#divination basics

[xo-kosmickisses-xo]

CASTING DIVINATION PART 1: Bones, Charms & Runes

Hello beautiful souls ✨

You hold a collection of objects in your hands. You ask a question. You cast them onto cloth. Where they land, how they fall, which ones touch—this is your answer.

This is casting divination: reading meaning in the patterns created when objects are thrown.

Unlike tarot (where cards have fixed meanings) or pendulums (which give yes/no), casting divination is raw, organic, and endlessly variable. Every throw is unique. The same question asked twice will give different configurations—because the energy shifts, the situation evolves, you change.

Today we're exploring three major casting systems:

Bone reading (osteomancy) - ancient, intuitive, deeply personal

Charm casting (cleromancy) - accessible, customizable, modern

Rune casting - structured, symbolic, rooted in Norse tradition

All three share core principles:

You cast objects

You read patterns, positions, relationships

Interpretation is intuitive + structural

The randomness isn't random

This is Part 1 of a two-part series on interpretive divination. Let's dive in.

THE CORE PRINCIPLE: PATTERN AS MESSAGE

All casting divination works on the same foundation:

1. OBJECTS = SYMBOLS Each item in your set represents something (concept, energy, person, theme).

2. POSITION = CONTEXT Where the object lands matters (near/far, center/edge, upright/fallen).

3. RELATIONSHIPS = MEANING Which objects touch, overlap, or point toward each other creates the reading's narrative.

4. INTUITION + STRUCTURE = INTERPRETATION You use both learned meanings and gut instinct to decode the pattern.

Whether you're throwing bones, charms, or runes, you're reading the language of organized chaos.

BONE READING (OSTEOMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Bone reading is one of the oldest forms of divination—practiced across Africa, Asia, Indigenous Americas, and ancient Europe.

You cast a collection of bones (and often other natural objects) and read their positions, orientations, and relationships.

TRADITIONAL PRACTICE:

African diaspora traditions (particularly Southern African sangomas): Sets include bones from different animals, shells, stones, seeds, coins—each with specific meaning passed down through lineage.

Readings are done in sacred space, often with ancestor invocation.

Asian traditions: Oracle bone divination (China) used heated bones that cracked—cracks were read as messages.

Indigenous practices: Vary widely by tribe/region. Some traditions are closed; approach with respect and research.

MODERN/ECLECTIC PRACTICE:

Many practitioners create personal bone sets using:

Chicken bones (small, accessible, ethical if you eat chicken)

Cleaned bones from meals (beef, pork, fish)

Animal bones found in nature (check local laws about collection)

Craft/replica bones (if you're uncomfortable with real ones)

Shells, stones, seeds as supplementary pieces

Important: If you're working within a specific tradition (like African diaspora practices), seek proper teaching and initiation. We're discussing eclectic/personal bone reading here.

BUILDING A BONE SET:

START SMALL (5-7 PIECES):

Basic set might include:

Vertebra = backbone, support, foundation, alignment

Rib = protection, breath, vitality

Small limb bone = action, movement, direction

Knuckle/joint = connection, flexibility, transition

Tooth = power, aggression, defense, communication

Shell = emotions, femininity, protection, water element

Stone = stability, grounding, permanence, earth element

You assign meanings based on:

The bone's function in the body

What animal it came from (if known)

What it represents to YOU intuitively

EXPAND OVER TIME:

As you practice, add:

More bones (build complexity)

Seeds/pods (growth, potential)

Coins (money, value, exchange)

Glass/crystals (clarity, energy, intention)

Found objects with personal significance

Traditional sets can have 60+ pieces. Start small.

HOW TO CAST BONES:

1. PREPARE YOUR SPACE

Casting cloth (light-colored so bones are visible, 2-3 feet square)

Mark center (optional—some use a circle drawn/sewn in the cloth)

Cleanse space and bones

2. HOLD YOUR QUESTION

Be specific. Hold bones in both hands. Close eyes. Focus on question until you feel ready.

3. CAST

Methods:

Overhead throw: Toss from above your head (traditional, dramatic)

Gentle toss: Release from chest height (more controlled)

Pour: Let bones flow from hands (gentle, less chaos)

Let them land where they land. Don't adjust.

4. OBSERVE BEFORE INTERPRETING

First impression: What jumps out immediately?

Note:

Which bones landed on the cloth (relevant to question)

Which fell off (not relevant, or "not yet")

Clustering (which bones are grouped)

Distance from center (close = immediate, far = distant future/indirect)

Orientation (pointing toward/away, upright/flat)

Touching (these energies are interacting)

5. READ THE PATTERN

Zones (if using marked cloth):

Traditional approach (many African traditions use compass directions):

North: Future, goals, what's ahead

South: Past, foundation, what's behind you

East: New beginnings, birth, rising energy

West: Endings, death, setting energy

Alternative approach:

Center: Present, you, main issue

Near center: Immediate concerns

Edge: Distant future, external influences

Off cloth: Not relevant or blocked

Relationships:

Bones touching = energies connected

Bones pointing at each other = communication, interaction

Bones crossed = conflict, intersection, choice

Bones parallel = harmony, alignment

Isolated bone = standing alone, independent factor

Example Reading:

You cast about a job decision.

Vertebra (foundation) lands center, upright.Small bone (action) lands near it, pointing toward north.Tooth (power/communication) lands in south (past), flat.Shell (emotion) lands far east (new beginning), but off the cloth slightly.

Interpretation: Your foundation/support system is central and solid. Action is needed and it points toward future growth. Past communications or power struggles are resolved (flat = settled). Emotions about new beginnings are present but not fully in play yet (barely off cloth = emerging).

Read: The foundation is there. Take action toward the future. Past conflicts are done. Emotional readiness is coming but not quite here yet.

DEVELOPING YOUR BONE-READING LANGUAGE:

Spend time with your bones:

Hold each piece

Meditate on its energy

Journal what it means to YOU

Cast repeatedly with simple questions

Track accuracy

Your intuitive meaning matters more than any book's definition.

Over time, you'll develop a relationship with your set. You'll know what a certain bone in a certain position means without thinking.

ETHICS & RESPECT:

If using real bones:

Thank the animal (even if it's chicken from the grocery store)

Treat bones with respect—they were once living beings

Cleanse regularly

Store properly (wrapped in cloth, not tossed in a drawer)

If working within closed traditions:

Don't appropriate without permission/training

Acknowledge sources

Don't claim lineage you don't have

CHARM CASTING (CLEROMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Charm casting is the modern, accessible cousin of bone reading.

Instead of bones, you use a collection of small objects (charms, trinkets, beads, stones, dice, buttons—anything meaningful) and cast them to read patterns.

This is the most customizable form of divination. Your set is entirely personal.

WHY CHARM CASTING APPEALS TO MODERN PRACTITIONERS:

No bones needed (good for vegetarians, people uncomfortable with animal parts)

Highly personal (choose items that resonate with YOU)

Accessible (raid your junk drawer, craft store, nature walks)

Evolving (add/remove charms as your life changes)

Instagrammable (let's be honest—pretty charms are more photogenic than bones)

BUILDING A CHARM SET:

CHOOSE 7-15 ITEMS (to start):

Categories to consider:

ELEMENTS:

Feather = air

Stone/crystal = earth

Shell = water

Red bead/charm = fire

Small mirror = spirit

LIFE AREAS:

Key = home, security, unlocking, access

Coin = money, value, exchange

Heart = love, relationships, emotion

Book/page = knowledge, learning, communication

Wheel/gear = career, movement, cycles

PEOPLE:

Crown = authority figure, boss, father

Ring = partnership, commitment, marriage

Baby shoe = children, new beginnings, innocence

Animal figurine = wild card, instinct, pet

ENERGIES:

Dice = chance, risk, gamble, luck

Arrow = direction, focus, goal

Anchor = stability, holding steady, being stuck

Wings = freedom, flight, escape, transcendence

WILDCARDS:

Your own symbols (a charm from your grandmother, a found object, something personally meaningful)

Where to source:

Craft stores (miniature charms in jewelry section)

Dollhouse miniatures

Game pieces (Monopoly tokens work great)

Nature (small stones, shells, seed pods, feathers)

Thrift stores (old jewelry, tchotchkes)

Online (Etsy, Amazon—search "miniature charms")

Make sure items are:

Small enough to cast easily (thumbnail to quarter-sized)

Distinct enough to identify when cast

Meaningful to you (even if the meaning is intuitive, not logical)

HOW TO CAST CHARMS:

Process is nearly identical to bone casting:

Prepare space (casting cloth, cleanse, center)

Hold question (focus while holding charms in hands/bag)

Cast (toss onto cloth)

Observe (what landed, where, how, relationships)

Interpret (use your assigned meanings + intuition)

Example Reading:

Question: "What do I need to know about this new relationship?"

Key (home/security) lands center, uprightHeart (love) lands close to key, touchingDice (chance) lands far north (future)Feather (air/communication) lands west (endings), pointing toward center

Interpretation: Security and love are at the center—this feels stable. There's an element of chance/risk in the future (not bad, just unpredictable). Communication about endings or from the past is relevant—maybe past relationship patterns need discussion.

Read: This relationship has potential for security and genuine love. There's risk ahead (all relationships have this). Address past communication patterns before they sabotage the present.

CHARM CASTING VS. BONE READING:

Similarities:

Same interpretive framework (position, relationship, pattern)

Both highly personal

Both intuitive + structural

Differences:

Charms are symbolic (a tiny key represents security—it's not made from something that was alive)

Bones carry ancestral/animal energy (some practitioners feel this deeply)

Charms are lighter/brighter (aesthetically and energetically)

Bones feel more primal/shamanic; charms feel more witchy/eclectic

Neither is "better." Choose what resonates.

RUNE CASTING

WHAT IT IS:

Runes are the letters of ancient Germanic alphabets (primarily the Elder Futhark—24 symbols).

Each rune is a letter, a sound, AND a symbolic concept.

Rune casting involves throwing marked stones/wood pieces and reading which runes land face-up, their positions, and relationships.

BRIEF HISTORY:

Origin: Scandinavia/Northern Europe, 150-800 CE

Original use: Writing system, not divination (though magical use is ancient)

Modern revival: 20th century (influenced by occultism, Norse revivalism, unfortunately also white supremacist appropriation)

Important: Runes belong to Norse/Germanic cultural heritage. Modern practice should be respectful, not appropriative or tied to racist ideologies.

THE ELDER FUTHARK (24 RUNES):

I'm not listing all 24 here (whole books exist on this), but examples:

Fehu (ᚠ): Wealth, cattle, abundance, mobile resources

Uruz (ᚢ): Aurochs (wild ox), strength, primal force, health

Thurisaz (ᚦ): Thorn, giant, protection, destructive force

Ansuz (ᚨ): God/Odin, communication, divine wisdom, breath

Raidho (ᚱ): Ride/journey, travel, movement, rhythm

Kenaz (ᚲ): Torch, knowledge, illumination, craft

Gebo (ᚷ): Gift, exchange, partnership, balance

Wunjo (ᚹ): Joy, harmony, fellowship, well-being

Each rune has layers:

Letter/sound: Linguistic meaning

Literal meaning: The word it represents (thorn, journey, gift)

Symbolic meaning: Esoteric concepts

Reversed meaning: Some systems read runes differently when upside-down

Study required: You can't effectively cast runes without learning their meanings. This isn't intuitive like bones/charms—it's a structured symbol system.

CREATING A RUNE SET:

MATERIALS:

Traditional:

Wood (especially ash, oak, yew—sacred to Norse tradition)

Carved and burned (or painted)

Modern:

Stones (smooth, flat pebbles—paint or carve runes)

Clay (sculpt, carve, fire)

Crystals (more expensive, energetically charged)

Pre-made sets (widely available online/metaphysical shops)

DIY option: Collect 24 similar-sized stones from a river/beach. Paint runes with permanent marker or acrylic paint. Seal with clear coat.

Consecration: Once made, consecrate your runes (with whatever tradition/ritual feels right—smoke cleansing, moonlight, blood, breath, dedication to Norse gods if you work with them).

HOW TO CAST RUNES:

UNLIKE BONES/CHARMS (where you cast everything), RUNE CASTING HAS OPTIONS:

METHOD 1: SINGLE RUNE DRAW

Simplest. Hold question, draw one rune from bag. That's your answer.

Quick daily guidance, yes/no questions (modified), straightforward answers.

METHOD 2: THREE-RUNE CAST

Draw three runes:

Rune 1: Past/Situation

Rune 2: Present/Challenge

Rune 3: Future/Outcome

Most common method. Good for narrative readings.

METHOD 3: FULL CAST (Multiple Runes Thrown)

Pour/cast multiple runes (5-9 or all 24) onto cloth.

Read only face-up runes (face-down = not relevant to this reading).

Interpret based on:

Which runes appear (themes)

Positions (similar to bone/charm reading—center vs. edge, near vs. far)

Clusters (runes touching = related concepts)

Patterns (do they form a shape?)

This is closest to bone/charm casting method.

METHOD 4: CASTING CLOTH WITH ZONES

Use a cloth divided into sections (past/present/future, or other meaningful divisions).

Cast runes. Where they land determines timing/context.

Example:

Question: "How do I move forward in my career?"

Cast 7 runes. Four land face-up:

Raidho (journey): Center, prominent

Kenaz (knowledge/torch): Near Raidho, touching

Ansuz (communication): North (future), upright

Thurisaz (thorn): South (past), reversed

Interpretation: Journey is central—you're in movement/transition. Knowledge/craft is directly connected to this journey. Future requires communication (maybe teaching, speaking, networking). Past had a destructive force or protection that's now reversed/completed.

Read: You're on a journey of skill-development. Your craft/knowledge is the vehicle. Future success involves communication/sharing what you know. Past obstacles have been overcome—don't let them hold you back.

LEARNING RUNES:

This takes time. You're learning a symbol language.

Steps:

Study one rune per day (24 days minimum)

Meditate on each rune's shape, sound, meaning

Draw the rune repeatedly (embody it through your hand)

Journal personal associations (what does "journey" mean to YOU?)

Practice single-rune daily draws (build familiarity)

Graduate to three-rune spreads

Eventually, full casting

Resources:

The Book of Runes by Ralph Blum (controversial but accessible)

Nordic Runes by Paul Rhys Mountfort (more scholarly)

Runelore by Edred Thorsson (deep dive, Odinic perspective)

Online communities for rune study and discussion.

CULTURAL RESPECT:

Runes come from Norse/Germanic culture.

Respect means:

Study the cultural context (don't just grab symbols divorced from meaning)

Acknowledge the source

Don't mix them carelessly with other closed/specific traditions

Be aware of white supremacist appropriation (Nazi use of runes) and actively distance yourself from that

If you work with Norse gods as part of rune practice, do so respectfully

You don't have to be Scandinavian to use runes, but you should respect where they come from.

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR ALL CASTING METHODS

CREATING YOUR CASTING CLOTH:

SIZE: 2-3 feet square (large enough for patterns, small enough to manage)

MATERIAL: Cotton, silk, velvet (something bones/charms won't bounce off)

COLOR: Light (white, cream, light blue) so items are visible

MARKINGS (optional):

Circle in center

Compass directions marked

Zones drawn/sewn (past/present/future, elements, life areas)

Or leave blank (read intuitively)

CLEANSING YOUR SET:

Regular cleansing keeps energy clear:

Smoke (incense, sage, palo santo)

Moonlight (especially full moon)

Salt (briefly—don't leave bones/some metals in salt long-term)

Sound (bell, singing bowl)

Intention (hold each piece, breathe clean energy into it)

After heavy/difficult readings, cleanse immediately.

STORING YOUR SET:

Bag/pouch (drawstring, fabric)

Box (wooden, lined with cloth)

Keep together (bones/charms/runes should be a set, stored as one)

Respectful location (not tossed in a junk drawer)

PRACTICE EXERCISES:

EXERCISE 1: Daily Single-Item Draw

Each morning, draw/cast one piece. What guidance does it offer for the day?

Journal results. Track accuracy.

EXERCISE 2: Yes/No Simplification

Assign "yes" meanings to some items, "no" to others. Cast for yes/no questions.

Not ideal long-term, but helps beginners build confidence.

EXERCISE 3: Comparison Casting

Ask same question. Cast bones. Note answer.

Ask again. Cast charms (or runes). Note answer.

Do they align? Contradict? Complement?

This develops discernment about which method speaks clearest for which questions.

EXERCISE 4: Pattern Recognition

Cast without a question. Just observe the pattern.

What story does it tell? What do you see?

Trains your eye to read relationships and positions.

WHEN CASTING DIVINATION WORKS BEST

IDEAL FOR:

Complex questions with multiple factors (not just yes/no)

Seeing relationships between life areas (career + love + money + health simultaneously)

Timing questions (using zones for past/present/future)

Visual learners (you SEE the answer laid out spatially)

Kinesthetic practitioners (the act of casting is embodied, not passive)

LESS IDEAL FOR:

Highly specific information ("What day will X happen?")

People who need fixed answers (casting is interpretive, not absolute)

Beginners with no divination experience (might be overwhelmed by complexity)

THE BOTTOM LINE (PART 1)

Casting divination—bones, charms, runes—is reading the language of organized chaos.

You throw objects. They land in patterns. Those patterns contain meaning.

The skill isn't in the throwing. It's in the reading.

Choose your method:

Bones for primal, ancestral, deep work

Charms for personal, accessible, evolving practice

Runes for structured, ancient wisdom, strategic guidance

Or use all three. Different tools for different questions.

Start simple:

Small set (5-10 items)

Clear casting space

Begin with yes/no or simple questions

Build complexity over time

Trust your intuition as much as structure

The randomness isn't random. Your subconscious guides where things land. The universe speaks through pattern. Or both.

Next up: PART 2 - Reading methods (tea leaves, coffee grounds, wax)

These methods don't involve casting—they involve substances that form patterns you then interpret. Different mechanism, similar interpretive skills.

YOUR TURN

Do you practice any casting divination? Which method calls to you?

Have you built a bone, charm, or rune set? What's in it?

What's the most accurate casting reading you've received or given?

Let's discuss. Casting divination is deeply personal—your set, your meanings, your relationship with the practice.

Blessed be 🦴

The bones know. The charms speak. The runes reveal. You just have to learn their language—and trust that when you throw them, they land exactly where they're meant to.

[modernwitchsguidetolife]

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If you’d like to book a reading or just want to chat, you can find me on Instagram, my website, or my Etsy shop!

[thecuriousstarwitch]

I bought a new oracle deck so I’m offering free readings!

Message me if you’re interested 🌿💕✨

[xo-kosmickisses-xo]

READING DIVINATION PART 2: Tea Leaves, Coffee Grounds & Wax

Hello beautiful souls ✨

You drink tea. You tip the cup. Leaves cling to the sides in strange formations. You see a bird, a crescent moon, a path winding toward the rim.

You light a candle. You watch wax drip into cold water. It solidifies into shapes—a figure, a flower, something you can't quite name but feel.

You finish your Turkish coffee. You invert the cup onto the saucer. When you lift it, grounds have painted symbols on porcelain.

This is reading divination: interpreting patterns that substances create naturally.

Unlike casting (Part 1—where you throw objects and read where they land), reading divination involves substances that form, flow, settle, or solidify—and you interpret the shapes they make.

Today we're exploring three traditional methods:

Tea leaf reading (tasseomancy) - the classic, accessible, cozy

Coffee ground reading (caf

eomancy) - bold, intense, culturally rich

Wax reading (ceromancy) - visual, immediate, element of fire

All three share core principles:

Patterns form naturally (through liquid, heat, gravity, chance)

You read shapes, symbols, positioning

Interpretation is part structure, part intuition

The method is intimate (you consume the substance or create it through ritual)

This is Part 2 of our divination series. Let's explore the art of reading what forms in cups, water, and wax.

THE CORE PRINCIPLE: READING WHAT EMERGES

All reading divination works on the same foundation:

1. SUBSTANCE CREATES FORM Through natural processes (settling, cooling, clinging), substances create visual patterns.

2. PAREIDOLIA ACTIVATES Your brain finds recognizable shapes in random patterns (faces, animals, objects, symbols).

3. POSITION MATTERS Where the shape appears (rim, bottom, left, right) adds context.

4. INTUITION + TRADITIONAL MEANINGS = INTERPRETATION You combine learned symbol meanings with your immediate gut response.

Whether you're reading tea, coffee, or wax, you're translating visual pattern into meaningful message.

TEA LEAF READING (TASSEOMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Tasseomancy (or tasseography) is the practice of reading symbols formed by tea leaves left in a cup after drinking.

Origin: Likely China (where tea originated), spread to Middle East and Europe by 17th century. Peak popularity in Victorian England (where it became parlor entertainment).

Why it persists: Accessible, intimate, cozy. You can do this with any loose-leaf tea, any cup, any time.

WHAT YOU NEED:

ESSENTIAL:

Loose-leaf tea (not tea bags—you need loose leaves that can move and settle)

White or light-colored cup (so leaves are visible against the surface)

Saucer

IDEAL:

Wide, shallow teacup (traditional fortune-telling cups have symbols inside—helpful but not required)

Simple black or green tea (herbs/flowers add visual complexity that can confuse readings)

You don't need special equipment. A white mug and any loose tea works.

HOW TO READ TEA LEAVES:

STEP 1: BREW & DRINK

Make tea as normal (loose leaves in hot water, steep).

Don't strain. Pour tea with leaves into cup.

As you drink, hold your question in mind. Sip slowly. Leave about a tablespoon of liquid and all the leaves in the bottom.

STEP 2: SWIRL

Hold cup in your non-dominant hand.

Swirl the cup three times clockwise (or counterclockwise if that feels right to you).

This distributes the leaves and allows them to settle into patterns on the sides and bottom of the cup.

STEP 3: INVERT

Place saucer over the cup. Holding both, flip them over quickly.

Leave inverted for a few seconds (some say count to three, some say wait a full minute—experiment).

The remaining liquid drains onto the saucer, leaving leaves clinging to the cup's interior.

STEP 4: LIFT & OBSERVE

Turn the cup right-side up.

Now you have leaves arranged on the sides and bottom of your cup. This is your reading.

First impression: What do you see immediately? Your first instinct is often most accurate.

STEP 5: INTERPRET SYMBOLS

Look for:

Recognizable shapes (animals, people, objects, letters, numbers)

Abstract patterns (lines, dots, clusters, swirls)

Clear vs. scattered (clear shapes = definite; scattered = unclear situation)

READING THE POSITIONS:

HANDLE = YOU

The handle represents you, the querent. It's your anchor point.

ZONES FROM HANDLE:

NEAR HANDLE: Close to you, immediate present, personal OPPOSITE HANDLE: Distant, future, external forces, other people TO THE LEFT OF HANDLE: Past, what's behind you TO THE RIGHT OF HANDLE: Future, what's approaching

VERTICAL ZONES:

RIM: Immediate future, near events, surface issues MIDDLE: Medium-term future (weeks to months), deeper issues BOTTOM: Distant future (months to years), deepest subconscious, foundation

Example:

A bird shape near the handle at the rim = message or news arriving soon, directly affecting you

A bird at the bottom opposite the handle = distant communication, or freedom that will come later through external factors

COMMON TEA LEAF SYMBOLS & MEANINGS:

I'm giving traditional meanings—but YOUR interpretation matters most.

ANIMALS:

Bird: News, messages, freedom, spiritual messenger

Cat: Independence, mystery, feminine power, deception

Dog: Loyalty, friendship, protection, trust

Fish: Abundance, fertility, emotional depth, going with flow

Snake: Transformation, healing, betrayal, wisdom

Horse: Journey, strength, power, movement

OBJECTS:

Key: Solution, opportunity, unlocking, access

Knife: Cutting ties, surgery, sharp words, severing

Ring: Commitment, marriage, cycle completing, partnership

House: Security, family, home life, foundation

Boat: Journey over water (emotional journey), transition

Crown: Success, authority, recognition, achievement

NATURAL FORMS:

Tree: Growth, family tree, branching paths, stability

Flower: Love, beauty, blooming, new relationship

Mountain: Obstacle, challenge, goal, achievement

Star: Hope, guidance, wishes, destiny

Moon: Intuition, feminine, cycles, hidden things

Sun: Success, vitality, clarity, masculine energy

ABSTRACT:

Straight line: Clear path, journey, direct communication

Wavy line: Uncertainty, emotional ups/downs, water element

Circle: Completion, wholeness, protection, cycle

Triangle: Stability (point up), instability (point down), trinity

Cross: Burden, sacrifice, intersection of paths, choice

Dots/specks: Money, messages, small matters

LETTERS & NUMBERS:

Letters: Often initials of people relevant to the reading

Numbers: Timeframes (days, weeks, months), quantities, dates

READING TIPS:

DON'T FORCE IT

If you're staring hard trying to see something, you're projecting, not receiving. Soft focus, open mind.

MULTIPLE INTERPRETATIONS

One clump of leaves might look like a bird to you, a fish to someone else. Both could be valid. What does your gut say?

TELL A STORY

Don't read symbols in isolation. Create a narrative from the whole cup.

"I see a bird (message) near the handle at the rim (coming soon, directly to me), and a ring (commitment) at the bottom opposite (distant future, through someone else). A tree (growth/stability) is between them."

Story: A message is coming that will lead to long-term commitment, but there's growth and time needed first.

TIMING IS RELATIVE

"Rim = soon" might mean tomorrow or next week depending on the question. Use your intuition.

COFFEE GROUND READING (CAFEOMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Cafeomancy (or cledonomancy) is reading symbols in coffee grounds.

Cultural roots: Middle East, Balkans, Eastern Europe—anywhere Turkish coffee is traditional.

Why it differs from tea: Coffee grounds are denser, darker, create bolder patterns. The reading feels more intense, dramatic.

WHAT YOU NEED:

ESSENTIAL:

Turkish/Greek coffee (finely ground, almost powder—this is crucial)

Small cup (demitasse or Turkish coffee cup—white interior ideal)

Saucer

You CANNOT use regular drip coffee or French press. The grounds must be fine enough to create patterns.

HOW TO MAKE TURKISH COFFEE FOR READING:

TRADITIONAL METHOD:

Use a cezve/ibrik (small pot with long handle) or small saucepan

Add cold water (about 2 oz per serving)

Add 1-2 teaspoons finely ground coffee per serving

Add sugar if desired (optional)

Do not stir after it starts heating

Heat slowly over low heat

When foam rises to the top (before boiling), remove from heat

Let foam settle, return to heat

Repeat 2-3 times

Pour into cup (grounds and all)

Let grounds settle for a moment before drinking.

HOW TO READ COFFEE GROUNDS:

STEP 1: DRINK

Drink the coffee slowly, holding your question. Leave about a tablespoon of liquid at the bottom with all the grounds.

STEP 2: SWIRL & WISH

Swirl the cup three times (some traditions say make a wish or state your question aloud while swirling).

STEP 3: INVERT

Place saucer over cup, flip upside down.

Some traditions say:

Place a coin or ring on top of the inverted cup (for luck/sealing the reading)

Let it sit until cup is cool to touch (3-5 minutes)

This allows grounds to slide down the sides and create patterns.

STEP 4: LIFT & READ

Turn cup right-side up carefully.

Grounds will have created patterns on:

Interior walls of the cup

Bottom of the cup

Sometimes the saucer (some readers interpret this separately)

STEP 5: INTERPRET

Similar to tea reading, but:

Coffee patterns tend to be:

Bolder (darker, more defined)

More abstract (less specific shapes, more impressionistic)

Dramatic (coffee readings often feel more intense than tea)

Handle still represents you.

Zones are the same:

Rim = immediate

Middle = medium-term

Bottom = distant/deep

But coffee readers also look at:

TEXTURE:

Heavy, thick grounds: Burden, weight, seriousness

Light, scattered: Clarity, lightness, freedom

Clumped: Obstacles, stuck energy, gathering

FLOW PATTERNS:

Drips running down: Tears, release, things flowing away

Pools at bottom: Accumulation, stagnation, foundation

LIGHT VS. DARK:

Dark patches: Mystery, unknown, shadow

Light areas (exposed cup): Clarity, revelation, emptiness

CULTURAL READING TRADITIONS:

Turkish/Greek coffee reading is a social practice:

Often done for friends/family

Reader sits with querent

Interpretation is conversational ("What does this look like to you? What does it remind you of?")

Not solitary like tea reading often is.

If you're learning from these traditions, learn the cultural context—don't just extract the technique.

WAX READING (CEROMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Ceromancy is reading shapes formed when hot wax is dripped into cold water.

Cultural roots: Ancient (Greece, Rome), practiced across Europe, particularly strong in Germanic, Slavic, and Scandinavian folk traditions.

Why it's different: You're reading a physical object (solidified wax) rather than residue in a cup. The reading is immediate and tangible.

WHAT YOU NEED:

ESSENTIAL:

Candle (any color—choose color for its symbolic meaning if desired)

Bowl of cold water (clear glass or white bowl so you can see wax clearly)

Matches/lighter

OPTIONAL:

Different colored candles for different question types

Ice water (makes wax solidify faster/more dramatically)

HOW TO READ WAX:

STEP 1: PREPARE

Fill bowl with cold water (add ice if you want faster solidification).

Light candle. Hold your question clearly in mind.

STEP 2: DRIP OR POUR

METHOD 1: SLOW DRIP

Tilt burning candle over water. Let wax drip slowly, drop by drop.

Watch shapes form in the water and on the surface.

METHOD 2: FULL POUR

Let candle burn for several minutes until you have a good pool of melted wax at the top.

Pour the entire pool into the water at once.

This creates more dramatic, complex shapes.

STEP 3: OBSERVE

Watch the wax as it falls and solidifies.

How it falls: Straight down, spiraling, spreading?

What forms: Shapes, figures, abstract patterns?

How it floats: Does it sink, float, stick to the side of the bowl?

Let it fully solidify (30 seconds to a minute).

STEP 4: REMOVE & EXAMINE

Carefully lift the wax out of the water.

Look at it from all angles:

Top view

Side view

Bottom (often very different from top)

Hold it up to light (are there holes, thin spots, thickness variations?)

STEP 5: INTERPRET

What do you see?

Recognizable shapes (animals, people, objects, letters)

Abstract forms (lines, circles, spirals, webs)

Texture (smooth, rough, bubbled, cracked)

Common symbols same as tea/coffee (birds, flowers, keys, etc.)

But also look for:

Holes: Gaps in information, things escaping, portals, emptiness

Thin spots: Fragility, vulnerability, something breaking

Thickness: Strength, solidity, abundance, protection

Multiple pieces: Fragmentation, multiple paths, choices

WAX-SPECIFIC INTERPRETATIONS:

SHAPES:

SMOOTH, ROUNDED: Flow, ease, femininity, water element JAGGED, SHARP: Conflict, masculinity, fire element, cutting through SPREADING THIN: Dissipating energy, things spreading out, influence expanding BALLED UP: Concentration, protection, holding tight, control LAYERED: Complexity, depth, multiple meanings, time layers

POSITIONS (if pieces land in different areas of the bowl):

CENTER: You, main issue, present moment EDGES: External influences, other people, boundaries FLOATING: Not grounded, still in flux, spiritual matters SINKING: Grounded, material matters, going deep SURFACE CRUST: Surface issues, what's visible, superficial

PATTERNS:

WEB/NET: Entanglement, connection, being caught, network SPIRAL: Cycles, going inward, evolution, journey CIRCLE WITH CENTER: Wholeness, protection, mandala, completion CROSS/X: Intersection, choice, burden, crossroads

COLOR MAGIC IN WAX READING:

Choose candle color based on question:

White: General purpose, purity, clarity, new beginnings

Red: Passion, love, anger, vitality, action

Pink: Romance, friendship, gentle love, emotional healing

Blue: Peace, healing, communication, water element

Green: Money, growth, health, earth element

Yellow: Mental clarity, communication, air element, joy

Purple: Spiritual wisdom, intuition, psychic work, royalty

Black: Banishing, protection, mystery, shadow work

Brown: Grounding, animals, earth, stability

The wax retains the candle's color—this adds another layer of meaning.

ADVANCED: MULTIPLE CANDLES

Use two different colored candles for relationship questions:

Red candle = you Blue candle = another person

Drip both into the same bowl.

Read:

Do the waxes mix or stay separate?

Which color dominates?

Do they touch, overlap, or avoid each other?

This shows relationship dynamics visually.

DEVELOPING YOUR READING SKILLS

PRACTICE EXERCISES:

EXERCISE 1: DAILY TEA RITUAL

Every morning, make tea and read the leaves for daily guidance.

Keep a journal:

What you saw

What you interpreted

What actually happened that day

Track accuracy over weeks. Your interpretation skills will improve.

EXERCISE 2: SYMBOL LIBRARY

Keep a notebook of symbols you've seen and what they meant in context.

Over time, you'll build a personal dictionary that's more accurate than any book.

EXERCISE 3: COMPARISON READING

Ask the same question. Read tea leaves. Note answer.

Ask again. Read coffee grounds. Note answer.

Do they align? Contradict? Complement?

EXERCISE 4: WAX SCULPTURE

After reading wax, keep the piece. Set it on your altar or workspace.

Watch if the answer manifests. If it does, you've got a physical talisman of divination-that-worked.

EXERCISE 5: GROUP READING

Have multiple people read the same cup of tea/coffee.

What does each person see? What's consistent across interpretations? What's unique?

Shared symbols = strongest message. Unique interpretations = individual lens.

TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON CHALLENGES

"I DON'T SEE ANYTHING"

Cause: You're trying too hard, staring analytically.

Fix: Soft focus. Glance quickly. First impression. Peripheral vision. Turn the cup upside down and see if that helps.

"I SEE TOO MANY THINGS"

Cause: Pareidolia is working overtime. Every cluster of leaves is a face.

Fix: Step back. What's the MOST prominent shape? Start there. Don't try to read every speck.

"THE SYMBOLS DON'T MAKE SENSE FOR MY QUESTION"

Cause: You're being too literal, or you're asking the wrong question.

Fix: Think metaphorically. A "bird" might not mean literal bird—it means MESSAGE. Re-examine your question. Is it too vague or too specific?

"MY READINGS ARE NEVER ACCURATE"

Cause: You're interpreting from books instead of intuition, or not tracking results honestly.

Fix: Close the book. What does YOUR gut say the symbol means? And actually track—write down interpretation AND outcome. You might be more accurate than you think but forgetting the hits.

"THE TEA LEAVES WON'T STICK TO THE CUP"

Cause: Tea too weak, too few leaves, or cup is too smooth/waxy.

Fix: Use more tea. Make it stronger. Rough up the interior of the cup slightly (light sandpaper) to give leaves something to grip.

ETHICS & COURTESY

READING FOR OTHERS:

DO:

Get permission

Be honest about your skill level ("I'm learning, take what resonates")

Share what you see but let them interpret too ("What does this look like to you?")

Deliver difficult messages with kindness

DON'T:

Read someone's cup without asking

Give medical, legal, or financial advice beyond your expertise

Claim absolute accuracy

Use readings to manipulate or control

RESPECTING CULTURAL TRADITIONS:

Coffee reading is culturally specific (Turkish, Greek, Balkan). If you're learning from these traditions, acknowledge the source.

Don't claim you're practicing "Turkish coffee reading" if you've just watched YouTube and never been taught by someone from that culture.

Tea and wax reading are more universal/folk practices with less specific cultural ownership, but still respect where you learned.

THE BOTTOM LINE (PART 2)

Reading divination—tea, coffee, wax—is the art of finding meaning in what forms naturally.

You don't control the pattern (like with tarot). You don't cast objects (like bones/runes). You let a substance create its own design, and then you interpret.

The skill is in:

Seeing patterns where others see chaos

Trusting your first instinct

Letting symbols speak their own language (not forcing book meanings)

Reading the whole picture, not isolated shapes

Choose your method:

Tea for gentle, daily, contemplative practice

Coffee for bold, dramatic, culturally-rooted readings

Wax for quick, visual, tangible divination

Or use all three. Different moods, different questions, different methods.

The tea leaves know. The coffee grounds speak. The wax reveals.

You just have to trust that randomness isn't random—and learn to read the language of form.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER: PARTS 1 & 2

You now have a complete toolkit for interpretive divination:

CASTING METHODS (Part 1):

Bones

Charms

Runes

READING METHODS (Part 2):

Tea leaves

Coffee grounds

Wax

All six methods teach you the same core skill: reading pattern as message.

The more you practice, the more you realize:

Your intuition is the real tool

Structure supports but doesn't limit

Every method is a language, and you're learning to speak it

The answer is always there—you just have to see it

YOUR TURN

Do you practice tea, coffee, or wax reading?

What's the clearest symbol you've ever seen in a cup?

Which method calls to you most?

Let's discuss. Reading divination is intimate, cozy, and accessible—perfect for daily practice.

Blessed be ☕

The leaves settle where they need to. The grounds speak what must be said. The wax forms the shape of truth. You don't create the message—you just learn to see it.

[readingsbylily]

Hey tasseography beginners! Here’s a quick guide on cups in tea leaf readings; more specifically on how to pick one and what the different part of the cup relates to. I’ll be posting a lot more basic guides on Tarot, Tea Leaf, and Rune Stone Readings in the coming weeks so keep an eye out for those! As always, feel free to message me with questions, to book a reading, or to simply chat and say hi 😊

You can also find my readings on my website or Esty page. If you’re interested in learning more about tasseography, I have a tea leaf reading guide up on my Etsy shop!

Website | Etsy Shop | Instagram

[readingsbylily]

Hey there, witchy friends! If you’re a divination beginner or maybe someone who hasn’t given tasseography a shot, here’s a little guide for you on how to do a tea leaf reading. While this is a simple list, I’m planning on putting up some more detailed info on the different steps and aspects involved in tea leaf reading. Stay tuned for updates!

You can find my readings on my website or through my Etsy shop! I also have a tea leaf reading guide on my Etsy page, so check that out if you’d like to learn more about tea leaf reading.

Website | Etsy Shop | Instagram

[readingsbylily]

Hey witchy friends! Here is some information on the suit of Pentacles in Tarot. If you’re a beginner, learning about the four suits is very helpful for understanding and learning the meanings of each card. If you missed it, I have another post on Chalices (Cups) in Tarot and will be posting about the other suits later this week!

As always, you’re welcome to message me to chat, set up a reading, or request a free one-card Tarot pull. You can also find me on Instagram, my website, or my Etsy shop.