Divination
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The practice of searching for deeper meanings or significance of events/situations, predicting the likely future outcomes based on current circumstances, and/or finding relief for the psyche, mind, heart, and spirit, etc. through use of tools, arts, and other mechanisms to discover things either hidden, currently misunderstood, or that which isn’t obvious.
Divination Throughout History
Divination has been around since even the most ancient known civilizations. There have been several discoveries of practices of rituals and other techniques in cave drawings and early texts, from India to Australia, Egypt, around Europe and many others places around the globe. Although records show evidence of use of divination thousands of years ago, it’s true beginning is still a mystery.
Many famous people throughout history have been recorded using divination, or referring to someone else that practiced these arts, for guidance. Some of these names include: Julius caesar, Aristotle, Nostradamus, Alexander the Great, Hippocrates, Confucius, H.G. Wells, Pythagoras, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Valmiki (a hindu poet) just to name a few.
On the contrary, many people throughout history have also spoken out against the use of divination; such as Henry VIII. Most likely, this was due to one’s culture, religious beliefs, and time they were alive. Many Christians, for example, believe that practicing divination is a sin because it is often associated with satanic worship, but this is absolutely not the case— at least not for the majority.
With the power and rise of Rome, Catholicism and Christianity also rose. From this point on, the world saw a major decline in paganism as Christianity had swept through Great Britain. Later, as the Brits migrated to the Americas, Christianity came with them. At that time until present day, Christianity has been one of the leading religions in the world, making divination a nearly lost art.
In regards to witches, history experienced an incredibly dark time during the Salem Witch Trials, because it was horribly cruel and careless. These trials had 200 people hung for what other’s believed was the “devil’s work,” but in truth, many people were hung for things like gossip and promiscuity. Because of such a devastating and corrupt period, practices in divination, especially in the West, was terrifying to even think about!
In the 2000’s, we are finally seeing divination safely returning to those who wish to utilize these gifts of wisdom. Although there are still many people who hold false ideas about the practice of divination, it is rapidly picking up steam. More and more people are finding it useful and healing by the day, as they decide to give it a chance. Personally, I am ecstatic to be a part of this transformative time!
Who Uses Divination?
Anyone!
I have a tiny issue with the use of the word “occult” because if you do a simple Google search on the word, you will find “magical powers” or “dark and mysterious” or even “secrets and only for those initiated.” It isn’t the word itself that I’m displeased with, but the misunderstanding of it and the negative or wrong associations to it. No one needs to initiated. It isn’t a secret, but the use of discovering things that aren’t ordinary.
And Divination has nothing to do with religion.
I’m not saying religious people don’t use divination. What I’m saying is that it isn’t only inclusive of certain groups. It is for any individual that is drawn toward whichever practice they feel is right for them. It isn’t a group project and it doesn’t require any other individual or tutorials to begin.
There are no rules.
It is mostly all guided by one’s intuition, gut feelings, or spiritual beliefs.
Some people use them as rituals and some don’t. Oftentimes, divination practices get lumped into Witchcraft and Wicca. Wicca is a religion. Most witches do seem to practice at least some type of divination. A person who exclusively uses divination, however, isn’t always Wiccan.
Types of Divination
There are many different types of practices in divination, so every individual has plenty to choose from!
*Personally, my favorites are palmistry, tarot card reading, astrology, numerology, and symbolism, but I have dabbled in others and they all have their own qualities, while also feeling energetically similar.*
Here’s a brief overview of only some of the divination practices out there:
Palmistry: the study of the lines within one’s palms; as well as the finger shapes, palm shapes, fingerprints, and other characteristics found in each palm.
Astrology: the study of the movement of planets, mathmatical figures, and other events in space and time to decipher an individual’s characteristics and life events. It can also be used for places, animals, and various other things.
Tarot Card Reading: Using imagry, symbolism, archetypes, numbers, and intuitive winsdom to gather information.
Numerology: The belief that each number, 1-9, has its own meaning, while these numbers can predict an individual’s life events, specifically repeating or reoccuring numbers.
Reading Auras: Having the naturally or learned ability to see one’s electromagnetic field within the spectrum of visual color with the physical eye or in the mind’s eye.
Crystal Healing: Having an understanding of the minerals contained in rocks and crystals and how these specific minerals can improve the physical health and vitality of an individual or the well-being within an environment.
Symbolism: Studying the history, pattern, and/or deeper meanings of a shape or symbol or having a personal experience in which an indivdual or group gained clarity through symbol(s) or archetype.
Psychic Mediumship/Channeling: Gaining information either purposefully or spontaneously as a channel in which another, usually unidentified, being speaks through the channel to deliver that information.
Praying: Invoking direct communication from individual or group toward specific God(s) or other deities to express feelings, ask questions, or simply get to know more deeply to form a closer bond.
Dream Interpretation: see symbolism
Tea Leaves: Using symbolism to see one’s future within the leaves of the individual’s previously drank tea by examining the shape of the leaves after the tea is gone.
Scrying: Using an object (such as a crystal ball) to focus one’s awareness into the object by staring into it to receive news or information.
Fire Gazing: Much like scrying, this practice uses intention and focus to gather information, but their awareness will be used to stare into fire instead.
Dowsing: Using a pendulum, a person swings it in front of another individual as they have them stare at the end of the pendulum and clear their mind; allowing information from the subconscious to come into the consciousness so that they can understand their own desires, needs, and motivations more deeply.
Reiki: Through the practice of having a certain amount of control of one’s chi, this individual can sense the flow of energy throughout another’s bodily chakras and move energetic blocks and reaalign the proper flow of energy.
Meditation: The practice of clearing the flooded, daily thoughts in one’s mind to slowing this process down and focusing on only one thought at once; creating a more peaceful state of mind.