Divination

Divination is the mystical art of simply looking into the future. Most wiccans
use divination, but not all. Before you do any type of magick you should do
some type of divination to find out whether your results will be positive or
negative. Types of divinations you can use to do this can be: a crystal ball,
tarot cards, runes, candles, or whichever you prefer. This is a good way to
not do any harm unintentionally which is stated in the "Wiccan Rede" (An it harm
none, do as ye wilt).
There are many forms of divination. Tea-leaf reading (tasseography),
egg divination, stolisomancy, geomancy, ceromancy, book divination, sortition,
hydatoscopy, love divination, crystal scrying, oneiromancy (interpretation of
dreams), Ouija, and tarot reading (tarotology) to name a few.
Tasseography
Tasseography is the art of reading the symbolic patterns left by tea leaves in a cup.
It orginates thousands of years ago from China where it was used as a mystical
science. It takes practice, but you can read tea leaves for yourself and others.
For best results, use China tea or and excellent grade of tea containing a minimum of tea
dust. Use a teaspoon and a half of loose tea (not teabags) in a teapot. Add
boiling water, stir vigorously, and allow to stand three minutes before pouring.
The person getting the fortune told must drink the whole cup until there is just
enought water to cover the remaining leaves.If you are right handed, pick it up
with your left hand, and if you are left handed, vice versa. Gently move the cup in
a clockwise circle. Do this seven continous times, then place it back into its
saucer. Gaze into the bottom of the cup. Relax and concentrate on the leaves left
in the cup until they form sybolic patterns. Always look for numbers, initials,
or astrological symbols in or around the main pattern, as they may play an important
role in the reading.
(PLACE LINK HERE TO SYMBOLS)
Stolisomancy
Stoliomancy is the art of divination of certain pecularites of dress. An example
is accidentally wearing a shirt inside out is an omen of bad luck throughout the day.
Putting on a dress the wrong way is said that you will soon get a new dress or someone
will present you with a gift. Other examples are: if your right shoelace becomes
untied, someone you know is speaking kindly of you. If its the left one, someone
is ill is being said about you behind your back.
Egg Divination
Egg divination is known by many names (oomantia, ooscopy, and ovamancy). It dates
back to ancient times, and most every culture has practiced it in one way or another.
It can be used to determine the sex of an unborn child, and to find out if someone
has been cursed by the evil eye.All you need is an uncooked hen egg which can be
bought at the grocery store or at the dairy. To find out if the pregnant mother is
going to have twins, she (or the person who is doing the fortune) should rub and egg
on her belly for a few minutes, then break the egg open into a saucer. One yolk
indicates single birth, two yolks means twins, and so on. If the yolk is spotted
with blood, it indicates a bad omen, either a miscarriage or complications during
childbirth.
Book Divination
Bibliomancy or stichomancy is where you open a book to a certain page and interpret
the first words or sentence read in a prophetic manner. Any book will do, but grimoires
or collections of poetry are the best. Christians use the bible to do this, called
"Lots of the Saints". This can be used to answer a specific question or to predict
the future.
Ceromancy
Ceromancy is the use of candle wax as a form of divination. Two examples are:
1. Write your question on the side of a black candle, anointed with three
drops of myrrh oil. Light the candle and hold it over a piece of white paper.
After the top of the candle had accumulatd some melted wax, close your eyes and ask
your question three times, then quickly spill the wax onto the paper. The symbols
then can be studied for omens.
2. Pour some melted wax onto a container of cold water and focus your eyes and
mind on the shapes the wax assumes. Look for letters, symbolic patterns, numbers,
etc.
Geomancy
Geomancy is the divination of tracing figures in dirt or sand, or by interpreting
symbolic patterns formed by objects (stones, sticks, seeds, etc.) which are dropped
onto the ground. An easier way is known as "Art of Little Dots". It goes like this:
If you are right handed, hold the writing untensil in your left hand and vice
versa over a blank piece of paper. Close your eyes and rid your mind of distracting
thoughts. Quickly tap the pen or pencil onto the paper one hundred times. Open your
eyes and look at the paper. You will see that a form has taken by the little dots.
Focus your eyes and mind on the dots until you are able to interpret the meaning.
Sortition
Sortition or sortilege is the divination of fortelling future events or answering
a question using the casting of the lots (two objects, one marked yes, one marked
no) or by other chance choice. There is many different kinds of objects to cast lots
(dice, slips of paper, stones, and pieces of wood). For dice you can write various
answers to question or fortunes for each combination of the dice (use a pair of dice)
and just throw the dice or ask a question first and throw. (You might first want to write out the questions to be picked from). Great thing for a party!!
Hydatoscopy
Hydatoscopy is the divination of rainwater. Omens are drawn from the formations
and sizes of puddles. Also bowls of rainwater are used to see clairvoyant pictures
in the water or in your mind's eye. Almost the same as crystal scrying.
Ouija
Ouija, most every has had one at a time or another, and everybody had heard of them.
It is a tool used to contact spirits that have passed from their lives here on earth. Use a black
candle anoited with amber or patchouli oil to dispel any negative vibrations. You can also
burn frankincense and myrrh incese and pray to the Goddess for her protection and blessings.
It works best with two people (man and woman). Seat yourself comfortably and face
each other with the board on your laps. Place your fingetips lightly on the message
pointer and ask one question at a time out loud. Both persons should concentrate
on the question at hand and remain patient. It may take awhile at first. You should
not use it for more then a few hours each week. If you feel drawn to it, like you have
to use it (remember that movie "Witchboard"?LOL) then that may be a cue of obsession.
It should only be used by adults, children are too impressionable which makes
obsession even greater. You shouldn't use it under the influence of alchohol, drugs,
or a poor mental state. If you feel threatened in any way, you should put the board away.
Crystal Scrying
Crystal scrying is the divination popular among alot of pagans/witches. For scrying,
you should use a ball clear or black, with minimum of bubbles. Most of these are
expensive, so if you can find one to suit your monetary needs, there are other things
that you can use. Homemade magick mirrors, glass fishing floats, bowl filled with
black oil, blot of ink, flame of a candle, fire in the fireplace, or just about anything
polished and light reflecting. Consencrate a new crystal ball with salt and water,
and then using your athame, dedicate as a tool of divination to the Goddess. Next,
cup the object in your hands, and charge (magnetize) it with your psychic engergies.
Simply visualize a white beam flowing from your hands and Third Eye chakra into the
object. This should be done often, especially before each use to recharge it. Keep it
free of dust, fingerprints, away from direct sunlight, and never use any waxy
furniture polish or hot water to clean it. Use equal parts lukewarm water and white
vinegar to clean it. Wipe it dry with a clean cloth or paper towel, then polish it
with a chamois. It should be covered by a black silk hankerchief when it is not in use.
And do not permit anyone else to touch it or handle it. If they do, you should
conscrated again and recharged.
To do this divination, you should be in a quiet, undisturbed place. It can be
done anytime of day. Usually early morning or late at night is better, as well as are
rainy days and full moons. Place the ball on its stand, or if it has a flat bottom and
stands by itself. Sit comfortably and consentrate your eyes and mind upon the ball.
It is very important that you are completely relaxed and your mind is free of distractions
or negative thoughts that may interfere with your concentration. This takes much
practice and patience so do not become discouraged. It may take anywhere from
two to a dozen times to see anything. Here are some colors that you may see:
(PLACE
LINK TO CRYSTAL BALL INTERPRETIONS HERE)
Love Divination
Known as Cancellation, it is the divination of finding love. One way is where a young
lady uses the letters in her name that matches her suitor's and crosses them out
saying, "he loves me, he loves me not". Another way is if you have received a marriage
proposal from more then one person and you are undecided: Write the name of the two
suitors on separate onions and bury them in a flower pot or in the ground. The onion
that sprouts first is the one who will make the best marriage partner.
Oneiromancy
Oneiromancy is the divination of dreams. When properly interpreted, they can reveal
the future, warn us of impending danger or health problems, either by actual or
symbolic pictures. There are many good dream dictionaries that you can buy or get at
your local library.
These are just a few forms of divination, you can make up your own, or go get a book
on fortunetelling. I will add a better booklist soon.
Email: wiccanmgik@aol.com