Divinitory Methods  
This page has a basic overview of different methods of divination as well as LINKS to sites that can give you more information.  I haven't yet found "the" method for me.  But this will let you know that there is more to divination than just tarot cards.

If you want to check out Tarot, you can go to this section of my site:
 

Tarot 101

 
    Tools for Divination

During my brief time with the craft, it would seem that whenever the subject of divination is brought up, the topic invariably turns to tarot.  That’s great for those to whom the cards call, but for the most part my two decks are cold and don’t want to play.  So what’s a witch to do?

Luckily for me, there are a variety of other methods for divination. Those other methods include the use of a crystal ball, a scrying mirror, the ouija board, runes, pendulums, dowsing rod, palm reading, astrology, numerology, or I-ching.  (Oh, just a bit of advise that I was given regarding the ouija board - ‘Ouija board bad; don’t play!’)

So, what is divination?  According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, divination is "the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers."  This definition also includes "unusual insight : intuitive perception."

In our practices, we seek to understand the mysteries.  Because they are shrouded in shadows and not clear to the human mind, we use the art of divination to help us understand our place in the universe and to divine not only the future but the past as well.  That divination works is well documented.  But how it works, well, that requires belief.

Divination (and its tools) falls into several broad categories.  These categories are cartomancy, crystal gazing, dowsing, geomancy, numerology, palmistry, I-ching, and runes.  (Some sources also include hand writing analysis and dream interpretation as additional divination tools.)  Numerology and palmistry are self-explanatory, so I’ll briefly discuss the other categories.

Cartomancy is divination through cards.  These are any cards from a tarot deck to an ordinary deck of cards.  There are also gypsy fortune telling decks.  (I have a gypsy deck made in the early 1900’s.)  Tarot decks are different from the other decks in that there are more cards.  Divination is made by interpreting the cards both from the information on the card as well as it’s placement in the spread.

Crystal gazing does include the use of a crystal ball, but it also includes scrying mirrors.  Another crystal gazing method involves the use of water either in a dark container or in which ink has been added to the water.  And while not involving the use of either a crystal source or water, the reading of smoke or flame is also included here because the divinatory method is the same.  Using gazing, the practitioner stares at the source, relaxes the mind, and allows images to flow.

We’ve all heard stories about the dowser who locates water using a forked stick.  Dowsing can also been done using a map rather than actually walking the area.  In addition, dowsing is an excellent divination tool for yes and no questions.  Besides the use of a stick, dowsing can also be done using a pendulum or a very thin and springy metal rod.  The direction of the swing (pendulum) or the bend (rod) will determine the answer.

Geomancy is using the earth for divination purposes, such as through stones.  However, this category also covers astrology by helping to uncover the hidden forces acting upon our subconscious.  Using this method, you could say that the future has, in fact, been cast in stone.

I-Ching is a divination tool over 5000 years old.  To use this method, the practitioner tosses three chips, sticks, or coins to determine a pattern.  This is repeated six times to create the hexagram.  Each combination has a specific meaning attached to it.  I-Ching is used as a method to evaluate how you are currently interacting with the world around you.  Unlike the other divinatory methods, if you don’t like the reading you can always throw again.

Rune sets are the art of divination through the use of stones, wood, or ceramic squares.  While many rune sets use the letters of an ancient Scandinavian language, rune sets also are available using Celtic runes as well as the Hebrew alphabet.  Unlike the casting of I-Ching, the runes inter-relate to each other in the method cast.  A rune reading can be as simple as drawing a single rune for a daily interpretation to a layout as elaborate as any tarot spread.

So there you have it - divination methods at a glance.  As to whether any of this will help you, only the future will tell.  Read into that what you will.

© 2000 Mother
 
 
 

  Online Sites:  
 

   Astrology, tarot, runes, I-Ching, numerology
 

  Free tarot readings, biorythms, runes, and other things

 

All you need to know about astrology
 

Information about crystal divination
 

Information about gypsy runes
 

Information about a number of divination methods
 
 

© 2000, 2001 Mother