I Have Seen The Future, Darlings

[lavender-ecstasy]

☽MODERN WITCHES;☾- DIVINATION

[thisissadcat]

Always wanted to give drawing these a try. I am a ratty myself. What animal are you?

Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960

Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961

Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962

Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963

Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964

Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965

Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966

Sheep/Goat/Ram: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967

Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968

Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969

Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970

Boar/Pig: 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971

[metaf]

[satinsouled]

Divination: Introduction

DIVINATION

The attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occult, standardized process or ritual.

Can be seen as a systematic method with which to organize what appear to be disjointed, random facets of existence such that they provide insight into a problem at hand.

There are multiple methods of divination.

Divination is not exactly fortune-telling.

Divination has a more formal or ritualistic element and often contains a more social character. Fortune-telling, on the other hand, is a more everyday practice for personal purposes.

Particular divination methods vary by culture and religion.

[witchiism]

Master List of Ways to Tell Fortunes

Alectromancy: by observation of a rooster pecking at grain

Astrology: by the movements of celestial bodies.

Astromancy: by the stars.

Augury: by the flight of birds.

Bazi or four pillars: by hour, day, month, and year of birth.

Bibliomancy: by books; frequently, but not always, religious texts.

Cartomancy: by playing cards, tarot cards, or oracle cards.

Ceromancy: by patterns in melting or dripping wax.

Cheiromancy: by the shape of the hands and lines in the palms.

Chronomancy: by determination of lucky and unlucky days.

Clairvoyance: by spiritual vision or inner sight.

Cleromancy: by casting of lots, or casting bones or stones.

Cold reading: by using visual and aural clues.

Crystallomancy: by crystal ball also called scrying.

Extispicy: by the entrails of animals.

Face Reading: by means of variations in face and head shape.

Feng shui: by earthen harmony.

Gastromancy: by stomach-based ventriloquism (historically).

Geomancy: by markings in the ground, sand, earth, or soil.

Haruspicy: by the livers of sacrificed animals.

Horary astrology: the astrology of the time the question was asked.

Hydromancy: by water.

I Ching divination: by yarrow stalks or coins and the I Ching.

Kau cim by means of numbered bamboo sticks shaken from a tube.

Lithomancy: by stones or gems.

Necromancy: by the dead, or by spirits or souls of the dead.

Numerology: by numbers.

Oneiromancy: by dreams.

Onomancy: by names.

Palmistry: by lines and mounds on the hand.

Parrot astrology: by parakeets picking up fortune cards

Paper fortune teller: origami used in fortune-telling games

Pendulum reading: by the movements of a suspended object.

Pyromancy: by gazing into fire.

Rhabdomancy: divination by rods.

Runecasting or Runic divination: by runes.

Scrying: by looking at or into reflective objects.

Spirit board: by planchette or talking board.

Taromancy: by a form of cartomancy using tarot cards.

Tasseography or tasseomancy: by tea leaves or coffee grounds.

[satinsouled]

Divination: Astrology

Astrology

A form divination using celestial bodies: the sun, moon, planets, and stars.

In the West, astrology most often consists of a system of horoscopes purporting to explain aspects of a person’s personality and predict future events in their life based on the positions of the sun, moon, and other celestial objects at the time of their birth. The majority of professional astrologers rely on such systems.

Sun, Moon, and Rising Signs

Sun

This sign is what most people know without a doubt.

It is usually the most obvious part of the personality and is the conscious self. It is the behavior that one is most comfortable with, as well as the every, fair-weather self.

Moon

The Moon sign reveals your inner self.

It can give insight into the way you deal with your emotions and fears; it can also give insight into the ways you love and feel. It also governs your moods.

You moon sign can make itself known in your intimate relationships. It can determine how you love and whether or not love is important to you - it can even play a role in the type of people you are attracted to.

To calculate your moon sign, you can visit a website calculator or consult a book. (One that I know is highly recommended is “The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need”.) Also, I recommend this website calculator. It appears to be fairly accurate.

Rising

This is also known as the Ascendant sign.

It represents the way others see you, your general impressions on other people, and your spontaneous reactions. It reflects the Zodiacal sign that was ascending on the eastern horizon the moment you were born.

Upon meeting you, people will interact with your rising sign. Your rising sign is VERY outward, and it can even influence your physical characteristics and mannerisms.

It also represents the environment you were born into, and it reflects your childhood and upbringing. If you were conditioned to present yourself as something contrary to who you actually are, your ascendant can function as a shield that obfuscates your real nature. In fact, many astrologers view the rising as a mask. Here’s an easy rising sign calculator.

Interpreting a Birth Chart

The most important thing to remember while interpreting any birth chart is synthesis.

The whole chart should be taken as a whole. A natal chart abounds with bits and pieces of information about an individual. Each separate bit must be synthesized into one whole picture of the person.

So, basically, you cannot take one piece of the chart and decide it defines the entire person.

For example:

Say that two individuals both have Mercury in Sagittarius mean something of a “big mouth”). You could say that both individuals are “outspoken”. But, say the first person has the Sun in Capricorn, and the second person has the Sun in Sagittarius. While they both have Mercury in Sagittarius, the first person (Sun in Capricon) would have a much more reserved communicate style than the second person.

In order to really get into astronomy, there are multiple steps that are recommended to take, and I will not get into those unless specifically asked, or if I, myself, take a hard interest in the subject. Feel free to do further research on your own.

[satinsouled]

Divination: Symbolism

A

Acorn: youth; strength; man; small start for a large accomplishment Airplane: travel; new projects Anchor: voyage; rest; problem solved Arrow: news; disagreements; direct action

B

Baby: new interests; security; new beginnings Basket: gift; security; comfort Bees [hive, comb]: fertility; industry; community; self-sacrifice Bell: celebrations; news (good or bad depending on other indicators) Bird: psychic power; flight; luck; friendship end; communication Boat: discoveries; travel; companionship Book: wisdom; learning Bottle: celebration; success Bridge: crossing to new endeavors; transition; partnership; travel Broom: Goddess; purification; healing; end of a problem; changes Butterfly: the soul; spiritual contact; frivolity; insincerity

C

Cage: isolation; restriction; imprisonment; containment Camel: long journey; need to conserve energy or goods; relocation Car: local travel; movement in business affairs; overcome obstacles Castle: financial gain; security; inheritance; life of bounty Cat: wisdom; spiritual access; female friend; domestic strife Cauldron: Goddess; transformation; endings/new beginnings; vitality Candle: illumination; innovation; inspiration Chair: relaxation; pause; comfort; entertainment Clock: time indicated for a spell’s completion; change Clouds: mental activity; thoughtfulness; problems; hidden obstacles Clover: good fortune; success; rural location Coffin: end of a matter; lengthy but not serious illness Cornucopia: Goddess; abundance; fertility; prosperity; protection Cow: money; property; comfort; tranquility Cradle: newcomers; beginning of a new idea or project Crescent: Goddess; wish granted; newness; freshness Cross: [Solar] God; nature works with power [Roman]; suffering; conflict Cup: love; harmony; close friendship; gift

D

Dagger: complications, dangers, power, skill Death / Dying: birth; marriage; long life; prosperity Distaff: creativity; changes; sexuality Dog: fidelity; friendship; companionship; faithfulness Duck: plenty; wealth; success

E

Egg: increase; fertility; luck; creativity; new start; hoarding Elephant: advice needed; obstacles overcome; good luck Eye: introspection; awareness; evaluation; spirit

F

Fan: indiscretion; disloyalty; things hidden; inflammations Fish: riches; luck; sexuality; productivity Flag:  warning; defensiveness; identification w/ group / ideals Flame / Fire: purification; change; domination of the will Flower: marriage; unhappy love affair; passing joy

G

Gate: opportunity; advancements; change; new directions Glove: protection; luck; aloofness; nobility; challenge Gun [any type]: power to gain goals; discord; slander; infidelity

H

Hammer: hard work rewarded; building; creativity; fortitude Hat: honors; rivalry; independence; self-assertion Harp: contentment; spirituality Heart: love; pleasure; confidence; strength of will Horns: God; fertility; spirituality; forces of nature Horse: travel; strength; work; grace; power; success; prosperity Horseshoe: protection; luck; start of a new enterprise Hound: advice; help given; companionship; trust Hourglass: caution; passage of time House: security; authority; success; comfort

K

Key: understanding; mysteries; opportunity; gain; security Kite: warning for caution; new ideas; plans made public Knife: duplicity; misunderstanding; direct action Knot: restrictions; marriage; bindings

L

Ladder: initiation; rise or fall in status; connections Lion: power; strength; influence; ferocity; pride; domination Lock: protection; concealment; security; obstacles; sealed

M

Man: visitor; helpful stranger Mirror: reversal; knowledge; Karma Moon: Goddess; intuitive wisdom; guidance Mountain: hindrance; challenge; obstacle; journey; steadfastness Mouse: poverty; theft; frugality; inconspicuousness Mushroom: shelter; food; business complications; Fairy contact

N

Nail: labor; construction; pain; unity

O

Owl: wisdom; spiritual communication

P

Palm Tree: respite; relief; security; protection; blessings Parrot: gossip; ostentatiousness Peacock: [all with little foundation] luxury; vanity; arrogance Pineapple: hospitality; good things hidden by harsh exterior Pipe: truth obscured; concentration; comfort; ease Purse: monetary gain; possessions kept close

R

Ring: eternity; containment; wheel of life / year; wedding Rose: love; lost or past love; fullness of life; healing; caring

S

Salt: purity; stability; cleansing; grounding Scales: balance; justice; careful evaluation Scissors: duplicity; arguments; separation; division; strife Shell: Goddess; emotional stability; luck; artistic ability Ship: travel; news; material gains; romance Skull: consolation; comfort; personal hurts; endings and a new life Snake: God and Goddess; wisdom; immortality; knowledge; prophecy Spider: good luck; industry; entrapment; secrecy; cunning Spoon: luck; sustenance; the basic needs of life secured Star: good luck; divine protection; opportunity; success; destiny Sun: God; success; energy; power Swan: good luck; love; evolving beauty; noble spirit Sword: power; strife; conflict; overcoming adversity

T

Tree: blessings of Nature; good fortune; stability; power; security Turtle: fertility; security; defense against obstacles; slow gains

U

Umbrella: temporary shelter; limited protection Unicorn: purity; nature; Fairy blessings; Otherworld intervention

W

Well: blessing from the Goddess; inspiration; spirituality; health Wheel: completion; eternity; season / life cycles; rebirth; gains Windmill: business dealings; factors workings together for one goal

Let me know if I miss anything or there are any errors!

[all-ths-nerd-shit]

Black Shuck

Black Shuck, Old Shuck, Old Shock or simply Shuck is the name given to a ghostly black dog which is said to roam the coastline and countryside of East Anglia. Accounts of the animal form part of the folklore of Norfolk, Suffolk, the Cambridgeshire fens and Essex.

The name Shuck may derive from the Old English word scucca meaning “demon”, or possibly from the local dialect word shucky meaning “shaggy” or “hairy”.

Black Shuck is one of many ghostly black dogs recorded across the British Isles. Sometimes recorded as an omen of death, sometimes a more companionable animal, it is classified as a cryptid, and there are varying accounts of the animal’s appearance. Writing in 1877, Walter Rye stated that Shuck was “the most curious of our local apparitions, as they are no doubt varieties of the same animal.

Its alleged appearance in 1577 at Bungay and Blythburgh is a particularly famous account of the beast, and images of black sinister dogs have become part of the iconography of the area and have appeared in popular culture.

Folklore

For centuries, inhabitants of England have told tales of a large black dog with malevolent flaming eyes (or in some variants of the legend a single eye) that are red or alternatively green. They are described as being ‘like saucers’. According to reports, the beast varies in size and stature from that of simply a large dog to being the size of a calf or even a horse. Sometimes Black Shuck is recorded as having appeared headless, and at other times as floating on a carpet of mist.

According to folklore, the spectre haunts the landscapes of East Anglia, primarily coastline, graveyards, sideroads, crossroads, bodies of water and dark forests. W. A. Dutt, in his 1901 Highways & Byways in East Anglia describes the creature thus:

Keep reading

[soul-service]

DOPPELGÄNGER

In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger (German “double walker”) is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune. In modern vernacular it is any double or look-alike of a person. It also describes the sensation of having glimpsed oneself in peripheral vision, in a position where there is no chance that it could have been a reflection. Doppelgängers often are perceived as a sinister form of bilocation and are regarded by some to be harbingers of bad luck. In some traditions, a doppelgänger seen by a person’s friends or relatives portends illness or danger, while seeing one’s own doppelgänger is an omen of death. In Norse mythology, a vardøger is a ghostly double who precedes a living person and is seen performing their actions in advance. In Finnish mythology, this is called having an etiäinen, i.e., “a firstcomer”. In Ancient Egyptian mythology, a ka was a tangible “spirit double” having the same memories and feeling as the original person. In one Egyptian myth titled “The Greek Princess,” an Egyptian view of the Trojan War, a ka of Helen was used to mislead Paris of Troy, helping to stop the war. In some myths, the doppelgänger is a version of the Ankou, a personification of death. One of the individual or object is said to be, or appears to be, located in two distinct places at the same instant in time.

Beware.

[themonsterblogofmonsters]

Black Shuck

Generally agreed to be the East Anglian (most specifically from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex) form of the well-known, ominous hound called the Grim, the Black Shuck, like the Grim, has not yet been wholly verified as a true creature, and is often believed to be either a wandering variant of one of the verified breeds (such as Cu-Sith, Gurt Hounds, Gwyllgi and so on) or simply a mirage which brings on a psychosomatic response due to the numerous rumours of death surrounding the creature.

Many of the rumours surrounding the creature include reports from muggles (usually of a large black hound with shaggy fur and red eyes) and prefers to prowl along the East Anglian coastline, the woods there, graveyards (much like Church Grims) crossroads and sideroads and little used lanes. On rare occasions sightings of the dog may be benevolent, such as the sightings reported on the Isle or Mersea, however this is exceptionally unusual and generally sightings of Black Shucks are considered ill-omens.

Ultimately little is known about the Black Shuck, and whether it is even real, or even distinct from other Black Dogs, is uncertain, and magizoologists generally consider it a magi-cryptid, in much the same way as Wolpertingers are.

Black Dog by Emryswolf

(Read more about the folkloric Black Shuck Here. I hate that I have to include this but PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THE IMAGE SOURCE OR MY CAPTION.)

[strangeaccounts]

The Black Shuck An Old Norfolk Saying… “And a dreadful thing from the cliff did spring, And its wild bark thrill’d around, His eyes had the glow of the fires below, Twas the form of the Spectre Hound.” There are so many myths, tales, legends and sighting’s of this fearsome apparition that it is hard to know where to begin. Black Shuck is said to be one of the oldest phantoms of Great Britain, with the name deriving from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘scucca’, meaning demon or devil. Other historians say that the hound has its origins in Norse mythology, based on Odin and Thor’s huge dog of war 'Shukir’. Local legend tells of a huge hound, the size of a small calf with blazing eyes, who regularly prowls the coastal path between Sheringham and Overstrand. Unsuspecting night walkers would first become aware of the padding sound of the hound’s heavy paws. Out of the corner of their eye they may see a gathering darkness slowly forms into the outline of a huge hound. Lurking in the night shadows, the beast is said to track the steps of its victim, drawing ever closer. Anyone unfortunate enough to turn around and meet its fiery gaze is said to die within a twelve month period. The Black Shuck has had many documented sightings. In 1890 a young boy was rescued from the North Sea who told of being forced to swim further and further from the shore by a huge black dog who had chased him into the sea. Even during the 1920’s and 1930’s there were reports from the fishermen of Sheringham, of hearing a hound howling on the cliff tops during stormy nights. As recently as 1970 a sighting of Black Shuck made the headlines, when a huge hound was seen pounding over the beach at Great Yarmouth. In 1980, a young woman claimed to have met the hell hound whilst out walking with her young son. This sighting took place near Wisbeach, though the woman said that this hound had yellow eyes rather than red, but all of the other details were the same as that of Black Shuck. Mythology says that 'ghost dogs’ tend to haunt old straight roads which may be located on 'Leylines’, ancient straight paths of invisible earth energy.  Folklore says that churches would be sited on these straight lines and would be used by spirits who would travel along them from graveyard to graveyard. These were sometimes known as 'Corpse Ways’.

[fuckyeahmythologicalbeasts-blog]

Banshee

The banshee is a haunting, ghost like female spirit found in some Celtic Mythologies. The name originates in Irish Gaelic bean si, meaning “woman of the sidhe” or “woman of the fairy mounds”. Similar creatures are found in Welsh, Norse, and American folklore and legends.

The banshee is viewed usually as an omen of death, or a messenger from the Otherworld. According to legend, the banshee is a fairy-like woman, who screams and wails in the night when someone near is about to die. Tales vary, such as claiming that one who hears the banshee’s cry for three nights will surely die. In Scottish tales, the banshee may be seen washing the blood stained clothing or armor of those who are near their death. Some families are believed to have banshees bound to them, whose cries foretell the death of certain members.

She may appear as a dreadful, and frightening looking old hag, or a stunning young woman, whichever suits her. However, in some Irish tales, she is said to either resemble or be the Morrigan; a representative of battle, with deity-like reverence. Most often, the banshee is described as being dressed in white or grey, with long hair that they brush with a silver comb, though, accounts of other appearances exist. 

Some tales liken her to a funeral keener; young women who would sing laments at funerals. Others, compare her to a specific murdered woman, or a grieving mother who died in childbirth. The cry of the banshee has been described in many ways, from a low, and pleasant singing, to a thin, and terrible screeching the likes of which could shatter glass.

Similar creatures to the banshee are the Welsh “Hag of the Mist”, the Scottish bean nighe, and the Norse Fylgja. Sightings of the banshee, or similar beings, have also been reported in several places in America, around the late 18th century, particularly in North Carolina, and South Dakota. 

[pretty-lavinia]

Scottish Ghosts: Phantom Funerals

Phantom funerals, causing surprise and distress to those who witness them, are relatively common supernatural occurrences. Sometimes, reports of such occurrences record the witness as having merely seen and heard such a ghostly procession. However, there are stories of people who have been pushed aside in the roadway as the phantom mourners made their way past. To witness such an event is never a good sign.

One story of a phantom funeral comes from the fishing town of Wick in the north of Scotland. The story tells how a crofter from Wick was visited every year by his cousin, who was a fisherman and came to the port for the herring run. While his fishing boat was based as Wick, he would spend his spare time at the crofter’s house. The two men got along famously in spite of their different lifestyles.

One particular year, the fisherman was preparing to set sail for home after a successful season with the herring fishing. His cousin, although not a fisherman, still had a healthy respect for the sea, and his farming experience had given him a keen eye for the weather. He felt that the weather was about to take a turn for the worse, and urged the fisherman to stay a little longer in Wick. His time there had shown him a healthy profit – what was the hurry?

Keep reading

[thecunningwife]

Omens are everywhere in this world. You just have to find the one that fits.

Terry Pratchett, I Shall Wear Midnight

I think about this all the time.

(via thecunningwife)

[vulpineseer]

Lucky Omens ✦

source:Encyclopedia of Superstitions and Folklore (1960)

[clevergirlhelps]

Death and Bad Luck Omens

Death Omens

A picture that falls off the wall for no reason (especially if the glass cracks)

Clocks that stop

Clocks that fail to chime

Seeing a falling star

Dreaming of muddy water

The first lamb of the year is black

A bird flying into the window and dying

A mirror that breaks while still on the wall

A cat that leaves a home and will not re-enter it

A bird pecking at a window

Seeing the Wild Hunt

Seeing a lone fox near your home

A bird flying down the chimney

Seeing the apparition of a living person (doppelganger)

Seeing a woman in white

Saying a dead person’s name while you are ill

Dogs howling at an open door

An owl seen during the daytime

Hearing a mournful cry or howl (possibly that of a banshee)

Hearing horse hooves or a carriage outside where none exist

Seeing a black dog (possibly with glowing eyes)

An owl looking through the window

An owl flies around the house three times

A single crow or raven perched on the house

A cow lifting its head to smell the air

Seeing the new moon through glass

Hearing the Death Watch Beetle in your home

Spook lights or corpse lights (the home seems to be illuminated)

Seeing a ghost funeral

The light going out at dinner

Left eye twitches

A white moth in or attempting to enter a house

A wild bird gets into your house

Hearing knocks when no one is at the door

A healthy plant that withers and dies for no reason

Hearing bells in your ears (might herald another’s death)

Dreaming of a wedding or birth

Hearing three knocks

Dreaming of falling (you will die in your sleep)

Keep reading

[erzuliestyle-blog]

tasseomancy/tasseography/tassology

reading tea leaves