Divination Offering: Ask the Ogham or the Runes

[jprussell]

Doing 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.

Comments

My relationship

[(Anonymous)]

Hello! I saw your comment on ecosophia and I’d be grateful for your time. I was wondering—what would help my relationship to improve?

Re: My relationship

[jprussell]

Howdy!

I propose asking the Runes "What does anonymous most need to understand about improving his/her relationship?" with a spread of "Relationship (the context of the overall relationship), Work (the action or change that would cause the improvement), and Outcome(s) (what's most likely to come about if you follow this course of action)."

I will likely not be able to get to this tonight, but I'll try to do the reading tomorrow and then will post a write up when I get the chance.

Cheers and thanks for stopping by,
Jeff

Re: My relationship

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you! I am excited/nervous to see what it shows.

Re: My relationship

[jprussell]

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 "Relationship (the context of the overall relationship), Work (where to focus your efforts to improve things), 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.

Asking - "What does anonymous most need to understand about improving his/her relationship?"
Draw
Relationship: Algiz (Murky) - "Elk" or "Protection"
Work: Eihwaz - "Yew"
Outcome(s): Berkano - "Birch Goddess"

My Take on It
For the overall relationship, I drew Algiz, which is Rune dealing with archetypal forces and mankind's links with them. When drawn murky, it implies that there are hidden dangers, perhaps that you are in danger of being overwhelmed by archetypal forces. Algiz also sometimes is linked with the "roots and branches" of a question - the less obvious, more twisty parts of a situation that are nevertheless important. What all this suggests to me is that your relationship might be look like everything is fine, but perhaps there are hidden elements causing tension that you and/or your partner might not be fully aware of. I'd look especially to anything to do with archetypes, which here might mean traditional gender roles, and any tensions that might be around those. The work suggested to improve thing is Eihwaz, the Yew, which stands for the World Tree and calls to mind Woden's self-sacrifice upon it. It implies cultivating inner strength through tough, flexible discipline. Given the context and the question, this suggests to me that you might paradoxically need to work on yourself to be a better partner in the relationship - maybe it is your own views toward those archetypal forces and how you relate to them that need to be worked on? In some ways, Woden's act was supremely self-focused - he sacrificed himself to himself and was utterly alone in order to gain the Runes for his own knowledge and power. And yet, he then taught those Runes to the wise among mankind. Lastly, for Outcome(s), I got Berkano, which is the Rune of birth, death, and rebirth. It has a "Mother Nature" kind of vibe, and in my own personal experience, I associate it especially with spiritual/religious awakenings/rebirths. Since this is about a relationship, I feel like I should point out that this is the Rune of literal birth and motherhood as well, so it could indicate a child (please, please do not take this to mean "go make a baby to fix a relationship you're not sure about"!). Given the spiritual nature of the other two Runes, though, I'm inclined to think it's more in keeping with those.

So, to sum up, it sounds like there are hidden risks related to archetypal forces in the relationship as is, the work you need to do is disciplined transformation of the self, and the outcome of such work is likely to be a "birth" or "rebirth."

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: My relationship

[(Anonymous)]

Interesting! Yes, our relationship is troubled. I think my partner has mentioned me needing to be more disciplined financially. I was wondering more about the archetypes? I don’t quite understand what they are or how they could present a problem.

Re: My relationship

[jprussell]

Sure thing. Archetypes are a major part of a Jungian understanding of psychology, and folks of a more occult/esoteric bent have also found them tremendously helpful. Basically, an archetype is a pattern that you see over and over again in human psychology, stories, and behavior. Occultists argue that you see them in non-human places as well. These archetypes are very deeply rooted in the subconscious. If you have more of a materialist way of looking at things, you might say they are evolved instincts of the kind evolutionary psychology talks about. If you are more esoterically-minded, you might say that they exist in some state outside of any given human mind where they can be reached by all of them.

So, what does this mean in this situation? It might mean literally the archetypes Jung talked about, or it could mean the kinds of behavior we expect from ourselves and each other in certain roles. Here, since you mentioned being more disciplined financially, that could be linked to "archetypal" (now using the term more loosely) behavior, such as if you're a man, your partner might expect you to provide resources, and financial discipline is seen as part of that. On the other hand, if you're a woman, your partner might see your spending as part of the "frivolous with my money" stereotype some folks have about women partners.

The archetypes don't only have to do with gender roles, and not even every gender-related archetype applies equally to every member of a gender. For example, Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette in King, Warrior, Magician, Lover talk about how each of these four archetypes is an important component of healthy masculinity, but each brings different qualities (and pitfalls) to understanding the world. I've emphasized them here since gender is so likely to have a lot to do with relationship questions.

So, basically, in this reading, it suggests that you, your partner, or both, are in danger of getting caught up in one or more patterns of behavior that feel extremely compelling or even automatic in the moment, but are not to the good of the relationship. An example: have you ever known someone who is interested and engaged with some topic or behavior in private, but belittles it or pretends not to know about it in public because it doesn't fit who they're trying to be in public? Think of a guy who cries during Steel Magnolias but then makes fun of the movie to his guy friends, or a gal who cheers passionately for a football team and then acts like she knows nothing about sports in front of the guys. Those examples aren't perfect, because there's likely a conscious element to them, whereas getting caught up in an archetype is often unconscious. A man who doesn't realize his way of "being masculine" is wrapped up in what his abusive dad was like. A woman whose way of "being feminine" includes nagging and belittling her partner, despite her desire to be fair and rational.

Does this help any?