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

Divination

[candace_k]

Hi Jeff, thanks for offering this. I am starting the process of job hunting. I would like to know if I should concentrate my efforts in any particular area, above and beyond just the normal steps of polishing up my resume and applying for positions that fit my skill set. Suffering from burn out from my last job, really hate job hunting in general.

Re: Divination

[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 "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.

Asking - "What does Candace most need to understand about her job hunt?"
Draw
Setting: Algiz - "Elk" or "Protection"
Work: Sowilo - "Sun"
Outcome(s): Thurisaz - "Thurse" (a "Giant" - a wicked semi-divine being, "thurse" tends to have a more explicitly negative meaning than "Ettin" (Jotun))
Surprise: Raidho - "Ride" and Ansuz - "Ancestral God"

My Take on It
For the context of your job search, I drew Algiz, which implies that there are risks, but that if you are crafty, you can turn them to your advantage. This has come up for the context of other job-related questions on this post, so I take it as a commentary on the state of the economy/world right now - things are topsy-turvy, but that presents opportunities for those willing and able to spot them and act on them. For the search itself, I got "Sowilo," which is the Rune of goals and the guidance to reach them. Pay attention to any "steering" you might be getting, whether from within yourself, or from the outside, about your goals and how to reach them. This Rune can also be associated with sailors or teachers, so if anything in your job search speaks to those areas, they might be indicated. This is a very positive Rune, though, and it implies that your search will be successful. That being said, for "Outcome(s)," I drew Thurisaz, which is a somewhat harsh Rune. It is the primal force of aggression, either your own or that of others toward you, and so it suggests that though your search will be successful, there will be some kind of risk associated with that success. Your answer to that risk should be controlled aggression - "fight" for yourself and your loved ones, but with care and wits rather than brute force.

As you may have seen from other answers on this post, sometimes Runestaves "make themselves known" to me through seeming coincidence - they land outside of the tray I drop them into, or bounce onto the floor, or the like. When that happens, I have found it helpful to see them as an overall commentary on the rest of the reading. You got not one, but two of these "surprise Runes, as one bounced out onto the floor, and another kept falling out of my hand as I tried to pick it up after the reading (seriously, like three times, and I was like "okay, I get it, I'll put you in the reading!")

So, the first of these was Raidho, which is the Rune of ordered, rhythmical movement or change. This implies that your search will involve "change" or "movement" of some kind - maybe a literal move, or maybe moving on to "the next step" in your career path or the like. This will take discipline and ethical action, though - especially given the indications of risk and attack we already talked about, you need to take care to do everything right, so as not to open yourself to any more dangers. This Rune can also indicate people or jobs involved in the Law or Transportation, so those may be relevant to your search.

Lastly, the Rune that refused to be put away until I noticed it was, fittingly, Ansuz, which is the Rune of the God Woden and all that he stands for, but most of all language, synthetic intelligence, and magic. This suggests to me that the "ordered change" implied by Raidho may be intellectual in nature - maybe you need to put disparate ideas/skills together, or perhaps "speak up for yourself" in some way. In any case, this further reinforces the strong message in this reading of striving for excellence - that which is "higher," but not easy.

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: Divination

[candace_k]

Thank you! I left a job working in the county family services office working as a child support officer due to burn out. I will keep the ideas you have given me in mind especially while contemplating the areas I’m submitting my resume. I’ll also make sure to give you an update as I go through the process.

Thank you so much for taking the time!

Sent from my iPhone

Re: Divination

[jprussell]

Ah! Thanks for this, and I will certainly appreciate hearing how it goes.

I might be over-stretching here, but learning that you're leaving a job due to "burnout," and one that is so likely to be associated with the "mission" or "cause" it is meant to fulfill gives me a few ideas. (Again, I could be way off, but my assumption when I hear "quit working as a Child Support Officer due to burnout" is that you believe deeply in helping vulnerable children who are the most in need, but that some combination of bureaucratic nonsense and families/children that refuse the help they so clearly need is what led to the burnout).

Anyhow, what this new information makes me think is that perhaps the goal, ordered change, and use of synthetic intelligence that came up in the reading are saying that it might be best for you to reflect on what led you to become a child support officer and what about the job did you find rewarding/believe in, and then ask "how can I achieve these things in a totally different way?"

Re: Divination

[candace_k]

Hi Jeff, Update on my job search. I have gotten a job the is “provisional”. Initial appointment was through December 29, 2023. That has been extended to December 31, 2024. So fits with what you were seeing. Thought that might be useful feed back for your future interpretations.

Thanks for your help! Hope you have a good holiday season. Candace

Sent from my iPhone

Re: Divination

[jprussell]

Thanks very much for the update, always useful to get feedback!

And I wish you a happy holiday season as well!
Jeff