#types of divination

[randomevie]

Basic Intro to Types of Divination

What is divination? 

The definition of divination is “the practice of determining the hidden significance or cause and of events”.

In my own words, divination is a practice in which you can learn more about the unknown in your life and help others know about the unknown in theirs. 

What are the most common types of divination?

The most common types of divination (and the ones that will be detailed in this post) are:

•Cartomancy

•Channeling

•Oracle

•Pendulum

•Shufflemancy

•Tarot

Cartomancy: 

Origins on cartomancy 

It is unknown exactly where cartomancy originated from, as the earliest deck of cards date back to the 9th century, but we have been able to trace this practice as far back as to Europe during the 1360’s. Cartomancy gained popularity in the time between the 18th and 20th century due to its “fortune-telling” abilities. 

What is cartomancy? 

Cartomancy is the practice of divination using a deck of standard playing cards.

How to practice cartomancy 

Begin by acquiring yourself a deck of cards, it can be literally any deck in sight if you wish. 

Cleanse your deck before use, and then you’re good to go! 

Begin shuffling your cards in any way you wish, and as you draw cards (or as they fly out, depending on how you prefer to do divination) lay them in the order that they are drawn and once you feel you have drawn enough cards, begin to interpret them. 

Interpreting cards takes practice, so don’t be discouraged if you find it difficult at first, it will progress and become easier as you go. 

Card meanings:

 [cartomancy meanings|https://newworldwitchery.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/the-new-world-witchery-guide-to-cartomancy.pdf] 

Channeling: 

Origins of channeling

Channeling origins are genuinely the most blurry of all of the forms of divination presented in this post. Channeling began as a way to communicate with the dead, but grew into what we know it as today. 

Around 1000 BCE, channeling was under serious assault because of monotheism, as the practice was considered dangerous. 

Although, channeling does not have one specific origin (as with many other types of divination) it is thought that Ancient Egypt is the birthplace of trance-channeling and dream-channeling. 

What is Channeling?

Channeling is a way to contact beings from other realities or even your spirit guides/higher selves! 

How to Channel

There are many different ways to channel. Personally, I channel telepathically, but you can do it in any way you wish. 

It’s wise to get confirmation you’re channeling the correct person when channeling.

My personal channeling method:

1. Affirm protection and cleanse! 

2. Begin by meditating for a minute and visualizing the person that you are attempting to channel

3. Imagining connecting with the person and feel their energy 

4. Let the channeled session happen and then cut the connection 

There are many different types of channeling so please research into the type of channeling you’re doing before you do it. 

‼️DISCLAIMER‼️

With possession channeling, I highly suggest you do your own research into the safety of it and how to do it, please don’t just ask someone else for advice or jump right into possession channeling because it can be dangerous without the correct knowledge of it. 

Oracle: 

Origins of Oracle

Oracle, similar to tarot and cartomancy, originated in western europe (mostly france) during the 19th century. The first printed oracle cards were the Lenormand cards. These cards where used for psychic readings and spiritual guidance. soon, they gained popularity and became more common for use. 

How to do Oracle Readings

First step is to find yourself a deck of oracle cards! You can make your own or order a deck online!

([Here|https://thetravelingwitch.com/blog/2018/4/17/how-to-create-a-beautiful-oracle-deck-in-8-steps ]a good post about how to make your own oracle deck)

You will cleanse and shuffle oracle cards the same way you do with tarot or cartomancy and interpret them according to your own guidebook if you’ve made your deck or the guidebook that came with your deck. As stated with cartomancy, interpreting may or may not come naturally to you, but don’t be discouraged, the more you practice the better you will become. 

Pendulum 

Origins of Pendulum

Pendulum origins as a divination and dowsing device date all the way back to 400 BCE, having been used by the Pythian Oracle of Delphi. 

In 1833 Michel Eugene Chevreul researched the movement of pendulums and came to the conclusion that it was an involuntary movement of the hand or the wrist, causing the pendulum to swing. Pendulums respond with what your subconscious already knows by having your subconscious force small bodily reactions to have pendulums swing a certain way. 

How to use pendulums/what you can use them for 

With using a pendulum, you will want to hold it by whatever string/chain/etc it is attached to and then ask a question. If you’re asking yes/no I often like to put my palm under my pendulum to balance the energy more. Your pendulum will swing in a certain direction for yes and a certain direction for no, ask your pendulum which is which before doing divination with it! 

Pendulums can also be used with a pendulum board to find names, numbers, etc. As well as finding lost objects, or guiding your way outside of your home. 

Shufflemancy: 

Origins of shufflemancy

Shufflemancy is the newest type of divination detailed in this post. Although I cannot find the exact origins, I would estimate it has not been very long since the origin of shufflemancy, and it likely came along with the creation of more advanced technology. 

How to do shufflemancy

Begin by compiling a playlist of random songs. Make sure you have a wide-range of music, and many songs with many different meanings. This will most accurately give you answers. 

Once this has been done, shuffle away! Press the shuffle button until you are content with the amount of times you’ve shuffled and look at the lyrics. Write down anything that stands out to you in these lyrics, and begin interpreting them in relation to your question. 

Tarot 

Origins of tarot

Tarot originates from a card game in Italy around the 1430s. This game added a 5th suite to the original 4 suite deck of cards (this 5th suite is now known as the major arcana). Divination with these cards became popular in the late 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in Europe around these times. In the 18th century, people had begun to assign specific meanings to each card.

How to do tarot

You will first want to acquire a tarot deck. Once you have done this, cleanse and bond with your deck before doing readings.

When doing readings shuffle your deck however you like. You can shuffle until it feels right and pull cards from the deck, or you can shuffle until cards fly out for you to take.

When you have gotten your cards that are associated with whatever question you are asking, you will interpret them. When interpreting tarot cards you can do it however you like to. Jump around, interpret in order, whatever it may be. 

Tarot meanings:

 https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meanings-list] is a good site to discover the meanings of tarot cards. 

I hope you enjoyed the post and that it helps you along in your divination journey! If you find any of this information to be correct as of your knowledge, or you have any questions, please feel free to pm or comment!

[aspelladay]

Alphabet Divination Spells

Books are formed from words; words are formed from letters. One school of Kabbalah suggests that the Creator formed the entire world from Hebrew letters. Individual letters, of any alphabet, may be used to provide an oracle.

(from The Element Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells by Judika Illes)

[mybabywitchjourney]

The Sun Sign Elements

Correct me if I'm wrong but from what I've read the elements of sun signs are different from the elements of moon signs. I will also be posting those later.

This is an opinion and not something I have read: I think the sun sign elements apply to the sign overall and also for the planets but the elements for the moon signs specifically apply to the moon signs. Many things do overlap but my notes for the moon signs will apply in specific ways that the moon signs apply to astrology.

As always corrections, info & sources welcome

Sources:

Astrology Your Personal Guide By Sasha Fenton

[babysfirstpentagram]

So someone got into my bank account and took a lot of money-

Tarot:

Decks: Homemade deck (default/main); Kawaii Tarot (brand new, but still an option)

Limits: No relationship or love questions, they make me extremely uncomfortable

Price: 

$1 per card for a general reading. 

Deity Readings- $3 a card, up to 10 cards.

Spirit Communication- $3 a card, up to 10 cards

Runes:

Type: Homemade rune deck (elder and newer)

Limits: same as tarot limits

Price: $2 a rune

Dice:

Type: DND dice

Limits: Same as above

Price: 50 cents a roll on my d20

Sigils:

$5 per sigil, unactivated. 

$7 per sigil for me to activate it.

Can send pictures as proof/explain in detail what i did/am doing. 

Dream Interpretations: 

$10 per page

Pokemon Oracle:

$3 a card

I have 300+ spanning all types, so if you have a special type/pokemon I am open to doing specialized requests

Spell Creation/Help

$6 per hour I am helping you. I can make a spell from scratch (and give detailed instructions on how to complete it) or I can help revise a spell you already created and give tips on it (only $3 an hour!)

I am now offering one on one classes for the basics in witchcraft and for divination.

$5 per half hour, two hours maximum

Anything else not listed can be discussed before payment. I can and will do any type of divination. I will also write up blog posts on a certain topic for $5 per 100 words. The posts will be posted on my tumblr (babysfirstpentagram) 

Payment Methods:

Amazon wishlist- https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2AID6PB7XOH8E?ref_=wl_share 

Paypal- paypal.me/CarterVale 

Cashapp-  $carterofval

Coming soon:

Venmo

Ways to contact me:

Snapchat: carterofval

Tumblr: paganplayplace

Twitter: WitchyHomestuck

Instagram: carter the button (underscores between each word)

(or through ticket/discord dms if you are an adult) 

Personal Information:

Name: Carter

Age: 19

How long have I been practicing:

Readings for 3 years

Witchcraft for 4.5 years

Spells for 1.5 years

I am a neurodivergent/autistic witch that is in desparate need of money. Someone got into my bank account and stole roughly 390 dollars. That is almost two full tuition payments that I need to pay so I don’t get kicked out of college and sent back to my abusive household. 

All proceeds will be going towards college tuition and keeping myself fed/clean. I can and will do most things divination and spell wise, but if you are not sure/don’t see what you need listed, please ask! The worst I will do is tell  you no!

[faeriecandles]

reblog if you are a witch! doesnt matter what type of witchcraft you practice! i need more mutuals/more active accounts to follow!

[littlewitchygreen]

Omens

Omens can play a big part in a witch’s practice, and it is something many witches want to take advantage of when it happens. They can be good or bad, depending on what they are and who sees it - and what might be considered bad to one person can be good to another, because they are highly personal.

But what exactly are omens, and where did they come from? And how can you tell when something is an omen versus when the cause is something mundane instead of something magical?

What Are They?

Omens are considered any phenomena, large or small, that can tell the future - and they often revolve around upcoming change in the life of the person or people witnessing them. They are believed to be signs from a higher power (what power exactly depends on the person and their beliefs - god(s), angels, the universe, your higher self, spirits, ancestors - the answer is limitless), and are usually in the form of natural occurrences. They can be anything from leaves falling a certain way, a storm showing up when it should have been a sunny day, an unusual animal birth, a repeating dream, an unexpected solar eclipse, and more. They tend to be something that stands out, though, in any form.

History

The earliest signs we have of people looking for omens is from one of our oldest civilizations we have records of: those who settled in Mesopotamia, from around 5000 to 4000 BCE. They may have done so even sooner, since people settled there around 10000 BCE, however we have no solid records of any omens from then. The Mesopotamians looked for omens by sacrificing animals and reading their entrails, interpreting dreams, using the stars and astrological events, scrying with water, and reading smoke. While there were likely other methods too, these were the main forms of finding omens at this time.

After that, the idea of omens continued to spread, and they can be found in many other civilizations around the world throughout history now - many of them using the same methods as the Mesopotamians and adding in new ones as the practice of learning and reading omens developed. In Greece, they also looked to birds for signs of the future, and to storms to learn messages from Zeus. In Rome, they added in omens involving words that people read or heard. In multiple countries, numbers (both specific and repeating) became omens of good or bad luck. In Egypt, finding omens by using ink was added to the potential ways a person could receive an omen. Having certain animals cross your path is seen as either lucky or unlucky in most cultures of the world, both old and new. The reason we have so many forms of receiving omens is because each place and society that looked for them added their own methods of doing so to the list, and what I’ve listed here is only a fraction of the methods and possibilities that people have used and encountered throughout the millennia.

Pretty much from the beginning of humans looking for signs of the future, we have been looking for omens and trying to decipher what they mean when we get them. I have yet to find a culture that doesn’t believe in some form of omen or another - especially since a lot of them have evolved into modern superstitions (for example, a common superstition in the Western world is that a mirror breaking means bad luck is coming to whoever broke it - or, an omen of a mirror breaking signifying bad luck approaching).

When Is Something an Omen?

Honestly? The unfortunate truth is things are rarely omens. Animals and nature exist, move, change, and live outside of humans and our influence. They do not exist solely for our sake or to send us signs. They follow patterns of behavior, look for food, lose leaves or fur or feathers, and grow or die just as we do. Losing things, finding things, and more is just a part of life. Patterns exist, and our brains are hardwired to pay attention to them. Most things have a mundane explanation, and it is good to think critically in all parts of your practice so that you can recognize the difference between the mundane and the magical.

This does not mean that the mundane should be dismissed entirely though. If you are seeing birds or butterflies and realize it is their migration season instead of an omen, let it be beautiful and important to you anyway. If you have an unusual dream, let it be meaningful in its own right, even if you realize it isn’t a sign from whatever you believe in. The mundane doesn’t mean it has to be boring, unimportant, or uninteresting - it just means it isn’t magical, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Some of the most important things in life have nothing to do with magic, they just are.

However.

If you are seeing the same thing day after day or dreaming the same dream night after night, then it might be an omen. If you see several things all happening at once when they normally wouldn’t, then it might be an omen. If there is no mundane explanation for what you have experienced, then it might be an omen. If every time you see Thing A, Event B happens, then it might be worth considering it an omen and keeping track of it. If you are actively using divination to find them, or have asked a higher power to deliver them, then what you are experiencing may be omens. Most importantly, if you have learned to tell the difference between the magical and the mundane, and it feels magical, then it probably is. 

In truth, the only person who can ultimately determine if it is an omen is you yourself, since if it is one, it was sent to you.

[theladymorganlefay]

Hi there! I’m starting to practice tarot but I want to make sure I’m going about it properly. Is there anything I need to do with my deck before a reading (like cleansing, a small ritual, etc.)? Also do you have any advice on the best places to buy crystals and other witchy items? Thanks so much!

Hello!

Normally with a new deck, I cleanse it to get rid of all past energies. Then I consecrate it to claim it as my own. Then I'd sleep with it under my pillow for a few days to connect with it. 😊

Unfortunately I don't have many suggestions for where to buy crystals and supplies because I usually buy local.

Hope this helps!

[stygiantarot]

Modern Divination Methods

(originally taught in The Alexandria Archives on 4/9/2020) 

Divination is most certainly one of the oldest practices of witchcraft. Reading omens, trancing for prophecy/scrying, and using tools to read symbols or patterns have all been used in some form for practically as long as society has existed. Many people are familiar with the mainstream ones: Tarot, runes, tea leaves, scrying, etc. Last time I went over some more unusual methods. Today, in light of the current global situation having many person’s stuck in limited spaces with limited supplies, I thought we could touch on some modern methods. Most require nothing more than what you already have at your fingertips!

We will explore in some detail:

Shufflemancy: divination using randomized songs

Stichomancy: divination using passages in a volume of writing

Traffic omens: Modernizing weather style omen reading using things like cars, stoplights, types of buildings passed, etc.

We’ll also touch on a couple other ideas you might try expanding on:

Online Randomizer: Think like the old web extension Stumble upon or even those websites that give you random quotes, images, names, etc.

Social Media Image Scrying: using a collection of images online to select a particular one for interpretation.

~~~~~~~

Shufflemancy

Many of you have probably heard of this method, likely even tried it! Shufflemancy is the method of divination that uses a platform or application to randomize a selection/playlist of songs for interpretation. You can either just hit the shuffle button once and go with that initial song or you can incorporate a more personalized experience by having the querent choose a number of skips to hit. It can also be tailored by using specific playlists you’ve compiled or certain genre options on applications like Spotify or Pandora.

You can expand on this with applications like Youtube to include videos. It’s my fantasy that platforms like Netflix or Hulu will come up with a “randomizer” or shuffle type option someday. It would be such a blast to play a random video and then use that for divination!

It’s important to take into account both the lyrics and the melody/mood of the music when your selection is being interpreted. If you aren’t sure if you’d be comfortable with that initially, I recommend building a “beginner’s” sort of playlist that is filled with songs you know very well and have personal feelings about. It makes the interpretation that much easier. Much like using a Tarot or Oracle deck that has art styles or characters you’re familiar with. You may also incorporate the visuals of a music video if there is one for the song. Shufflemancy usually works better for more expansive readings rather than just yes/no questions. Although you can sometimes get that sort of immediately “positive” or “negative” impression from many songs, assuming it doesn’t have both! 


This method is a therapeutic way to delve into some modern divination. The emotional and cathartic aspect can be soothing for both the reader and the querent. Not to mention the connection it builds as you share music between you. A feel good way to practice some divination with no physical tools beyond some technology access.

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Stichomancy

This method of divination, sometimes called bibliomancy, uses a book or similar volume of writing to select passages from to interpret. Most people use the page number as the way to select, telling the querent to select a number between the first and last page (and what the highest number possible is). But there are intuitive methods as well. Using the physical shuffling of pages until it feels right to stop rather than a selected number. I find the latter method more useful when reading for myself and the former method more cooperative when I’m reading for others.

Like with shufflemancy, stichomancy is much affected by your personalizing of the tool. Use books you love! Use books that have specific genres for specific queries (a romance book for a relationship reading?). Use anthologies (short story or poetry collections) to get a variety of styles and language to work with. 
 


You can also use books that are more visual, like my headstone symbolism book pictured above. It makes the reading more akin to Tarot, but you can use captions to help expand on the interpretation. Practice trial and error with multiple books until you feel comfortable and confident that the results are accurate enough. The books I have in the photo I shared are the five I’m comfortable using in regular readings. I play with others for myself or specific queries for friends or family but often I’m not comfortable adding them to my regular repertoire. I have a series of dimestore style paperback mysteries that love to give readings for a dear friend but are useless in accuracy for anyone else. Books have personalities- if you didn’t already know that this method will teach you that fact quickly. You can also create your own specific stichomancy book using a notebook with numbered short passages and poems of that have significance to you. It can be an enriching process to collect all the passages to add to your own book and you can give them more specific and more easily remembered associations when compiling them yourself. Do remember to give proper credit/sourcing to all your collected passages though!


You don’t need the largest book possible to be effective with this method of divination. “Desperation” and “Chilling Ghost Short Stories” are my thickest books, but honestly I’ve gotten more insightful readings from my two slim fairy tale volumes. It’s truly a method you make your own. I have friends who prefer to exclusively use books of poetry rather than fictional prose. That is good too!

A note: don’t feel like you need to have a physical book- I’ve had some success with ebooks! It can be trickier to do the flip-through for sure, but not impossible.



~~~~~~~

Traffic Omens

I was probably about 8 years old when I first played the “If, Then” game. “If this next light turns green before we reach it, then I’ll get McDonalds for lunch.” A simple and almost childish game of course. But essentially, traffic omens. I expanded on it as I got older to include seeing certain makes and colors of cars during my commute. Or a certain number of common buildings like churches or banks. A type of architecture or statues featuring certain things. It can be as common or uncommon as your needs require.

This is a method that’s a little trickier to lay out for others in step-by-step ways because it is omen based and therefore requires you to select what works for your specific area/region, what type of commute based omens you feel comfortable noticing, what meanings they have for you, etc. And since this is omen-based, it isn’t exactly ideal for actively standard divination reading. It’s more ideal for a passive style, or personal predictions in your own life.

You can build a system that works for you and could predict luck in a career, prosperity in the home, or a new friend. I recommend starting a journal of the sort of “omens” you notice on your commute. Follow up with a short blurb about how your day went and how you felt. Then you can refer back to it and create the personal system from there. You can vary the more common with uncommon omens- just remember to ascribe the appropriate association. Seeing a certain number of bank buildings can be good for meaning an increase in general finances but you’d likely want something more uncommon like an usual make and model of a single car for snagging a dream job. You can also create variations for when you’re walking during your day instead of commuting!



A bit more involved but something interesting to experiment with in our modern society. And keep a bit of that childlike wonder!

~~~~~~~

Online Randomizer

Did you ever play with the web extension “Stumble Upon” back when it existed? The idea was that you installed it in whatever web browser you happened to be using and then clicked it to get directed to an entirely random website. Though it’s intention was obviously to curb boredom, it is definitely something interesting to try as a divination tool. Stumble Upon no longer exists (as far as I know), however there are similar extensions or webpages that let you do the same thing (this one comes to mind: https://theuselessweb.com). There is also options like Wikipedia’s “random article” ability that works along the same lines. This method is similar to stichomancy in that you’ll likely be working with text a lot of the time. But be aware of the medium you’re working with- a webpage is more than just a page in a book. What is its purpose? How well is it designed? What sort of visuals does it use? What emotional impressions do you get from it? It can start simple, but you can see the options are there for expanding an interpretation pretty elaborately. And again, a number of clicks can be incorporated if you like.

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Multi-Image Scrying (Social Media Image Scrying)
 


It’s hard for me to come up with a concise name for this. But it’s possible you’ve come across persons doing this on various platforms like Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, etc. There is a selection of images in a format similar to a moldboard to view. The reader has a querent select an image that stands out to them and builds a reading based on the selection. Similar to a random draw from a Tarot or Oracle card with symbolism and art imagery lending itself to the interpretation. This can be great to try if you are into color symbolism or can easily see how certain artwork evokes certain emotions. Similar to what websites like Buzzfeed or the astro.com color chart quiz is! Almost like an alternative horoscope based on visual selections you are drawn to.

Be sure to ethically collect images for something like this if you plan on offering it to others. There are many websites that have royalty free images you can use for projects like this. Or you can even use ones you have yourself! These don’t have to be high art photographs, simple ones on your phone can absolutely work. The biggest goal is to make sure they are varied so a large amount of interpretation is possible.

There is a version of this using face down Tarot (or oracle) cards as well. You take a photo (or have video) of them face down and then have your querent select one at random without either of you knowing what it is. Then once you flip it over you can giving a reading based on that. It’s not especially different from a standard long distance Tarot reading except it can be used on a mass scale. For example, I’ve done this for my business Facebook or Instagram where I have a grid of numbered face down cards. Then I put the meanings of each card in the comments so someone can select the card before reading the comments and get a low-tech daily reading without an app.

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Even though many of these methods evoke playful games of childhood, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have potential as a valid form of divination. Many forms of divination in the past started as games or ways to pass time before they were built into the forms of divination we know today. A modern technique may seem “sillier” to traditionalists but just like younger generations are proving the further reaching use of modern technology to previous generations; it is time to prove the modern forms of divination as valid to the traditionalists!