Divination V: Something Extra

Still in the back of your BoS.

Not for the meek, this little page (or two) is not so much for info on a Tool as on that little extra that has been left out of a lot of books. Divination while an ancient practice is more than just sitting in a dark room staring at odd things in order to pick out the symbols you want to interpret.

Some of us just don't relax easily, or cant enter the required state of being. In that case there is a Potion you can use to help.

You will need a storage container, an Amber or Cobalt Jar or Tea tin's are preferable to this jar you will add:

• 4 Tbsp White Tea
• 1 Tbsp Orange Peal
• 1 Tbsp Rosehips
• 1 Tbsp Mugwort
• 1 Tsp Eyebright
• 1 Tsp Mistletoe (Not the berries)
• 1 Tsp Valerian Root

You can brew it as tea 1 teaspoon to 8 ounces of water and sweeten with honey. OR take one teaspoon, grind to a fine powder (coffee grinder works great) and add it to a 10 ounce cruet of your favorite wine, this helps mask the flavor and it will keep in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks and measures into a wine glass (2 ounces) for 5 uses.

This is great to prepare in advance for Samhain.

As always be vigilant for your personal health and allergies. If you are on any heart or sleeping medications or special treatment by a doctor, talk to them before using any herbal treatments or blends.

Divination IV: Scrying

Still on the back pages.

By now you may have noticed that Divination is a truly limitless topic, but this is your final page writing on it.

Scrying is the divination method that many would be Seer's aspire to, (also called seeing or peeping) it is the practice of looking into a translucent ball or other material with the belief that things can be seen, such as spiritual visions, and less often for purposes of divination. The most common media used are reflective, translucent, or luminescent substances such as crystals, stones, glass, mirrors, water, fire, or smoke. Scrying has been used in many cultures in the belief that it can divine the past, present, or future. The visions that come when one stares into the media are thought to come from one's subconscious and imagination, though in the past they were thought to come from gods, spirits, devils, the psychic mind, depending on the culture and practice.

Although scrying is most commonly done with a crystal ball, it may also be performed using any smooth surface such as, highly polished wood, a bowl of liquid, a pond, a mirror, or a crystal.

What you are going to record is your process. Just like before. I know that my writing has become more general/instructional, but as you know that all this is for your book of shadows and that you should be keeping it simple.

Turn out the lights. Light only a candle, position it to cast its light on your surface without casting its reflection. Then light your incense of choice or a potpourri.

Hold in your mind what you are looking for or who you want to see. And rub the surface with Mugwort.

Then allow your eyes to lose focus, blink if you must, but don't stare at your Ball or Mirror, more past it, in your minds eye a fog should fill it, and you will be looking through the fog.

Divination III: Tarot

Still in the back, this section will take likely two to three pages, that simply put given modern popularity of Tarot reading, can not be excluded.

Now, Tarot is a topic for which dozens of books have been written and there is a lot of tradition, so much so that I know that I am not going to include all of it here, you will need to do your own
research.

Please note, that there is no need to copy what I say verbatim. This is an abstract of what I know. Take what you need and leave the rest.

I want to emphasize that the Tarot is not just a divination tool, but excellent for use in Sympathetic Magick. One of the first spells I ever witnesses my father working, he used a Tarot Card to represent his will and another to represent the person.

Important Traditions In Tarot:

• Your first deck should be a gift: My father bought me my first deck, after buying my mother one he saw how I kept handling them in the store, I was thirteen and he bought me The Unicorn Tarot.. Now as an adult I am out of my Unicorn phase and those cards are still my best deck. With the recent surge on the internet that scoffs this tradition as a silly superstition, which I find upsetting as a lot of my religion is built on 'Silly Superstitions'. Let me give you some background. Tarot emerged in France during the mid-15th century, where it was used as a game at court... However, at that time you were either making your own, or had them gifted to you. Magickally this creates a sort of karmic debt, showing you that not everything is done for gain, but for most people, etiquette dictates that you treat a gift with care and respect which helps you develop a relationship with the cards.
• The cards can and should only be touched by the tarot reader. Now as a caveat the one having them read does have to shuffle them. This tradition is stating that you shouldn't 'lend' your cards for someone else to do a reading. Cards collect your energy, creating a bond over time and making them easier for you to connect with. Which is why two identical decks may be read in completely different ways, or why the reader may not to use a deck with the same art if it is replacing another deck. (Vague I know; example my friend had the Dragon Tarot, a card got torn, she replaced the deck... couldn't read the knew deck.).
  
 

The Breakdown:

Major Arcana

Considered the most important group of cards in the tarot. To some, they represent universal archetypes. To others, they represent the spiritual quest of enlightenment.

They are magickal and special and yet they also represent our everyday lives and experiences. There are many aspects to the Major Arcana and it would be wrong to classify them from just one perspective.

The Suits

The purpose of the Tarot card suits is to categorize four major areas of life. The underlying thought here is that we are each quite different, yet all of us are ultimately the same, and undergo similar life experiences on our journey.  Each suit has an elemental affinity, as well as a Royal Family.

Pentacles/Coins (Diamonds) - Elemental Earth. Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn. Domestic and Financial Issues. Planet Venus.

Wands/Rods/Staves (Clubs) - Elemental Fire (I argue Air). Aries, Leo, Sagittarius (Aquarius, Gemini, Libra). Creativity, Action, Passion (Thought, Challenge, Observation). Planet Mars (Mercury).

Cups/Chalices/Goblets (Hearts) - Elemental Water. Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio. Love, Emotion, Empathy. Planet Neptune.

Swords/Blades/Athames (Spades) - Elemental Air (I argue Fire). Aquarius, Gemini, Libra (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius). Thought, Challenge, Observation. Planet Mercury (Mars).

The way you spread the cards is quite important - each spread  yields differing information.  The Celtic Cross is quite a good broad based spread, which will give a good deal of info on a specific situation.

There are other layouts that do things like give you a year view, or an astrological perspective or whatever. Some spreads answer specific questions better than others.


The Celtic Cross is a very popular spread, 10 cards used in an intermediate reading, most card readers keep with a simple 3 cards.

Past, Present and Future. Spreads will take the position of the card and the card itself into account when reading.


Example:
If the King of Pentacles is in your past, It refers to an older man who had control over you at home or work. Your boss, maybe your father. All spreads start in the past and are read towards the outcome.

Divination Part II: Dowsing Rods

Still in the back. We are summarizing the oldest known form of Divination today. Exciting I know. Touched on with Pendulums, the Use of Rods is actually the oldest for of Divination recorded.

Not so common as most other methods of Divination, but people, even those outside of the Occult community know what Dowsing is, it has been used even in the modern world to find lost objects or fresh water.

Dowsing Rods have been used for divination for centuries. Although there is evidence suggesting that dowsing was in use 8,000 years ago, the first historically recorded evidence of the use of dowsing dates back to 16th Century Germany. Dowsing rods were included in ceremonial magick rituals.

While not a part of every pagan household again the history earns this special form of divination an honorable mention. While explaining the "How" Aspect is a little subjective, I'll leave it to you to research the general information is:

Traditionally, the most common divining rod was a Y-shaped branch from a tree or bush. Some dowsers prefer branches from particular trees; hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States were commonly chosen. Some dowsers prefer the branches to be freshly cut. I will admit that I have no idea as to how these branches would be interpreted, as my limited exposure has been to the more modern method.

Many dowsers today use a pair of simple L-shaped metal rods; some even use bent wire coat hangers. One rod is held in each hand, with the short part of the L held upright, and the long part pointing forward. Some dowsers claim best success with rods made of particular metals, such as brass. These rods move freely within the users grip, only crossing when the object is found or objective is reached.

Dowsing Rods have a well known use in finding spirits.

Divination Part I: Pendulums

Moving to the back pages again.

While not every Witch reads Tarot, most believe in divination.

Divination is at the heart of Old Magick, and has a place at the very least as an honorable mention in your Book of Shadows. If Divination is your true love then please consider keeping a Divination Journal.

Divination, or seeking insights from supernatural sources, has been practiced worldwide since ancient times through several methods; one of those secrets in the human psyche that no-one can explain why it perseveres, other than... that it works. Despite religious persecution and scientific questioning, many forms of divination have survived through the centuries. They remain popular as tools for determining the future, and as spiritual resources.

So there are at least two methods that you should record before even looking at Tarot.

Every Witch should Have a Pendulum

A pendulum is one of the simplest and easiest forms of divination. It's a simple matter of Yes/No questions being asked and answered, or they can me used on a map to determine a location. Although you can purchase pendulums commercially, ranging from about $15 - $60, it's not hard to make one of your own. Typically, most people use a crystal or stone, but you can use any object that's got a bit of weight to it.

 Take your time before you start writing. As with a lot of things what you write you need to write as though you are writing for someone else. This is information that you could be passing on to a student and information that we may take for granted as self explanatory isn't always.

With this particular item including pictures are simple, and the most effective explanation.

You can use a pendulum to dowse for just about anything, from buried treasure to the best spot to drill a well. You can dowse an area to find a lost object. You can dowse a house or apartment to see if it's right for you. Or dowse the land to determine the best place to build a home, business, shrine, garden, etc.

You can even dowse a map. This technique is great if you're thinking about taking a trip or looking for a new place to live. Hold the pendulum over a map of an area that interests you and ask, “Is this the place?” If the response is no, try another area. Keep at it until the pendulum says yes, this can be a practice in patience.

Include a simple map and instructions on how to key a pendulum to know what a Yes is.. (Usually done by asking a question you already know the answer to.) and what No is.. (Again asking a question you know the answer to, like 'is my hair red.')

Each persons energies are different, so the answers may not match the map shown.

To utilize a Pendulum....

Example:

• Place your map, either a real land map or a question map/mat.
• Hold the pendulum with the chain positioned lightly between over the ring finger of your power hand and wrapped back up around your middle finger to be caught between your thumb and index.
• Dangle it over the surface until it stops swinging and is still.
• Ask your question.

It takes time to become comfortable with this practice.
 
If you would like to contact me personally for Q&A you can always comment or for private consult my email is listed in my business card, please note that I work at my own pace and you may see your answer in a blog post rather than a responding email. 

 

Your Tool

This is again back to those front pages.This particular entry may take up two or more pages.

I know you are probably confused.

"Which Tool?" You ask me?

With the plethora of Tools used in Witchcraft today, that many of us collect, decorate and then consecrate... before promptly stowing them away and only pulling them out for that one spell a decade.

You see for all the Tools available to us, we don't really need them all, we certainly can't use all of them at once. But we do develop a relationship, and connect to one, it becomes our favorite, our Go-To Tool.

This is where you are going to record about it. Most reach for their Athame, but my tool of choice is the Stang.

Draw it, if you can, but do not take up the whole page. You need to be able to fill in information.

At the top of the page you may choose to Name it in the Witches Alphabet: Example "Staff of Worlds".

Description: This tool is often used interchangeably with your Ritual Staff. More Shamanic in history than ceremonial the Stang embodies each realm of existence and acts as a direct tie between you and the World Tree in meditations and astral work.

Crafting: Crafted of length of Ash collected at Solstice and stripped of its bark, laid flat to allow the wood to age and cure until Imbolc when we entered into the first creation ritual... (Wood used, how the wood was harvested, special ceremonial aspects..)

Element: Air (You will disagree with me)
Symbolism: The Tree of Life
Uses: A Ritual Weapon, designed for the purpose of Hedgecrossing

Details: How it was crafted and what went into it, type of wood etc..

Meditation: Specific visualizations or Meditations entered in to with the aid of the tool.

Rites: This would be a special consecration process, if it had one different from your other Tools.


Now, you may choose to write up information on more than one tool.  If you want to, feel free. But part of the magick and mystery comes from your own connection to the things that you record.

 

References

Now I stated before that you can leave most reference material out and save it for your Book of Mirrors, but you should have something quick and dirty. However, this post does have a little bit of homework. I don't want to write your BoS for you after all, what would you learn?

To the Back! Of the Book that is.

You may have guessed that I am of the old school and have a natural tendency to want to make my writing hard for an outsider to muddle through. 

You are not writing a book, however, you can put a major cheat sheet that encompasses most kinds of Magick. Do some reading on the Doctrine of Signatures it is very helpful and dives into some ancient magick.

The most important reference you can have is colors. Whats that? Your surprised? Let me share a secret with you. Knowing the color to correspond with your need will help you find the right herb or crystal, it won't help you so much with scent but of everything it is the broadest in scope and what I suggest you scribble on these back pages.

White - The Presence of All Colors: All Planets, All Genders, All Days, The God and Goddess, Spirit and Astral Work. In plants it boosts your Immune System and helps fight Cancer and improve Heart Health.

Instead of:

"Symbolize and reinforce the contact with pure spirit. Elemental spirits, Angels, Gods of wisdom, divination and prophecy. Purification and cleaning on all levels, contact with higher self and spiritual helpers, aura-healing, truth seeking, consecration, spiritual enlightenment, protection against negativity, breaking curses, exorcism, meditation, divination, inspiration, and clairvoyance. White can be a replacement for any other color."

You see my version is very generic, it give you the information to find what you need without holding your hand. That single sentence tells me everything that I NEED to know. Without question some of that is because of early exposure and my parents but the knowledge will come with time and that hint of mystery speaks volumes. I'll give you one more example and then send you out in the world to create your own list.


Yellow - Planet: Mercury, Gender: Male, Day: Wednesday. Commerce/Trade and Travel Dieties. Study, Intellect, Clarity and Presentation. Plants contain B-Vitamins, essential in Cellular Metabolism and Reproduction necessary in healing.

*********

Gold
Sun-deities, solar energies, and masculine energy. Abundant self confidence, creativity, perfection, financial richess, success in investments, luxury, worldly power, magickal power, overcoming bad habits and addictions.

Orange
Deities of good luck and good fortune. Charm, kindness, encouragement, stimulation, optimism, success, abundance, prosperity, feast and celebration, achieving business goals, investments, success in legal matters.

Copper or Bronze
Love-goddesses, love and passion, positive relationships in love, friendship in business, career promotions, successful negotiations.

Red
Elemental fire, deities of love, passion, sexuality and war. Courage, will-power, determination, speed, assertivity, aggression, masculinity, independence, physical strength, sports, competition, conflicts, health, sexual attraction and potency, love and passion, fertility.

Magenta
Magnetism, the ability to attract or speed up results. Life purpose, life path.

Pink
Love-goddesses, softness and tenderness, romance, caring, nurturing, youth, peace, friendship, femininity, emotional love, emotional healing.

Green
Elemental earth and elemental water. Nature and fertility deities, Mother goddesses. Nature, fertility, growth, rejuvenation, recovery, healing, harvest and abundance, prosperity, harmony, balance, peace, hope, home, plants and animals.

Turquoise
Changes, intellectual and intuitive insights, inventions and originality, renewal, brotherhood, humananity.

Blue
Elemental water and elemental air. Deities of the sea and sky, truth and wisdom. Peace and tranquility, calmness, truth, wisdom, justice, counsel, guidance, understanding and patience, loyalty and honor, sincerity, devotion, healing, femininity, prophetic dreams, protection during sleep, astral projection.

Violet
Elemental spirits, angels, and Gods of divination and prophecy. Psychic abilities, divination, counter-acting negativity and black magick, reversing curses, psychic healing, psychic power, inspiration, meditation, spirituality, spiritual power, astral projection, third eye.

Brown
Elemental earth, stability, grounding, conservation, protection of household, family and pets, healing animals, finding lost objects, buildings, material increase, to make relationships solid, to increase decisiveness and concentration, to attract help in financial crisis.

Gray
Neutralizing negative influences, putting a halt to action.

Silver
Moon-goddesses, female energy, cycles, rebirth, reincarnation, healing of hormonal imbalances, emotional stability, remove or neutralize negativity, intuition, dreams, psychic abilities and psychic workings.

Black
Elemental earth, deities of the Underworld. Repel and banish evil and negativity, protection, breaking free from bad habits and addictions, deep meditation, opens up deep unconscious levels.

 If you would like to contact me personally for Q&A you can always comment or for private consult my email is listed in my business card, please note that I work at my own pace and you may see your answer in a blog post rather than a responding email.