A RUNE READING FROM ChatGPT!
IA explores AI
My Völva ( Old Norse Vǫlva) staff leaning against a local rune stone, near my Forest School in Sweden!
Before I fell asleep last night I suddenly thought: what would happen if I asked ChatGPT for a rune reading? This morning I tried it, and this piece shares what unfolded.
Please note that AI is an on-going research project for me. I have written three previous essays on the topic and there are more essays in the pipeline. The topic is vast, so I try to map one aspect at a time, with a special focus on how AI affects artists, writers, teachers and young people. Here are links for the three previous essays:
(3) ASKING AI TO PAINT IN THE STYLE OF IMELDA ALMQVIST
(2) WAS MY WORK USED TO TRAIN AI?
(1) AI OR FRANKENSTEIN’S MONSTER?
Me: Could you give me a rune reading please?
ChatGPT: Certainly! Rune readings are a form of divination using symbols from runic alphabets. To proceed with a virtual rune reading, I'll draw three runes for you. Focus on your question or the area of your life you're seeking guidance on, and I'll interpret the runes for you. (Author note: runes are certainly letters but no rune row is an alphabet, they follow a completely different order, not ABC…)
Let's begin:
First Rune: Focus on your current situation.
Second Rune: This represents the challenges or obstacles you might face.
Third Rune: This signifies the outcome or advice.
Take a moment to concentrate on your question or concern, and let me know when you're ready for the interpretation!
Me: My question is: should I continue teaching or retire?
ChatGPT: Alright, let's proceed with your question:
First Rune: Ehwaz (Horse) Ehwaz represents partnership, teamwork, and progress. In the context of your question, it may suggest that your current situation involves collaboration and the need for a supportive environment. Consider the relationships and partnerships in your teaching career.
Second Rune: Isa (Ice) Isa signifies a period of stillness, potential stagnation, or a need to be patient. This could indicate the challenges you might face, perhaps feeling a sense of frozen or slow progress. It may suggest that there are obstacles or a need to reassess your current path.
Third Rune: Dagaz (Day) Dagaz is a rune of transformation, breakthrough, and new beginnings. In the context of your question, it could suggest that if you navigate the challenges with patience and make the necessary adjustments, a positive transformation or a new phase awaits you. This could be interpreted as a favorable outcome or advice to consider embracing change.
Interpretation: The runes suggest that your current teaching situation involves collaboration and teamwork (Ehwaz). However, you may be facing a period of stillness or challenges (Isa). The key is to be patient and consider making adjustments. If you navigate these challenges effectively, a positive transformation or a new phase in your teaching career could be on the horizon (Dagaz). It may be a signal to consider the potential for change and embrace new opportunities.
Remember, rune readings are symbolic and open to interpretation. Use your intuition and personal insights to apply these messages to your unique situation.
(Author note: Eh or Ehwaz is also the rune of Death, I do psycho pomp work, I teach Death & Dying courses and I do death preparation work with people. I think I spot some “sanitation” here!)
Me: May I ask another question for a rune reading?
ChatGPT
Certainly! Feel free to ask another question, and I'll be happy to provide another rune reading for you. Please focus on your question, and when you're ready, let me know.
Me: Could you give me some guidance on my relationship with AI please!
ChatGPT: Absolutely! Let's explore the dynamics of your relationship with AI through a rune reading:
First Rune: Ansuz (Mouth) Ansuz represents communication, wisdom, and divine inspiration. In the context of your relationship with AI, this rune may suggest the importance of clear and effective communication. It could also signify seeking and sharing knowledge with AI as a source of wisdom (Author Note: all my work is being used to train AI, without my consent or advance knowledge!)
Second Rune: Gebo (Gift) Gebo signifies gifts, partnerships, and the exchange of energy. In the context of your question, it suggests a mutual exchange in your relationship with AI. This could be about what you contribute to AI and what you receive in return, emphasizing a balanced and reciprocal connection.
Third Rune: Othala (Ancestral Property) Othala is associated with inheritance, homeland, and the sense of belonging. In the context of your relationship with AI, this rune may suggest that there is a need to recognize the value of what you have learned and gained from your interactions with AI. It could also encourage you to establish a sense of belonging and comfort in this technological partnership.
Interpretation: The runes indicate that effective communication (Ansuz) is essential in your relationship with AI. There's a sense of exchange and partnership (Gebo), emphasizing a balanced give-and-take. Othala suggests recognizing the value of what you've gained from your interactions with AI and creating a sense of belonging in this technological space.
(Author note: I am just highlighting: “AI as a source of wisdom” and “establish a sense of belonging and comfort in this technological partnership” here. I am writing this series of essays for a reason: to educate myself an any others who may be interested!)
This reading encourages you to foster a relationship with AI that involves clear communication, mutual exchange, and an acknowledgment of the benefits gained from this connection. Remember to approach this relationship with openness and a willingness to learn and share.
My opinion on this reading, as a Rune Magician and teacher of the runes:
Is this complete nonsense? No!
Does all of it hit the mark? No!
Am I really going to stop teaching? Not for a long time but I am looking to reduce my workload and free up more time for art, writing, music and forest medicine (tree & plant studies).
Do I accept that technology can cast runes, just as I cast them from my (physical) rune pouch? Yes, I do.
Would a skilled human rune magician do a better job? Definitely!
Is AI about to push me out of business? No, and I do not think it ever will, because, unlike me, AI is not human and does not have access to human emotions or what I learned from 15 years of working with real human beings.
So let me actually ask ChatGPT this! Please note that I have marked the key passages with italics in bold print:
Me: Will AI ever put Imelda Almqvist out of business?
As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, Imelda Almqvist is a spiritual teacher, author, and artist known for her work in shamanism and sacred art. The influence of AI on specific professions, including spiritual teaching or artistic endeavors, is a complex topic and can depend on various factors.
AI has the potential to enhance certain aspects of education, art, and other fields, providing tools and resources that complement human creativity and expertise. However, it's important to note that AI lacks the depth of human experience, intuition, and spiritual insight that someone like Imelda Almqvist may bring to their work.
While AI can automate certain tasks and offer valuable insights, it is unlikely to replace the unique qualities and personal connection that a spiritual teacher or artist provides. The human touch, intuition, and individualized guidance are aspects of these professions that AI struggles to replicate fully.
Ultimately, the impact of AI on specific individuals or professions depends on how technology is integrated and utilized in those fields. Spiritual teaching and artistic expression often involve deeply personal and subjective elements, making the human touch irreplaceable.
However, for the most current information, I recommend checking recent sources or updates about Imelda Almqvist and developments in AI within the context of spiritual teaching and artistic expression.
I (as in IA not AI!) will leave it here for today. There is nothing to stop you from requesting a rune reading from Chat GPT (and please report back in the comments if you try it!) - or do you prefer working with a human rune magician instead?
I aim to post two essays a week here on Substack, but if you would like to see my daily posts about about sacred art, Nordic spirituality and my life as a Forest Witch, please follow me on Instagram or Facebook, thank you!
Imelda Almqvist, London UK
Bragi, the Norse god of poetry, has runes carved in his tongue
BIO FOR IMELDA ALMQVIST
Imelda Almqvist is an international teacher of Sacred Art and Seiðr/Old Norse Traditions (the ancestral wisdom teachings of Northern Europe). So far she has written four non-fiction books and two picture books for children. Natural Born Shamans: A Spiritual Toolkit for Life (Using shamanism creatively with young people of all ages) in 2016, Sacred Art: A Hollow Bone for Spirit (Where Art Meets Shamanism) in 2019, Medicine of the Imagination - Dwelling in Possibility (an impassioned plea for fearless imagination) in 2020 and North Sea Water In My Veins (The Pre-Christian spirituality of the Low Countries) will be published in June 2022.
The Green Bear is a series of picture book for children, aged 3 – 8 years. The stories and vibrant artwork, set in Scandinavia, invite children to explore enchanting parallel worlds and to keep their sense of magic alive as they grow up.
Imelda has presented her work on both The Shift Network and Sounds True. She appears in a TV program, titled Ice Age Shaman, made for the Smithsonian Museum, in the series Mystic Britain, talking about Mesolithic arctic deer shamanism.
Imelda is currently working on a handbook for rune magicians (about the runes of the Elder Futhark) and on more books in the Green Bear Series. Imelda runs an on-line school called Pregnant Hag Teachings, where all classes she teaches remain available as recordings which can be watched any time!
Website:
http://www.shaman-healer-painter.co.uk/
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/user/imeldaalmqvist
Online School: https://pregnant-hag-teachings.teachable.com/courses/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imelda.almqvist/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almqvistimelda/
Twitter: @ImeldaAlmqvist
I very much agree with what you say in the marked passages.
AI is develloped by men and ( maybe) we can make use of its possibilities ( although I am afraid not always for anything good) but but it can never replace a human input.
I wonder: can AI be funny? Can it be teached a sense of humor?
Ha ha! Yes, you really can ask anything in the universe for an oracle - raindrops, sheep-poo, the way moss grows on rocks, but in the end, it comes down the true question and trusted oracle. The runes cannot be made to speak other than they do, but we have to test them against the question always! May your work find its good level, as none of us need burn-out.