Bone casting is one of countless forms of divination that people can practice. I especially love bone casting because it based in nature, and though the name indicates working with bones, bone casting sets do not have to be comprised of bones exclusively. Osteomancy is divination solely through the use of bones, whereas bone casting sets can include a range of natural or found items, such as antlers, buttons, acorns, twigs, keys, teeth, coins, feathers, crystals, rocks, arrowheads, and so on.
Your connection to each item in your bone casting set ultimately drives the way that you'll throw the items and interpret the results. At Astarte's Temple, the bone casting sets we sell have many found objects and are a great starting point for anyone new to the practice, but can elaborately be built onto as you find items and trinkets that hold symbolic meaning to you.
Here are some of the traditional elements that may be included in your bone casting set and ways that you can choose to assign meaning to the item for your readings.
Bones
Historically central to bone casting, actual bones (often small animal bones) represent ancestral wisdom, mortality, and life’s cycles. They act as powerful conduits for guidance from the spiritual realm. Different bones and their lengths, color, markings, or proximity to one another can all have assigned meanings.
For example, a long bone might symbolize travel or journeys because its form suggests movement and distance. Conversely, shorter bones could indicate issues close to home or matters requiring immediate attention.
Relating to the color of the bones, darker bones may be associated with mystery, the unknown, or deep emotions. Lighter bones can signify clarity, truth, or spiritual insight. Some practitioners even use bones from different animals specifically for their color and what that animal represents in various cultural traditions.
Markings on the bones—whether natural or intentionally added—can add another layer of meaning when focusing on the appearance. A bone with a distinctive notch might be interpreted as a warning or a sign of interruption in one’s path. Lines and patterns could suggest timelines, progressions, or connections between life events.
The proximity of one bone to another during a reading is crucial. Bones that land close together might indicate relationships or events that are intertwined; perhaps two areas of your life are influencing each other in ways you haven’t noticed. In contrast, bones far apart could signal separation, distance, or unresolved issues needing attention.
Coins
Coins symbolize wealth, opportunity, and luck. Their presence in a reading might point to financial changes or decisions involving resources. The different faces of a coin can also represent duality—such as risk versus reward. It's important to intentionally assign the meaning to each side of the coin if that will be a factor in your readings and then consistently stick to that.
In our bone casting sets at Astarte's Temple, we specifically include a coin that has YES and NO on either side of it to aid in divination questions that require a precise, definitive answer on a question. This can also be interpreted as positive and negative or even Yang (Masculine/Giving) and Yin (Feminine/Receiving) depending on the symbolic needs of the nature of your readings.
Antlers
Antlers stand for strength, growth, and renewal. They suggest resilience in adversity or the need to assert oneself. Their branching structure can also signify new directions or opportunities. Paying attention to what cardinal direction the antler is pointing toward can also give insight into specific directions or even the classical element that is associated with each direction.
Keep in mind different traditions may associate these things with varying sets of rules, so pick which system you're following and stick with that. For example, if you're following a system that associates the elements and directions as East for Air, South for Fire, West for Water, and North for Earth, be consistent in utilizing that same association every time.
Acorns
A symbol of potential and growth, acorns remind us that great things often have small beginnings. In readings, they may indicate new ventures or ideas ready to take root. You can also assign meaning based on if the acorn has a hat or a stem or other variable factors that could play into the readings.
Buttons
Buttons are connected to themes of relationships and unity—how things come together or fall apart. They may highlight social bonds or situations where things need 'fastening' or resolving. If the buttons have colors, artwork, are made of a certain material, or have a set number of holes, all of those things can be utilized in how you interpret the results.
Similar to coins, you can also assign different meanings based on which side of the button is facing upright as well.
Dice
Dice are classic emblems of chance and fate. Including dice in your set calls attention to elements beyond your control, reminding you that sometimes outcomes are determined by systems of motion on a grander scale in the cosmos.
Additionally, if the dice have numbers or other symbols on them, those can become important factors in the reading as well. For example, dice with numbers can correlate to the symbolic meanings of the number or even dates, times, ages, or other things that have numerical values attached.
Seashells
Seashells evoke emotions, intuition, and journeys—especially those related to personal transformation or healing. Their presence encourages looking beneath the surface for deeper truths. Since shells come in so many different sizes, shapes, colors, and formations, these factors can all play into the meaning you assign to each item.
Brightly colored shells often bring messages of joy, vitality, or creativity. Whites and creams might signify purity or new beginnings; dark hues could point to mystery or challenges yet to be uncovered. The vibrancy or subtlety of color within the cast can influence whether the message is loud and clear or requires deeper introspection.
Markings are equally essential. Natural patterns—spots, lines, swirls—can act as metaphors for life’s complexities. A shell with many intricate lines might suggest that a situation involves unexpected twists and turns; spots could mean scattered opportunities or multiple influences at play.
Shells closely grouped together may signify community support or converging influences in your life. Isolated shells often suggest independence—or perhaps loneliness—while two shells touching might indicate partnership, collaboration, or even conflict if their shapes clash.
Arrowheads
Historically, they represent not only physical protection but also spiritual guidance. When an arrowhead appears in a cast, its position can indicate the need for focus or a clear direction in life. For example, an arrowhead pointing outward from other objects may signify new opportunities or journeys ahead. If an arrowhead lies close to a bone, it could indicate a need to protect the self, loved ones, or resolve family issues. Broken or chipped arrowheads could warn about unresolved conflicts or the necessity for healing. All of these things, though, are ultimately determined by the meaning you assign to each aspect of it.
Crystals & Rocks
Crystals are another common addition to bone casting sets, each offering its own energetic properties. A piece of rose quartz might symbolize love and emotional healing; amethyst can represent intuition or spiritual guidance; and clear quartz could magnify the meaning of nearby objects. The color and type of crystal add layers to the interpretation.
For example, if a protective black tourmaline lands near a bone symbolizing family, it could suggest that the you should shield themselves from negative influences within their domestic sphere.
Whether you're buying a starter set (like from us at Astarte's Temple) or 100% collecting and building your own set, the most critical aspect is assigning meaning to each item. The easiest way to do this is by dedicating a journal to your casting and drawing or describing each item. Spend time holding the item and inspecting it and allowing any insights for what the item's potential is to flow to you. Take notes on all of these aspects so you have a reference point as you're getting to know your set.
Buy your Bone Casting Set here from Astarte's Temple!
Much like tarot, oracle, pendulums, or other forms of divination, cleansing your set energetically and establishing a spiritual connection to the tool is important to ensure clarity in your readings. This can be done by keeping in on a personal altar, carrying with you throughout the day in your pocket (if small enough) or in your bag, or keeping it under your pillow or on your nightstand while you sleep.
For me, I often dream and see my divination tools in the astral state and that's how I know I've really bonded with or established a powerful connection to my tool(s). If you have something similar for you that indicates when you're energetically connected to something, utilize that as your frame of reference.
The next step is specifically trust-building with your set. Practice tossing all of the items or randomly pulling a handful of items and casting them on a surface that won't break or chip any of your items. Set your intentions on questions you already know the answer to, such as what you accomplished the day prior or the nature of your job. Pay attention to what items are in front of you, how close they are together, if they're clustered, if there are any outliers, etc. Then shift your focus to the individual items allowing messages to flow toward you as you interpret the results.
Experiment with how you cast, what feels natural, and how you interpret things. And as with anything, practice, practice, practice.
Taking notes on your readings, including what items were tossed and how you interpreted them is a great way to build your reference point for how you understand your readings in the future too.
And remember, your set can constantly evolve. Add or remove items as you feel needed. Assign new meanings or change meanings as you feel you need to as well. This set is wholly yours!
Happy casting!
Join The Mystic's Journey in-depth pathworking program today! Through this 3.5-year program, you'll learn about the seven threads of magick that comprise the fabric of our universe, how to work with these threads to weave your own fate, and truly step into your authentic and unique spiritual path with confidence, clarity, and direction.
Every time a student enrolls in The Mystic's Journey program I've built, they're not only accessing everything I have created and learned, but they're also making it possible for me to continue teaching full time.
What YOU get access to:
Coursework to learn about mysticism
Rituals, journal prompts, meditations, and more
Free downloadable grimoire pages
Side quests to learn 42 types of magick
Engaging community forum
Earn crystals as you complete coursework
Beginner and advanced resources
App for convenient learning on-the-go
Enroll TODAY and join an incredible community of witches and spiritual practitioners that are motivated by wisdom, embody their magick, and trust their intuition.
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources on divination, and specifically within the divination category, resources on scrying, so this article is the beginning of many resources to come.
Scrying is a form of divination that involves gazing into a reflective surface, such as a crystal ball, a pool of water, or a mirror, to receive visions or gain insight. Practitioners of scrying can access information about the past, present, or future through the images and symbols that appear on the reflective surface. The act of scrying is often used to gain intuitive insights, to communicate with spirits or divine entities, and to explore the subconscious mind.
When people begin the process of learning divination, they are tapping into a large supply of energy and wisdom within themselves and can quickly become susceptible to being drained, exhausted, fatigued, etc., so it's incredibly important to take divination slow.
Grounding before divination is important as it ensures that you are connected to your body, the material realm, and very much present for any messages that will come through. You can ground your energy in several ways including, spending time in nature, walking barefoot on the grass or soil to feel the connection to the earth, sitting crisscross on the ground to connect your root energy source to the earth, imagining roots growing from your feet into the earth anchoring you firmly, practicing intentional breathing exercises, and more. Remember that grounding is a personal practice, so feel free to explore different techniques and find what works best for you.
To cleanse the energy of your space before practicing divination, you can smoke cleanse with sacred dried herbs, sound cleanse with bells or singing bowls, or utilize energy-clearing sprays like Florida water or other cleansing blends. Each method has its unique way of clearing energy and creating a positive environment for your divination session, so use whatever method is easily doable and works best for you. Remember to be intentional through the process, so if you are going to cleanse with burning dried herbs, for example, do not simply wave the burning herbs and smoke around, but set your intentions and focus on cleansing the space you’ll be working in of any negative or stagnant energy so that you have a neutral starting point.
After cleansing the space to bring it to a neutral state energetically speaking, you’ll then want to protect yourself and the space from any additional unwanted energies from entering during the divination session. This is a critical step as it helps minimize the risk of any disturbances or connecting with any energies that aren't aligned with your highest good. Protection can be implemented by setting an energetic boundary, such as casting a circle, if this aligns with your spiritual path and beliefs, wearing protective crystals, such as black obsidian, black tourmaline, or hematite, or casting a protection spell.
1. Choose a scrying tool: Common options include a crystal ball, black mirror, water bowl, or candle flame. The main idea is to look "into" surfaces that act as in-between places, or portals if you will, to see what is reflected in the microcosmic space you're peering into. The theory behind this can even be thought of scientifically, that everything taking place in the macrocosmic (big universe) is reflected in all of its smaller elements. This makes scrying a practice of receiving messages about big-picture concepts happening in the cosmos through looking at the patterns and imagery depicted within these smaller places or surfaces. You can learn to scry with any of these tools:
2. Create a calm environment: Find a quiet space, dim the lights, and light candles or incense if desired. It's important to be in a distraction-free zone so that outside information doesn't disturb the subtle messages you're about to receive.
3. Cleanse your tool(s): Use sacred incense, moonlight, or visualization to purify your scrying surface. This is important as liminal spaces can easily capture energy we may not want to connect with and this brings it to a neutral state.
4. Enter a meditative state: Take deep breaths and clear your mind of distractions. Allow your own thoughts to drift in and out without paying attention to them. Focus on your scrying surface of choice.
5. Gaze softly: Look into your scrying tool without straining your eyes. Allow your focus to soften. If you've never done this before, it's similar to when you gently unfocus your eyes and allow yourself to see "double"...but don't overdo it. The goal is to look at imagery that enters the eyes and brain that is "in-between" the information that your left eye and right eye are independently receiving and interpreting as a singular 3D image. In between the two sets of information being received by your eyes is a third "liminal space" where light, color, shapes, etc. look blurry and move differently. That is what you want to focus on.
6. Be patient: It may take time to see images or receive impressions. Don't force it.
7. Interpret what you see: Pay attention to symbols, colors, or emotions that arise while scrying. After you're finished, always thank the surface or tool you used to scry with as it held precious wisdom and energy for you to peer into, and for a brief moment was an extension of your own inner wisdom.
8. Record your experience: Keep a journal of your scrying sessions to track progress. If possible, draw what you saw to reflect on as well.
9. Practice regularly: Develop your skills through consistent practice.
10. Trust your intuition: As you gain experience, learn to interpret the messages you receive and think about how they fit in with greater cosmic events taking place in your life, the collective, or the world around you.
May you walk your path with wisdom and prudence. Blessed be on your journey of spiritual growth and healing.
Join The Mystic's Journey in-depth pathworking program today! Through this 3.5-year program, you'll learn about the seven threads of magick that comprise the fabric of our universe, how to work with these threads to weave your own fate, and truly step into your authentic and unique spiritual path with confidence, clarity, and direction.
Every time a student enrolls in The Mystic's Journey program I've built, they're not only accessing everything I have created and learned, but they're also making it possible for me to continue teaching full time.
What YOU get access to:
Coursework to learn about mysticism
Rituals, journal prompts, meditations, and more
Free downloadable grimoire pages
Side quests to learn 42 types of magick
Engaging community forum
Earn crystals as you complete coursework
Beginner and advanced resources
App for convenient learning on-the-go
Enroll TODAY and join an incredible community of witches and spiritual practitioners that are motivated by wisdom, embody their magick, and trust their intuition.
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources on divination, and specifically within the divination category, resources on runes, so this article is the beginning of many resources to come.
Runes are an ancient form of divination that originated in Northern Europe. Runes are a set of symbols, each with its own meaning, that are cast or drawn to provide insight and guidance. Practitioners of rune divination, known as rune casters, interpret the patterns and positions of the runes to gain an understanding of a person's past, present, and future. Runes are often used to gain clarity on important decisions, identify potential obstacles, and connect with one's intuition. The practice of rune divination remains popular today as a means of self-reflection and spiritual exploration.
When people begin the process of learning divination, they are tapping into a large supply of energy and wisdom within themselves and can quickly become susceptible to being drained, exhausted, fatigued, etc., so it's incredibly important to take divination slow.
Grounding before divination is important as it ensures that you are connected to your body, the material realm, and very much present for any messages that will come through. You can ground your energy in several ways including, spending time in nature, walking barefoot on the grass or soil to feel the connection to the earth, sitting crisscross on the ground to connect your root energy source to the earth, imagining roots growing from your feet into the earth anchoring you firmly, practicing intentional breathing exercises, and more. Remember that grounding is a personal practice, so feel free to explore different techniques and find what works best for you.
To cleanse the energy of your space before practicing divination, you can smoke cleanse with sacred dried herbs, sound cleanse with bells or singing bowls, or utilize energy-clearing sprays like Florida water or other cleansing blends. Each method has its unique way of clearing energy and creating a positive environment for your divination session, so use whatever method is easily doable and works best for you. Remember to be intentional through the process, so if you are going to cleanse with burning dried herbs, for example, do not simply wave the burning herbs and smoke around, but set your intentions and focus on cleansing the space you’ll be working in of any negative or stagnant energy so that you have a neutral starting point.
After cleansing the space to bring it to a neutral state energetically speaking, you’ll then want to protect yourself and the space from any additional unwanted energies from entering during the divination session. This is a critical step as it helps minimize the risk of any disturbances or connecting with any energies that aren't aligned with your highest good. Protection can be implemented by setting an energetic boundary, such as casting a circle, if this aligns with your spiritual path and beliefs, wearing protective crystals, such as black obsidian, black tourmaline, or hematite, or casting a protection spell.
Gather your runes:
Rune sets typically consist of 24-25 runes, each representing a different symbol or meaning. Our preferred runes are the Elder Futhark Runes since they are the oldest known runic alphabet (used from around the 2nd to 8th centuries CE), but there are multiple different types including, the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc: A variant of the Elder Futhark used in Anglo-Saxon England from the 5th to 11th centuries CE, the Younger Futhark: A simplified version of the Elder Futhark used in Scandinavia from the 8th to 12th centuries CE, Medieval Runes: Runic alphabets used in Scandinavia and Iceland from the 12th to 15th centuries CE, Staveless Runes: A type of runic alphabet without the characteristic vertical "stave" lines, and Bind Runes: Ligatures formed by combining two or more runes into a single symbol, and Icelandic Runes: Runes used in Iceland from the 16th to 19th centuries CE.
Elder Futhark Runes:
Cleanse and consecrate your runes:
This can be done through meditation, visualization, or ritual. This helps ensure the runes are energetically neutral so that any messages to be received can come through clearly.
Cast the runes:
Hold the runes in your hands and focus your intention on the question or issue you want to explore. Cast onto a flat surface, such as a cloth or board. Allow them to fall randomly.
Interpret the runes:
Interpret the runes that fall onto the cloth or board face-up. Look at their individual meanings as well as their positions and relationships to each other. Use your intuition and knowledge of rune meanings to provide insight into the question or situation.
The position of a rune within a rune cast or spread can provide important context for its meaning. Runes placed in the central or focus position tend to represent the core issue or energy at hand. Surrounding runes can provide additional details, influences, or potential outcomes related to the central rune.
The relationship between runes is also significant. Runes that are next to or touching each other often have a synergistic meaning, combining their individual energies. Runes that are reversed or inverted may indicate challenges, obstacles, or a less favorable expression of that rune's qualities. Runes that are far apart in the spread may represent disconnected or conflicting elements.
The overall pattern formed by the runes can reveal larger themes, cycles, or dynamics at play. Paying attention to the spatial relationships, alignments, and clustering of the runes can help uncover deeper insights and meanings in the rune reading.
While learning to effectively cast runes, record your runecasting session for future reference and reflection. At the end of your session, be sure to give thanks to the runes, the spiritual realm, and any other spirits present for the session (if applicable) and properly store your runes until the next time you wish to cast them.
May you walk your path with wisdom and prudence. Blessed be on your journey of spiritual growth and healing.
Join The Mystic's Journey in-depth pathworking program today! Through this 3.5-year program, you'll learn about the seven threads of magick that comprise the fabric of our universe, how to work with these threads to weave your own fate, and truly step into your authentic and unique spiritual path with confidence, clarity, and direction.
Every time a student enrolls in The Mystic's Journey program I've built, they're not only accessing everything I have created and learned, but they're also making it possible for me to continue teaching full time.
What YOU get access to:
Coursework to learn about mysticism
Rituals, journal prompts, meditations, and more
Free downloadable grimoire pages
Side quests to learn 42 types of magick
Engaging community forum
Earn crystals as you complete coursework
Beginner and advanced resources
App for convenient learning on-the-go
Enroll TODAY and join an incredible community of witches and spiritual practitioners that are motivated by wisdom, embody their magick, and trust their intuition.
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources on divination, so this article is the beginning of many resources to come.
Divination can be thought of as any form of communication with the divine (or spiritual) realm. It may include tapping into the energy of the past, present, or future, as well as tapping into the wisdom that exists outside of the human constructs of time.
Personally, I like to think of divination as a conversation that can take place when typical human methods for communicating are less practical or those abilities are not yet developed. For example, if someone can see or hear spirits, they may receive their messages from the divine or spirit realms through their eyes and ears in a very literal way, much like how two humans would converse.
This particular ability is not everyone's gift, strong suit, or preferred method for communication, though, as it can be energetically taxing. Because of this, many practitioners may learn alternative methods for receiving those same messages specifically through the use of divination tools, such as runes, tarot, pendulums, scrying, reading tea leaves, and so on. There is no "wrong" or "right" method of communicating with the divine, it simply comes down to the individual practitioner's preference, comfort level, and ability to receive messages clearly.
Who typically practices divination?
People who are naturally drawn to and connected with the spiritual realm are the main practitioners of divination. They are typically people who crave deeper insight, wisdom, knowledge, and the like that can be gleaned by both looking inward, through self-reflection and looking to the patterns of the cosmos by looking outwards. In reality, anyone can learn what goes into any given divination method, but it takes someone truly in tune with their intuition, higher self, and the collective conscious to clearly receive messages that will provide deeper insight. This comes through practice, practice, practice. And taking a significant amount of time to unlearn closed-minded ways of thinking, learn to embrace open-minded ways of thinking, and most importantly, heal!
Divination requires directed energy and intentions, as well as a connection to your intuition and the spiritual realm surrounding you. Newer practitioners may find themselves feeling like they're swimming in new information, especially when learning a divination method that requires a lot of memorization (like with tarot, runes, etc.). This might make someone feel somewhat tired, drained, or fatigued due to information overload or excess amounts of energy being tapped into, but generally speaking, practicing divination shouldn’t have a tremendous toll on you if you’re properly grounding and taking care of your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
For me, I also take into consideration the type of connection being made when divining. Simple messages from Spirit may have nearly no energetic toll on a practitioner, whereas a mediumship session with an entity from another realm or place in time could be incredibly draining. All the more reason to properly rest and ground before and after any divination sessions.
Divination is not evil. At its core, divination is no different than someone who prays, asks a higher power for a sign or message, or flips open their bible to a random verse and takes it as their daily insight for the day. Is it possible to communicate with or tap into energy that is undesirable, ill-intended, or malicious even? Of course, anything is possible when tapping into the spirit realm, but that is why spiritual practitioners are intentional about who or what they're connecting with, as well as practicing grounding, cleansing, and protection. That way they are only connecting with beings that are aligned with their highest good. Can it be dangerous? No, divination itself is not dangerous. If for some reason a practitioner feels like something not aligned with their highest good has occurred during a divination session, again, that is where grounding, cleansing, protection, and even banishing, if necessary comes into play. But is divination inherently dangerous or evil? No, not at all.
While it can be scary to perform any new type of spiritual practice, there really isn't anything to fear with divination. To overcome fears surrounding divination, start with something simple, such as pulling a single oracle or tarot card after asking "What can I focus my energy on today?", and then branch out as your confidence grows.
When people begin the process of learning divination, they are tapping into a large supply of energy and wisdom within themselves and can quickly become susceptible to being drained, exhausted, fatigued, etc., so it's incredibly important to take divination slow.
Grounding before divination is important as it ensures that you are connected to your body, the material realm, and very much present for any messages that will come through. You can ground your energy in several ways including, spending time in nature, walking barefoot on the grass or soil to feel the connection to the earth, sitting crisscross on the ground to connect your root energy source to the earth, imagining roots growing from your feet into the earth anchoring you firmly, practicing intentional breathing exercises, and more. Remember that grounding is a personal practice, so feel free to explore different techniques and find what works best for you.
To cleanse the energy of your space before practicing divination, you can smoke cleanse with sacred dried herbs, sound cleanse with bells or singing bowls, or utilize energy-clearing sprays like Florida water or other cleansing blends. Each method has its unique way of clearing energy and creating a positive environment for your divination session, so use whatever method is easily doable and works best for you. Remember to be intentional through the process, so if you are going to cleanse with burning dried herbs, for example, do not simply wave the burning herbs and smoke around, but set your intentions and focus on cleansing the space you’ll be working in of any negative or stagnant energy so that you have a neutral starting point.
After cleansing the space to bring it to a neutral state energetically speaking, you’ll then want to protect yourself and the space from any additional unwanted energies from entering during the divination session. This is a critical step as it helps minimize the risk of any disturbances or connecting with any energies that aren't aligned with your highest good. Protection can be implemented by setting an energetic boundary, such as casting a circle, if this aligns with your spiritual path and beliefs, wearing protective crystals, such as black obsidian, black tourmaline, or hematite, or casting a protection spell.
Tarot is a form of divination that uses a deck of cards to gain insight and guidance. The tarot deck consists of 78 cards, divided into the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana represents the larger, more significant events and archetypes in life, while the Minor Arcana deals with the everyday challenges and experiences. Tarot readers interpret the symbolism and meaning of the cards drawn to provide insights and predictions about a person's life, relationships, and future. Tarot reading is often used for self-reflection, decision-making, and gaining a deeper understanding of one's circumstances and emotions.
Oracle cards are a form of divination that uses a deck of cards, each with its own unique imagery and meaning. Unlike traditional tarot cards, oracle cards do not follow a specific structure or system. Instead, they are designed to provide intuitive guidance and insight through the symbolism and messages on the cards. Oracle card readings are often used for self-reflection, personal growth, and exploring various aspects of one's life. The process typically involves shuffling the deck and selecting one or more cards, which are then interpreted based on the card's imagery and the reader's intuitive understanding. Oracle card readings can offer a flexible and accessible way for individuals to connect with their inner wisdom and gain clarity on various life situations.
Runes are an ancient form of divination that originated in Northern Europe. Runes are a set of symbols, each with its own meaning, that are cast or drawn to provide insight and guidance. Practitioners of rune divination, known as rune casters, interpret the patterns and positions of the runes to gain an understanding of a person's past, present, and future. Runes are often used to gain clarity on important decisions, identify potential obstacles, and connect with one's intuition. The practice of rune divination remains popular today as a means of self-reflection and spiritual exploration.
Pendulum divination is a form of dowsing that uses a suspended weight on the end of a string or chain to obtain answers to questions. The pendulum is held loosely and allowed to swing freely. The direction and pattern of the pendulum's movements are interpreted to provide information about the question asked. Pendulums are commonly used to locate lost objects, identify energies or auras, clear energy blockages in the body, and gain insight on specific “yes and no” type questions and topics.
Tea leaf reading, also known as tasseography (also known as tasseomancy, tassology, or tasseology), is a form of divination that uses the patterns formed by tea leaves in the bottom of a cup to interpret a person's future or gain insight into their life. The process involves brewing a cup of tea, swirling the leaves around, and then turning the cup over to allow the leaves to settle. The reader then interprets the shapes, symbols, and patterns left behind in the cup to provide insights and predictions. Tea leaf reading is believed to have originated in Asia and has been practiced for centuries as a way to gain wisdom and foresight through the examination of the tea leaves.
Scrying is a form of divination that involves gazing into a reflective surface, such as a crystal ball, a pool of water, or a mirror, to receive visions or gain insight. Practitioners of scrying can access information about the past, present, or future through the images and symbols that appear on the reflective surface. The act of scrying is often used to gain intuitive insights, to communicate with spirits or divine entities, and to explore the subconscious mind.
May you walk your path with wisdom and prudence. Blessed be on your journey of spiritual growth and healing.
Join The Mystic's Journey in-depth pathworking program today! Through this 3.5-year program, you'll learn about the seven threads of magick that comprise the fabric of our universe, how to work with these threads to weave your own fate, and truly step into your authentic and unique spiritual path with confidence, clarity, and direction.
Every time a student enrolls in The Mystic's Journey program I've built, they're not only accessing everything I have created and learned, but they're also making it possible for me to continue teaching full time.
What YOU get access to:
Coursework to learn about mysticism
Rituals, journal prompts, meditations, and more
Free downloadable grimoire pages
Side quests to learn 42 types of magick
Engaging community forum
Earn crystals as you complete coursework
Beginner and advanced resources
App for convenient learning on-the-go
Enroll TODAY and join an incredible community of witches and spiritual practitioners that are motivated by wisdom, embody their magick, and trust their intuition.
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources on rituals, including cord cuttings and this article is the beginning of many resources to come.
Cord cuttings, often referred to as a "Cutting the Cord" ritual, are intended to sever the energetic cord between you and another person. People who are inexperienced with energy work may opt to have a more experienced practitioner perform the work for them, but many people choose to perform this ritual on their own as the steps you walk through can be very therapeutic and releasing feelings. This is especially true if the person you are cutting off was someone who brought a lot of trauma, harm, abuse, or toxicity to your life.
Keep in mind that when you are performing any type of ritual or spellwork, your intentions are the most important thing, so take time to meditate on and determine what your goal for the working is. It might be to move on from an ex, heal from a toxic friendship, or move past the abuse of a family member. At the end of the day, what your end goal is has to be clearly defined by you.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that cord cuttings are intended to be permanent, so if the person you are "cutting the cord" from is someone you think you might return to being in a relationship with later on in life, this may not be the ideal ritual for that situation.
Additionally, I like to always encourage people to practice safely when dabbling in energy work because our intentions hold a great deal of power, and sometimes things we set in motion through our will can have consequences that are outside the scope of what we thought might occur or happen as a result of our working. This makes it especially important to focus our intentions on separating the other person's energy from ourselves, and not doing things on other people's behalf without their explicit permission.
If there are multiple people that you desire to cut the cord from, I've found it most effective to perform the ritual for each individual scenario, rather than lumping them all together into one singular working.
The most powerful tool at your disposal is always your mind and your intentions. To physically perform the ritual with tangible ingredients, which can help you stay focused and aligned with the outcome of the ritual, here are some useful tools:
Grounding before rituals is important as it ensures that you are connected to your body, the material realm, and very much present for the working. You can ground your energy in several ways including, spending time in nature, walking barefoot on the grass or soil to feel the connection to the earth, sitting crisscross on the ground to connect your root energy source to the earth, imagining roots growing from your feet into the earth anchoring you firmly, practicing intentional breathing exercises, and more. Remember that grounding is a personal practice, so feel free to explore different techniques and find what works best for you.
To cleanse the energy of your space before a ritual, you can smoke cleanse with sacred dried herbs, sound cleanse with bells or singing bowls, or utilize energy-clearing sprays like Florida water or other cleansing blends. Each method has its unique way of clearing energy and creating a positive environment for your divination session, so use whatever method is easily doable and works best for you. Remember to be intentional through the process, so if you are going to cleanse with burning dried herbs, for example, do not simply wave the burning herbs and smoke around, but set your intentions and focus on cleansing the space you’ll be working in of any negative or stagnant energy so that you have a neutral starting point.
After cleansing the space to bring it to a neutral state energetically speaking, you’ll then want to protect yourself and the space from any additional unwanted energies from entering during the ritual. This is a critical step as it helps minimize the risk of any disturbances. Protection can be implemented by setting an energetic boundary, such as casting a circle, if this aligns with your spiritual path and beliefs, wearing protective crystals, such as black obsidian, black tourmaline, or hematite, or casting a protection spell.
You can protect your space and create a protective circle with the support of the elements using the steps below.
Facing East, speak: "Thank you to the East and the element of Air for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting. Hail and welcome!"
Turning right and facing South, speak: "Thank you to the South and the element of Fire for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting. Hail and welcome!"
Turning right and facing West, speak: "Thank you to the West and the element of Water for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting. Hail and welcome!"
Turning right and facing North, speak: "Thank you to the North and the element of Earth for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting. Hail and welcome!"
Recently, I was asked to put together a series of resources on creating wards, so this article is the beginning of many resources to come.
After effectively grounding yourself and cleansing and protecting the space you’ll be working in, here is a step-by-step method for performing a simple cord cutting. Remember, after the cord cutting is created, you will want to close out the ritual in reverse order by re-protecting yourself and your space, re-cleansing yourself and your space from any lingering negative or stagnant energy, and re-grounding yourself to diffuse built-up energy from the working itself. AND THEN taking plenty of time to rest and recharge your energy.
Take the candle that is going to represent you and gently carve your name into the side of it infusing your intentions that this is connected to your energy. Take the candle that is going to represent the person you are cutting the cord from and gently carve their name into the side of it infusing your intentions that it is connected to the energy you want severed from yourself.
Stand your candles on the fireproof tray a couple of inches apart. I find it helpful to slightly heat up the bottoms of the candle so the wax starts to slightly melt so that they'll adhere to the dish without following over. Tie them together with the string (see photo example.)
Surround the entire set up of the working and/or the individual candles themselves with salt to symbolize the grounded intentions of this working and that you intend to protect yourself and the other person from harm, but while still severing the energetic cord that links the two of you.
Light both of the candles and state the following:
“As the cord is cut and the candles burned, I cut all ties with that for which I yearned.
I release what no longer serves me. As I will it, so mote it be”
Sit and meditate as the candles burn and the cord is cut, and visualize your energetic attachment to the person being severed. Feel yourself becoming detached, empowered, and able to move on without them in your life. Pay close attention to the moment when the cord catches fire and dissolves between the two candles. Allow the candles to burn all the way down or until you feel drawn to snuff the candles out, but make sure this is after the cord is burned through.
Safely dispose of all of the ritual components.
After the cord cutting is performed, take a moment to close out the protective circle that was created with the support of the elements. These steps will be done in reverse order from how they were first performed.
Stand up and facing North, speak: "Thank you to the North and the element of Earth for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting and allowing my energy to return to me cleansed and recharged. Thank you and farewell."
Turning left and facing West, speak: "Thank you to the West and the element of Water for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting and allowing my energy to return to me cleansed and recharged. Thank you and farewell."
Turning left and facing South, speak: "Thank you to the South and the element of Fire for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting and allowing my energy to return to me cleansed and recharged. Thank you and farewell."
Turning left and facing East, speak: "Thank you to the East and the element of Air for protecting and assisting me with this cord cutting and allowing my energy to return to me cleansed and recharged. Thank you and farewell."
To cleanse your energy (and space if you feel it’s necessary) after the cord cutting, you can utilize the same method you did at the beginning of the ritual, such as smoke cleansing with sacred dried herbs, using sound cleansing with bells or singing bowls, or utilizing energy clearing sprays like Florida water or other cleansing blends.
Alternatively, you also might opt for something that’s more personal to cleanse yourself, such as a ritual cleansing shower or bath. Remember to be intentional through the process, so if you are going to cleanse with burning dried herbs again, for example, do not simply wave the burning herbs and smoke around yourself or your space, but set your intentions and focus on cleansing your energy so that you feel clean, refreshed, and energized.
Grounding after cord cutting is incredibly important as it ensures that any excess energy is redirected back to the ground/earth. You can ground your energy utilizing the same method you did at the beginning of the ritual, such as spending time in nature, walking barefoot on the grass or soil to feel the connection to the earth, sitting crisscross on the ground to connect your root energy source to the earth, imagine roots growing from your feet into the earth anchoring you firmly, practicing intentional breathing exercises, etc.
May you walk your path with wisdom and prudence. Blessed be on your journey of spiritual growth and healing.
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