Lesson 11: Divination

Using the Pendulum
Scrying
Tarot
Runes

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Using the Pendulum
Pendulums are wonderful tools for reading the psyche. We use them to tap into our psychic centers and see what we know. Though it appears to be the pendulum swinging of its own accord that tells us the answers, it is, in reality, our subconscious moving the pendulum. Begin learning to use your pendulum with this simple exercise.
Begin by finding a pendulum. There are many on the market with metal chains, pendants and gemstones for the weights. A fancy pendulum is not necessary. Any object dangling from a string will work. My first pendulum was a screw bolt hanging from a piece of orange yarn. If you decide that you like using the pendulum and would like a more expensive one, a weight made from a quartz crystal or tiger eye is probably best.
Next, make a direction card. Cut a square out of a piece of paper or card. In the center, draw a circle. Draw a line going from the left side to the right and a line going from the top to the bottom. Label the horizontal line with a “no and the vertical line with a “yes”. The circle represent “maybe” hold the pendulum over the circle by the string from your power hand. Hold it so it dangles about an inch off of the paper. Swing the pendulum back and forth. Say: “This means yes.” Stop the pendulum. Swing it from side to side and say “this means no.” Stop the pendulum. Swing it around in a circle and say “this means maybe.” Stop the pendulum. Now you are ready to begin the exercise.
Hold the pendulum over the paper while you rest your elbow on the table. Say: “show me a yes.” Do not try to swing the pendulum. Watch as it begins, very slowly, to swing back and forth. Stop the pendulum. Say “Show me a no.” Watch as it swings from side to side. Stop the pendulum. Say “Show me a maybe.” Stop the pendulum.
After you have successfully tried this exercise, you can begin asking questions. Begin with questions you know. (i.e.: “is the sun shining?” or “Is my cat’s name Fluffy?”) Then try some questions you do not know the answer to. Record the question and the pendulum’s response. Was the answer what you thought it would be? Record your answer. If you think of an answer or wish for an answer before the pendulum gives it to you, then the pendulum may reflect that answer. Before you ask, completely clear your mind. Don’t allow any of your desired to get through or they may affect your question. Also, be sure you watch the pendulum for longer than a few seconds. The way it begins swinging will likely change so wait for it to hit a path and stay there.

PENDULUMS AND MAPS:
An advanced way of using pendulums is over a map. This practice can be used to find a person, water, and minerals. All you will need for this is a map of the area and a pendulum. Hold the pendulum over the map. Let the pendulum swing as you think of what you are looking for. If it is a person, hold a piece of their hair, fingernail, or an item of their clothing in the same hand that holds the pendulum. Move the pendulum over the map. Some people have different ways of reading the pendulum. You should learn the way that works best for you. In one case, the pendulum will swing in a “yes” motion when it travels over the area of what you are searching for. In another instance, some say that the pendulum will swing in tighter and tighter circles the closer you get. Whichever method you use, you will have to move the pendulum very slowly over the map. This also works for finding water and minerals on a piece of property. You can walk around with the pendulum to find what you need beneath the ground.

Scrying
Scrying is the art of gazing into an object in order to see with the mind what the eyes cannot. You may have had experience with this before. Anyone who has ever been camping knows the strange desire to sit staring into the fire at night. There is just something there that seems to awaken something within our mind. Scrying can be performed with crystals, gazing mirrors or with bowls of water.
When using a crystal ball, it must be absolutely perfect. It cannot have bubbles, scratches, cracks or any other flaws that will distract you from your work. Always lay your ball out on a piece of soft black cloth, the best type being black velvet since velvet catches no light. As you work, move any light source so that it cannot be reflected in the ball. This will affect your ability to concentrate and see what you need to. Flickering candle flames can be very distracting when you need to pay attention to your divination. Gaze into the crystal and keep your mind as blank as you can. You will not be able to work if you are affected by stress or tension so try to rid yourself of the day's activities before you begin. Gaze naturally into the crystal and allow your mind to rest. Do not imagine anything inside of the crystal. It may take a very long time when you are first beginning but after a while, you will see the ball seem to fill with a fine white mist. Gradually, it will grow thicker and thicker until the crystal seems full of smoke. This will fade shortly, leaving you with a picture. This picture may be from the past present or future, but is most likely to be symbolic, not literate. You will probably need to look up the meaning if it is a symbol or an animal. Try to determine the meaning of what you see, but do not allow yourself to see what you want to see. This practice can also be accomplished by staring into a black bowl full of water or gazing into a scrying mirror. Scrying mirrors are like regular mirrors except that they are black and obviously not for seeing your reflection.

Tarot
In this lesson, you will learn the most popular tarot spread, the ancient Celtic or Cross Spread. Lay the significator card –the card that you choose to represent the querent – face up in the center of your spreadcloth. This is covered by the first card that you pick, which is laid face downward. This is known as “what covers her”. Following the picture, lay the second card – “what crosses her”. The third card is “what crowns her”, the fourth is “what is beneath her”, the fifth card, “what is behind her”, the sixth card “what is before her”. The seventh, eight, ninth and tenth are “herself, her house, her hopes and fears, and the final outcome. All of the cards are placed upside down excluding the significator card. You then turn the cards over one at a time as you give their interpretations.

Shuffle the cards three or nine times as you concentrate on the question at hand.

Card 1: Influences at work – shows the atmosphere that exists around the problem at hand.
Card 2: Obstacles – show the forces and influences that are working against the querent.
Card 3: Ideals – what the querent is aiming or wishing for.
Card 4: Basic Self – this shows the true person or unconscious self.
Card 5: The Past – shows what has happened in the past.
Card 6: Immediate Future – shows what is to immediately happen in the next few months.
Card 7: Self – how the querent will do generally in life, especially in the immediate future.
Card 8: House – close friends and relatives.
Card 9: Hopes and fears – shows the hopes and the fears of the querent.
Card 10: The Final Outcome – shows the final outcome, particularly of card #3.

Tarot cards can also be used to answer yes and no questions. Most of the cards have either negative or positive meanings. Ask a question and shuffle the cards three times. Choose a card and turn it over. A negative card is a “no” answer and a positive card is a “yes” answer.

Another, simpler tarot spread is the three card spread. This spread can be done with or without a beginning question. Shuffle the cards nine times as you think of your question. Cut the cards into three decks and lay them in front of you. Turn over the top card in the first pile. This represents the past. The top card in the second pile is issues at hand and the top card in the third pile represents the outcome or future.

Interpretation of the Cards:
Go to the tarot page to learn the reverse meanings of the cards.

THE MAJOR ARCANA:
The Fool - naiveté, thoughtlessness
The Magician - ability to succeed in all endeavors
The High priestess - wisdom, hidden knowledge
The Empress - fertility, motherhood, attainment
The Emperor - dominant male figure, fatherhood, stability
The Hierophant - good advice, inspiration
The Lovers - love, beauty, attraction
The Chariot - triumph over difficulty, victory, speed to an end
Strength - courage, inner strength, fortitude, physical strength
The Hermit - solitude, insensitive, withdrawal, failure to face facts
Wheel Of Fortune - fortune, destiny, "this too shall pass"
Justice -justice, honor, proper balance
The Hanged Man - indecision, stalemate, transition
Death - drastic change, death, finality, loss, destruction
Temperance - patience, consolidation, good influence
The Devil - lust, self bondage, bad advice, dependency on another
The Tower - catastrophe, ruin. destruction followed by rebuilding
The Star - bright hopes, new beginnings, destiny, insight, hope
The Moon - lies, deception, deceit, bad influence
The Sun - new birth, success, happiness
Judgement - atonement, decision, karma, result of actions
The World - completion, perfection, success, fulfillment

THE MINOR ARCANA:

Pentacles (or shields)
King - success, aptitude, intelligence and experienced leader
Queen - well being, security, freedom of action and prosperity
Knight - reliable and patient
Page - scholarship, concentration, reflection and study
10 - prosperity, security, safety and family matters
9 - safety, vigilance, foresight and discernment
8 - craftsmanship
7 - adeptness and ingenuity
6 - kindness, gifts and generosity
5 -failure, destitution, spiritual or material impoverishment
4 - legacy, selfishness, miser
3 - skill, gift, inheritance, and perfection
2 - obstacles, set back and difficulties
1 - perfection, contentment, joy, wealth and ecstasy

Wands (or spears)
King - honesty, devotion, and friendliness.
Queen - loving, kindness, and good mother.
Knight - departure, journey, flight, and advancement.
Page - loyalty, entrusted friend, and messenger of growth.
10 - excessive pressure, decisions.
9 - confrontation, strength and difficulties.
8 - haste, speed, suddenness, and separation.
7 - success, gain, advantage, and obstacles overcome.
6- conquest, triumph, good news, progress, and advancement.
5 - strenuous competition, struggle, and labor.
4 - romance, refuge, peace and contentment.
3 - practical knowledge and strength.
2 - domination, ruler and control.
1 - birth, creation, fortune and destiny.

Swords
King - courage, force, power, superiority, aggression, and cruelty.
Queen - quick witted, sharp tongued, loneliness, and privation.
Knight - bravery, skill, strength, and gallantry.
Page - messenger, perception, vigilance, agility, and adeptness.
10 - pain, affliction, tears, sadness, and trouble.
9 - misery, concern, quarrel, and disappointment.
8 - crises, calamity, conflict, bad news, and criticism.
7 - attempt, new plans, hope, confidence, and wish.
6 - trip or journey, voyage, attempt through difficulty.
5 - conquest, destruction, degradation, loss, dishonor.
4 - respite, rest, replenishment, retreat, and exile.
3 - absence, sorrow, strife, removal, and dispersion.
2 - stalemate, balance, offsetting factors, and harmony.
1 - great determination, triumph, power, success, and prosperity.

Cups
King - professional and responsible
Queen - warm hearted, fair and devoted
Knight - invitation, arrival and challenge
Page - messenger of love, loyal, studious and will render service
10 - love, peace, pleasure and happiness
9 - success and material attainment
8 - decline, shyness and modesty
7 - fantasy and day dreams
6 - memories and childhood past
5 - partial loss, imperfection, and friendship without meaning
4 - disappointment and disdain
3 - healing and resolution of a problem
2 - love, marriage, friendship and passion
1 - abundance, joy, family, home, fulfillment and contentment

Casting and Reading the Runes
-author unknown
1. Yes-No Answers
With a "yes-no" question clearly in mind, cast all of the 24 runes onto your opened bag. Disregard those runes that fall outside the bag's parameter. Only those positioned totally on the bag are to be read. If the majority of runes are face up, the answer is "yes". If the majority are face down, the answer is "no".

 2. The Three Rune Reading
This reading is very effective for answering a specific question on a specific matter. In this reading , three runes are selected unseen and placed side by side as indicated below. Reading from left to right, the first rune provides an Overview of the situation, the second rune identifies the Challenge, and the third rune indicates the Course of Action called for.

3. The Runic or Celtic Cross Reading
This spread is a very common general life reading that calls for selecting six runes arranged in the form of a runic cross illustrated in the center of your bag.
Rune 1. PAST. This represents a situation from your recent past that explains why the situation is currently like it is. This rune sheds light into your character in terms of how you've handled situations in the past.
Rune 2. YOU NOW. This rune refers to your current situation. The basic energies and happenings you are currently dealing with.
Rune 3. FUTURE. This rune indicates where the situation is taking you. What is likely to occur. It represents the best possible outcome for the situation based on how you've dealt with problems in the past.
Rune 4. FOUNDATION. This rune provides a look into the heart of the matter under consideration. The unconscious elements involved.
Rune 5. CHALLENGE. This rune represents the things you should concentrate on in order to affect positive changes. This rune can be very important in helping realign your priorities.
Rune 6. NEW SITUATION. The final rune indicates what you can finally expect from your question when you successfully meet your challenges.

4. The Wheel Reading (Individual)
The Wheel Reading can be experienced either individually or as in Reading #5, with another with whom you are in a relationship. It is a general-life reading used to determine future directions. The 24 runes represented on the outer edge of your bag are used as a backdrop against which your runes are placed and interpreted.
First select an unseen rune and place it face down on Fehu  rune 1 on your bag. Place a second unseen rune face down on Uruz  rune 2 on your bag and repeat the process going clockwise until all 24 of your runes are face down. Then turn the runes over from side to side, not top to bottom and interpret each in light of the corresponding rune on which it was placed. For example, the rune Fehu  represents "the individual's potential to create wealth". Were you place Kenaz  which is interpreted as "an individual's knowledge and capabilities" upright on Fehu, you might interpret it as performing well at work. However, had you positioned Kenaz in a reversed position on Fehu, you might interpret it as not applying yourself at work and that perhaps there is little chance for advancement at this time.

5. The Wheel Spread (Relationship)
Similar to reading #4, this Wheel Reading is interpreted within the context of a relationship between any two people. For this reading to work, both partners must be present and each must have her or his own set of runes. One bag is used on which to lay the runes. To begin, both partners select an unseen rune from their respective bags and place it on either side of Fehu. A second rune is selected by both and placed on Uruz Repeat the process going clockwise until all 24 runes of each partner's runes are face down along the outer edge of the bag. Then turn the runes over from side to side, not top to bottom, and interpret them in light of the corresponding rune on which they've been placed. For example, the meaning of the first rune Fehu represents "the financial prospects in the relationship and the attitude of both partners towards finance". Had the first partner drawn Gebo which represents "give and take in a relationship" and had the second partner drawn Nauthiz, which represents "areas of restriction such as possessiveness", it could be deduced that the second partner sees the first as having too generous or irresponsible an attitude towards money, while the first partner may feel that the other is too restrictive with finances and too afraid to take risks.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN THE MEANING OF THE RUNES

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