#beginner divination

One of the more difficult aspects of divination, I think, is working out what to do when things don’t work the way they’re supposed to. When you’ve done everything technically right, there’s a chance you still won’t get answers that you can interpret, that make sense, or that are correct. If you have an occasional problem with divination, that’s totally normal — nothing will work 100% of the time. But when it happens consistently, it might be time to do a little troubleshooting.

This post is far from a complete list of possible problems. I’ve spent many years trying (and failing at) different forms of divination, so these are things I’ve personally run into and the things I consider when troubleshooting.

The basic format of this post is the form of problem, a short description of what the problem looks like, possible causes for the problem, and multiple suggested solutions for each cause. These recommendations are fairly general and non-exhaustive. You may find that you need to employ multiple solutions before the problem resolves, and you may find that none of these proposed solutions solve the issue you’re having. Some listed problems are specific to a particular tool, but most are applicable to more than one type.

Sometimes, determining the cause of your issue can be difficult. It can take a good amount of discernment to figure out, so don’t feel discouraged if you can’t fix the problem on the first try!

Unclear Answers

You’ve drawn your cards, cast your charms, selected your runes, and… it makes no sense, or maybe the answers you receive are too vague to be useful.

Cause: Lack of practice or familiarity with the tool Solutions:

Perform practice readings with the tool

Study the guidebook, if you have one, to determine whether there are additional meanings to glean

Look up potential alternate meanings to the individual cards/runes, or consider another perspective (Three of Swords not always meaning heartbreak, for example)

Ask for a second opinion by taking a picture of the reading and sending it to like-minded practitioners who would be willing to help you interpret

Request a reading from a more seasoned diviner to confirm the information you’re able to glean from your own reading (if you do this, I would suggest letting them know that you’re seeking clarity from a divination you did for yourself)

Cause: No thoughts, head empty (brain fog, sudden blanking, fatigue, etc.) Solutions:

Set it aside and come back to it later with fresh eyes

Do grounding or energizing exercises before redoing the divination

Take care of your mundane needs (drink water, eat something, sleep, take medicines, go outside/get fresh air, etc.) and then return to it

Ask for a second opinion

Write down what you can understand and return to it later to check your interpretation and/or reinterpret it

Cause: The question was poorly worded, or you’re asking the wrong question Solutions:

Reword the question

Ask a different question related to the situation

Consider whether the answer given is to another question or another facet of the situation

Ask the tool, spirits, deities, etc. what you should be focusing on, if not the question you’re asking

Ask follow-up questions to clarify specifics

Cause: The tool isn’t suited to the question you’re asking Solutions:

Try a different tool

Reword the question to suit the tool better

Request a reading from someone else (if you only use one type of tool)

Cause: Stagnant energy is lingering on or around the tool Solutions:

Cleanse the tool and any containers you keep the tool in

Reshuffle, shake, etc. thoroughly before attempting to divine again

Allow the tool to “rest” so it can “cool off” and lose some of the stuck-on energy

Cause: Missing context or information Solutions:

Write down what you can understand for now and come back in a few days/weeks to see if it makes more sense

Walk away and come back to it in an hour to see if new details come to mind

Work on phrasing your questions to account for information you don’t actively know

Cause: One single card is standing out, not meshing with the rest of the reading Solutions:

Let the querent know it’s a confusing card, explain what it typically means, and allow them to offer clarification or possible meanings to it

Decide ahead of time what you will do with cards like this and what they could possibly mean, so that when they come up, you can seamlessly deal with them

Disregard the rogue card entirely

Allow the card to stand on its own, almost like a separate reading within the existing reading; redraw for the position if doing a spread

Consider alternative or unorthodox meanings to the card, especially if it’s in an odd position in a spread:

The card may be referring to another question or situation; if so, set it aside and consider doing a separate divination with that card as a focus

The card may indicate a particular person; determine who it may be and what their impact is on the overall situation

The card may be a message from a spirit, related or unrelated to the situation; set it aside and consider doing a separate divination to see the full message

The card may indicate an unexpected element, upheaval, discomfort, or mismatched priorities; the interpretation largely depends on the card and position

Wrong Answers

You thought you had it, but the divination ended up being completely wrong. One time is normal, but consistently very wrong divinations are less so.

Cause: Lack of practice or familiarity with the tool Solutions:

Perform practice readings, either with actual questions, hypothetical scenarios, or no prompt at all to work on weaving meanings together and identifying messages/symbolism

Ask others if you can practice your divination with them to get more practical experience

Study the guidebook (if there is one) or other guides and articles on the tool to determine whether you missed a meaning, theme, or detail that would have made the reading more accurate

Study how you asked the question, performed the divination, and interpreted the output to see what may have gone wrong, if anything

Cause: The tool you’re using isn’t suited to you Solutions:

Try a different type of tool

If using tarot or oracle cards, try a deck with different imagery

If using tarot, try a deck based on a different system (Thoth vs. Rider-Waite-Smith, for example)

Cause: You’ve asked the same question too many times in a short period, and now the readings are so muddied nothing is accurate Solutions:

Take a break from divining on the question or topic

Consider the answers you’ve already gotten and determine which is the likeliest to be true (or untrue)

Ask a different question

Cause: Misleading or incorrect phrasing and information from the querent Solutions:

Clarify the situation with the querent

Before beginning the divination, let the querent know that they need to be honest with you or results may not be correct

Rephrase the question or prompt to be more honest about the situation

Cause: Blockages or disruption between you and the divination target Solutions:

Ask the querent to temporarily allow you through their protections

Cast a spell to break through the barrier/blockage before trying the divination again (note that if the barrier is a purposeful protection against prying eyes, there may be consequences to busting through)

Request spirit assistance with breaking through the blockage

Ground yourself and clear away any blockages or reluctance within yourself to see and understand the truth

Accept that the target person doesn’t want you divining about them

Cause: The question was poorly worded for the tool you’re using Solutions:

Try a different tool better suited to the type of question you’re asking (pendulums for yes/no, magpie oracle for general life readings, tarot for advice, etc.)

Reword the question to suit the tool

Practice asking better divination questions overall (proper wording, understanding the tool’s capabilities, etc.)

Conflicting Answers

When you do separate readings on the same topic and get different answers, it can be confusing! Which one do you believe? Which will actually come true?

Cause: You’ve asked the same question too many times Solutions:

 Take a break from divining on the topic or question

Consider the answers you’ve already gotten and determine which is the likeliest to be true (or untrue)

Ask something else, either relating to the situation or not

Cause: Circumstances have changed radically since you last divined on the situation Solutions:

Divine on what’s changed and how it’s caused the shift

If the change is undesirable, ask how you can get back on track to the future you want

Compare the readings to see if you can determine the links between them

Cause: The future is mutable, and there are separate, very different possibilities branching out around the situation Solutions:

Divine about the causes of each outcome already gathered to see what’s causing the vast difference in readings

If there are many people involved, do smaller, more specific divinations to determine their impact on the future

Accept that you may not get to know the future perfectly

Ask instead how you can attain the future you actually want, rather than what may happen

Always Exhausted Afterwards

After doing divination, you feel absolutely drained of energy. Whether that’s physical, emotional, or spiritual energy, when it happens often, it can be discouraging and make you want to never do divination again!

Cause: Your energy is depleting naturally Solutions:

Do smaller divinations

Only perform one divination in a single sitting, rather than attempting several back to back

Request assistance from spirits to boost your own energy or borrow theirs for the reading

Eat a nourishing meal beforehand and have a snack afterwards

Cause: The querent, tool, spirits, etc., involved are draining your energy Solutions:

Bolster your area’s protections with a focus on keeping your energy to yourself

Wear something like a veil or other protective clothing, jewelry, or accessories during the divination to prevent the drain

Do a grounding exercise beforehand to center your focus and keep your energy to yourself

Pause the divination if you start feeling yourself draining to refresh and protect your energy

If working with spirits which are draining you as part of a deal (whether spoken or unspoken), make a physical offering instead of an energetic one

Practice energy work to learn how to better contain your energy so that it isn’t as free for the taking

Cause: You didn’t have the energy to begin with, but divined anyways Solutions:

Request a reading from a trusted source

Seek ways to boost your energy before beginning

Take care of your mundane needs before performing divination (eat something, drink water, take a nap, get some fresh air)

Spirits Aren’t Coming Through or Assisting

You’ve invited spirits to the table, but it doesn’t seem like they’ve got a hand in the divination results you’re getting.

Cause: You haven’t made an offering equivalent in value to what you’re asking for Solutions:

Set out an offering before starting if you haven’t already

Determine what the spirits might want other that what you’ve already offered

Offer something more personalized to the particular spirit

Make a sacrifice, rather than a simple offering (give up the last cookie, lay a piece of meaningful jewelry on their altar, etc.)

Cause: The spirits think you aren’t ready to know the answers you’re looking for Solutions:

Seek answers from another source

Wait a while and try again later

Ask a different question

Cause: The spirits you’re trying to contact aren’t immediately available/answering Solutions:

Call on the spirits before you start divining and let them know what you’re doing and why

Perform the divination at their sacred space, if possible

If working in an animist sense, “wake up” or “activate” your deck’s spirit in some way before beginning (knocking, speaking to it, etc.)

Cause: Another spirit is interrupting Solutions:

Ask the intruding spirit to back off (for now or forever, that’s up to you)

Perform a banishing if the spirit is unwelcome and will not leave when asked

Find out what the interrupting spirit wants and either decline or fulfill their request

End the divination and come back to it later on

Pendulum Won’t Swing Consistently

The pendulum swings willy-nilly with little to no rhyme or reason, providing no clear answers.

Cause: The cord, chain, string, or other material isn’t long enough Solutions:

Replace it with a longer cord, chain, string, etc.

Use a different pendulum

Create your own pendulum using a length of string (or twine, etc.) and a crystal, stone, pendant, coin, or other relatively heavy item

Cause: The pendulum itself isn’t heavy enough, or it’s an uneven shape Solutions:

Replace the pendulum with a pointed stone, crystal, or piece of glass Thread other, heavier beads, charms, crystals, stones, etc., onto the pendulum’s cord/chain

Cause: Your source for answers isn’t working with you Solutions:

If working based on your own intuition, do a grounding exercise and try again

If working with spirits, make an offering or see whether the spirits are present before trying again

Cause: There’s a breeze making it swing Solutions:

Wait until the wind dies down

Move indoors to try again

Close windows, turn off fans, and turn off air conditioners in the immediate area

Cause: The energy in your area is causing interference Solutions:

Perform a cleansing of the area to clear out excess energy

Banish any rogue spirits hanging around who are messing with the pendulum on purpose

Perform a ritual to calm the energy around you, like soothing a storm or lulling the wind to sleep for the duration of your divination

Keep Dropping Cards

Dropping your whole deck of cards may be an issue with grip strength, clumsiness, or joint bendiness… or, it may be a sign of an underlying issue or message.

Cause: The deck is too large or cumbersome to hold and shuffle easily Solutions:

Try another, smaller deck of tarot cards

Try a deck with standard card shapes (round or very large cards are personally super hard to shuffle neatly)

Ignore jumping or dropped cards, and only take cards you consciously draw

Cause: The shuffle itself is difficult Solutions:

Try another method of shuffling

Practice shuffling with regular playing cards, then with the deck you want to be using (this makes a fun fidget while watching shows)

If all shuffling is difficult, spread out the cards on a flat surface and mix them together before putting them back into a pile and drawing accordingly

Cause: The spirit(s) you’re communicating with don’t want to provide answers right now Solutions:

Provide an offering or payment for services rendered (especially if you haven’t in a while)

Take a break and try again later

Investigate the root cause of their reluctance and plan accordingly

Never Feels “Right” to Stop Shuffling or to Pull a Card

You’re shuffling. And shuffling. And… shuffling. You’re waiting for a sign to stop and pull cards, and it just never comes.

Cause: Your brain and/or intuitive thinking is exhausted Solutions:

Take a break from divination and other magical practices

Do a grounding exercise to reconnect with your intuitive thoughts and try again

Replenish your energy by eating something, drinking water, having a nap, and otherwise taking care of your mundane needs before trying again

Cause: You aren’t meant to know the answer to the question you’ve asked Solutions:

Ask a different, related question to see if you can get answers

Try again in a few days

Try a different divination tool (different tools can provide different answers with varying levels of detail)

Failing troubleshooting, accept that you can’t know everything that’s ahead and simply plan accordingly (magically and mundanely)

Cause: Blockage between you and the target of the question Solutions:

Cast a spell to break through the barrier/blockage before trying the divination again (note that if the barrier is a purposeful protection against prying eyes, there may be consequences to busting through)

Determine whether there are missing details about the situation that may help break through

Request spirit intervention to get around the blockage

Ground yourself and clear away any blockages or reluctance within yourself to see and understand the truth

Accept that the target person doesn’t want you to divine about them

If the reading is about a situation, a spell of “true seeing” or clarity may help

Cause: The querent isn’t being fully honest about their question (misleading phrasing, leaving out information that would impact the reading) Solutions:

Clarify the situation with the querent

If divining for yourself, consider all facets of the situation and question before rewording it more clearly and honestly

Talk or journal about the situation before beginning to get as much information as possible

Cause: The spirits you rely on for divination have declined to provide answers Solutions:

Ask why they aren’t answering

Try again later

Try another divination tool

Use another source for answers, such as the universe on the whole or your own deeper intuitive self

Reword the question to be more specific or general, depending

Cause: Something about the cards or shuffle themselves isn’t right Solutions:

Try another shuffle/pull method (spread out cards and pull at random, create piles and take the top of each, etc.)

Try a different deck of cards

Try another type of divination tool

Give the deck a cleanse

Look for a way to “wake up” or “activate” the cards

Too Many Jumpers

Even if you read tarot like I do with all jumpers, having a ton of cards leap out at once can be daunting — and even annoying, if it keeps happening consistently.

Cause: Your deck is too large for your hands, or it’s an odd shape (circular, non-standard number of cards, above-average card size, thick card stock) Solutions:

Try a deck with fewer cards or a more standard shape and paper weight

Create your own deck of cards that fits more securely in your hands

Try a digital deck of cards

Disregard jumping cards completely and only accept cards you’re pulling on purpose

Cause: More possibilities or details about the situation need to be brought to light than expected Solutions:

Try another spread to accommodate the jumpers

Ditch the spread altogether and read the cards as they fall instead

Treat the jumping cards as amendments or extra information about the card whose position you’re drawing for (for example, if drawing for a “Self” position and you get two jumpers before pulling your card in your usual fashion, the two jumpers modify the Official Card)

Cause: Spirits are interfering with the reading Solutions:

Cleanse the area or banish the offending spirits if they’re not ones you’ve welcomed into the space

Request that they chill the heck out and not throw any (or as many) jumping cards

Make an offering to quell their mischief

Pay attention to why they’re acting this way; if you’re not sure, ask for their reasons

Applicable to Now, Not Later

Your reading describes your situation as it is right now with perfect clarity, but it doesn’t reveal anything new or give insights into the future.

Cause: Your current talent lies in revealing the present Solutions:

Practice with readings explicitly about the immediate future

Practice targeting a specific moment in the future, such as a particular future month’s events

Fine-tune your questions to specifically request information you don’t know

Employ spirits or deities to expand your abilities to encompass the future

Try another tool or supplement your reading with another tool

Cause: The question or prompt is too open or general Solutions:

Ask a more specific, carefully worded question

Ask what you mean, rather than a general question around the situation (“What do I need to know about my relationship with X?” vs. “What do I need to know about my love life?”)

Cause: There will be little to no change in the timeframe you’re asking about Solutions:

Expand the range of time you’re asking about

Choose a time further in the future (next year instead of next month, for example)

Make an active choice to change the future if you’re dissatisfied with things as they appear to be now

Can’t Get into the “Right Headspace” for Divination

You’ve sat down and have your tools ready, but you just can’t get into the zone.

Cause: Your environment is distracting Solutions:

Move to a quieter location where you can focus more

Perform a grounding exercise to shut out distractions and focus on your divination

Wear headphones and play music that will help you focus (I suggest unobtrusive music without lyrics, so that it doesn’t impact your interpretations; personally, I use crackly fireside sounds over lo-fi beats)

Cause: Your environment isn’t inspiring you to get into the right headspace Solutions:

Create a space specifically for performing divination, whether permanent or temporary

Curate an aesthetic for your divination space with candles, crystals, plants, divination cloths, and other things that are meaningful to you

Go for a walk in a place that does inspire you and perform a divination there, if possible (cemeteries, parks, museums, rivers, etc.); if not possible to do divination there, absorb as much of the inspiring energy as you can and carry it back to your divination location

Cause: You don’t have the energy for it right now Solutions:

Focus on replenishing your energy with food, water, sleep, and other self-care tasks before divining

Request assistance from spirits to boost or borrow energy

Request a divination from someone else

Cause: You just aren’t in the mood for it Solutions:

Create a ritual that will help you get into your desired headspace for divination (putting on specific accessories, preparing your space, calling on spirits, etc.)

Request a divination from someone else

Walk away and come back to it when you feel more motivated

Scroll through others’ divination posts, watch a video, or listen to a podcast to get inspired to do your own divination

Conclusion

Again, there are countless possible issues and even further countless possible solutions to those issues. In general, walking away for a while, having a rest, practicing asking questions, and becoming more familiar with your tool over time will be the best tools in your belt. And if you can’t find a solution on your own, there’s no shame in crowdsourcing ideas for fixes! Ask your friends, your favorite witchy blogger, your Discord servermates, make a public post for others to comment on, or otherwise reach out. The best ideas often come from conversation.

Feel free to drop questions in the reblogs, replies, or my ask box if you’d like to ask me in particular about your divination troubles! I’m always happy to help out where I can. And if I’ve got no clue, one of my followers or mutuals might have a thought to share!

Hello,

Yes, I definitely have some beginner advice.

Starting out, whenever you experience a dream that you feel may be "important" (though it doesn't have to be), write down as much as you can remember. Once you do that, go through and highlight anything that really stood at to you, or make a list. Consider things like: Where did the dream take place? What was the setting? What was the weather like? Was there anyone you know? Were there any animals? Any plants? Did you see anything from everyday life? Anything from your favorite media?

Once you've made your list, begin to consider these things as individual symbols rather than random visuals. Consider what each means to you personally; how much significance they hold for you. Using a red rose as an example, what would that mean to you personally? Love? Beauty? Romance? Sex? Once you think you've pinned it down and really weighed it out, take a moment to consider the context of which this symbol was presented. Continuing with the "red rose" example: Was it given to a lover? Was it found in the wild on a bush? Was it dropped in the street and abandoned in a puddle? Any one of these can drastically change the meaning behind the "rose's" appearance in the dream- if, for instance, you ended up deciding that a "red rose" is a symbol of love, a rose growing on a bush could symbolize a flourishing, natural kind of romance that comes easily to those involved; whereas, a rose abandoned in a puddle in a street could represent an abandoned love, or a romance taken for granted.

Here are some questions to ask yourself while reviewing the symbols:

People-

What is your relationship with this person in the "real" world (if you have one)? What do they look like? How are they dressed? What kind of traits or personality do they have? How are they behaving? How did they make you feel in dream? Do they have a job title? What is the function of that job title or position?

Places-

What is the condition of the setting? What is the structure of the setting? How did it make you feel? Do you have a personal connection to this place? How is somewhere like this usually portrayed in media? What was the layout?

Things-

What was the condition of the object? Where did you see or find the object? What is the object usually used for in "real" life? How was it being used in the dream? What kind of person uses this object in "real" life? Who used it in the dream? Is this an object you see everyday? Is this an object you've seen in media?

Animals-

What condition is the animal in? What does the animal look like? What does the animal usually represent in media (i.e, dogs can be used to symbolize 'loyalty")? How was the animal behaving? How does that behavior make you feel? Do you have a personal connection to the animal in "real" life?

Keywords: Journey, seeking, purity, innocence.

Key concept: “Life is about the journey, not the destination, man.”

The Fool can signify someone exploring life with utter freedom and enthusiasm. In a reading, this could indicate many lessons the individual must still learn. Everyone must go through a whole variety of human experiences in order to grow and develop.

Key Symbols

Young man: This youthful wanderer represents the soul - the protagonist in every single mythic story.

Clothes: The tunic is richly decorated as if he’s got a wealth of history, but trying to leave all that behind now. Experiences are but a garment to the soul - protective perhaps, but not the actual soul itself.

Wreath & Feather: On the crown of the head is a laurel with a red feather. Many cultures throughout history have used feathers to symbolize fierce courageousness. The wreath represents inner strength that triumphs over adversity. For ancient Greeks, the laurel was sacred to the sun god Apollo and symbolized victory.

White Rose: Pure romance, utter infatuation, best intentions. This hints at the Latin phrase sub rosa (”under the rose”) meaning confidentiality. Aphrodite is said to have given a rose to her son Eros who then entrusted the flower to Harpocrates, the god of silence (AKA the Egyptian god Horus, god of the sun who each day overcomes darkness) to protect her from slander.

Staff: The pole represents an authentic life and staying true to purpose, carrying no regrets or confusion, only the essential things needed to carry on. Staffs can also be used as “wands” for conducting and directing magic energies.

Bag: The classic vagabond trope absolutely must have a kerchief bag on a stick. You can’t run from the past without bringing something along with you, no matter how much of a fresh start was intended.

Sun: There is a divine point from which everything emanates and to which everything returns. No matter how far out you travel from your first origin, you’ll always end up at an origin point.

Ledge: The next unseen step may lead to a fall, but this too is only the beginning of yet another story.

Yellow: Mostly unnoticed in the background is the color yellow, which is full of bright energy and also warning.

Small dog: The dog represents hope - a guardian and faithful companion. We all have escorts on our journey whether or not we recognize those friendly souls.

Waite-Smith Fun Fact

Their reasoning was that Tarot is a complex system to learn and since Oracle cards can be interpreted however “they’re easier”. So I bought 2 Oracle decks and 1 Tarot deck and boy do I love the latter more!

Since Tarot has a fixed system of meanings, it’s easier for you write out your first time interpretations and then compare that to the actual definitions. There’s minimal guess work to be done!

Some things that I think are valuable for beginners to know, and some things I wish I had heard when I was just starting out.

1. You don't need to be gifted a deck

I've read from a few different blogs that this idea comes from when tarot decks were not mass printed so it was very difficult to actually get a hold of one. So it was more likely to be gifted one than to be able to get one yourself. Now, I don't knock anyone who wants to be gifted their first deck, but I am sure that anyone who has looked around has seen enough tarot readers go "I buy my own decks and I give readings just fine" to know that this superstition is not law. If you want to stick to that tradition, that's fine! But if you are afraid that if you buy your own deck it won't give you accurate readings and nothing will turn out right, take it from someone who has purchased 5 of their 7 tarot decks and reads professionally. Some people even advise you to buy your own because decks are so personal. It is important to work with a deck that speaks to you, through its art or how its information booklet is set up, etc.

2. You do not need to memorize the definition of every single card

If you want to start learning tarot in a by-the-book approach, you can do that and purchase a traditional Rider-Waite tarot deck and study the booklet. But unless you have an eidetic memory, it will take you a very long time. You can get accurate, meaningful, detailed readings without knowing the definition of the card. Plus, every deck artist who makes a booklet tends to vary the definitions a little bit, and even switch places of major arcana or add major arcana. There is no universal go-to definition. If you're intimidated by the prospect of learning 78 concrete definitions plus reversals, understand that that isn't the only way you can read tarot. There are reading techniques you can practice that will improve your intuition, understanding of symbolism and numbers, and comprehension of the energy of the cards.  I don't know the definitions of all the cards, I didn't have the patience to study that way, but I still read professionally and have helped many people.

3. Hard work is what pays off

Although you don't have to learn 78 definitions x2, even those who have a knack for tarot have to practice. One of the phrases that has helped me gain confidence states that intuition is a muscle. We use it everyday when we talk to other people, reading their expressions, body language, and vocal tone, reading the energy of a room. When tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife, you are intuitively sensing that. You have spent years learning these intricate social nuances and becoming attuned to them. The same goes for tarot, although some people take more or less practice. Divination is a learned skill, it is going to take time to get good at and trial and error to find what works best for you. There are so many decks and so many ways to read tarot. Everyone starts somewhere, and to build that muscle you have to work it. Do daily readings for yourself, read for your friends, offer free readings in return for feedback. Practice, practice, practice, on all kinds of people! And be sure to give yourself ample breaks. Journal about your readings or what connections you develop with the cards. Make it meaningful to you, so that it doesn't become grueling work.

4. Identify what you believe is answering you

This is something I don't often see being spoken about, but I found it very valuable to my practice to figure out who I talk to when I'm using a deck. When I purchased my first deck, I decided that when I used it I wanted to mainly consult my subconscious self, the part of me that knows things that I may not even be prepared to understand yet. I have another deck that I mainly use to read for others, and when I use that deck I'm speaking to the "universe", the world in which this person has lived and experienced life, the world that knows them even though I don't. I have another deck dedicated specifically to consulting the divine, deities, spirits, etc.  You don't have to have separate intentions like I do, but it is valuable to understand who you believe answers your questions. That makes it easier to do #5, which is...

5. Protect yourself

If you reach out to a higher power, to a spirit, even to your subconscious for communication, you are opening a communication portal. I made the mistake of thinking my “little” tarot readings and my simple spell work at home wasn't special and that nothing would happen. I had to banish a not very nice entity from my house this year because I kept fooling myself into thinking nothing was wrong. Not everything out there means you well, and it will be drawn to you as you heighten your energy through the practice of divination. Use a mantra, or a protective phrase. Make a protective sigil. Make wards. Cleanse your deck and yourself regularly. Make sure anyone you communicate with you clearly tell to leave once you're both done communicating. Don't skimp on this, you will regret it later when you're bogged down with energy that keeps you unmotivated, when you have an energy leech, or even a not very nice spirit in your house.

6. Set up a ritual

This is a great way to incorporate cleansing and protection! Set up a ritual that helps center and focus you on divination. This can help you get in tune with your intuition and reduce energy clutter. Start by determining how you want to set up your reading space and what you want to use. I like to choose a few crystals to help protect, center, and focus me, burn some related incense, maybe a candle, and use a reading cloth my mother helped me make. I like to cleanse myself after I do any big divination sessions, and cleanse my deck after those big sessions. This will also help you come down from your highly in-tune self as you set up a beginning and ending ritual. Divination sucks up a lot of energy, so involving aftercare in the ritual is important, such as healthy snacks and drinks for the magick-munchies. (End note, try not to divine when you're tired, sick, or high strung! It's the easiest way to get cards that don't make sense or merely reflect your mental state, which can scare or upset you.)

7. Change how you speak to yourself

Divination can be hard and draining, it takes up a lot of energy. For those who are still new to it, it can really drain you and result in headaches and frustrations. Here are some tips to help all you beginners out with divination and how draining it can be.

Drink plenty of water, being dehydrated is not fun and especially not when you are using so much energy

Take a shower or bath before any divination work to help cleanse yourself 

Meditate before big divination work to help center and ground yourself

Crystals good for divination and psychic work: nuummite, amethyst, amazonite, fluorite, and aqua aura quartz

Clear Quartz is a good energy booster and can help you feel less drained after divination

Drink some black tea to help ground yourself and give yourself extra energy for divination work

If you are starting to feel tired during divination, that is okay, take a break or take a nap. Forcing yourself to keep going will only exhaust you further and make everything more difficult. You deserve breaks

It is okay to use notes during divination, don’t worry what others say. Its not ‘unprofessional’, even veterans in divination use notes. Keep a notebook with you full of different meanings of cards or stones or runes, take notes as you go, write down your thoughts and keep it near you every time you practice.

Yellow is the color of divination, keep yellow things around you to help. Yellow blanket(s), yellow pillows, yellow candles, yellow pieces of paper; anything you can find. Purple is also another color good to help with psychic abilities and awareness

Herbs good for divination and psychic work: cinnamon, lemon, cherry, lettuce, grapes, orange (orange peel), mint, pumpkin, celery, lemon balm, catnip, thyme, rose, seaweed, star anise, mullein, mugwort and rosemary can all help you. Bake with them, eat them, use them in teas or keep them near you in a sachet or jar

Stretch and take little walks. Sitting for a long time can be killer and make you sore. Stretch your legs and take little five or ten minute walks during long readings and psychic work. Muscle and joint stiffness is never fun

Rather than trying to tackle large readings every day, do small ones. Like a few questions to your pendulum, pull a single card, draw a crystal from a bag, etc. Small daily practices can help you in the long run without exhausting you. 

Open a window and let some fresh air in while you work, it will do wonders, especially since air is the element associated with divination work.

Keep a small bowl or cup of salt near you, it will absorb the negative energy about you especially if you are feeling frustrated

Moon water is great for divination: drink it, make tea with it, spray the room with it, anoint yourself with it, keep it near you, etc

Cleanse your space before divination work, again it will keep negativity away from you 

Cleanse and charge your divination tools regularly, it really helps in the long run. Put them in the moonlight at night (especially during full moons), keep salt near them, smoke cleanse them if you can, burn white candles, use crystals/gems, etc

Its okay if you get confused and don’t know how to interpret something. Take notes on it and with time it may become more clear to you. Don’t force yourself to try to understand

Mistakes happen, you won’t always be 100% right on things. No one is, divination is not a certain thing. Things change all the time, its okay. Don’t let it get you down.

If you are tired, sick, stressed, or anything else and don’t feel like doing divination work that is fine. Its okay, you don’t have to do it all the time. Especially not if you are feeling unwell and tired. Rest and take care of yourself, you can continue practice another time

If you use tools in your work like mirrors, tea cups/mugs, cards, crystals, etc try to bond with them. Creating a bond with your tools can improve your divination quite a bit

You don’t have to practice on other people, you can do it for yourself and your own questions. Its an old wive’s tale that you can’t use tarot or divination on yourself, you definitely can

Try to get a good nights sleep before and after divination

Keywords: Focus, resourcefulness, accomplishment, manifestation.

Key concept: “Because I said so.”

The Magician can signify that NOW is the perfect time to move forward with an idea that you recently conceived. When you’re clear about your “what” and your “why,” you are called to take inspired action. Focus on the ONE thing that will move you towards your goal.

Key Symbols

Wand and stance: The firm grasp of the magician’s hand on the white wand shows clear intention and determined will. The double-ended wand is held upwards to summon forth energy from the heavens while the other hand commandingly points to channel downward to earth. “As above, so below; as within, so without; as without, so within.”

Infinity symbol: This symbol is also known as a “lemniscate,” the infinite 8-shaped curve found in algebraic geometry. It rises over the magician’s head like a halo of boundless creativity.

Garments: The white robe represents clarity, the red mantel represents strength and authority, and the headband represents the power of the mind. The belt at his waist is a snake eating its own tail - the ancient Egyptian ouroboros, representing the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Altar: This is not a slight-of-hand swindler’s table. The occult tools and elemental symbols on the table all represent unification of the mind/body/spirit: the staff for air (intention), the sword for fire (thoughts), the cup for water (emotions), and the pentacle for earth (physicality). Additionally, carved on the rim of the wooden table are waves, flames, and a dove.

Flowers: The rich green growth represents abundance. The roses, sacred to Aphrodite, represent passion and cherished secrets, which is reminiscent of the Hermetic principles “to know, to dare, to will, to keep silent”. The lilies represent purity, resurrection, and immortality. The ancient Greeks said lilies were created by Hera, and later, Christians associated lilies with the Virgin Mary.

Waite-Smith Fun Fact