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

A reading

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for doing this Jeff.
Question. "Will my healing endeavours make a difference?"
Background. I have retired from my mainstream job aged 57 and am receiving a small pension. I am trying using different methods to offer distance healing to friends family and pets. And if successful to the wider community via a website. It is early days yet and in the data collection stage. Hence to question.
Can you use runes please.
Cealin

Runic reading

[ivn66]

Hi Jeff. Thank you for your kind offer.

I've never gotten a reading in runes before, so I'm very curious to try it out!

Recent events have had me thinking it'd be best if I relocate from the South back up to my native Northeast. I'd like to ask you and your runes if my current plans - destination and timeline of relocation - are good ones for me.

Rune Reading

[(Anonymous)]

Good morning Jeff,
I'm a long time reader on JMG's site and never comment! But I really enjoy what you put forth. I'd like to take you up on your offer of Rune reading. I have two questions:

1) I want to pursue a specific certification course, with which I have some familiarity of the subject matter. Will this course assist me in my long range goal of teaching and practicing outside the USA.

2) I'm interesting in working in one of six countries for the summer of 20224 in my chosen field and am prepared to do the "legwork", Does this venture look promising?

I don't have a dreamwidth account, so I'm hoping this will post. Thank you jeff

Visit

[jeremymcjohnson]

Do the runes say that I will be able to go visit my former co-worker R in Kelowna this summer? I'm already doing a four day mini vacation in Edmonton, but I owe the government a lot of money and I'm in hot water at work.

[open_space]

Thanks for doing this, Jeff!

My question for you is:

I've been battling for many years now with what should I do to live a more meaningful life and would like to see what the oracle of your choice has to say about it.

For one, I ended up trapped in a job I hate in a place that doesn't fulfill me and I frankly abhor.

What do I need to change or focus on to start moving in that direction?

What would be the outcome of me going back to México vs staying here in the US?

[tamanous2020]

Thanks for the rune reading!

Much like you, I'm trying to prepare for the long decline and specifically, towards figuring a trade or skill that'll be useful down the road. My history of office work has not exactly lead to a lot of options that really stick out as possibilities though, so divination would be appreciated.

Q- What trade/skill would I be both good at and would bring in enough resources/money for my family and I to live on?

Thanks,

Tamanous

[(Anonymous)]

I have a choice between two different pantheons to move forward with, we'll call them option G and option I (after my entry points to each). For whatever reason, I can not worship both, I have to pick one.

Can I get some idea of the direction each would take me in, and how it would work out long term?

[jprussell]

I did my first round of divinations earlier today, but I will get to your questions either this evening or tomorrow.

Any preference for Runes versus Ogham?

[jprussell]

Hmm, this one ought to present an interesting challenge to get to an interpretation that tells a specific trade/skill, or at least hints toward one. I'll get to your reading either tonight or tomorrow and share what I find then.

[jprussell]

I will do another round of readings either a bit later this evening or tomorrow, and I'll share my results then.

If it works for you, I will ask two questions:

"What does anonymous most need to know about worshiping Pantheon G for the long term?"

and

"What does anonymous most need to know about worshipping Pantheon I for the long term?"

If I don't get a clear-cut answer from those, I'll further clarify.

Also, any preference whether I ask the Runes or the Ogham for one, the other, or both? I will likely default to the Ogham if not.

[open_space]

Not in particular, the one you feel more proficient on. I know you are particularly interested in Heathenry.

Re: A reading

[jprussell]

Hi Cealin,

Thanks very much for giving me the opportunity to practice.

I asked "Will Cealin's healing endeavors make a difference?" For a spread, I used "Setting" (Context), "Work" (the healing endeavors themselves), and "Outcomes" (what will come of it).

Draw
Setting: Raidho "Ride"
Work: Ansuz (Murky) "Ancestral God"
Outcome(s): Gebo "Gift"

My Take on It
The short answer is "yes," but I hope it will be helpful to give some context. It seems like you are in the midst of some kind of "orderly change" - maybe you are moving from one life phase to another, or perhaps you have started a new routine that's good for you, or taken up a course of study (maybe MOE?). Now, for the work itself, Ansuz murky is a bit tough, because Ansuz is one of the main Runes for Magic, as the "Ancestral God" it refers to is Woden, the God of Magic. This indicates some struggle with the work, that it won't come easy or naturally. The other thing that a murky Ansuz suggests is to look out for deception or manipulation, especially of a verbal kind - is there someone involved in the healing work that is saying one thing, but doing another? Maybe giving you bad feedback on how it's going? Or perhaps you are feeling clumsy and "getting in your own way" here. The good news is that the outcome is Gebo, which is extremely positive and also is associated with magic. If you keep up with the work and navigate the difficulties indicated by the murky Ansuz, you will either give or receive a "gift" (or both). Gebo is all about exchange, and the bonds between people they build, and the good things that come of it.

Please let me know any follow-up questions you have, and I'd certainly appreciate hearing if this rings true at all.

Re: Runic reading

[jprussell]

Thanks very much for giving me the chance to practice!

I asked "Are IVN66's current plans on when and where to relocate good for him/her?" and for a spread I used "Setting" (context), "Work" (the plan and the move itself), and "Outcome(s)" (what is likely to come about if you go through with it).

Draw
Setting: Isa "Ice"
Work: Berkano "Birch Goddess"
Outcome(s): Sowilo "Sun"

My Take on It
Wow, this is a rather straightforwardly positive reading, so the short answer is "yes, it would be good." Isa indicates that you have been isolated, maybe concentrating on yourself, whether for good or ill. The move itself would be something of a "Rebirth" for you, in a positive sense, but of course that only comes after some parts of your life (like what you would leave behind) have "died". For me personally, Berkano is associated with Spiritual Awakenings, so there's a possibility the move could feature one of those. For the outcome, Sowilo is literally the "victory" Rune - it represents the goal of striving, but also the guide and path to that goal. So, it indicates that the move would indeed get you what you're looking for, but there's a subtle undercurrent of movement, rather than settling - which means that maybe this move would be a stop on the way to where you'll end up permanently rather than the end point (I cheated a bit on this last part by reading JMG's take on your Geomancy reading and going "oh, right, that's why it's Sowilo instead of Othala (homeland)" :)).

Please let me know any follow up questions you have and I'd love to hear if this rings true at all.

Re: Rune Reading

[jprussell]

Thanks very much for giving me the chance to practice!

For both questions, I used this spread: "Setting" (context), "Work" (doing the actual thing, so pursuing the certification or working in one of the countries), and "Outcome(s)" (what's most likely to come about if you go through with it).

Asking 1 - "Will pursuing this certification help anonymous in his/her long-term goal of teaching and practicing outside the US?"
Draw
Setting: Algiz "Elk" or "Protection"
Work: Jera "Year"
Outcome(s): Fehu (Murky) "Fee"

My Take on It
This is a rather mixed reading, but it seems like there's something about this certification course that doesn't line up with what you're after. There seems to be some kind of risk in your situation, but it's the kind of risk that you can potentially use to your benefit. Think of reed with sharp edges - it can keep out unwanted folks, if you handle it carefully the sharp edges can be useful, but if you reach out and grasp it, it will cut you. This is what's going on in your life around the certification. Pursuing this certification course would give you the skills and know-how you're looking for - you would find the work itself rewarding in equal measure to what you put into it. That being said, the outcome is not so good, especially since this is a professional question - Fehu is the Rune of money first and foremost, and getting it Murky as the outcome for a professional questions suggests this would not work out well financially. The other possibility is that it could lead to burnout, to overuse of whatever energies you're putting into this work.

Taken all together, what this suggests to me is that this certification course is somehow going in slightly the wrong direction - maybe it's in the right field, but the wrong specialization, or else it pushes you to emphasize the parts of the field other than what draws you to it in the first place. Or it might be that this particular course wouldn't provide you with the same opportunities that another one for the same certification might.

Asking 2 - "Does it look promising for anonymous to work in one of six selected countries in Summer"
Draw
Setting: Wunjo "Joy"
Work: Raidho "Ride"
Outcome(s): Tiwaz "Tiw/Tyr (name of the God)"

My Take on It
This is a more positive one, but it also has a bit of a warning to it. It seems that your context, perhaps your social context, for wanting to do this travel and work is good - you have what you need to support you. Wunjo can also indicate ideals, so I'm guessing that maybe this work has some kind of basis there. Assuming these two questions are linked, this might cast some light on the funkiness with the certification above - maybe it's not in line with the ideals pushing you in this direction? At any rate, getting Raidho for the actual travel itself is a very positive sign - it seems to indicate that yes, going to these places would be exactly the kind of change and growth that you think it would be. The outcome, though, is less than ideal. I'm seeing two possible options here: one reading of Tiwaz is related to "analysis paralysis" - always thinking, never acting. This is very nearly the opposite of Raidho, which is basically "get on your horse and ride!" So, one possible reading is that you are maybe putting more effort into thinking about the choice than in making it happen, which might lead you to not actually take the trip.

I'm not entirely satisfied with that, though, because of Tiwaz (Murky)'s placement in "Outcome". I wanted to bring it up in case it strikes a chord, but what I find a slightly more compelling reading is that if you do this, you might have to check a tendency to "give too much" (Tiw was, after all, the God who let his hand get eaten by Fenris!). If this reading is right, then as you approach the trip, make sure not to lose sight of what you will get out of it, and how to establish appropriate boundaries on your time, energy, and care.

Please let me know any follow-up questions and I'd certainly appreciate hearing if any of this strikes you as helpful or true.

Re: Visit

[jprussell]

Thanks for the chance to practice! Rather than simply asking a yes/no question, I took the liberty of asking in a way that gets a bit more context. So, I used a spread with "Setting" (context), "Trip" (the trip itself), and "Outcome(s)" (what is most likely to come about if you take the trip).

Asking - "Will Jeremy be able to visit R in Kelowna this summer?"
Draw
Setting: Kenaz (Murky) "Torch"
Trip: Laguz "Lake"
Outcome(s): Berkano "Birch Goddess"

My Take on It
Not only does it seem you'll be able to go, it might be more important than it now seems. Your context seems to be either stifling you creatively or else things are "coming apart" in an unwanted way (maybe the "hot water" at work?). The trip itself will bring challenges of some kind, but these are likely to be tests of some kind. Laguz is also the Rune of "the Deep," and so it might suggest that there's more going on with the trip than there seems on the surface. The outcome indicates a "Rebirth" of some kind, which is very positive, but it also implies some amount of "Death" - things that might need to be let go. For what it's worth, for me, Berkano has connotations of Spiritual Awakening, so it's possible that that has something to do with it.

Please let me know if you have any follow-up questions, and I'd very much appreciate hearing whether this rings true at all.

[jprussell]

Alrighty, these "feel" more like Rune questions to me, so I'll go with them.

[open_space]

Many thanks! :-)

[(Anonymous)]

That sounds good, thanks. As for runes or ogham, I'll defer to you, whichever you think would work better.

Re: Rune Reading

[(Anonymous)]

Hello,
I think your take on my second question is spot on, particularly with the analysis/paralysis hit. I have Jupiter and Saturn in my 5th house together. So while I am expansive in ideas, there's a lot of contraction there as well. Additionally, yes, there are the questions of boundaries that do need to be spelled out before work is undertaken. This is very helpful Jeff, Thanks. Regarding the certification class I'm thinking about, I'm going to have to ponder your answer a bit. I appreciate you and your work.

-M

Re: A reading

[(Anonymous)]

Hello Jeff. What do you mean by Murky in this context.
Cealin

Which job to take?

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Jeff,

So I don't know how to put this type of question to the oracles. I have 2 job offers: F or B? So I want to know which will be better. F is boring infrastructure and B is consultant, which I've always done, but in this case pays less and I have to come back to the place I just left, only in this new company. So I guess the question is which job will treat me better?

Thank you!

Re: Runic reading

[ivn66]

Jeff,

Wow! I'm impressed - happy to give you the practice but it seems like you've already had quite a bit of that.

So, as far as Isa goes (btw, did you know that Isa is also the Arabic name for Jesus? In that light, your notions of letting something die and be reborn are rather interesting...) I have indeed been isolated. It seems to me the whole backdrop of this reading is my recently-begun affiliation with the Thelemic order A.'.A.'.: I began my Probationer year back in January, precisely when I moved down here. I did so with the idea of getting some proper solitude, "peace and quiet", so to speak, thinking it'd be more congenial to my Work; but as soon as I settled in I've been stricken with, and haven't been able to shake, the feeling of really not belonging here at all. I'm a musician, and I find myself really sorely missing the professional caliber of my colleagues back in NYC, a city and a scene which I thought I hated and had had enough of. But this year so far has been teaching me to more fully accept what a crucial part not only the music plays in my Will, but the lifestyle of musicians in the New York scene - namely touring, sort of Wandering through the world (a slowly growing relationship with Wotan, the Wanderer, and Mercury too would seem pretty in line with this), quite in contrast with the more grounded and easy living so prominent down here in the South. Plus, a lot of the mundane problems I thought I'd be escaping by leaving NYC seem to have followed me faithfully down here, meaning they have much more to do with me than with any particular setting. So, it seems to me the part of me which Isa says must "die" is the part seeking out comfort, seeking on some level to run from the difficulties which come with my Will - and the part that is still generating these troubles I thought to escape.

Since moving would symbolize an acceptance of this Will and a continuity of the A.'.A.'. Work, the "spiritual awakening" element you mentioned is rather on the ball. The spot I have my eye on, too, is very well situated for this: small, almost monastic, but with just room enough for both a music practice and a magick practice. It's not in the city proper, and so retains some element of seclusion and quietude favorable for magick practice, but it's close enough that I can get in and out with ease and at relatively small expense.

Since the Thelemic current is a Solar one, the final card is quite fitting. In addition, the apartment is so sparse that it won't lend itself to feeling like a permanent or solid "home" - more like a simple base of operations, where I also happen to sleep and eat. Part of the Will I've been learning to accept seems to involve an acceptance of this idea - that, stressful or no, I feel most at home when *not* at home, when I am simply passing through, whence the appeal of touring. I think, given this, the element of transience (rather like the transience of the Sun itself) which both you and JMG touched on makes perfect sense.

Thanks again - I often feel so invested in this that it's hard to trust my own readings on the subject. I'm predictably elated to see what the Runes had to say about the matter. Much appreciated, Jeff!

Re: A reading

[jprussell]

D'oh! I thought I had explained that, but I realize I did not. "Murky" here is just a bit of jargon that means "the Runestave landed face down" and it's roughly equivalent to drawing a card "reversed" (upside down) in card-based systems like the Tarot. In the system of interpretation I use, it means either that the force/concept/archetype represented by the Rune is manifesting in some unbalanced or unhelpful way (for example, with Ansuz, the Rune of language, consciousness, and Magic, that could be lies or manipulation) or else that it is blocked somehow (again, with Ansuz, that might mean dullness or inability to express things).

Does that help? Did you have any follow-up questions based on that being unclear?

Re: Visit

[jeremymcjohnson]

Thanks for the reading Jeff. I'd be surprised if I ended up moving out there, as it's not walkable and it's a much smaller city. But I think I could get a job there easily. Don't have any serious romantic intentions here either. A spiritual awakening would be cool. Really, I'll just have to see what I can see. It's ice that they have a lake there and it's warm there. I'd just be happy to get away from Vancouver. Not sure what I can do if anything to fix my work situation, but I have a feeling that I'll at least stay in this field for another year and a half or more.

[jprussell]

Replying to the original question to avoid too much nesting.

A bit on my method, in case you're interested as a fellow practitioner. I opened a sacred space on my portable ritual altar (folding tray), made a drink offering to Woden and Frige, and prayed for their help and guidance. I then got all 24 of the Runes out, called upon the Wyrds (Norns) to help, and shook the staves vigorously while concentrating on the question before dropping them into a large-ish dice tray. Without looking, I drew them one each for each position in the spread - "Setting" (your overall context), "Work" (doing the action contemplated by the question), and "Outcome(s)" (what is most likely to come about if going through with the action contemplated). I then looked at the Runes in each spot of the spread and interpreted. If the Rune landed face-down, I consider it "Murky," which is roughly equivalent to a card being reversed in Tarot. In my system of interpretation, it means either that the qualities embodied by the Rune are manifesting in an unhelpful or harmful way, or that they are somehow blocked and not manifesting enough.

Asking 1 - What does open_space most need to focus on to move toward a more meaningful life?
Draw
Setting: Inguz (Murky) - "Ing (the God's name, most believe to be the same as Frey)"
Work: Kenaz (Murky) - "Torch"
Outcome(s): Gebo - "Gift"

My Take on It
I'm not sure if this reading is telling you all that much that you don't already know, but let me walk through it in case some part of that helps. This indicates that your general context is that you are somehow "bottled up" - either you are withdrawn into yourself and "holding still" when you should be either gathering strength or moving forward, or else "moving" in a way that doesn't actually accomplish what you're after. I'm getting a sense of "hiding" from something rather than either facing it or truly resting/recovering from it.

The work that this reading says you need to focus on is addressing a murky Kenaz. Kenaz, the torch, is the Rune of creative drive and passion - the urge to make something, but it is also the Rune of breaking things apart, as that is often a necessary step in the creative process. To have it murky in this position indicates that you are either feeling stifled creatively (which seems likely from your question and other discussions we've had) and/or that something is "breaking up" in a way you find harmful or unwanted - maybe relationships, maybe social positions or expectations, or maybe your view of yourself and where you fit in all this. Overall, given what I know about you and the challenges you're facing, the image that comes to mind is that of a welding torch - you've got the fuel and the spark, but it needs the right nozzle to be focused into something powerful (and a bit dangerous) that will let you get the real work done.

The good news in this so-far murky reading is that the Outcome is rather positive - Gebo, the gift, is an almost purely positive Rune when it comes up bright (face up). If you're familiar with the ancient Greek concept of Xenia, the sacred relationship between guest and host, which is re-affirmed by mutual gift-giving, that's the kind of energy Gebo indicates. So, if you are able to fix what's going on with Kenaz, this indicates that you will get and/or give a "gift", or else engage in some kind of positive exchange. This Rune can sometimes have sexual and/or magical overtones, as can Kenaz, so there might be an element of that there, but I'm seeing that more as one aspect of the wider vitality/life question than the specific focus of the reading.

A phrase that popped into my head as I was wrapping up this interpretation, that I can't "back up" otherwise: "Make something great, and then give it away to someone who's worth it." Do with that what you will.

Asking 2 - What does open_space most need to understand about moving back to Mexico?
Draw
Setting: Gebo - "Gift"
Work/Move: Laguz (Murky) - "Lake"
Outcome(s): Kenaz - "Torch"

My Take on It
Now, this is very interesting and very weird. Between readings, I took up all of the Runestaves and again shook them thoroughly before dropping and picking with my eyes closed, and two of the same Runes came up! This tells me that the Runes really want you to focus on Kenaz and Gebo in your life, at least in the part of it that these two questions touch. It's also suggestive how they have changed positions in the spread - the Outcome of asking 1 is the Setting for asking 2, and the thing to do the work on in asking 1 is the Outcome of asking 2.

Now, this reading is also somewhat the inverse of the first one. At first glance, it seems fairly positive and like it's exactly the answer to the first asking - this move would be within a context of some kind of beneficial exchange - maybe bringing things back to your community in Mexico that you picked up in the States, maybe being able to better introduce things from Mexico to the folks you've met up north. And the outcome of this would be precisely the Kenaz energy that it seems you need to find - you'd likely find the drive to start creating and making stuff. It's the "Work", though, which comes up as Laguz (murky) that gives me pause, especially as this is a questions specifically about taking a course of action.

Laguz, though it literally means "Lake," is better understood as "the Deep" - it touches on the archetype of vast, primordial waters. "Lake" in proto-Germanic was the word for any large body of water, including the sea. As such, everything Jung might draw your attention to in symbolism of deep, dark waters might be appropriate here, and it coming up murky suggests the downsides or blockage of those archetypal energies. Specifically, the word that seems most relevant here is fear. Laguz can have a meaning of "challenges" or "tests", and drawing it murky suggests an avoidance of such tests and the psychological or spiritual growth they might bring.

So, my takeaway from this is that moving back to Mexico, at least at the time/in the way you're thinking about it now, would be "the easy way forward" - it would indeed give you what you're looking for, but perhaps not what you most need. I might recommend thinking about or meditating on what it is you would be leaving/avoiding/sidestepping by moving back to Mexico in the way you're contemplating, and what lessons or tests might be there.

Okay, those were a bit longer since I know a bit more about you and your situation, but do please let me know what seems on/off about the reading and any follow-up questions you have.