Bone Readings 101
A Brief Overview
Divination through bones (osseomancy) is a practice found in cultures all over the world! This naturally this means there are plenty of variations. I'll be speaking definitively for the purpose of this post, but this is just the way I was taught and you'll find talented readers with different approaches.
In my personal practice, bone readings are EXCLUSIVELY a form of Ancestral communication. You can ask them any questions you like, but that's who is answering. I think the nature of bones is fitting for that.
What's In A Bone Set?
Every bone set is hand-curated. Your set pieces (and their meanings) will always be unique to you personally; nobody can read on your bone set and you can't read on anyone else's. Just the way it goes.
Besides bones, many people also include trinkets and curios like dice, keys, small stones, charms, etc. Some sets won't even include real bones at all, though everything in the set is still called bones.
The associations for each bone are up to you. You're the only one reading with it, so do whatever feels right!
Pro Tip: Remember you're going to drop these, so make sure not to include anything too heavy or too brittle. I used to have a tiny geode in my set which cracked in half while reading for somebody else. It almost broke one of my other pieces too. Don't be like me.
Performing a Reading
Because bones are part of my Ancestral practice, I always start by cleansing the altar/my reading spot and giving an offering to my Ancestors to welcome them in (just something simple like water or incense.)
Create a landing space with boundaries. A cloth with a circle is popular. I use a rabbit skin.
Reach into your Bag O' Bones and cast them! Lots of variations here. Some people use their hand, others have something to scoop with. I don't let anyone outside of my family touch my bones directly. Do what feels right! Cast them onto your mat like you would with dice or runes. Pick up anything that lands out of bounds and put it back in the bag.
Examine the bones and how they've landed. Some people will have mats with different marked areas to cover certain topics! Consider the meanings of the bones, which bones they land close to (or on top of!), and the general "shape" of the spread. Often it will seem like it's moving in a certain direction. I personally think it's fine to pick up and remove any bones that aren't "talking" to you!