Divination
It is important when practicing divination that you first ground and protect yourself from negative energies that might be attracted to you while you are working. For examples, see the Protection and Purification page.
Dowsing: Ancient cave drawings from 6,000 years ago show people holding forked sticks. These prehistoric pictures have been found in Egypt, China and Peru. Dowing for water would have been a vital use of divination for the early nomadic people who would travel through dry territory.
Dowsing employs the principle of psychometry where the dowser tunes into the vibrational information regarding a target place, such as water. The dowser formulates a clear mental picture of this place, then holds divining rods while walking through a chosen area. Dowsing can be performed for oil, minerals, lost objects, archeological sites, and even spiritual landmarks that have been buried by time.
Dowsing with a pendulum: A pendulum made of brass, wood or crystal suspended from a string must first be 'trained' so that you can determine the answers, 'yes', 'no', 'silly question', and 'search' responses.
Hold the cord lightly between thumb and forefinger, and ask the pendulum to show you its 'yes' swing. Start to swing the pendulum, and then watch as the pendulum will settle into a specific pattern, such as an even, clockwise motion. Repeat the exercise until the pendulum behaves the same way for 'yes'.
Repeat this exercise for 'no', and 'search' and 'silly question'. 'Search' will tell you that the pendulum is looking for whatever you have asked it to find. 'Silly question' is useful because it tells you that your question is not specific enough- perhaps split your original question into two separate questions.
Continue to practice with your pendulum until you develop a rapport for effective dowsing.
Scrying with a Crystal Ball: Scrying is a long-used practice of divination which involves staring into a reflective object, such as a magic mirror, crystal ball, or bowl of water. Staring into a shining, reflective surface works like meditation or self-hypnosis and opens your awareness to psychic insight.
Crystal balls are usually 3 to 6 inches in diameter, ideally made of quartz crystal instead of glass. The ball should be placed against a dark background. When you bring the ball home, you should gently wash it with warm, soapy water and dry witha soft cloth. Keep handling the ball so that it will absorb your energies. Wrap it in a black or purple silk cloth when you aren't using it. The more you use the crystal ball, the more receptive it will become.
Tarot: The true origins of tarot are unknown. The earliest decks appeared in Italy in the late 1400s but the images on the cards contain symbolism from many ancient sources including astrology, numerology, Egyptian, Celtic and Norse mythology, cabbala, and Christianity. Some historians believe that the images were a way to secretly preserve ancient wisdom in picture form.
The 22 cards called the Major Arcana reperesent our main path through life and our spiritual development. The 56 cards of the Minor Arcana are divided into four suits: wands/batons, swords, cups, and pentacles/coins. These suits represent the four aspects of human experience- spiritual and creative, mental, emotional, and physical or material. Cards one to ten represent the ups and downs of daily life. The four court cards symbolize people or particular qualities that people have.
There are many different tarot packs in existence today, with many different interpretations. The best thing to do at first is learn one system really well, then build on it with your own experience of the cards.
The table below illustrates one interpretation of the Major Arcana:
| Card | Name | Symbolizes |
| 0 |
Fool | Risk |
| I | Magician | Potential |
| II | High Priestess (Papess) |
Intuition |
| III | Empress | Nurturing |
| IV | Emperor |
Guidance |
| V | Heirophant (Pope) |
Spiritual Teaching |
| VI | Lovers | Options |
| VII | Chariot | A hard decision |
| VIII | Justice | A good decision |
| IX | Hermit |
Introversion |
| X | Wheel of Fortune |
Cycles |
| XI | Strength (Fortitude) |
Inner strength |
| XII | Hanged Man |
Sacrifice |
| XIII | Death |
Sudden change |
| XIV | Temperance |
Harmony |
| XV | Devil |
Manipulation |
| XVI | Tower |
Destruction |
| XVII | Star |
Hope |
| XVIII | Moon |
Fluctuation |
| XIX | Sun |
Happiness |
| XX | Judgment |
Opportunity |
| XXI | World |
Accomplishment |
| 0 |
Fool |
Freedom |
I Ching: The ancient Chinese 'classic Book of Changes' has been used for divination for thousands of years. The book consists of commentaries on 64 hexagrams (six-part diagrams) that show how each and every event is susceptible to change. In order to find the particular hexagram in play at the moment, you will need to throw three coins. Based on the heads/tails position of six different throws, you will construct the hexagram.
Heads = 2; Tails = 3
Even number = broken line; Odd number = solid line
For example, your first throw is two heads and one tails. (2 + 2 + 3 = 7, an odd number). The first line of your hexagram is a solid line. Repeat until you have drawn six lines to complete your hexagram. The meaning of the hexagram can be found in the I Ching.
Astrology: This science originated in Babylonia in the 1st or 2nd millennium BCE. It uses the positions and movements of the planets against their background of stars and constellations to ascertain events on Earth. Babylonians created the seven-day week based on the known seven planets. Vedic astrology, practiced in India, works with the stars and constellations only. Chinese astrology uses the twelve-year cycle of the planet Jupiter. Aztec and Mayan astrology focuses on the movements of the planet Venus.
Ancient Greeks and Romans first started plotting individual birth charts or horoscopes. By examining the prominent planets at the time of your birth, astrologers create a chart that describes various facets of your life- philosophy, family, relationships, career, hopes, and friends.