The Art of Divination

Introduction

Scrying and divination are two different practices, as we’ve discussed in previous blog posts. As a reminder, scrying is defined as “the art of obtaining extrasensory information by the agents of the unconscious mind in the form of sensory metaphors” and divination is defined as “the practice of determining the unknown by the manipulation and observation of tools recognized by their users as possessing the ability to provide such information.” In layman’s terms, scrying is using your subconscious to receive answers to your questions while divination is more symbolic in its answers. 

Divination involves looking into the past, present, or future to seek out things that are normally hidden to us. When looking to the future, it’s a lot like predicting the weather. Oftentimes it can be accurate, but just like the weather, the future can change in an instant. We create our own reality. Nothing we see when divining is concrete and if we don’t like the future we see, we can change it. Just like my nana always says: “if it’s meant to be, it’s up to me!”

History

Divination is an ancient art, predating history itself. No one knows when people first used tools to foretell the future, but we know the practice is still alive and well today. In the past, divination tended to be more closely linked with religion; people spoke to their deities to receive the information and answers they sought, and believed these deities manipulated the tools they used.

This method of future prediction is a worldwide phenomenon; in almost every culture, there is evidence that divination is used. To be clear, divination is not magic and does not require psychic ability. Successful divination can be achieved by anyone who desires to use the technique. 

Practice

When divining, “actions and thoughts produce nonphysical waves of energy that extend into the future, and thus shape it to a certain event.” Essentially, the subconscious mind creates small, involuntary movements and energy, much like in scrying. Not all methods of divination involve the subconscious mind, however; some tools rely on external forces. The energy of the subconscious mind combined with these external forces shows potential futures.

There are two basic forms of divination; operational and natural. Operational divination involves the manipulation of tools to determine the future. These tools are used in specific ways. Natural divination involves observation of the natural world. A specific time and place is chosen and signs are received in response to questions. We will talk about various methods of divination in future blog posts.

Remember, your attitude is important. How you approach divination determines how you will receive your answers. If you approach this method seriously, with genuine questions, you will get serious answers and responses. It is important to respect the art of scrying, the tools you use, and the techniques you employ.

How you ask the questions can be just as important as the questions themselves. It is important to carefully formulate the questions you ask so that they are easy to understand and answer. Clear questions = clear answers. You can write your questions down, speak them aloud, or simply think them in your head. Use whichever method feels right to you, unless the technique you’re using requires something specific.

When asking your questions, it’s important to think only of the question, not of any desired answers. Don’t ignore any responses you receive just because you don’t like them. It’s important to remain impartial when asking your questions and receiving your answers.

Responses

The messages received during divination are referred to as responses and they come in three forms; binary, symbolic, and selective. Binary is the easiest form and gives the clearest answers. Methods involving binary responses use yes/no questions, like the pendulum, thus the term ‘binary.’ Sometimes, an additional answer such as ‘maybe,’ ‘perhaps,’ or ‘no answer’ may be included as well.

Symbolic responses come in the forms of symbols or images. You interpret them based on the question you asked. These responses are not limited to specific questions; you can simply request to see the general future. Usually, the diviner will only see symbols that are familiar to them, which helps with the success of their interpretation. When using this method, be sure to interpret the symbols right away. Trust your instincts – there are no right or wrong answers. 

There’s no need to seek out literal meanings of the symbols, you should rely on what feels right. For example, if you see the symbol of a dog, you might think loyal and friendly. If you’re not fond of dogs, you might think aggressive and hostile. Neither of these answers is more correct than the other. The way you feel about the symbol you see, the way you interpret them, is the correct way for you. Everyone is different.

Selective responses are much more particular than the other types of responses. The diviner will write down several potential futures, which are then manipulated to show the most likely one. These can be written down on pieces of paper, for example, and placed somewhere so that the wind will manipulate them.

If the response you receive is unclear, or if you are unsure, repeat your divination three times to try for a clearer response. Sometimes, there will be no response. If this is the case, don’t stress. No response doesn’t necessarily mean failure, it can simply mean that there is no answer at the time, or that the answer is unclear given your current path. Give it some time, and try your question again later.

Method

It is often said that it’s best to eat a large meal before beginning with your divination, but this is unnecessary. Do what feels right to you. There are no special outfits or jewelry required, but you can choose special adornments if you so desire.

Divination has, in the past, been said to be best performed at specific times. These days, though, there is no such limitation. Divination can be performed during any season, on any day, at any time, and during any phase of the moon. Some do claim, however, that it can be less distracting to perform it at night.

There are no special preparations you have to make in order to start divining, unless the technique you employ states so. If you would like, you can prepare by simply sitting quietly for a few moments, breathing deeply. Think of your question and move on to the technique.

If you desire, you can use the method mentioned in the previous blog posts. Cast your circle, say a protective prayer, invoke your deities, and begin divining. Once you are finished, close your circle, thank your deities, and say a closing prayer.

It is recommended not to divine for others until you are proficient. Be warned that it is an invasion of privacy, and unethical, to look into others’ future without permission.

Next week we’ll start talking about specific techniques of divination, so check back soon!

Sources

Buckland, Raymond. Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft. St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A: Llewellyn Publications, 1986. Print.

Buckland, Raymond. Wicca for One. New York, NY, U.S.A: Kensington Publishing Corp., 2018. Print.

Cunningham, Scott. Divination for Beginners. Woodbury, Minn., U.S.A: Llewellyn Publications, 2008. Print.

Tyson, Donald. Scrying for Beginners. Woodbury, Minn., U.S.A: Llewellyn Publications, 1997. Print.