Beyond Tarot Cards and Runes

Looking at seemingly natural and random events in search of portents and

omens of the future is a practice as old as time. I'm sure you've heard of

tasseography, or the reading of tea leaves. Well, there are many other kinds of

scrying that are much stranger.



* Aeromancy - divination from the air and sky, particularly

concentrating on cloud shapes, comets, and other phenomena not normally visible in the

heavens.

* Alectryomancy - a bird picks corn grains from a circle of letters.

* Alomancy - using table salt.

* Austromancy - studying of the winds.

* Axiomancy - the observation of how an ax or hatchet quivers or

points when driven into post.

* Belomancy - performed by tossing or balancing arrows.

* Botanomancy - burning tree branches and leaves.

* Capnomancy - the study of smoke rising from a fire.

* Catoptromancy - an early form of crystal gazing with a mirror turned

to the moon to catch its light.

* Causimomancy - the behavior of objects placed in a fire.

* Cephalomancy - using the skull or head of a donkey or goat.

* Ceraunoscopy - draw omens from the study of thunder and lightning.

* Ceromancy - melted lead was is poured into cold water.

* Chirognomy - the study of the general hand formation.

* Cleromancy - casting lots, similar to using dice but with more

natural objects such as pebbles or sea shells.

* Cleidomancy - using a dangling key.

* Critomancy - the study of barley cakes.

* Cromniomancy - using onion sprouts.

* Cyclomancy - finding omens from a turning wheel.

* Dactylomancy - using a dangling ring.

* Daphnomancy - listening to laurel branches crackling and spitting in

an open fire.

* Dendromancy - using either oak or mistletoe.

* Geomancy - the study of figures on the ground and the influence of

the Earth's movements.

* Gyromancy - a person walks in a circle marked with letters until

they become dizzy and stumble at different points, thus spelling out a prophesy.



* Haruspication - inspecting the entrails of animals, popular with the

priests in ancient Rome.

* Hippomancy - the stamping and neighing of horses.

* Hydromancy - with water including the color, ebb and flow, or

ripples produced by pebbles dropped in a pool.

* Ichthyomancy - using fish.

* Libanomancy - the study of incense and its smoke.

* Lithomancy - using precious stones of various colors.

* Margaritomancy - using bouncing pearls.

* Molybdomancy - the hissing of molten lead.

* Myomancy - the study of the prophetic meaning of behavior of rats

and mice.

* Pegomancy - spring water and bubbling fountains.

* Phyllorhodomancy - slapping a rose petal against ones hand and

finding an omen by the sound.

* Pyromancy - any form of divination with fire or flame, often

assisted by substances thrown onto the flames.

* Radiesthesia - using a dangling tool such as a bob or pendulum.

* Rhapsodomancy - using a book of poetry whereby the book is opened at

random and a passage read.

* Sideromancy - burning of straws with hot metal, the resulting burn

marks having divinatory properties.

* Spodomancy - using cinders or soot.



* Stichomancy - throwing open any book and selecting a random passage.



* Tephramancy - using tree bark ashes.

* Tiromancy - using cheese.

All things Imbolc

Imbolc is a festival of preparing for renewal and growth. It’s symbolic of fertility and ridding of the old, making way for the new. Farm animals have given birth or will have their babies soon. This is the midpoint of the dark part of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden Brighid. Her snake emerges to test the weather, the basis for Groundhog Day. In many places, crocus flowers bloom, a sign of spring to come.




The celebration is also called the Feast of Lights, Feast of Torches, Feast of the Virgin, Feast of the Waxing Light, Festival of the Ewe’s Milk, Festival of Lights, Imbolgc Brigantia, Lupercus, Candlelaria, Snowdrop Festival, Greater Sabbat and Solar Festival.



Imbolc Traditions

Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies), are created from oat or wheat and rest in baskets with white flower bedding. Girls carry them from house to house where gifts are bestowed upon the dollies.



Afterwards, older women make acorn wands for the Brideo’gas. Brighid's Crosses are created from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity. Hearth fires are put out and re-lit. Besoms (brooms), are placed by front doors to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Lit candles are placed in each room to honor the re-birth of the Sun.



The plough is a traditional symbol of Imbolc. In areas where this is the first day of ploughing, a decorated plough is pulled from home to home. Costumed children follow, asking for refreshments or money. If they are refused, the house’s front garden is ploughed over. In other places, ploughs are decorated and whiskey is poured over them. Cheese and bread are left by the tools as offerings to nature spirits.





Imbolc Activities

It’s a time to hike in nature to find signs of the impending arrival of spring, perhaps a crocus or a robin. Priapic wands, symbols of fertility, are made from sticks, acorns, small bells and gold, yellow, green and brown ribbons or yarn. Bride's beds and Brideo’gas are created and ploughs, decorated. There’s feasting, candle lighting and bonfires aflame.



Of Things Imbolc

Symbols: white flowers, snowflakes, besoms, candle wheels, Brighid crosses, Priapic wands, Brideo’gas and ploughs.

Colors: white, light green, yellow, brown, pink, red.

Crystals: ruby, garnet, amethyst, bloodstone, turquoise and onyx.

Flowers: violets, wisteria, heather, iris and white and yellow flowers.

Herbs and incense: Bay leaves, angelica, cinnamon, basil, celandine, myrrh, coltsfoot, laurel, vanilla, blackberry and tansy.

Food and drink: all dairy products, breads, cakes, scones, muffins, raisins, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, greens, bell peppers, onions, garlic, herbal teas, ale, mead and spiced wines.

Groundhog Day

Brighid’s snake appeared on Imbolc to test the weather. Over the years, the snake became a hedgehog or a badger. It was the immigrants from the Palatinate region of Europe, known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, who brought the custom of Groundhog Day to America. Hedgehogs aren’t native to America and badgers are very aggressive. Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, were plentiful, so they substituted for hedgehogs.



The town of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania has celebrated the day since the 1800s. Phil, its groundhog, is probably the most famous of the predictors. On February 2, he emerges from his burrow. The question in onlookers’ minds is whether or not he’ll see his shadow. If he does, winter will last for another six weeks.



Sources:



Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft, Raymond Buckland, (Llewellyn Publications, 1990)



Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic, Scott Cunningham, (llewellyn Publications, 1989)

Money Bowl Spell

For ensuring a smooth, continuous flow of money for household bills and expenses, unforeseen circumstances, a special gift for a loved one, or for gradual improvements in your home or premises, create your very own money bowl. Take a brass or copper bowl and shine it up with some polish and cloth. Name it the “Bowl of Plenty,” and fill it with a handful of cinquefoil or five-finger grass. Add a fistful of silver coins, gold coins, and a few dollar notes. Say the following nine times each morning and each night at exactly the same hour each time:

O Bowl of Plenty!

Ever generously flowing to me.

And as I will,

So mote it be!

Each day, keep adding coins and bills until the bowl is full. Once a month, transfer the bowl’s contents into a cash box or piggy bank and begin this same ritual afresh.

~ S. Y. Zenith

(I have done a similar spell using a  cigar box - but I kinda like this one better, since you keep adding money to it, it kinda becomes a way to save)

What is Imbolc?

The name Imbolc probably means "in the belly" in Gaelic. This sabbat

celebrates the first evidence of the return of life. The Sun is slowly starting to

make its return and the very hardiest of plants will begin to grow again from

this day forth.



Imbolc is also the holy day of Brigid, who is the Goddess of fire, healing,

fertility and is the muse of the poets. It is a fire celebration, but the

emphasis is mainly on the light aspect of the fire and not so much the warmth.

It is seen as light piercing the dark (the slow return of the sun).



Celebrations during this sabbat are some of the most beautiful. They tend to

include a large amount of candles in addition to the bonfire. There is

typically many poems and stories told, in addition to music and art. Many tend to make St. Brigid crosses at this holiday. The crosses tend to be made from straw

and usually are of the Celtic variety with 4 equal-length arms.



In the Christian Calendar, this holiday is called Candlemas and all church

candles are blessed for the year.



This is traditionally a time of purification- - clean your house! If you

have any Christmas greenery lingering, burn it now.



Make your own Brighid's crosses and hang them up, especially in the kitchen

where her influence can bless your food.



Put out food-- cake, buttered bread and milk will do--outside your door:

Brighid and her cow walk through the neighborhood tonight, and will appreciate

your offering.



Leave a silk ribbon on your doorstep for Brighid to bless: It can then be

used for healing purposes.



Meditate upon what you would like to see grow in health and strength this

year: for yourself, your family, your community, the Earth, and ask for Bride's

blessing upon your prayers.



Source Unknown

Making a Dark Banishing Powder

There is always something we can banish from our lives to help us

function as more complete spiritual beings. Whether it’s a harmful

habit, attitude, situation, or illness, it’s inevitable that something

is almost always keeping us from metaphysical growth. For this reason,

it’s good to keep on hand a banishing potion or powder to use whenever

the need arises. Magic can assist in banishing harmful things from our

lives when used alongside necessary physical care and intelligent

choice-making.



To create a banishing powder, pulverize, grind, and mix

together any combination of the following: sulfur, snake skin, dead

bugs, black pepper, white salt, black salt, red pepper, snail shells,

graveyard dirt, anvil powder, black sand, iron, mullein, sage, and

“fiery” herbs. Keep the powder in a jar and store covered in black

fabric in order to keep energies contained.

Pendulum Divination

Pendulum Divination, also known as radiesthesia, dowsing, rhabdomancy, or water witching, is divination by utilizing human sensitivity to the subtle energies emitted by any source living or inert. Some folks believe that their spirit guides act as the source of energy in revealing secret information. The history of this pendulum divination can be traced back over 5,000 years to the ancient Orient. The pendulum is the main instrument used for this area of divination, although wooden rods are also used. This practice became very popular in the Middle Ages and was a favored practice of divination through to the early nineteenth century. The practice lost favor after that but then there was a great renewal of interest in the twentieth century. In 1933, the British Society of Dowsers was formed.

The pendulum is a simple tool. The basic design is a weight of some sort suspended on a fine chain or a length of chain. A dowser is a person who is sensitive to hidden information and uses an indicator, like a pendulum or a rod, to intensify that sensitivity. There are a few different ways to hold your pendulum while working with it. Most dowser's will hold the end of the chain directly between their fingers.

Just about any small weight can be used for your pendulum. Some people use a pendant necklace, or a ring on the end of a length of string. Coins, crystals, roots, or keys can also be used, as long as it is heavy enough to act as a pendulum. Quartz crystal is said to make a powerfully accurate pendulum. Some commercially produced pendulums are hollow and unscrew to give access to an inside cavity. You can place in here what is known as a "witness"- this would be a sample of what is being sought. For instance, if you were looking for water, you would put a couple of drops of water inside it. The recommended length of chain or string is approximately 20 to 30 cm.

It has been said that consistent use of your pendulum helps to forge a connection to your personal energy. It does take a bit of practice.


How to Use:

First, your pendulum should be cleansed from previous influences. This can be accomplished by either submersion into salt water, or by permeating it with the smoke of a cleansing botanical such as sage, hyssop, or sweetgrass. If you can't find a ready to use incense, use loose incense on charcoal and smoke it well. If you use salt water, leave it submerged for 2 to 3 hours and wipe dry with a clean towel or paper towel. Hold the pendulum between both of your hands until it is warm, to charge it with your energy.



Next, seat yourself comfortably at a table and start out with simple yes/ no questions. Fix in your mind the direction of "yes", and the direction of "no". Most people consider it yes when for vertical movement, and no for horizontal movement, but do what feels right to you.



Hold the end of your chain between the thumb and first finger- right hand if right handed; left hand if left handed- allowing the pendulum weight to be suspended about an inch above the surface of the table. Resting your elbow on the table, let the weight of your pendulum hang comfortably and ask a "yes" or "no" question. Although you attempt to keep the pendulum still, it will start to swing either vertically or horizontally. Dowsers will add other movement interpretations as they become more comfortable and use their pendulum more, such as swinging in a clockwise circle= yes, and swinging counterclockwise (or widdershins) as "no".



Some Dowsers suggest not having your elbow on the table. I don't recommend this as fatigue and unsteadiness may unduly influence the motion of your pendulum. It is crucial that you do not consciously try to make the pendulum swing. It should swing of it's own accord like the planchette of a Ouija board (Talking Board) moves without being manipulated.



If you are having any trouble discerning an answer, it may be that the question asked is too ambiguous and need rephrasing. It's also possible that the question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. Consider the wording of the questions carefully. You do not have to speak the question out loud, just focus on it as you begin.



After you have worked with your pendulum for awhile, you might want to determine more than yes and no answers. This is where things get really interesting. A variety of things can be used in dowsing: maps, a calendar, pictures, there are even Talking Boards to use specifically in pendulum work. You can buy a Talking Board, or make one of your own by putting the letters of the alphabet in a semicircle on paper, and placing it on the table. I used a calendar to find the accurate date that my grandson would be born by laying a calendar on the table and suspending the pendulum in the center above it. Maps can be used in the same way for a number of questions- like finding something that has been lost.



Some Suggested Uses:



Finding out the sex of a baby before it is born



Determining the date of a future event



Locating lost objects  (My personal favorite - do it all the time, works great)


Finding the presence of ghosts/ spirits



Confirming a change in environmental energy



Can be used as a complement aid to help in diagnosing health problems (always consult a health professional first)



Water Witching (locating under ground water for wells, etc.)

Sacred Salt Jar

This is not only great to have for oneself, but it makes a nice gift to someone special if you happen to know what scents they like or stones they like. Since what you put into it is "yours", it is like giving a part of yourself, too. This mixture is excellent to charge stones in and to "simmer energies".  It can actually become quite powerful in itself after many years.

Once it has blended for a few months, a pinch can be added to rituals, etc., bath water or as a gift to Mother Earth. You can also make a "starter salt" as a gift for a friend. You can also give of your own sacred salt mixture to a special friend to help blend powers and energies when they make their own sacred salt mixture.

The mixture should be made and kept in a covered stone or earthen jar, but can be made and kept in a covered glass jar until you find one that is suitable. I actually discovered that I like the glass jar as I can see the stones and all in it every time I walk past it. There are thoughts on what kind of salt to use. Some use rock salt, some Earth salt and some sea salt, some even use normal table salt.  Whatever salt you use, make sure that it is "natural" and not iodized.

You blend the salt with chopped or ground herbs, tiny crystals, small stones, nuts, seeds, jewelry, locks of hair, ground incense and a few drops of your favorite oils.....anything that you wish. Even rose petals and other flowers.

When I have cleansed and charged stones and crystals by Sun and Moon, I place them in this mixture to store until I wish to use them or give them as gifts.

Often, I will simply take the top off and inhale the fragrance and feel much the better for doing so. Of course, the larger the jar, the more things you can continue to add.

To my Readers

To my dear 7 readers:

Yesterday I posted a beautiful article full of steps to enable one to have vivid dreams and to be able to record these dreams so that one could interpreting them.  Well, I am here today to tell you what happened last night.  First, I was at a meeting and had two cups of coffee, which I think contained caffeine, which is not usually a problem.  Then I went home and dear boyfriend was watching The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke, so I went a took a shower,  I was now wide awake so I sit down to the computer with first a mug o'wine to play Bejeweled Blitz.  The wine was not making me tired, so I get myself a jagermeister, still playing Bejeweled Blitz, not moving up in rank - so sad - so I yet drink another jagermeister.  Still not tired I moved up to bedroom to read.  I finished one book and started another.  Out go the lights and still, I lie sleepless for about forty minutes so I take a half of a sleep aid.  I fall asleep and have a night of the most vivid, crazy dreams I have had in a long while. 

Now true, I was meditating earlier and I had open myself to send out good intentions, and healing intentions to a situation that some friends are facing, and probably, in my tipsy state, I forgot to "close the door" so to speak.

The funniest though, my dear friends, was the fact that I was dreaming that I was dreaming and that I woke up to write the dreams downs, I was dreaming yesterdays article, so it was like a continuous loop, I kept dreaming it over and over, that I was dreaming and waking to write down that I was dreaming and waking.  I finally did wake, and found it quite funny.  I dreamt in one night, what felt like a month of dreams.  I dreamt that I went with my good friend for lunch to a small shop where I purchased $200.00 worth of stuff, to bring it home and have the boyfriend look in the bags to find the $200.00 and I remember saying to him, "Oh my she must of put the money back in bag".  Meowing cats woke me at 4:10 AM and even from 4 to 6:30 AM I dreamt more.

So here I am to say, sometimes we come up with the most perfect of spells and rituals, a good shot of booze can do the same thing, LOL.  But seriously, it was more probably the fact that I left myself open to the dreams, and you to can have vivid dreaming, by just leaving yourself open to them prior to going to sleep.  Sometimes the most simplest ways to get things done are the best.

When I was a child, I had terrible nightmares, so out of self preservation I learned to program my dreams, and I still do it.  Last night, with my guard down, I had nothing programmed so everything could flow in.

Now, to spend the rest of the day interpreting them.

Hugs and kisses, dreams and wishes, to you, my dear reader.

Remembering Dreams

Items mentioned in the steps below, including the following: aloes wood, essential oils of juniper, lavender and mimosa, jasmine attar, honeysuckle absolute, tuberose absolute, neroli or petitgrain,

You may substitute anything you do not have readily at hand for something similar, as long as you charge the item with you intentions and research that the substituted item will not have a reverse or otherwise different effect.

I have not tried all of these steps.

Step 1

Try to write down the dream as soon as you wake up.

Keep a pencil and paper next to your bed. As soon as you wake up, jot down all the details that you remember leaving spaces in between. The spaces are for filling in more details as they are remembered or dreamed again later. Once you get into the habit of writing down your dreams, you'll be able to wake up just enough to jot down important details and go back to sleep.  Do this even if it is in the middle of the night. Some of the best laughs I got were when I first started to do this. I would start by writing just key words, thinking that would be enough to remember. Some days I would wake up with things like wagon, moon and potatoes written down, without the foggiest idea why.  But the longer you practice this - the better you get at it.  Remember to state your intentions, outloud if you have to, before you go to sleep.  I use to say something like "I will write down my dreams even if I wake for just a moment".    And literally that is what I would do, I would not even sit up, I would just reach out my hand, pick up the pen and write on the paper, not looking at it at all, which of course, added for a few more laughs sometimes, especially when I wrote words on top of one another.

 

Step 2 - (I have not tried this)
Burn Aloeswood.

Aloeswood is rare. It is believed that when burned, it can deepen the sleep state and allow dream travel to other realms. Burn just a splinter of the Aloes wood at a time while wishing for profound, magical dreams.

Step 3

Take a bath! ( I like baths!)
Add 4 drops of each of the following to a full bathtub: essential oil of juniper, essential oil of lavender, essential oil of mimosa. Bathing in this infusion will relax you and allow for a deeper sleep with stronger dream sequences.



Step 4

Take a Fairy-tale Bath! (although I do bath - this infusion I have never tried)

The following infusion is said to stimulate vivid dreams: 3 drops of honeysuckle absolute, 4 drops of jasmine attar, 4 drops of essential oil or lavender, 3 drops of neroli or petitgrain, and 1 drop of tuberose absolute.

Neroli is expensive but petitgrain has a very similar fragrance that may have even further sedative effects.


Step 5

Create a Dream Potion. (Have not tried this)

Use of Mugwort tea or any dream potion is most effective, but for this activity any beverage will work. Bring a cup of your chosen drink to your bedside before sleeping. Have a sip and say, "When I awake, I will have another sip and remember my dreams." When you wake up, do so.


Step 6

Make a Moon Potion. (Haven't tried this either, but it sounds like a good idea - I would further it by speaking my intentions to the bottle when charging it)

Charge a bottle of REAL spring water in full moonlight then put in the fridge. Before going to bed, pour a small cup of water for yourself. Take a few sips and leave the rest on the nightstand to sip as needed. Reserve a bit to drink just before recording any dreams.