#intuitive divination

Hello beautiful souls ✨

You stare into a black mirror, a bowl of water, a candle flame. You're waiting for visions. Images. Messages from beyond.

Instead, you see: Your own reflection. Random light patterns. Maybe a vague shape that could be anything.

You try harder. You focus more. You want to see something.

And that's exactly the problem.

Scrying isn't about making visions appear. It's about getting out of the way so they can.

Today we're diving into one of the most misunderstood divination practices: scrying—gazing into reflective surfaces or natural phenomena to receive visions, symbols, or information.

We'll cover:

What scrying actually is (beyond crystal balls and fortune tellers)

The neuroscience of how it works

Why most people fail (they're projecting, not receiving)

How to train your mind to enter receptive state

Different scrying methods and what they're good for

How to distinguish real visions from imagination

This isn't fortune-telling. It's learning to quiet your conscious mind enough that your subconscious (or something beyond it) can speak through images.

Let's get into it.

WHAT IS SCRYING?

Scrying (from "descry" = to make out dimly, to reveal) is the practice of gazing at or into a medium to induce visions, symbols, or intuitive information.

TRADITIONAL MEDIUMS:

Reflective surfaces:

Crystal balls (catoptromancy)

Black mirrors/obsidian (scrying mirrors)

Water in bowls (hydromancy)

Regular mirrors (especially old/tarnished ones)

Polished metal surfaces

Natural phenomena:

Fire/flames (pyromancy)

Smoke (capnomancy)

Clouds (aeromancy)

Ink or oil dropped in water (lecanomancy)

Tea leaves (tasseomancy)

Wax patterns from melted candles (ceromancy)

The principle is the same: Stare at something until your normal perception shifts and images/information arise.

WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING:

Physiologically: Inducing a light trance state through sustained, unfocused gazing.

Psychologically: Bypassing conscious thought to access subconscious imagery.

Energetically (if you believe this): Opening a channel between your awareness and non-ordinary information sources.

The medium itself isn't magical—it's a focal point that helps your brain shift gears.

THE NEUROSCIENCE: HOW SCRYING WORKS

Your brain has different states of consciousness:

Beta (13-30 Hz): Normal waking consciousness. Active thinking, problem-solving, analyzing.

Alpha (8-13 Hz): Relaxed awareness. Daydreaming, light meditation, the state between waking and sleeping.

Theta (4-8 Hz): Deep meditation, light sleep, REM dreaming. Subconscious access. Hypnagogic imagery.

Scrying aims to shift you from beta to alpha/theta—where visions naturally occur.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING SCRYING:

1. SUSTAINED GAZING RELAXES THE VISUAL CORTEX

Staring at one point without shifting focus triggers something called neural adaptation—your visual system stops actively processing because there's no new information.

This is similar to what happens when you stare at a word until it stops looking like a word (semantic satiation).

Your brain essentially gets bored and stops trying so hard.

2. THE GANZFELD EFFECT

When your visual field is filled with uniform stimulation (blank surface, flickering flame, still water), your brain starts generating its own imagery to compensate for the lack of input.

It's literally creating something to see because there's "nothing" there.

This is the same mechanism behind hallucinations in sensory deprivation tanks.

3. PAREIDOLIA

Your brain is wired to find patterns—especially faces—in random visual noise.

You see faces in clouds, figures in wood grain, shapes in fire. This isn't a bug; it's a feature.

Scrying leverages this tendency. You're not "making up" the images—your pattern-recognition system is doing what it's designed to do.

4. ACCESS TO SUBCONSCIOUS IMAGERY

In alpha/theta states, the barrier between conscious and subconscious thins.

Images, symbols, memories, and intuitive information that your conscious mind can't access directly start bubbling up—often in visual form.

This is why dreams are so symbolic and surreal. Scrying taps into the same state while you're still partially awake.

THE CORE PROBLEM: PROJECTION VS. RECEPTION

Most beginners fail at scrying because they're trying to make something happen.

PROJECTION (What Most People Do):

You stare into the mirror and think:

"I want to see my spirit guide"

"Show me my future husband"

"I need to see something or this isn't working"

"Maybe if I imagine harder, it will appear"

This is active mental effort. You're pushing images into the medium with your conscious mind.

It feels forced. Exhausting. Nothing feels real.

RECEPTION (What Actually Works):

You stare into the mirror and:

Empty your mind (as much as possible)

Let go of expectations

Notice what arises without forcing

Allow images to come to you

Stay passive, curious, open

Images appear from the medium, not from your conscious will.

It feels effortless. Surprising. Images show up you didn't expect.

THE DIFFERENCE:

Projection: You're the artist painting on a canvas.

Reception: You're the gallery viewer noticing what's already there.

Most people spend years projecting and call it scrying. Real scrying is receptive, not active.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR MIND TO RECEIVE

STEP 1: LEARN TO DEFOCUS

Your eyes have two modes:

Focused gaze: Sharp, clear, directed. This is normal vision. This activates your conscious, analytical mind.

Soft/unfocused gaze: Blurry, peripheral-aware, relaxed. This induces trance states.

Practice:

Hold your hand in front of your face

Focus sharply on your fingertips

Now let your eyes go slightly out of focus—see your hand blurry

Notice the difference in your mental state

In scrying, you maintain soft gaze. You're looking at the surface, not into it sharply.

STEP 2: SURRENDER EXPECTATION

The more you want to see something specific, the harder it is to receive anything real.

Before scrying, say aloud: "I release all expectations. I am open to whatever arises. I trust what I receive."

Then actually mean it.

If you're desperate for visions of your soulmate, you'll project your fantasy. If you're open to "whatever wants to be seen," you might actually receive something.

STEP 3: PRACTICE STILLNESS

Scrying requires mental and physical stillness.

Before scrying:

Ground and center

Take 10 slow breaths

Let thoughts settle like snow in a snow globe

Body relaxed, mind alert but quiet

If you're anxious, angry, or manic, you can't receive. You're too loud internally.

STEP 4: RECOGNIZE THE SHIFT

You'll know you've entered scrying state when:

The surface seems to shimmer, pulse, or become three-dimensional

Your peripheral vision becomes more prominent than central

Time feels distorted (minutes feel like seconds or vice versa)

Your body feels heavy or distant

Thoughts slow down significantly

You're not trying anymore—you're just there

This is alpha/theta. This is where visions happen.

If you haven't felt this shift, you're not in scrying state yet—you're just staring.

STEP 5: NOTICE, DON'T INTERPRET (YET)

When images begin to form:

Don't immediately analyze. Don't jump to "that's my grandmother!" or "this means I'll travel!"

Just notice:

Colors

Shapes

Movement

Emotion the image evokes

Where in the surface it appears

Record what you see. Interpret later.

Active interpretation pulls you back into analytical mind, which breaks the trance.

STEP 6: DISTINGUISH SIGNAL FROM NOISE

Not every image is meaningful. Some are just visual static.

How to tell the difference:

Meaningful visions:

Feel significant, even if you don't know why yet

Come with emotional weight or bodily sensation

Repeat or persist

Feel like they "arrived" rather than "appeared"

Often surprising (not what you expected)

Visual noise:

Random, fleeting

No emotional resonance

Disappear immediately

Feel like pareidolia (seeing faces in clouds)

Match what you were already thinking about

Not every scrying session produces visions. Sometimes you're just looking at a bowl of water. That's okay.

DIFFERENT SCRYING METHODS & WHAT THEY'RE GOOD FOR

BLACK MIRROR / OBSIDIAN SCRYING

What it is: Gazing into a black, reflective surface (mirror painted black, polished obsidian, bowl of ink).

Best for:

Deep subconscious work

Shadow work and facing difficult truths

Seeing past lives or ancestral information

Intense, serious divination

Why it works: The darkness eliminates visual distractions. Your brain has almost nothing to process, so it generates imagery more readily.

Difficulty: Advanced. The darkness can be psychologically intense. Not recommended for beginners.

WATER SCRYING

What it is: Gazing into still water in a dark bowl.

Best for:

Emotional insight

Relationship questions

Intuitive guidance

Gentle, flowing visions

Why it works: Water is reflective but softer than mirrors. The slight movement (even still water moves slightly) helps induce trance without being too active.

Difficulty: Beginner-friendly. Less intense than black mirrors.

Tip: Add a drop of oil or ink to the water's surface to create subtle visual interest.

CRYSTAL BALL SCRYING

What it is: Gazing into a clear or cloudy crystal sphere.

Best for:

Traditional fortune-telling aesthetic

Future-oriented questions

Symbolic visions (less literal than other methods)

Why it works: The reflections, refractions, and internal inclusions in the crystal create subtle visual complexity—enough to hold focus without overwhelming.

Difficulty: Medium. Real crystal balls are expensive. Glass works but is less "alive" energetically (if that matters to you).

Tip: Cloudier crystals (like cloudy quartz) work better than perfectly clear ones.

FIRE SCRYING

What it is: Gazing into candle flames, bonfires, or hearth fires.

Best for:

Transformation questions

Passion/creativity/action inquiries

Quick, spontaneous divination

Active, energetic visions

Why it works: Fire is constantly moving, which keeps your visual system engaged without letting it settle into boredom. The flicker induces trance quickly.

Difficulty: Beginner to medium. Easier to enter trance, harder to hold it (fire is stimulating).

Danger: Don't stare so long you burn your retinas. Blink. Look away occasionally.

SMOKE SCRYING

What it is: Watching smoke rise from incense, smudge, or fire.

Best for:

Air element questions (communication, thought, change)

Watching patterns unfold (how situations will develop)

Short sessions (smoke doesn't last long)

Why it works: Smoke forms ever-changing shapes. Your brain naturally finds patterns (dragons, faces, symbols) in the movement.

Difficulty: Medium. Smoke dissipates quickly, so visions are fleeting. Requires fast recognition and memory.

CANDLE WAX SCRYING

What it is: Melting a candle and reading the shapes the wax forms (in water or as it hardens).

Best for:

One-time questions (the wax shape is permanent)

Symbolic interpretation (like reading tea leaves)

Physical record you can return to

Why it works: The randomness of melting wax creates shapes your subconscious can interpret symbolically.

Difficulty: Easy. More like symbol-reading than trance-visions.

Not technically "scrying" in the gazing sense, but related practice.

A BEGINNER'S SCRYING SESSION (STEP-BY-STEP)

You'll need:

A dark bowl filled with water

A quiet, dimly lit space

A candle (optional, for mood/focus)

20-30 minutes of uninterrupted time

THE PROCESS:

1. SET UP (5 minutes)

Fill bowl with water, place on stable surface at comfortable eye level

Dim lights or wait for dusk/evening

Light a candle nearby (not reflecting directly in water)

Sit comfortably, spine straight but relaxed

2. GROUND & CENTER (5 minutes)

Close your eyes

Breathe slowly—4 counts in, 6 counts out

Feel your body settle

Set intention: "I am open to receive whatever wants to be seen"

Release expectations

3. BEGIN GAZING (10-15 minutes)

Open eyes, soft focus on water's surface

Don't stare hard—let your gaze rest gently

Breathe naturally

When thoughts arise, notice them and return to gazing

Notice when the shift happens (surface shimmers, time distorts, mind quiets)

4. RECEIVE IMAGES (5-10 minutes)

Don't force

Notice what appears: colors, shapes, symbols, scenes

If nothing appears, that's okay—stay present

If images arise, observe without analyzing

5. CLOSE THE SESSION

Blink, shift your gaze away slowly

Stretch your body

Write down everything you saw immediately (you'll forget quickly)

Dispose of water (outside, not down the drain—release the energy)

6. INTERPRET (later)

Review your notes after at least an hour (or next day)

What felt significant?

What connects to your question?

What surprised you?

Don't expect Hollywood-level visions your first time. This is a skill. It builds over weeks/months of practice.

COMMON CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS

CHALLENGE 1: "I see nothing."

Possible causes:

You're trying too hard (tension blocks reception)

You haven't entered trance state yet (still in beta/analytical mind)

Your medium isn't working for you (try a different one)

You need more practice (this skill takes time)

Solution: Practice entering trance state without scrying first. Meditate daily. Get familiar with alpha/theta. Then return to scrying.

CHALLENGE 2: "Everything I see is obviously just my imagination."

This is the hardest distinction to make.

Questions to ask:

Did the image surprise you, or was it what you expected?

Does it have emotional weight, or is it flat/meaningless?

Does it connect to your question in ways you didn't consciously think of?

Remember: Even if it's "just imagination," your subconscious is using imagery to communicate. The source matters less than the information.

CHALLENGE 3: "I see scary/disturbing things."

This happens, especially with black mirror scrying.

What to do:

Close the session immediately (you're not obligated to continue)

Ground yourself thoroughly (eat, touch earth, physical activity)

Cleanse your space and tools

Consider whether you're ready for this level of shadow work

Work with lighter mediums (water, fire) before returning to mirrors

Not every vision is a message. Some are your fears manifesting. Discernment required.

CHALLENGE 4: "I can't hold focus for more than 2 minutes."

Your attention span is weak. That's fixable.

Practice:

Start with 3-minute sessions

Gradually increase to 5, then 10, then 15

Meditation builds this muscle

Don't force 30-minute sessions before you're ready

CHALLENGE 5: "My eyes hurt/dry out."

You're staring too hard.

Solutions:

Blink naturally (you don't need to hold eyes open the whole time)

Maintain soft focus, not hard stare

Use dim lighting (bright light strains eyes)

Limit sessions to 15-20 minutes maximum

INTERPRETING VISIONS

Scrying produces symbolic, impressionistic imagery—not literal photographs of the future.

TYPES OF VISIONS:

SYMBOLIC: You see an owl. This might mean wisdom, death, transition, night, solitude—depending on context.

Not literal: You won't necessarily encounter a physical owl.

EMOTIONAL: You see a color (red) or feeling (heaviness). The vision is conveying mood or energy, not specific events.

LITERAL: Sometimes, rarely, you see actual future events or past scenes. This is less common than movies suggest.

FRAGMENTED: Most visions are brief, partial, unclear. You see a hand, a doorway, a face—not full narratives.

This is normal. Your job is to piece together meaning.

INTERPRETATION TIPS:

1. Write everything immediately. Visions fade fast.

2. Note emotions and body sensations. Often more informative than the images themselves.

3. Look for patterns over multiple sessions. One vision might be noise. The same symbol appearing three times is signal.

4. Trust your first instinct. If you saw a snake and immediately felt "betrayal," that's probably the message—not a literal snake.

5. Give it time. Some visions only make sense days or weeks later when events unfold.

6. Don't force meaning. Not every session produces profound revelation. Some are just practice.

ADVANCED TECHNIQUES

TECHNIQUE 1: TARGET SCRYING

Choose a specific question before you begin.

Example: "Show me what I need to know about this job opportunity."

Then release the question and enter receptive state. See what arises.

More focused than general scrying, but requires discipline not to project your desired answer.

TECHNIQUE 2: SEQUENTIAL SCRYING

Ask a question. Scry. Note visions.

Ask a follow-up based on what you saw. Scry again.

Build a narrative through multiple sessions.

Example: Session 1: "What's blocking me?" → Vision of closed door Session 2: "What's behind the door?" → Vision of light Session 3: "How do I open the door?" → Vision of key

TECHNIQUE 3: COLLABORATIVE SCRYING

Two people scry the same medium simultaneously.

Compare notes afterward. What did both see? What was unique to each?

Shared visions suggest external/objective information. Unique visions reflect individual subconscious.

TECHNIQUE 4: SCRYING FOR OTHERS

Use their question/energy as focus.

Best if they're present (their energy influences what appears).

Ethics: Get permission. Be honest about accuracy limitations. Don't give medical/legal advice.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Scrying is training your mind to shift from doing to being. From projecting to receiving.

It works because:

Sustained gazing induces trance states (alpha/theta brainwaves)

Visual monotony triggers the brain to generate its own imagery

Subconscious information surfaces as symbols and visions

Pattern recognition finds meaning in randomness

Or maybe it works because:

You're opening a channel to non-ordinary information

The medium acts as a portal between worlds

Spirits, guides, or universal consciousness communicates through imagery

Or both.

How to practice:

Choose a medium that resonates

Learn soft, unfocused gaze

Practice entering trance/receptive state

Release expectations

Record what you see, interpret later

Build the skill over weeks/months, not one session

Scrying isn't about trying harder. It's about trying less—and allowing more.

The visions were always there. You just had to get quiet enough to see them.

YOUR TURN

Do you scry? What medium do you use?

What's the clearest vision you've ever received?

How do you distinguish projection from genuine reception?

Let's talk. Scrying is deeply personal—every practitioner's experience is unique.

Blessed be 🔮

~ Use your intuition to pick a pile, or which picture feels like fresh air/clarity. ~

• remember this is for entertainment purposes only, and to take medical/health advice from licensed professionals.

enjoy💕

🌻Hi Friends🌻

Here are your readings for today!

July 7, 2021

As always, my inbox is open for personal readings.

These are my personal witch's runes, which have been with me for a few years now. I shaped them from simple terracotta-colored, oven-bake clay (I think it was Sculpey) and carved the symbols with a toothpick. I had an accidental cut on my finger that day, and so I seized the rare (and unnecessary) opportunity to impart a drop of my blood into each one as I formed them.

They live in a bowl on my desk which I made of the same clay, always ready to be scooped up and cast (or for me to grab a number of them to read in my hand) at a moment's notice. They even fit perfectly all at once in one of my (very) small hands, and that was a happy surprise.

While I generally find the concept of a 13-rune set to be a bit limited in depth, we have bonded quite a lot over the years. We have developed trust, and the depths to which I can go in a reading of them is expanding over time, as we get to know each other better.

The photo above is what I've just cast this morning. It isn't often that so many turn up, and it makes for a harder-to-interpret reading for this ADHD-PI brain of mine. A lot of ideas to hold at the once while attempting to fit them together into a message that reads consistently with their placement.

The most effective way I've found to read any divination tool is to withhold thought, at first.

Open the intuition and interpret instinctively. Receive the abstract message. Often, the first notions that arise are the most accurate (however conceptual) and set you off in the right direction.

Then, go on to explore your psyche; analyze and integrate the concepts as they relate to you and your situation. Flesh the message out with thought and draw your logical connections.

However, if I begin the use my intellectual/thinky brain (Air) immediately, before my intuition (Water) has a chance to do its thing, I often become stuck and have a hard time determining the message. When intuition misses its chance, it makes the brain's job of sorting things out much, much harder without that foundation/direction. And once I'm in thinky land, intuition loses its potency.

An abstract visual analogy: air vs water within the other's realm

Plunge air into water, and you have bubbles. Easily observable objects which float obviously in one direction. They are clearly visible, and there is a sense of order.

Put water into the realm of air, and you have mist. Something that is more difficult to observe and follow as it disperses in multiple directions at once. It has no clear form, and is less easily readable.

Purely logical interpretations can certainly be accurate (as can purely intuitive readings), but they take much more energy and time, for me. Often, I will have to walk away and come back to it later in order to complete the reading (I take a photo instead of leaving them on the floor because bunny).

This is one of those times.

While I work through this particular reading throughout my day, I'd be quite curious to hear what other witches read from this spread. Ultimately, it is only my own interpretation that I will trust, but I always wonder how intuitions differ/align across perspectives. What do you read here?

Note: Next to the crossroads is the harvest rune, if it's hard to tell. It's supposed to be a piece of wheat, but I'm not an artist so... Yeah. 🙃

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 🦴

Hello beautiful souls ✨

You drink tea. You tip the cup. Leaves cling to the sides in strange formations. You see a bird, a crescent moon, a path winding toward the rim.

You light a candle. You watch wax drip into cold water. It solidifies into shapes—a figure, a flower, something you can't quite name but feel.

You finish your Turkish coffee. You invert the cup onto the saucer. When you lift it, grounds have painted symbols on porcelain.

This is reading divination: interpreting patterns that substances create naturally.

Unlike casting (Part 1—where you throw objects and read where they land), reading divination involves substances that form, flow, settle, or solidify—and you interpret the shapes they make.

Today we're exploring three traditional methods:

Tea leaf reading (tasseomancy) - the classic, accessible, cozy

Coffee ground reading (caf

eomancy) - bold, intense, culturally rich

Wax reading (ceromancy) - visual, immediate, element of fire

All three share core principles:

Patterns form naturally (through liquid, heat, gravity, chance)

You read shapes, symbols, positioning

Interpretation is part structure, part intuition

The method is intimate (you consume the substance or create it through ritual)

This is Part 2 of our divination series. Let's explore the art of reading what forms in cups, water, and wax.

THE CORE PRINCIPLE: READING WHAT EMERGES

All reading divination works on the same foundation:

1. SUBSTANCE CREATES FORM Through natural processes (settling, cooling, clinging), substances create visual patterns.

2. PAREIDOLIA ACTIVATES Your brain finds recognizable shapes in random patterns (faces, animals, objects, symbols).

3. POSITION MATTERS Where the shape appears (rim, bottom, left, right) adds context.

4. INTUITION + TRADITIONAL MEANINGS = INTERPRETATION You combine learned symbol meanings with your immediate gut response.

Whether you're reading tea, coffee, or wax, you're translating visual pattern into meaningful message.

TEA LEAF READING (TASSEOMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Tasseomancy (or tasseography) is the practice of reading symbols formed by tea leaves left in a cup after drinking.

Origin: Likely China (where tea originated), spread to Middle East and Europe by 17th century. Peak popularity in Victorian England (where it became parlor entertainment).

Why it persists: Accessible, intimate, cozy. You can do this with any loose-leaf tea, any cup, any time.

WHAT YOU NEED:

ESSENTIAL:

Loose-leaf tea (not tea bags—you need loose leaves that can move and settle)

White or light-colored cup (so leaves are visible against the surface)

Saucer

IDEAL:

Wide, shallow teacup (traditional fortune-telling cups have symbols inside—helpful but not required)

Simple black or green tea (herbs/flowers add visual complexity that can confuse readings)

You don't need special equipment. A white mug and any loose tea works.

HOW TO READ TEA LEAVES:

STEP 1: BREW & DRINK

Make tea as normal (loose leaves in hot water, steep).

Don't strain. Pour tea with leaves into cup.

As you drink, hold your question in mind. Sip slowly. Leave about a tablespoon of liquid and all the leaves in the bottom.

STEP 2: SWIRL

Hold cup in your non-dominant hand.

Swirl the cup three times clockwise (or counterclockwise if that feels right to you).

This distributes the leaves and allows them to settle into patterns on the sides and bottom of the cup.

STEP 3: INVERT

Place saucer over the cup. Holding both, flip them over quickly.

Leave inverted for a few seconds (some say count to three, some say wait a full minute—experiment).

The remaining liquid drains onto the saucer, leaving leaves clinging to the cup's interior.

STEP 4: LIFT & OBSERVE

Turn the cup right-side up.

Now you have leaves arranged on the sides and bottom of your cup. This is your reading.

First impression: What do you see immediately? Your first instinct is often most accurate.

STEP 5: INTERPRET SYMBOLS

Look for:

Recognizable shapes (animals, people, objects, letters, numbers)

Abstract patterns (lines, dots, clusters, swirls)

Clear vs. scattered (clear shapes = definite; scattered = unclear situation)

READING THE POSITIONS:

HANDLE = YOU

The handle represents you, the querent. It's your anchor point.

ZONES FROM HANDLE:

NEAR HANDLE: Close to you, immediate present, personal OPPOSITE HANDLE: Distant, future, external forces, other people TO THE LEFT OF HANDLE: Past, what's behind you TO THE RIGHT OF HANDLE: Future, what's approaching

VERTICAL ZONES:

RIM: Immediate future, near events, surface issues MIDDLE: Medium-term future (weeks to months), deeper issues BOTTOM: Distant future (months to years), deepest subconscious, foundation

Example:

A bird shape near the handle at the rim = message or news arriving soon, directly affecting you

A bird at the bottom opposite the handle = distant communication, or freedom that will come later through external factors

COMMON TEA LEAF SYMBOLS & MEANINGS:

I'm giving traditional meanings—but YOUR interpretation matters most.

ANIMALS:

Bird: News, messages, freedom, spiritual messenger

Cat: Independence, mystery, feminine power, deception

Dog: Loyalty, friendship, protection, trust

Fish: Abundance, fertility, emotional depth, going with flow

Snake: Transformation, healing, betrayal, wisdom

Horse: Journey, strength, power, movement

OBJECTS:

Key: Solution, opportunity, unlocking, access

Knife: Cutting ties, surgery, sharp words, severing

Ring: Commitment, marriage, cycle completing, partnership

House: Security, family, home life, foundation

Boat: Journey over water (emotional journey), transition

Crown: Success, authority, recognition, achievement

NATURAL FORMS:

Tree: Growth, family tree, branching paths, stability

Flower: Love, beauty, blooming, new relationship

Mountain: Obstacle, challenge, goal, achievement

Star: Hope, guidance, wishes, destiny

Moon: Intuition, feminine, cycles, hidden things

Sun: Success, vitality, clarity, masculine energy

ABSTRACT:

Straight line: Clear path, journey, direct communication

Wavy line: Uncertainty, emotional ups/downs, water element

Circle: Completion, wholeness, protection, cycle

Triangle: Stability (point up), instability (point down), trinity

Cross: Burden, sacrifice, intersection of paths, choice

Dots/specks: Money, messages, small matters

LETTERS & NUMBERS:

Letters: Often initials of people relevant to the reading

Numbers: Timeframes (days, weeks, months), quantities, dates

READING TIPS:

DON'T FORCE IT

If you're staring hard trying to see something, you're projecting, not receiving. Soft focus, open mind.

MULTIPLE INTERPRETATIONS

One clump of leaves might look like a bird to you, a fish to someone else. Both could be valid. What does your gut say?

TELL A STORY

Don't read symbols in isolation. Create a narrative from the whole cup.

"I see a bird (message) near the handle at the rim (coming soon, directly to me), and a ring (commitment) at the bottom opposite (distant future, through someone else). A tree (growth/stability) is between them."

Story: A message is coming that will lead to long-term commitment, but there's growth and time needed first.

TIMING IS RELATIVE

"Rim = soon" might mean tomorrow or next week depending on the question. Use your intuition.

COFFEE GROUND READING (CAFEOMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Cafeomancy (or cledonomancy) is reading symbols in coffee grounds.

Cultural roots: Middle East, Balkans, Eastern Europe—anywhere Turkish coffee is traditional.

Why it differs from tea: Coffee grounds are denser, darker, create bolder patterns. The reading feels more intense, dramatic.

WHAT YOU NEED:

ESSENTIAL:

Turkish/Greek coffee (finely ground, almost powder—this is crucial)

Small cup (demitasse or Turkish coffee cup—white interior ideal)

Saucer

You CANNOT use regular drip coffee or French press. The grounds must be fine enough to create patterns.

HOW TO MAKE TURKISH COFFEE FOR READING:

TRADITIONAL METHOD:

Use a cezve/ibrik (small pot with long handle) or small saucepan

Add cold water (about 2 oz per serving)

Add 1-2 teaspoons finely ground coffee per serving

Add sugar if desired (optional)

Do not stir after it starts heating

Heat slowly over low heat

When foam rises to the top (before boiling), remove from heat

Let foam settle, return to heat

Repeat 2-3 times

Pour into cup (grounds and all)

Let grounds settle for a moment before drinking.

HOW TO READ COFFEE GROUNDS:

STEP 1: DRINK

Drink the coffee slowly, holding your question. Leave about a tablespoon of liquid at the bottom with all the grounds.

STEP 2: SWIRL & WISH

Swirl the cup three times (some traditions say make a wish or state your question aloud while swirling).

STEP 3: INVERT

Place saucer over cup, flip upside down.

Some traditions say:

Place a coin or ring on top of the inverted cup (for luck/sealing the reading)

Let it sit until cup is cool to touch (3-5 minutes)

This allows grounds to slide down the sides and create patterns.

STEP 4: LIFT & READ

Turn cup right-side up carefully.

Grounds will have created patterns on:

Interior walls of the cup

Bottom of the cup

Sometimes the saucer (some readers interpret this separately)

STEP 5: INTERPRET

Similar to tea reading, but:

Coffee patterns tend to be:

Bolder (darker, more defined)

More abstract (less specific shapes, more impressionistic)

Dramatic (coffee readings often feel more intense than tea)

Handle still represents you.

Zones are the same:

Rim = immediate

Middle = medium-term

Bottom = distant/deep

But coffee readers also look at:

TEXTURE:

Heavy, thick grounds: Burden, weight, seriousness

Light, scattered: Clarity, lightness, freedom

Clumped: Obstacles, stuck energy, gathering

FLOW PATTERNS:

Drips running down: Tears, release, things flowing away

Pools at bottom: Accumulation, stagnation, foundation

LIGHT VS. DARK:

Dark patches: Mystery, unknown, shadow

Light areas (exposed cup): Clarity, revelation, emptiness

CULTURAL READING TRADITIONS:

Turkish/Greek coffee reading is a social practice:

Often done for friends/family

Reader sits with querent

Interpretation is conversational ("What does this look like to you? What does it remind you of?")

Not solitary like tea reading often is.

If you're learning from these traditions, learn the cultural context—don't just extract the technique.

WAX READING (CEROMANCY)

WHAT IT IS:

Ceromancy is reading shapes formed when hot wax is dripped into cold water.

Cultural roots: Ancient (Greece, Rome), practiced across Europe, particularly strong in Germanic, Slavic, and Scandinavian folk traditions.

Why it's different: You're reading a physical object (solidified wax) rather than residue in a cup. The reading is immediate and tangible.

WHAT YOU NEED:

ESSENTIAL:

Candle (any color—choose color for its symbolic meaning if desired)

Bowl of cold water (clear glass or white bowl so you can see wax clearly)

Matches/lighter

OPTIONAL:

Different colored candles for different question types

Ice water (makes wax solidify faster/more dramatically)

HOW TO READ WAX:

STEP 1: PREPARE

Fill bowl with cold water (add ice if you want faster solidification).

Light candle. Hold your question clearly in mind.

STEP 2: DRIP OR POUR

METHOD 1: SLOW DRIP

Tilt burning candle over water. Let wax drip slowly, drop by drop.

Watch shapes form in the water and on the surface.

METHOD 2: FULL POUR

Let candle burn for several minutes until you have a good pool of melted wax at the top.

Pour the entire pool into the water at once.

This creates more dramatic, complex shapes.

STEP 3: OBSERVE

Watch the wax as it falls and solidifies.

How it falls: Straight down, spiraling, spreading?

What forms: Shapes, figures, abstract patterns?

How it floats: Does it sink, float, stick to the side of the bowl?

Let it fully solidify (30 seconds to a minute).

STEP 4: REMOVE & EXAMINE

Carefully lift the wax out of the water.

Look at it from all angles:

Top view

Side view

Bottom (often very different from top)

Hold it up to light (are there holes, thin spots, thickness variations?)

STEP 5: INTERPRET

What do you see?

Recognizable shapes (animals, people, objects, letters)

Abstract forms (lines, circles, spirals, webs)

Texture (smooth, rough, bubbled, cracked)

Common symbols same as tea/coffee (birds, flowers, keys, etc.)

But also look for:

Holes: Gaps in information, things escaping, portals, emptiness

Thin spots: Fragility, vulnerability, something breaking

Thickness: Strength, solidity, abundance, protection

Multiple pieces: Fragmentation, multiple paths, choices

WAX-SPECIFIC INTERPRETATIONS:

SHAPES:

SMOOTH, ROUNDED: Flow, ease, femininity, water element JAGGED, SHARP: Conflict, masculinity, fire element, cutting through SPREADING THIN: Dissipating energy, things spreading out, influence expanding BALLED UP: Concentration, protection, holding tight, control LAYERED: Complexity, depth, multiple meanings, time layers

POSITIONS (if pieces land in different areas of the bowl):

CENTER: You, main issue, present moment EDGES: External influences, other people, boundaries FLOATING: Not grounded, still in flux, spiritual matters SINKING: Grounded, material matters, going deep SURFACE CRUST: Surface issues, what's visible, superficial

PATTERNS:

WEB/NET: Entanglement, connection, being caught, network SPIRAL: Cycles, going inward, evolution, journey CIRCLE WITH CENTER: Wholeness, protection, mandala, completion CROSS/X: Intersection, choice, burden, crossroads

COLOR MAGIC IN WAX READING:

Choose candle color based on question:

White: General purpose, purity, clarity, new beginnings

Red: Passion, love, anger, vitality, action

Pink: Romance, friendship, gentle love, emotional healing

Blue: Peace, healing, communication, water element

Green: Money, growth, health, earth element

Yellow: Mental clarity, communication, air element, joy

Purple: Spiritual wisdom, intuition, psychic work, royalty

Black: Banishing, protection, mystery, shadow work

Brown: Grounding, animals, earth, stability

The wax retains the candle's color—this adds another layer of meaning.

ADVANCED: MULTIPLE CANDLES

Use two different colored candles for relationship questions:

Red candle = you Blue candle = another person

Drip both into the same bowl.

Read:

Do the waxes mix or stay separate?

Which color dominates?

Do they touch, overlap, or avoid each other?

This shows relationship dynamics visually.

DEVELOPING YOUR READING SKILLS

PRACTICE EXERCISES:

EXERCISE 1: DAILY TEA RITUAL

Every morning, make tea and read the leaves for daily guidance.

Keep a journal:

What you saw

What you interpreted

What actually happened that day

Track accuracy over weeks. Your interpretation skills will improve.

EXERCISE 2: SYMBOL LIBRARY

Keep a notebook of symbols you've seen and what they meant in context.

Over time, you'll build a personal dictionary that's more accurate than any book.

EXERCISE 3: COMPARISON READING

Ask the same question. Read tea leaves. Note answer.

Ask again. Read coffee grounds. Note answer.

Do they align? Contradict? Complement?

EXERCISE 4: WAX SCULPTURE

After reading wax, keep the piece. Set it on your altar or workspace.

Watch if the answer manifests. If it does, you've got a physical talisman of divination-that-worked.

EXERCISE 5: GROUP READING

Have multiple people read the same cup of tea/coffee.

What does each person see? What's consistent across interpretations? What's unique?

Shared symbols = strongest message. Unique interpretations = individual lens.

TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON CHALLENGES

"I DON'T SEE ANYTHING"

Cause: You're trying too hard, staring analytically.

Fix: Soft focus. Glance quickly. First impression. Peripheral vision. Turn the cup upside down and see if that helps.

"I SEE TOO MANY THINGS"

Cause: Pareidolia is working overtime. Every cluster of leaves is a face.

Fix: Step back. What's the MOST prominent shape? Start there. Don't try to read every speck.

"THE SYMBOLS DON'T MAKE SENSE FOR MY QUESTION"

Cause: You're being too literal, or you're asking the wrong question.

Fix: Think metaphorically. A "bird" might not mean literal bird—it means MESSAGE. Re-examine your question. Is it too vague or too specific?

"MY READINGS ARE NEVER ACCURATE"

Cause: You're interpreting from books instead of intuition, or not tracking results honestly.

Fix: Close the book. What does YOUR gut say the symbol means? And actually track—write down interpretation AND outcome. You might be more accurate than you think but forgetting the hits.

"THE TEA LEAVES WON'T STICK TO THE CUP"

Cause: Tea too weak, too few leaves, or cup is too smooth/waxy.

Fix: Use more tea. Make it stronger. Rough up the interior of the cup slightly (light sandpaper) to give leaves something to grip.

ETHICS & COURTESY

READING FOR OTHERS:

DO:

Get permission

Be honest about your skill level ("I'm learning, take what resonates")

Share what you see but let them interpret too ("What does this look like to you?")

Deliver difficult messages with kindness

DON'T:

Read someone's cup without asking

Give medical, legal, or financial advice beyond your expertise

Claim absolute accuracy

Use readings to manipulate or control

RESPECTING CULTURAL TRADITIONS:

Coffee reading is culturally specific (Turkish, Greek, Balkan). If you're learning from these traditions, acknowledge the source.

Don't claim you're practicing "Turkish coffee reading" if you've just watched YouTube and never been taught by someone from that culture.

Tea and wax reading are more universal/folk practices with less specific cultural ownership, but still respect where you learned.

THE BOTTOM LINE (PART 2)

Reading divination—tea, coffee, wax—is the art of finding meaning in what forms naturally.

You don't control the pattern (like with tarot). You don't cast objects (like bones/runes). You let a substance create its own design, and then you interpret.

The skill is in:

Seeing patterns where others see chaos

Trusting your first instinct

Letting symbols speak their own language (not forcing book meanings)

Reading the whole picture, not isolated shapes

Choose your method:

Tea for gentle, daily, contemplative practice

Coffee for bold, dramatic, culturally-rooted readings

Wax for quick, visual, tangible divination

Or use all three. Different moods, different questions, different methods.

The tea leaves know. The coffee grounds speak. The wax reveals.

You just have to trust that randomness isn't random—and learn to read the language of form.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER: PARTS 1 & 2

You now have a complete toolkit for interpretive divination:

CASTING METHODS (Part 1):

Bones

Charms

Runes

READING METHODS (Part 2):

Tea leaves

Coffee grounds

Wax

All six methods teach you the same core skill: reading pattern as message.

The more you practice, the more you realize:

Your intuition is the real tool

Structure supports but doesn't limit

Every method is a language, and you're learning to speak it

The answer is always there—you just have to see it

YOUR TURN

Do you practice tea, coffee, or wax reading?

What's the clearest symbol you've ever seen in a cup?

Which method calls to you most?

Let's discuss. Reading divination is intimate, cozy, and accessible—perfect for daily practice.

Blessed be ☕

🌻Hi friends!🌻

I needed some time to deliver your message today, as The Universe insisted I receive a message I needed to hear before moving forward with yours.

🌚I’ll be making a blog post inspired by my personal pull from this morning (and one from the day before I launched) later today, so please drop by my website and read my Ramblings if you’re interested!🌚

I woke up this morning and was telling a friend about how I needed to get ready to pull cards. I had a passing thought as I was sending the message that I hadn’t really pulled for myself since launching the page.

Spirit heard that thought👀 I sat down with my coffee, lit my candle, and got my decks shuffled. Two cards out and I could tell this wasn’t a message for you guys…so I said okay and continued to pull. Then I thanked Spirit for the confirmation that I was in need of a message, and asked politely to shift their attention to you guys as I reshuffled. 😇

And…WOW.😳 It’s a big one my friends. I’ve included several pictures (I felt close ups were needed).

In case you couldn’t see from previous spreads, I don’t limit the number of cards I pull. If you need to hear it, it will fall. And I was a little iffy on how many cards decided to come out today…but it all seems to flow so we’re gonna go with it.

🗣🗣MY FRIENDS, I KNOW THINGS HAVE BEEN ROUGH LATELY. BUT LISTEN: we are nearing the end of Mercury Retrograde. Relief is just around the corner (you know, after the shadow period is when clarity really hits, but we got this!!🗣🗣

Considering a few messages have come back to visit from the other day, I believe one (or a few) of you have turned your attention towards my readings the past few days. Spirit wants you to know they see you and they are glad you’re listening.

Whatever decision is weighing heavy on your heart will reach its conclusion soon, I promise. But, it’s time to remove whatever it is that is no longer serving you. There is a high chance this will result in someone else being offended or hurt. I am hearing that the love you are needing is a love for yourself…and that some people aren’t going to be okay with your sudden shift into that love. The right people are going to support you doing what is best for you. 🌛

Stop. Pause. As this retrograde comes to a close, can you say you have support in your surroundings? Or do you need to evaluate and speak up for yourself and what you need? If you do and you are met with negativity, see this as your final confirmation to move forward in a different direction, leaving behind what you know you don’t need. 🚥

👻Old ways of being, thinking, or doing are whispering to you “Stay here, do it as you’ve always done. Sure it’s tough, but at least you know what to expect.” The Universe is telling you now is the time to finally stop listening to those whispers. Tell yourself that you deserve better and you will work to get what you deserve.

Please don’t fight this change. You are worth more than you are giving yourself credit for. These changes are going to be unfamiliar, uncomfortable, even scary, but the person you will be on the other side is going to be so much more at peace. You have to believe you are worth these changes first, and that is one of the hardest things to do, I know.

What is happening now that seems familiar and is providing you the opportunity to move in the same way you have in the past? Think back to that time; How did moving that way work for you? Something tells me it didn’t work out well. What could have been done differently? Spirit urges you to change things up.

We, as a whole, are going through a time of serious and great change. We are all feeling it on a personal and universal scale. Some of you are fighting the feeling to change within yourselves, how are you going to respond when this feeling turns into a nudge, then a push, then a smack to the face? As someone who has gone through several awakenings…eventually you either answer the call to change or you feel as if you’re going insane.

You’re close to your change. If you’re scared, that’s okay! I’m here to walk beside you if you’d like.

✨🍄Take what resonates with you & leave the rest. If you want to talk about this reading, or if you would like to see the guidebook pages for each card, please don’t hesitate to reach out!🍄✨

🌻 Life Gets Better Astrology & Divination