Lithomancy is divination by the casting of stones.
This can be done in many ways. You need at least one stone that won’t break or chip if dropped (I use small pebbles of different colors). I have also had great success with small stone beads from a bead shop. Try to get stones that are not perfectly round, so they won’t roll.
You can lithomance (?) in many different ways. I will try to explain a few different ways that it can be done.
You can use a casting board if you wish. Four examples are given below. If you don’t want to use a casting board, skip to the section about the stones themselves for ideas of how tointerpret them.
Draw these designs on a piece of paper. I use a custom casting board, with seven concentric circles divided in to the four directions. So the casting board can be very complex if you wish it to be, or it could be quite simple.
If you wish, set your casting board in to a dish that will catch the stones and prevent them from flying away.
1. This is a simple yes/no or “this or that” style board. Write your two options on either side. Cast a single stone and see where it lands. If the stone falls on a line or jumps outside of the casting board, your answer is “could not compute” or “maybe”. Other ideas for this style of board are ‘good/bad’, 'past/present’ (as in, “is this situation ongoing or is it over with?”), and 'yin/yang’.
You may wish to try a board drawn with three parts, leaving one part for your 'maybe’ answer.
2. This is a slightly more complex board which could have many options. You could simply divide your paper up in to as many options as you have, and cast a single stone to choose an option for you.
Consider marking each quarter as one of the four elements or the four seasons. Cast a single stone and interpret where it falls in relation to your question. If you asked, “what will the results of tonight’s party be,” then you could use the elements to interpret how people will feel during the party.
3. This example is divided in to eight parts, but that is just to show how a board could be arranged. In reality a board may have as many or as few sections as you desire. Potential arrangements are the twelve houses of the zodiac, the seven celestial bodies, numbers 0 through 9 (for numerologists), the months of the year, or numbers on a clock.
As with the other boards, cast a stone and see where it lands, then interpret the position.
The more lines you have, the more likely it is that the stone will fall on a line and not in the middle of a section. Instead of reading these line-stones as “void”, I read them specially, indicating that the lines are blurred, that the two sections are joined together, or that there is indecision or confusion in that area.
4. This is simply another example of how to arrange a board. Use as many or as few concentric circles as you like. I use mine to relate to the planetary spheres. In general, I think this type of board works best when the “biggest” option is on the outside, and the “smallest” option is in the middle.
Also consider reading stones in relation to where they fall inside of a section. If a stone falls high or low, or far to one side, it may mean something different than if it falls in the very center.
All of the examples given above can be worked with a single stone. However I think the real fun comes with casting many stones and interpreting all of them. Here are some ideas:
One stone for each section In my board of seven concentric circles, I have seven basic pebbles that I cast, allowing potentially one for each section.
Special indicator stones I use a bright yellow pebble to act as the indicator for the querent. Wherever it falls is the true 'center’ of the board, and all other pebbles are scattered around it. This allows me to determine if the person is well-adjusted (the pebbles are around their indicator) or if their desires are far away from their actions (the pebbles are far away from the indicator).
Use special indicator stones for concepts like, 'the next step’, 'best outcome’, 'worst outcome’, 'opposition’, 'hopes/dreams’, or 'fears’. You can also use certain stones to represent different people, different situations, or even abstract concepts.
Casting stones at different times I cast most of my stones at the same time, but I cast certain indicators after the main spread has been read. Pay special attention if a new stone knocks away an old one (this may require drawing or describing the spread before you cast new stones).
Try experimenting with when you cast stones, and how many you cast at once.
The way the stones are arranged together Suppose you have 10 pebbles. 9 of them are bunched together, and 1 is far away from the rest. This is a strong indicator of something, but that is for you to interpret based on your spread and the meanings of the stones. I read two stones together as one big stone (special significance), but three stones close together in a triangle shape I read as a “knot”, like a blockage of energy. Three stones in a row means fast-moving energy in the direction that they are pointing. Mirror image stones across the board from each other indicate equal balance.
While you are 'teaching the board’ (described below), pay attention to certain groupings and patterns that you see arise. Ascribe special meanings to these patterns.
Stone specifics You can use any type of stone that you prefer. As I said above, I have used stone beads and pebbles. The stones I use are quite small as my casting board is divided in to many small sections. Again, I do not recommend a perfectly round stone as it will roll about.
If you need stones of different colors, try a bead store or mark up the pebbles you have with paint. I do not use color correspondences with my stones, but you may prefer to.
Stones of different sizes can mean things as well. A larger stone can mean 'more serious’ or 'more magnitude’, or even 'blockage of energy.’ Smaller stones could hold less significance.
You can use as many stones as you want. My complete board uses 9 pebbles, but you could use 100 if that is what works for you. The minimum number of stones you need is 1.
I believe the spirits within the stone have an effect on the readings, but if you do not hold this belief, you don’t even need to use stone. Try buttons, rice, pen caps, paper clips, bits of wood, bone, or anything else that suits you. This would not longer count as 'lithomancy’ but it would still be casting of lots.
Teaching the stones and the board
I believe some amount of practice is necessary before the board and the stones can give 'true’ readings. If you don’t believe this is true, just skip this section!
Try holding all the stones in your hand. Explain to them that they will be used in lithomancy, and that each stone has special significance. Explain to each group of stones what their purpose is, and what they will be signifying on the board.
Then, move to the board. Trace the board, imagining that a blue fire trails behind your finger. When you have traced and 'enflamed’ the entire board, touch each section and explain what it means.
This is also where you can practice your physical casting. I hold my stones about 18 inches above the board in my hand or in a special cup, and turn them over the exact center of the board. When I cast the special stones later on, I hold them in the exact same manner. Find a method of physical casting that works for you.
When you have fully explained the concept to your tools, ask a question you know the answer to. Cast the stones and see where they fall. Touch each stone and explain to them that they are either right or wrong, and where they should have fallen. Pay attention to special groupings and make a note of them. If they continue to appear, interpret their meaning and explain to the stones what you interpret that grouping to mean.
My board rapidly improved with a little practice and soon began throwing true for every question I posed. Work with your board until you have a success rate you are satisfied with. If your board seems to not be working, try changing your casting board, the meanings of the stone, or the number of stones you are using. I believe casting boards are best modeled after complete sets of things, such as all four seasons, all the signs of the zodiac, etc. Using incomplete sets can, I believe, make the board not work. So if you mark out say, five options, and the stones won’t throw true, this could mean in reality there is a sixth or seventh option the board is trying to communicate to you.
This is all I have on lithomancy. I hope this was helpful!
