Ceroscopy/Carromancy (Wax Scrying)🕯🔮
I'm looking at a different type of divination that I don't see much about here that I use every once in a while. Ceroscopy (or sometimes also known as Carromancy or "wax scrying") is interpreting symbols, images or letters in melted wax that gets dripped and cooled in a bowl of cold water.
I don't use this type of divination often but it is handy to use when you want answers that aren't just yes or no to a few questions of the same subject (e.g: Relationships, Career, etc)
Ceroscopy is a bit more tricky than tarot and pendulum work, as the interpretation of the answers rely on you to make them out. There's no strict guide like with Tarot cards for what shapes the wax make, it's entirely based on your intuition. However, the symbols should make sense to you (e.g: You may ask "Am I going to fall in love this year?", the wax may make the shape of a heart, it may make a figurine of two people, it may make out a figurine of just one person, etc). So how do you go about it?
An Unscented Candle (You can use white but colour can matter, I used red in my last reading as that session was about my romantic relationships, past and present. It depends on the subject of the reading. You can also either use a pillar or a candlestick.)
I used Moon Water but any water, so long as it's cold, will work.
Incense (Not necessary but an incense scent that's aligned with the subject of the reading can help relax or enhance the reading. I used rose incense for this session about relationships, you get the idea)
A notebook (To write down your questions and the answers as thoughts can come and go quickly)
I recommend cleansing the space and your supplies (Candle, water and bowl) thoroughly before you cast your circle, put up wards, whatever pre-ritual tasks you need to do for protection. Cleansing will make sure nothing impacts the answers.
Depending on the type of candle, with pillar candles, light it and wait for a pool of wax big enough to use. This may take about 10 to 15 minutes with a pillar candle. Use this time to meditate and achieve a clear state of mind before the reading and to wrote down your questions. With candlesticks you don't have to wait for the wax to melt but do meditate beforehand.
When you think you've gotten enough wax, snuff the pillar candle out and pick it up. Ask your question just like you would using tarot or a pendulm and continue to think about the question as you pour the wax into the water. Don't go too fast, especially if you're looking for letters, but don't go too slow either, allow the wax to half drip/half pour. With a candlestick turn it sideways over the water and it will drip on it's own.
Allow the wax to cool and harden before interpreting the symbols in it. Look at the shapes and see what the wax has formed, your intuition will begin to pick out shapes, objects, numbers or letters within the wax drippings. Don't be afraid to pick it up and examine underneath too as there may be more symbols there. Write down your thoughts as they come, review them once they've stopped to see how your answer fits together.
Dispose of the wax or repurpose it (use it for wax seals, add a scent to it for an oil burner, etc), dispose of the water outside in the garden or use it to water plants. Waste not, want not.
End the session and cleanse once more, do what you would usually do at the end of divination sesh or ritual.
An example of some shapes the wax makes/looks like:
In response to the question: "Show me the first letter of the first name of my future wife/partner?"
In response to "How do I maintain my current relationship as it's going/what can I do to improve it?"
I interpreted this as opening up, as it looks like a person stretching and that's an issue I've been struggling with for a long time but have been slowly getting better at the past year.
The last one I'm showing is "Are there any issues that may affect my relationships I should be worried about in the next year?"
An 'a', the wax here came out darker than the last few answers despite using the same red candle, which I'm not exactly thrilled about as I know what the answer probably is and the implication of it.
Those are just some examples of the answers I got in this session and honestly it's pretty on point, the answers made sense to me.
I honestly enjoy Ceroscopy whenever I do use it, it's always a relaxing experience. It is a nice method to use if you want to try something different from Tarot or using a Pendulum or are looking to better your interpretation skills/sharpen your intuition. I haven't seen it practiced much or seen many posts about it as it seems pretty obscure but hopefully that may change and other witches may give it a go. Happy scrying!
janainaart
turnnoffyourmind
dailybridgerton
jbbartram-illu
andulkaphoto
annaxmalina
