Tools for Divination and Developing Psychic Awareness
Divination is the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge. It is usually conducted through the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers. Divination is an unusual insight that falls out of the realm of typical sensory perception. (Merriam-Webster)
Methods of Divination
Readers also go by the name of shamans, oracles, seers, priests, medicine men, fortune tellers, sorcerers, and witches. Diviners often belong to special classes of priests and priestesses in both past and present civilizations and are specially trained in the practice and interpretation of their divinatory skills.
Other words used to describe divination are fortune telling, soothsaying, and prophesying. There are many methods of divination spanning across history and cultures. There are dozens, if not hundreds of forms of divination, some historical some used currently. Today, the most commonly known are astrology, tarot, pendulum, dowsing, palmistry, tea leaf reading, dream interpretation, runes, I Ching, bone reading, automatic writing, numerology, and scrying. Some of the strangest types of divination used (more in a historical context) are reading pig intestines, lightning, throwing peas into the air, and listening to the messages in stomach rumbling.
History
Divination was practiced since before recorded human history. Early human groups read the weather, animals, nature, bones, chanted, sounded and tranced their way to find meaning in the mysteries of life and the unknown.
The earliest record of seeing comes from biblical times where prophets foretold the future. Pagan priests and shamans divined for groups and individuals. Divination was used by kings in medieval times, as well as modern presidents and celebrities. Government bodies such as the CIA in the U.S.A. and local police forces have been known to enlist the help of psychics, mediums and those with seemingly ‘special powers’ to spy on enemies and crack cold cases.
One of the more complex forms of divination is by way of astrology. There are many branches of astrology that are thousands of years old. Mayan, Chinese/Tibetan, Western and Vedic are some of the major branches of astrology. Vedic astrology and Naadi reading is one of the oldest systems in the world, which was developed over 2000+ years ago. The Naadi oracles are believed to be over 5000 years old and have been passed down in succession. In some cultures, such as with Vedic astrology and Naadi reading of India, it is still used to determine auspicious days for marriage, spiritual guidance and other important life events.
Today, fortune telling has reached the masses and is no longer reserved for holy ones or the town witch. You can even find a basic tarot deck in Urban Outfitters or order tools online through lifestyle websites like GOOP. Whether it is viewed as valid or not, at the very least it captures the imagination, is entertaining and opens awareness.
A Psychic Perspective
Divination is an enhancement or amplification of the ability to intuit or see that is already present in the reader. It is also possible to develop psychic awareness in using tools. Objects do not inherently hold the information, rather it is the reader that decodes the symbols and messages given. Although it is possible to learn to read using tools through a systematic study using books and programs, at the core, it is the individual’s ability to open psychic awareness, translate and communicate the information effectively that is the true key to the practice.
Ultimately, the psychic awareness of the reader is the most potent tool for divination. It is not necessary to rely on external objects to gather information, see images and work from your own knowingness. In a professional reading space, the use of divination tools allows for the querent (or reader) to focus on something while the reader is giving a reading. In some cases, relying heavily on these tools can actually be a block to psychic development. When used in a balanced way, divination tools may unlock new levels of awareness.
Glossary of Divination
- Astrology
- Reading and predicting based on the movements and placements of the planets and stars. There are many branches of astrology dating back thousands of years.
- Cartomancy
- Using a regular 52 card deck to read information.
- Bibliomancy<
- Using a book and randomly pointing or opening to a page, passage, paragraph or word and reading it.
- Cleromancy
- Using pebbles, bones or sticks thrown and read according to the placement and individual meaning.
- Dowsing
- Using a pendulum or dowsing rod typically to find yes/no answers.
- Fortune Telling
- Someone who predicts the future using a variety of methods such as intuition.
- I-Ching
- 64 archetypes called hexagram are engraved on coins that are thrown and interpreted for information. Originated in China.
- Lithomancy
- Reading stones, crystals or rocks.
- Numerology
- Finding meaning and information through numbers.
- Scrying
- Using water, fire, crystals or mirrors to receive visions.
- Tarot
- Typically a 76 card deck with major and minor arcana which are read intuitively or symbolically for information.
- Tasseomancy
- Reading loose tea leaves after the querent drinks a cup of tea, also called tasseography.
- Palmistry
- Reading the palms of the hand.
- Psychography
- Automatic Writing. It can be a form of channeled message, scribbles and symbols that are then interpreted by the reader.
- Runes
- Using stones with Norse symbology inscribed to give information.
If you want to explore psychic tools, meditation, and psychic development, sign up for our Clairvoyant Meditation Free Open House to learn about course offerings or book a psychic reading or spiritual healing through The Psychic School.
