#bone reading

Hoodoo WitchTips: Divination🔮✨

Here are some quick but powerful protective tips to help with divination when working with tarot, oracle, bones & more. 
Divination is still a form of labor, so it’s important to ground yourself and even do a bit of light healing work afterwords. It’s so easy to do divination most people forget or don’t know about these simple spiritual hygiene tips. Good spiritual hygiene, protection and healing is important during divination because you are tapping into unknown energies. 
Doing these small things routinely, can help you keep your clarity of mind and even possibly prevent psychosis or the triggering of other mental health issues.

Hello beautiful souls ✨

You hold a collection of objects in your hands. You ask a question. You cast them onto cloth. Where they land, how they fall, which ones touch—this is your answer.

This is casting divination: reading meaning in the patterns created when objects are thrown.

Unlike tarot (where cards have fixed meanings) or pendulums (which give yes/no), casting divination is raw, organic, and endlessly variable. Every throw is unique. The same question asked twice will give different configurations—because the energy shifts, the situation evolves, you change.

Today we're exploring three major casting systems:

Bone reading (osteomancy) - ancient, intuitive, deeply personal

Charm casting (cleromancy) - accessible, customizable, modern

Rune casting - structured, symbolic, rooted in Norse tradition

All three share core principles:

You cast objects

You read patterns, positions, relationships

Interpretation is intuitive + structural

The randomness isn't random

This is Part 1 of a two-part series on interpretive divination. Let's dive in.

THE CORE PRINCIPLE: PATTERN AS MESSAGE

All casting divination works on the same foundation:

1. OBJECTS = SYMBOLS Each item in your set represents something (concept, energy, person, theme).

2. POSITION = CONTEXT Where the object lands matters (near/far, center/edge, upright/fallen).

3. RELATIONSHIPS = MEANING Which objects touch, overlap, or point toward each other creates the reading's narrative.

4. INTUITION + STRUCTURE = INTERPRETATION You use both learned meanings and gut instinct to decode the pattern.

Whether you're throwing bones, charms, or runes, you're reading the language of organized chaos.

BONE READING (OSTEOMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Bone reading is one of the oldest forms of divination—practiced across Africa, Asia, Indigenous Americas, and ancient Europe.

You cast a collection of bones (and often other natural objects) and read their positions, orientations, and relationships.

TRADITIONAL PRACTICE:

African diaspora traditions (particularly Southern African sangomas): Sets include bones from different animals, shells, stones, seeds, coins—each with specific meaning passed down through lineage.

Readings are done in sacred space, often with ancestor invocation.

Asian traditions: Oracle bone divination (China) used heated bones that cracked—cracks were read as messages.

Indigenous practices: Vary widely by tribe/region. Some traditions are closed; approach with respect and research.

MODERN/ECLECTIC PRACTICE:

Many practitioners create personal bone sets using:

Chicken bones (small, accessible, ethical if you eat chicken)

Cleaned bones from meals (beef, pork, fish)

Animal bones found in nature (check local laws about collection)

Craft/replica bones (if you're uncomfortable with real ones)

Shells, stones, seeds as supplementary pieces

Important: If you're working within a specific tradition (like African diaspora practices), seek proper teaching and initiation. We're discussing eclectic/personal bone reading here.

BUILDING A BONE SET:

START SMALL (5-7 PIECES):

Basic set might include:

Vertebra = backbone, support, foundation, alignment

Rib = protection, breath, vitality

Small limb bone = action, movement, direction

Knuckle/joint = connection, flexibility, transition

Tooth = power, aggression, defense, communication

Shell = emotions, femininity, protection, water element

Stone = stability, grounding, permanence, earth element

You assign meanings based on:

The bone's function in the body

What animal it came from (if known)

What it represents to YOU intuitively

EXPAND OVER TIME:

As you practice, add:

More bones (build complexity)

Seeds/pods (growth, potential)

Coins (money, value, exchange)

Glass/crystals (clarity, energy, intention)

Found objects with personal significance

Traditional sets can have 60+ pieces. Start small.

HOW TO CAST BONES:

1. PREPARE YOUR SPACE

Casting cloth (light-colored so bones are visible, 2-3 feet square)

Mark center (optional—some use a circle drawn/sewn in the cloth)

Cleanse space and bones

2. HOLD YOUR QUESTION

Be specific. Hold bones in both hands. Close eyes. Focus on question until you feel ready.

3. CAST

Methods:

Overhead throw: Toss from above your head (traditional, dramatic)

Gentle toss: Release from chest height (more controlled)

Pour: Let bones flow from hands (gentle, less chaos)

Let them land where they land. Don't adjust.

4. OBSERVE BEFORE INTERPRETING

First impression: What jumps out immediately?

Note:

Which bones landed on the cloth (relevant to question)

Which fell off (not relevant, or "not yet")

Clustering (which bones are grouped)

Distance from center (close = immediate, far = distant future/indirect)

Orientation (pointing toward/away, upright/flat)

Touching (these energies are interacting)

5. READ THE PATTERN

Zones (if using marked cloth):

Traditional approach (many African traditions use compass directions):

North: Future, goals, what's ahead

South: Past, foundation, what's behind you

East: New beginnings, birth, rising energy

West: Endings, death, setting energy

Alternative approach:

Center: Present, you, main issue

Near center: Immediate concerns

Edge: Distant future, external influences

Off cloth: Not relevant or blocked

Relationships:

Bones touching = energies connected

Bones pointing at each other = communication, interaction

Bones crossed = conflict, intersection, choice

Bones parallel = harmony, alignment

Isolated bone = standing alone, independent factor

Example Reading:

You cast about a job decision.

Vertebra (foundation) lands center, upright.Small bone (action) lands near it, pointing toward north.Tooth (power/communication) lands in south (past), flat.Shell (emotion) lands far east (new beginning), but off the cloth slightly.

Interpretation: Your foundation/support system is central and solid. Action is needed and it points toward future growth. Past communications or power struggles are resolved (flat = settled). Emotions about new beginnings are present but not fully in play yet (barely off cloth = emerging).

Read: The foundation is there. Take action toward the future. Past conflicts are done. Emotional readiness is coming but not quite here yet.

DEVELOPING YOUR BONE-READING LANGUAGE:

Spend time with your bones:

Hold each piece

Meditate on its energy

Journal what it means to YOU

Cast repeatedly with simple questions

Track accuracy

Your intuitive meaning matters more than any book's definition.

Over time, you'll develop a relationship with your set. You'll know what a certain bone in a certain position means without thinking.

ETHICS & RESPECT:

If using real bones:

Thank the animal (even if it's chicken from the grocery store)

Treat bones with respect—they were once living beings

Cleanse regularly

Store properly (wrapped in cloth, not tossed in a drawer)

If working within closed traditions:

Don't appropriate without permission/training

Acknowledge sources

Don't claim lineage you don't have

CHARM CASTING (CLEROMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Charm casting is the modern, accessible cousin of bone reading.

Instead of bones, you use a collection of small objects (charms, trinkets, beads, stones, dice, buttons—anything meaningful) and cast them to read patterns.

This is the most customizable form of divination. Your set is entirely personal.

WHY CHARM CASTING APPEALS TO MODERN PRACTITIONERS:

No bones needed (good for vegetarians, people uncomfortable with animal parts)

Highly personal (choose items that resonate with YOU)

Accessible (raid your junk drawer, craft store, nature walks)

Evolving (add/remove charms as your life changes)

Instagrammable (let's be honest—pretty charms are more photogenic than bones)

BUILDING A CHARM SET:

CHOOSE 7-15 ITEMS (to start):

Categories to consider:

ELEMENTS:

Feather = air

Stone/crystal = earth

Shell = water

Red bead/charm = fire

Small mirror = spirit

LIFE AREAS:

Key = home, security, unlocking, access

Coin = money, value, exchange

Heart = love, relationships, emotion

Book/page = knowledge, learning, communication

Wheel/gear = career, movement, cycles

PEOPLE:

Crown = authority figure, boss, father

Ring = partnership, commitment, marriage

Baby shoe = children, new beginnings, innocence

Animal figurine = wild card, instinct, pet

ENERGIES:

Dice = chance, risk, gamble, luck

Arrow = direction, focus, goal

Anchor = stability, holding steady, being stuck

Wings = freedom, flight, escape, transcendence

WILDCARDS:

Your own symbols (a charm from your grandmother, a found object, something personally meaningful)

Where to source:

Craft stores (miniature charms in jewelry section)

Dollhouse miniatures

Game pieces (Monopoly tokens work great)

Nature (small stones, shells, seed pods, feathers)

Thrift stores (old jewelry, tchotchkes)

Online (Etsy, Amazon—search "miniature charms")

Make sure items are:

Small enough to cast easily (thumbnail to quarter-sized)

Distinct enough to identify when cast

Meaningful to you (even if the meaning is intuitive, not logical)

HOW TO CAST CHARMS:

Process is nearly identical to bone casting:

Prepare space (casting cloth, cleanse, center)

Hold question (focus while holding charms in hands/bag)

Cast (toss onto cloth)

Observe (what landed, where, how, relationships)

Interpret (use your assigned meanings + intuition)

Example Reading:

Question: "What do I need to know about this new relationship?"

Key (home/security) lands center, uprightHeart (love) lands close to key, touchingDice (chance) lands far north (future)Feather (air/communication) lands west (endings), pointing toward center

Interpretation: Security and love are at the center—this feels stable. There's an element of chance/risk in the future (not bad, just unpredictable). Communication about endings or from the past is relevant—maybe past relationship patterns need discussion.

Read: This relationship has potential for security and genuine love. There's risk ahead (all relationships have this). Address past communication patterns before they sabotage the present.

CHARM CASTING VS. BONE READING:

Similarities:

Same interpretive framework (position, relationship, pattern)

Both highly personal

Both intuitive + structural

Differences:

Charms are symbolic (a tiny key represents security—it's not made from something that was alive)

Bones carry ancestral/animal energy (some practitioners feel this deeply)

Charms are lighter/brighter (aesthetically and energetically)

Bones feel more primal/shamanic; charms feel more witchy/eclectic

Neither is "better." Choose what resonates.

RUNE CASTING

WHAT IT IS:

Runes are the letters of ancient Germanic alphabets (primarily the Elder Futhark—24 symbols).

Each rune is a letter, a sound, AND a symbolic concept.

Rune casting involves throwing marked stones/wood pieces and reading which runes land face-up, their positions, and relationships.

BRIEF HISTORY:

Origin: Scandinavia/Northern Europe, 150-800 CE

Original use: Writing system, not divination (though magical use is ancient)

Modern revival: 20th century (influenced by occultism, Norse revivalism, unfortunately also white supremacist appropriation)

Important: Runes belong to Norse/Germanic cultural heritage. Modern practice should be respectful, not appropriative or tied to racist ideologies.

THE ELDER FUTHARK (24 RUNES):

I'm not listing all 24 here (whole books exist on this), but examples:

Fehu (ᚠ): Wealth, cattle, abundance, mobile resources

Uruz (ᚢ): Aurochs (wild ox), strength, primal force, health

Thurisaz (ᚦ): Thorn, giant, protection, destructive force

Ansuz (ᚨ): God/Odin, communication, divine wisdom, breath

Raidho (ᚱ): Ride/journey, travel, movement, rhythm

Kenaz (ᚲ): Torch, knowledge, illumination, craft

Gebo (ᚷ): Gift, exchange, partnership, balance

Wunjo (ᚹ): Joy, harmony, fellowship, well-being

Each rune has layers:

Letter/sound: Linguistic meaning

Literal meaning: The word it represents (thorn, journey, gift)

Symbolic meaning: Esoteric concepts

Reversed meaning: Some systems read runes differently when upside-down

Study required: You can't effectively cast runes without learning their meanings. This isn't intuitive like bones/charms—it's a structured symbol system.

CREATING A RUNE SET:

MATERIALS:

Traditional:

Wood (especially ash, oak, yew—sacred to Norse tradition)

Carved and burned (or painted)

Modern:

Stones (smooth, flat pebbles—paint or carve runes)

Clay (sculpt, carve, fire)

Crystals (more expensive, energetically charged)

Pre-made sets (widely available online/metaphysical shops)

DIY option: Collect 24 similar-sized stones from a river/beach. Paint runes with permanent marker or acrylic paint. Seal with clear coat.

Consecration: Once made, consecrate your runes (with whatever tradition/ritual feels right—smoke cleansing, moonlight, blood, breath, dedication to Norse gods if you work with them).

HOW TO CAST RUNES:

UNLIKE BONES/CHARMS (where you cast everything), RUNE CASTING HAS OPTIONS:

METHOD 1: SINGLE RUNE DRAW

Simplest. Hold question, draw one rune from bag. That's your answer.

Quick daily guidance, yes/no questions (modified), straightforward answers.

METHOD 2: THREE-RUNE CAST

Draw three runes:

Rune 1: Past/Situation

Rune 2: Present/Challenge

Rune 3: Future/Outcome

Most common method. Good for narrative readings.

METHOD 3: FULL CAST (Multiple Runes Thrown)

Pour/cast multiple runes (5-9 or all 24) onto cloth.

Read only face-up runes (face-down = not relevant to this reading).

Interpret based on:

Which runes appear (themes)

Positions (similar to bone/charm reading—center vs. edge, near vs. far)

Clusters (runes touching = related concepts)

Patterns (do they form a shape?)

This is closest to bone/charm casting method.

METHOD 4: CASTING CLOTH WITH ZONES

Use a cloth divided into sections (past/present/future, or other meaningful divisions).

Cast runes. Where they land determines timing/context.

Example:

Question: "How do I move forward in my career?"

Cast 7 runes. Four land face-up:

Raidho (journey): Center, prominent

Kenaz (knowledge/torch): Near Raidho, touching

Ansuz (communication): North (future), upright

Thurisaz (thorn): South (past), reversed

Interpretation: Journey is central—you're in movement/transition. Knowledge/craft is directly connected to this journey. Future requires communication (maybe teaching, speaking, networking). Past had a destructive force or protection that's now reversed/completed.

Read: You're on a journey of skill-development. Your craft/knowledge is the vehicle. Future success involves communication/sharing what you know. Past obstacles have been overcome—don't let them hold you back.

LEARNING RUNES:

This takes time. You're learning a symbol language.

Steps:

Study one rune per day (24 days minimum)

Meditate on each rune's shape, sound, meaning

Draw the rune repeatedly (embody it through your hand)

Journal personal associations (what does "journey" mean to YOU?)

Practice single-rune daily draws (build familiarity)

Graduate to three-rune spreads

Eventually, full casting

Resources:

The Book of Runes by Ralph Blum (controversial but accessible)

Nordic Runes by Paul Rhys Mountfort (more scholarly)

Runelore by Edred Thorsson (deep dive, Odinic perspective)

Online communities for rune study and discussion.

CULTURAL RESPECT:

Runes come from Norse/Germanic culture.

Respect means:

Study the cultural context (don't just grab symbols divorced from meaning)

Acknowledge the source

Don't mix them carelessly with other closed/specific traditions

Be aware of white supremacist appropriation (Nazi use of runes) and actively distance yourself from that

If you work with Norse gods as part of rune practice, do so respectfully

You don't have to be Scandinavian to use runes, but you should respect where they come from.

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR ALL CASTING METHODS

CREATING YOUR CASTING CLOTH:

SIZE: 2-3 feet square (large enough for patterns, small enough to manage)

MATERIAL: Cotton, silk, velvet (something bones/charms won't bounce off)

COLOR: Light (white, cream, light blue) so items are visible

MARKINGS (optional):

Circle in center

Compass directions marked

Zones drawn/sewn (past/present/future, elements, life areas)

Or leave blank (read intuitively)

CLEANSING YOUR SET:

Regular cleansing keeps energy clear:

Smoke (incense, sage, palo santo)

Moonlight (especially full moon)

Salt (briefly—don't leave bones/some metals in salt long-term)

Sound (bell, singing bowl)

Intention (hold each piece, breathe clean energy into it)

After heavy/difficult readings, cleanse immediately.

STORING YOUR SET:

Bag/pouch (drawstring, fabric)

Box (wooden, lined with cloth)

Keep together (bones/charms/runes should be a set, stored as one)

Respectful location (not tossed in a junk drawer)

PRACTICE EXERCISES:

EXERCISE 1: Daily Single-Item Draw

Each morning, draw/cast one piece. What guidance does it offer for the day?

Journal results. Track accuracy.

EXERCISE 2: Yes/No Simplification

Assign "yes" meanings to some items, "no" to others. Cast for yes/no questions.

Not ideal long-term, but helps beginners build confidence.

EXERCISE 3: Comparison Casting

Ask same question. Cast bones. Note answer.

Ask again. Cast charms (or runes). Note answer.

Do they align? Contradict? Complement?

This develops discernment about which method speaks clearest for which questions.

EXERCISE 4: Pattern Recognition

Cast without a question. Just observe the pattern.

What story does it tell? What do you see?

Trains your eye to read relationships and positions.

WHEN CASTING DIVINATION WORKS BEST

IDEAL FOR:

Complex questions with multiple factors (not just yes/no)

Seeing relationships between life areas (career + love + money + health simultaneously)

Timing questions (using zones for past/present/future)

Visual learners (you SEE the answer laid out spatially)

Kinesthetic practitioners (the act of casting is embodied, not passive)

LESS IDEAL FOR:

Highly specific information ("What day will X happen?")

People who need fixed answers (casting is interpretive, not absolute)

Beginners with no divination experience (might be overwhelmed by complexity)

THE BOTTOM LINE (PART 1)

Casting divination—bones, charms, runes—is reading the language of organized chaos.

You throw objects. They land in patterns. Those patterns contain meaning.

The skill isn't in the throwing. It's in the reading.

Choose your method:

Bones for primal, ancestral, deep work

Charms for personal, accessible, evolving practice

Runes for structured, ancient wisdom, strategic guidance

Or use all three. Different tools for different questions.

Start simple:

Small set (5-10 items)

Clear casting space

Begin with yes/no or simple questions

Build complexity over time

Trust your intuition as much as structure

The randomness isn't random. Your subconscious guides where things land. The universe speaks through pattern. Or both.

Next up: PART 2 - Reading methods (tea leaves, coffee grounds, wax)

These methods don't involve casting—they involve substances that form patterns you then interpret. Different mechanism, similar interpretive skills.

YOUR TURN

Do you practice any casting divination? Which method calls to you?

Have you built a bone, charm, or rune set? What's in it?

What's the most accurate casting reading you've received or given?

Let's discuss. Casting divination is deeply personal—your set, your meanings, your relationship with the practice.

Blessed be 🦴

Don't be afraid to prune your set once in a while. Especially if you're like me and use lots of little pieces rather than a few big pieces.

Your set is a living entity. It breathes and shifts over time. Pieces will change meaning and lose meaning. Don't be afraid to take out a piece that is no longer helping you or change what a piece signifies if it feels right. I like to pour all my bones into a pile and add them back to the set one by one, discarding whatever feels like it doesn't belong. (I try to give those pieces to other readers when I can.)

Osteomancy, an ancient divination art utilizing bones, boasts a rich history spanning millennia and has manifested in various forms across diverse cultures worldwide. In today's Wanderers Tea Time, we'll explore these distinctive variations and even guide you through crafting your own personalized set.

The art of osteomancy goes by many names across many different cultures, but its main purpose is to divine future or present events. This can look like bone throwing, which entails reading the way bones land after asking a question.

Pyro osteomancy in which the bones are heated in fire and the cracks are read by the shaman or fortune teller.

There is no one correct way to practice osteomancy because each cultures take on the practice differ depending on region and era.

Chinese Oracle bones

The practice of shamans reading Oracle bones in China is seen most prominently in the late shang dynasty, the process involved the use of Turtle Shell and or Ox scapula bone.

Emperors, nobles and even peasants were known to frequent these fortune tellers for answers. The process involved carving questions into the bone or shell and then placing them into a fire. The heat from the fire would cause fracture points in the bone and from these cracks the shaman or fortune teller would be able to get insight into the questions asked.

If this sounds familiar to you and you've never heard of osteomancy there is a chance you recognize this scene from Avatar the last Airbender.

This scene, despite its animated nature, adeptly illustrates the profound reliance individuals often placed on fortune tellers, while also delving into the cultural intricacies that underpin this ancient practice in an easy to digest manner.

osteomancy in Ancient Greek culture

In Ancient Mediterranean culture there were many different ways people could divine the future. One such way was the use of Astragaloi, an ancient four sided die usually made from a sheep's knuckle bone.

These dice were usually numbered and correspondence charts were used to see which God would be governing over your question, once completed whoever was doing the readings would be able to divine an answer.

This was a fairly common practice and was a type of game in and of itself. But the Astragaloi were used in other games all around the ancient Mediterranean and it was so common to have a set, that many children who died young were known to be buried with a set of them.

New Age Spiritualism*Derogatory

The rise in new age spirituality has led to a rise in cultural misappropriation, Osteomancy is not as common amongst the new age spiritual movement as say tarot cards are.

It's Folk practitioners I've noticed who are keeping the art form of osteomancy alive, and are doing so respectfully within their cultures parameters.

That being said when it does bleed into New Age Circles What I've unfortunately seen in recent years, especially on tiktok, is the practice of osteomancy being used in the same fashion as hoodoo and African religious practices. (By white people)

And while it is important to learn about other cultures and to grow as a practitioner. It is also important to understand that copying the way a specific culture does their divination is not something you should be doing unless you are a part of that culture or at least are attempting to reconnect to it.

Osteomancy is an open practice and has been practiced for thousands of years, however you shouldn't be playing copyright infringement with our African brothers and sisters.

Osteomancy Sets: The Found

To create your own Osteomancy set it is common to go into the forest or parks and search for animal bones which have already dried and been exposed to sunlight. These sets when created are said to be more valuable than one purchased because each piece of bone holds a story and a different assigned meaning. This allows you to read a more detailed answer to the question asked. The can take years to complete though so people will also add stones and other nicknacks into the mix.

Make sure each bone is cleaned with a degreasing solution and then soaked in a hydrogen peroxide solution for several days to keep rotting from taking place. If done properly the bones should last several years, if you do it incorrectly you may notice bone flies appear. They feed off of bone and are a nuisance they damage the entire set.

You can also make a Vegan version out of Wood, carving answers into them and throwing them as you would a normal Osteomancy set.

Below I will show you how to make your own set of Osteomancy Bones from the Grocery store :)

[Liability Disclaimer]

"Wandering Sorcerer shall not be held liable in the event that you become sick after attempting this project, please do not attempt unless supervised by an adult or are yourself over the age of 18. Follow all safety procedures, both recommended and inferred by the warnings given" W.S. 04/08/2024

{WARNINGS AND SAFETY PROCEDURES}

"This is going to include the handling of fresh animal meat and bone. Please practice food safety and contamination control, I don't want you to get sick. while not found in avians, if you do this project with other animals Bone dust can expose you to prions, which is known to cause brain diseases when inhaled. If and when carving into dry bone wear a mask and have proper ventilation, its best to do most if not all of this outside."

Now that that's out of the way without further adieu here is -

Osteomancy sets: The Formed

As someone who has done a fair amount of taxidermy work and wanted a set of my own Osteomancy bones a few years back I decided it would be cool if I made my own instead of buying one off etsy. This step by step can be converted to suite any animal however at the time I decided on chicken because it was rather inexpensive, and I was craving fried chicken that day :)

Opus Est~

Raw Chicken Drumsticks ( 6 is a good number ) store bought is fine

Dawn Dish Soap

Hydrogen peroxide

Very Sharp Knife

Metal Pot

Gloves (please wear gloves when handling hydrogen peroxide and wash your hands and the area after handling meat to avoid spreading bacteria)

The Burden Of Creation

Start by deboning the chicken, this can be tough but what I did was follow the bone using the back end of the blade. Very important the blade be as sharp as possible.

Then begin pulling away the meat and separate any cartilage from the drumstick. Cook the chicken however you like but DO NO COOK THE BONES

Once the bones are prepped we are going to begin the degreasing stage, using Dawn Dish Soap and water begin cleaning and scrubbing the remaining blood and meat from the bone.

once you're satisfied with the results, get fresh clean water and inside the metal pot add a decent amount of soap, you will allow it to sit for at minimum 24 hours.( 72hrs is best with daily water and soap changes) keep doing this until the water no longer has scum forming from the bones.

After degreasing stage is complete, get a new pot and add in hydrogen peroxide, you can get high proof 12% or higher peroxide from the hair salon, but if not Medical Grade 3% is fine, it just takes a few more days.

Change the peroxide solution daily, you should begin seeing a bleaching effect after 72 hours. Once the bones are white you can leave them out in the sun for a few days to allow them to fully dry.

The Joy Of Creation

Now that the bones have been degreased, bleached and dried we can begin actually designing the Osteomancy Set,

The set we will be creating is the crossing questions Osteomancy set, many people more than likely already know of this set as it is a common form of divination seen amongst many yes no fortune tellers on Live Streams today.

To make a set of your own you will need

Twine

paint

Dried Bones

This is entirely up to you on how you decide to wrap or paint your Bones, the main important aspect is that a specific amount of your Bones are wrapped in twine and the others are painted with varying symbology and answers. If you have the aptitude you can carve into the bones to create permanent symbols (please use proper ventilation)

The most common for a set of six, is three wrapped and three painted.

Allow yourself to get creative, once they've been created bless them however you like and name them as you would any other tool.

So now that you've created your very own set of Osteomancy Bones, you might be asking how you read the answers.

Well look no further:

How to Not Be Dyslexic When Reading Bones

You should have a designated throwing cup in which the set can both be stored and thrown from, think Yahtzee but for divination.

when thrown, the bones will land dependent on their varying weights and your throwing styles.

If they create an X the answer to your question is yes.

If the answer is no they will drastically separate from one another, sometimes subtle other times at cartoonish velocity.

When two stringed ones cross it becomes a definite yes. Meaning the most likely scenario to happen.

If a painted and a strung bone cross it means probably, if two painted cross its a soft maybe.

Depending on your own point of view and the symbology painted on your bones, you can interpret different meanings from your throws. The more personal a design you give your Bones the more you will be

I Feel It in My Bones

Osteomancy is an important aspect of divination, many of the ancient divination practices have unfortunately been lost or made illegal by society(The Vapors) so i think it's nice that we see this ancient art still widely practiced today. I hope I was able to offer some insight into this practice and maybe even inspired you to create your very own.

Thank you for sitting down and having Tea with me on the Other side of the Great Divide

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