hope for - maybe the timing is wrong, or you are caught up in repetitive/cyclical behaviors. If you can find some way to get "in sync" with larger, healthy patterns, you might be able to mitigate this somehow.
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
no subject
Date: 2023-05-26 06:47 pm (UTC)Asking - "What does dabilahro most need to understand about making his/her 2023 business goal more ambitious than generating income once this year?"
Draw
Setting: Mannaz (Murky) - "Man"
Work: Othala (Murky) - "Homeland"
Outcome(s): Naudhiz (Murky) - "Need"
Surprise Stave: Sowilo (Murky) - "Sun"
My Take on It
This reading is. . . pretty rough. It strikes me as a warning that the change to your goal you are contemplating might be riskier than you realize. For Setting, I drew Mannaz (Murky), which implies either that you are feeling depressed or hopeless about your situation, or else that you are deliberately blocking things out and not seeing things for how they really are. I would venture to guess that might be what's motivating you to want to take more ambitious action - maybe you find your context intolerable as is. Unfortunately, it seems that setting the more ambitious goal would somehow disrupt proper group functioning - either too much focus on the group and over-controlling it, to a "totalitarian" extent, or else being cut off from properly functioning as a contained, defined group, but one with some amount of interaction outside it's borders. Lastly, the Outcomes of your considered changes would be Naudhiz (Murky), which means some kind of outward "friction" - either being resisted or controlled from the outside, or avoiding that friction by trying to take the easy way.
As I was picking up the Runestaves after the reading, I found I only had 23, so I went looking for the missing one, which had jumped out of the dice tray and out of sight. I've found that when a stave draws attention to itself like this, it often works as an overall commentary on the reading, something to cast a light on everything else. Well, that stave was Sowilo (Murky). Sowilo is the Rune of goals and their successful pursuit, so getting it as a murkstave on this question is, shall we say, concerning. It implies that you are somehow aiming at the wrong thing - maybe you are listening to some bad advice, maybe you are contemplating the wrong means to achieve your ends, or maybe you are mistaken about what you truly want or why.
I'm sorry for what seems like such a downer reading! Given the context in your question, it sounds like the discipline and disentanglement has been getting you to a good place, and I would point out that the question was specifically about making your goal more ambitious, not about the work you're doing itself - perhaps something is coming down the line that will make it hard to even achieve your less ambitious goal, or maybe focusing on making more money too soon would stop you from developing the idea to its full potential.
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
Re: Will my arts and crafts society be successful?
Date: 2023-05-26 06:58 pm (UTC)Asking - "What does betwixtworlds most need to understand about the plan to create an arts & crafts society"
Draw
Setting: Hagalaz (Murky) - "Hail"
Work: Laguz (Murky) - "Lake"
Outcome(s): Kenaz (Murky) - "Torch"
My Take on It
Ooof, a whole lot of murkstaves with this second batch of readings. For your Setting, I drew Hagalaz (Murky). Hagalaz is the Rune of sudden change or difficulty, but also the growth and opportunity that comes out of it. To get it murky implies either a sudden difficulty for which you are not prepared, or else an undesirable amount of stasis. Either way, things are not growing/developing around you as would be ideal. For the work itself of creating the society, I drew Laguz (Murky). Laguz has been coming up a for a lot of the questions on this post, often murky. It is the Rune of "the deeps," so any Jungian-style archetypal images or forces that go with deep, dark water apply here, but especially the idea of a journey into/across that water. To get it Murky implies that there might be some challenges in the work that you balk at - maybe wishing for it to go smoother, or certain aspects of the work you find unpleasant or distasteful, or perhaps even simply the fear of possibly failing. Unluckily, the Outcome also doesn't look great, especially given the question, as Kenaz is the Rune of craftsmanship and creativity, so to get it murky is not ideal. It implies either an unwanted breakup/dissolution of some kind, or else a stifling or blockage of creative energy.
As with dabilahro's question above, I am sorry to have such a bummer of a reading for you! What I might offer is that all of the Runes were very relevant to what you're trying to do - the crisis/opportunity of derelict buildings, the difficult journey of trying to make something happen, the torch of creative handicraft. This suggests to me that you are looking at the right problem, but that your current plan might not be the best solution. Maybe the focus on civic leaders is wrong, or the focus on physical spaces, or on forming a society rather than some other approach to bring people together and help them find opportunities.
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