Divination

Casting Stones

I have met very few psychics or others who use casting stones, but there are a few of us who do. There are many different methods for using gemstones and crystals as an oracle; it depends on what feels right for you.

Casting stones are simply a group of crystals, gemstones or the like which you "throw" onto a surface and then read. You can sometimes buy casting stones as a kit, complete with a drawstring pouch in which to store them. Or you can select your own stones one by one as it feels right to you.

The best stones to use in casting stones should be relatively small, but not tiny (very small stones are frequently lost, and very large stones -- well, imagine tossing down a dozen large quartz pieces at once, and you'll get the picture). They should also be relatively flat, or with a flat side.

You can choose your stones by virtue of their magical associations, color, name, or feel. For instance, Tiger Eye is usually included in a set of casting stones. Tiger Eye is a yellow/orange color, and thus has associations with warmth, light, heat, the Sun, clarity, daytime, etc. It also could be associated with cats, vision, and the night, depending on the question and what you choose to associate it with, or what your subconscious tells you it means. Amethyst is associated with spirituality and psychic vision, as are all purple-colored stones. There are a number of decent books out there on the associations of stones, so getting one of those is a must if you want to do stone casting.

You can cast your stones in various ways. One excellent reader I went to (thanks, T.A.!) had a lovely handmade cloth onto which he threw the stones and interpreted them based on what area they fell in, which stones fell next to which other stones, taking into account colors and associations. If I'm recalling correctly, he had a circle design on his cloth, divided into four areas representing different things.

I believe his reading methods were based on the four directions and their associations: East (air), South (fire), West line (water) and North (earth). Air connects with the mind (as does the color yellow), Fire connects with action and energy (as do red colored stones), Water is the intuitive and emotional (blue and purple colored stones), and Earth is the practical and manifest (earth tones).

As an astrologer, I invented my own method of casting the stones, not being satisfied with the directions included in the kit I purchased. I use a blank astrological chart form (the natural chart, with Aries on the Ascendant), and cast the stones onto the chart form. Each stone has an association with a planetary energy. My set contains 13 stones, and there are 10 planets/Lights, so I use the clear quartz to represent the "heart of the matter", and different stones for the Gemini Mercury and the Virgo Mercury (since they are different energies), and two for the Taurus Venus and Libra Venus (ditto). If the stones fall close to the center of the chart, I interpret them in the past; on the edge of the chart, present; and outside the actual chart but still on the form, future. The houses into which they fall tell me the areas of life involved. It's almost like a stone transiting chart for the client.

Although my method involves a fair amount of conscious interpretation,

I have found that the stones are extremely intuitive, and will open up your intuitive/psychic mind very well. Find, choose, purchase two stones that are similar in size. One should be very light colored, the other one should be very dark colored. While holding the stones, think of the question, then shake them in your hand like dice and then toss them to the floor in front of you. If the light colored stone lands closer to you the answer is Yes. If the dark colored stone lands closer to you the answer is NO. If they both land equally distant than you must rephrase the question and try again. Buttons (or Stones)

Keep a little pouch with colored buttons in it. You will need, black, white, red, brown and a green one. Concentrate on your questions and then draw a button.

Black means NO.

White means YES. Red means that Strong Emotion is driving you.

Brown means that the issue is cloudy, you may not know all the facts. Green means that their is allot of potential in the situation.

You could use colored stones, like obsidian, moonstone, jasper, brown agate, and malachite for this divination.

'Lots' made of bone, shell or wood made up most tribal divination systems. These systems had a finite number of lots; for instance, four to twenty-four pieces. Four lots could possibly give you sixteen combinations, with each combination relating to a specific message. Each specific pattern may have its own sponsoring divinity, future meaning, present advice and spiritual plan.

A second throw could also include finite numbers of messages. The more lots, the more patterns, the more throws, the more extensive the answers. The current rune system with twenty-four disks, each with its own design (depending on the system you use), began with this lot system.

This particular technique is the easiest to master; however, you must trust your intuition and not second-guess the issue, as well as be sure to ask the proper question (wording it in a clear and concise manner).

Make your own lots Choose three items of the same size (three small stones, three small pieces of wood, etc.). Paint one side solid or mark with a design. Leave the other side of the object blank. The painted side will be a positive answer while the blank side will be negative.

Hold the objects in your hands and ask your question in a manner which can be answered with a 'yes' or 'no' answer.

This isn't always as easy as it sounds, but once you get used to wording your questions, your answers will be clearer. Close your eyes and ask the Divine to aid you in this divination.

Ask your question, then

Throw the objects. Follow the key below: --Three 'yes' objects= Yes --Three 'no' objects= No --Two 'yes' objects and one 'no' object= A struggle, but the conclusion will be "Yes." Throw again to determine the source of the struggle. --Two 'no' objects and one 'yes' object= Maybe, but the outcome has not been determined due to decisions that you, or someone else, will make. Throw again to learn more details.

You may wish to meditate first and burn a candle while casting the yes/no lots. Try not to do your divination if you are in a hurry, as you won't be able to concentrate properly. And keep a record of your answers. If you would like to expand your lots to include a timing mechanism, paint a fourth stone with a full moon on one side and a new moon on the other. You can throw this with the other three lots, or seperately

Drawing Energy

Energy, as we use the term here, is the power source for magic workings. In magic, you use your will/concentration to focus energy and intent toward a specific goal. In Druidism, three basic types of energy are used.

The first type of energy is the energy found within oneself. Up to this point, that is the energy we have been working with in the lessons. Your own energy is the easiest to work with, since it is the energy most familiar to you.

The second type of energy is the energy that comes from the things around you.

The third type of energy is that which comes from the gods/the divine/the Source.

Working with energy that comes from outside of yourself. You can draw energy from other people, animals, plants, the earth, the air, and the many other things that surround you.

A Note On Magical Ethics

Energy can be taken both with and without permission. You can choose to ask the nearby tree to share some of its energy with you, or you can choose to take it without that permission. It is not my job to tell you which to do; that is always a personal decision. I will say that the path of a Druid most often requires working closely with your environment and the beings found within it. This is much easier to accomplish if you are on good terms with that environment.

Therefore, it is always polite to ask permission before taking energy, and be willing to accept "no" for an answer. Often, those who take without asking find themselves at odds with their surroundings, and it requires greater and greater effort and willpower on their part to stay "dominant" over their environment.

Most Druids see this as a rather silly waste of energy, since you can usually get much better results at a fraction of the effort simply by being polite and considerate in your workings. But again, ultimately that decision is your own; as long as you are willing to accept the consequences of whatever actions you take, no one can deny you your right to choose your path. To define "drawing energy" as bringing energy from outside yourself into yourself for use in a ritual, working, etc. This will inherently have more danger involved then simply using your own energy. You could draw in too quickly, and send your body into a kind of shock. You could tap into negative energy, or energy too powerful to handle at your present capabilities. So why bother? Because your personal energy, though it is the easiest and safest to work with, is limited. You only have a certain amount of personal energy to use at any one time; trying to use more depletes your body resources, which are slow to build back up if you overextend.

By drawing on energy sources outside of yourself, you are able to have more energy at your disposal to do whatever you wish to do. This also allows you to accomplish things you would not be able to if all you had to work with was personal energy. If you have not achieved a decent proficiency in grounding, I would not recommend trying this lesson. The ability to ground out excess energy means you can practice drawing in energy, grounding it, drawing again, and so on so that your skill improves. Grounding is also useful if you happen to draw in energy that you can't handle; you can ground it out before it does lasting damage to you. There are several techniques and visualizations to use when drawing in energy. If you try one and it doesn't work for you, try another, since different things work for different people.

Everything around you has energy; some people are able to draw energy in by simply visualizing energy pouring into them from all around.

Many people prefer to use parts of their body as channels or conduits for energy flow; you could envision the ground as energy and draw it in through your feet or spine, this technique might be confusing if you also use the earth to ground.

Many people like to place their receptive hand on an object and draw energy in through that.

Definitions: most people have what can be called a "dominant" hand and a "receptive" hand. The dominant hand is USUALLY better at sending out energy from the body, while the receptive hand is USUALLY better at drawing energy into the body. Also, the dominant hand USUALLY corresponds to the hand you write with, by now you should be getting the impression, correctly, that there are exceptions to all of these. In addition, some people find that they can do either equally well with both hands. There is no one way to determine which is your dominant and receptive hands. The easiest way is by practice; working with one hand at a time, sending out energy and drawing it in, and sensing which hand works better with which function.

Like the grounding exercise, where you could create a connection/channel/conduit between yourself and the ground, many people prefer to draw energy from a specific object, and establish a similar connection between themselves and that object, then draw energy into themselves through that channel.

Another visualization similar to a grounding technique is to imagine roots extending from yourself into the earth. However, to draw in energy, visualize your roots as drawing nourishing energy from the earth, much like tree roots draw water.

Physical activity can be used to raise energy. Dancing or other physical activity, fasting (going without food), or a vigil (going without sleep) can help some people to draw in energy and/or raise their own energy level.

some people, for example those with low blood pressure, should not fast, and some people also shouldn't go without sleep; if you think you might be one of these people, find another way to draw energy. There are many methods out there, these are just a sampling for you to try and to help spark your creativity. Feel free to adapt or change these methods to properly suit you, or create a method of your own. If you are succeeding with your attempt to draw in energy, you will definitely know, as there will be a tangible difference. Once again, the sensations are different for different people. People can feel energy as heat, coolness, tingling, pressure, itching, the sensation you get when your leg "falls asleep", smell, or even pain.

As you are drawing in the energy, concentrate on drawing in only available energy (if you have asked permission and gotten a "yes"), and concentrate on making that energy blend with your own. If energy is too different, and you do not make it resonate with your body's energy, then you won't be able to use the energy you draw. It might be a good idea to attempt to draw in only positive or neutral energy. Some people visualize a "filter" that they draw the energy through before it enters them; this may be too much to try at first, but might be a good exercise to use once you have achieved basic success with drawing energy. A safety precaution you can take is to have a ground established before you attempt to draw in energy; thus if negative energy is drawn, or wild energy, or energy otherwise too much to handle, you can shunt it through your ground before it damages you.

When practicing the drawing of energy, make sure you have something to do with the energy, someplace to send it. Don't try to keep it in your body for too long; if you do, you'll start to notice your high energy feeling turning into exhaustion. This is due to the fact that the body isn't designed to hold that much energy for lengths of time, and it will overload your body. If this does happen, make sure to eat a good meal and rest soon afterward. Actually this is a good idea to do whenever you are finished with an exercise, ritual, or working; it helps center your self back in the physical and replenishes your body's resources faster. A good exercise to practice both the drawing energy and grounding skills is to draw in energy, ground it, draw more, ground that, and basically make your body a circuit. Do this only for a short time at first, so as not to overextend yourself, then increase the time and/or amount of energy you cycle through yourself. Make sure when you stop that you end with roughly the same amount of energy you had when you started; you will have a little less, because of the effort, but try to make sure you don't accidentally send out your own energy with the other energy. The ideal to achieve in this exercise is to be able to work with outside energy without depleting your internal energy

Whenever you are visited by a magical or mythological figure, such as a mermaid or a faery, it has likely been shown to you as a means to relay a special message meant just for you. This could occur during the nighttime in your dreams or in a vision when you are awake. Also, if you discover that you are drawn to a particular mystical creature like a unicorn or dragon this too may indicate a deeper meaning. Review the folklore and possible lessons associated with any mystical creature that has surfaced in your life - the story may be more revealing that you could imagine.

1. Faeries

Faeries reside in gardens and woodlands. Other names for faeries are "wee folk" and "the green men." Faeries inspire individuals to get back to nature and to become conscious nurturers of our home planet. Their giggles and scampering about are heard more often than they are actually seen. And if you do see them it will generally be a quick "in a flutter of an eyelash" glimpse. Faeries can be mischievous when trying to get their point across. They are often blamed for hiding things (car keys, watches, important papers, etc.) in order to grab your attention away from routine motions. They love human babies and have been known to leave gifts on doorsteps after the arrival of ne

2. Cherubs

Cherubs are typically depicted as childlike and ooze with innocence. If a cherub has shown itself look closely, could it possibly be Cupid, the spiritual matchmaker? Cupid represents love and romance. Cherubs are sometimes seen in dreams or visions prior to a pregnancy or arrival of a child. Also cherubs show up as a reminder to "play." Have you been taking life too seriously? Your inner child may be feeling neglected. Cherubs symbolize yin yang energies blending naturally. Check in with your passive (feminine) and aggressive (masculine) tendencies to see if you are tilted to one extreme or another. You don't want to be anyone's doormat, nor to you want to be overly reactive and picking fights with everyone in your path.

3. Angels

Often called "Messengers of God" angels in general will offer protection and guidance. Angels will typically show up at times when we are the most vulnerable. They will take you under their wing and offer solace during periods of distress or weariness. Guardian angels are spiritual companions whose job it is to support you during your soul's path in human form.

4. Unicorns

The Unicorn represents the development of intuition through visualization. The pointed or spiraling horn that projects from the brow of the unicorn symbolizes third eye opening. Unicorn totem indicates a need or desire for meditation and self exploration. Unicorns may very well be the most magickal of all the mystical totems. Legend says the blood of the Unicorn has healing properties making it most valuable to anyone in need of healing.

5. Gnomes

Some people like to adorn their gardens with a variety of gnome statues. But Gnomes are not typically garden dwellers. Gnomes are indeed associated with the element of Earth. But, they live in underground holes or inside rock dwellings or caverns. Legends convey that Gnomes are guardians of earth treasures (metals and crystals). If you have been in the presence of a Gnome you likely will receive a gemstone or crystal. It may be a gift from a person or perhaps you will find one in the dirt or sand that has been awaiting for you to stumble upon. If you have a rock or crystal that is no longer serving you, bury it in the ground near an oak tree or next to a cave opening and the Gnomes will take good care of it.

6. Dragons

Dragon energy emulates similar characteristics of the serpent or Kundalini energy. Being visited by a dragon or drawn to the imagery of the fire-breathing dragon can indicate the dawn of a spiritual awakening. Dragon totem possesses a force of nature that cannot be ignored. It is truly powerful and transformational. Take notice if it is sleeping (in dormant stage) or fully awakened and breathing red hot fire.

7. Phoenix

Phoenix totem represents "death and rebirth." It is considered a good omen in general to be visited by the phoenix. It can indicate a situation in which you have felt or will feel humbled. In experiencing humility, a wiser you emerges. Seeing the Phoenix can be a prophecy of a difficult circumstance in the coming days. But, with the power of the Phoenix totem at your side you will prevail over any obstacle. The Phoenix gives courage in the face of fear.

8. Mermaids, Water Nymphs

Mermaids are enchantresses, they lure the sailors from the ships into their watery kingdom through their haunting songs and striking beauty. Half human, half fish, the mermaid embodies both earth and water elements. If a mermaid has shown itself to you it may indicate a need to be near water to draw upon the energies associated with the element of water.

9. Griffin, Gryphon

A symbol of protector or guardian, a griffin (also spelled gryphon) symbolizes both air and earth elements. It is usually depicted as a lion's body with the wings of an eagle. The head may be either of a lion or a bird. If you are visited by a griffin you may need to look to see if your human and spiritual bodies are in balance. You could either be too focused on earthly endeavors, forgetting that in essence you are spirit. Or, on the other hand you may be too entrenched in spiritual lessons, ignoring important lessons that the human form is offering to you. Griffins are interested in loyalty, justice, and fairness.

10. Pixies

Pixies are similar to fairies, only slightly smaller. Pixies are attracted to nectar of flowers. They tend to isolate themselves, preferring to be solitary or choosing to only socialize with their own kind. If a pixie shows itself you might look to see if the "sweetness" in your life is missing. Are you feeling sad or lonely? It may be time for you to plan a play-date with a new friend, preferably someone who makes you smile. Or, perhaps you have been spending too much time with others and it is time for you to pull back a bit and allow some alone time into your busy schedule. Disney's cartoon character, Tinkerbell, is often depicted sprinkling her magical "pixie dust" into the air.

11. Elves

Elves are human-like in characteristic, but are not little people. Mischievous in nature, elves usually show up when you need a jolt to awaken you from your too serious or stern demeanor. You are likely needing to add some play into your life. Workaholics may discover important papers lost or misplaced due to the elves playing tricks. Was the meeting all that important to get to on time you might ask yourself. Elves are also know as helpers which could indicate that you are taking on too much responsibility and it is time to delegate some of your tasks onto others. Santa's elven toy-makers, the cobbler's shoemaker, and Irish leprechauns are examples of elf essence portrayed in film and storybooks.