divination tools
Throwing The Bones
Before studying various Western disciplines of healing and divination, I trained to become a sangoma some 30 years ago, on the borders of Mozambique and Kwazulu-Natal in Southern Africa, where I learned among other things the divination method known as ‘throwing the bones.’
A ‘sangoma’ casting the bones is the African equivalent of the Native American shaman, the Old Norse rune reader, or the European Tarot reader. To uninformed Westerners, indigenous African methods of divination are often thought of as ‘witchcraft,’ but just like there is good and bad in all cultures and professions, the true calling of the African diviner or shaman is a spiritual one of seeking advice through the wise ancestors. In the same way modern Western diviners rely on spirit guides, angels or the ascended masters for divine guidance, so the African diviner relies upon the ancestors.
My training came about after I consulted another sangoma and was told it was my calling to become sangoma myself. She also cautioned me that until I took up this calling, I would repetitively become ill – and how right she was!
Eventually I heeded the ‘calling’, as unusual as it was at the time for a young English woman to enter the mysterious realm of African mysticism in the country in those days. Training was harsh and intense with my mentor and included coaching in various disciplines, such as divination, dream interpretation, ritual, indigenous medicines, and herbalism over a two and a half year period.
One of the divination methods I was taught is known as ‘throwing the bones’. Since the beginning of recorded history the notion of throwing tokens, casting the dice or drawing lots to interpret the divine will of spirit and the ancestors has been viewed as symbolically linking the diviner to his or her mission. Casting or throwing the bones is an ancient practice native to many regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, and North America. In Southern Africa it is a long-standing ritual among the sangomas of the Zulu, Swazi, Xhosa and Ndebele tribes.
Each bone or token used for casting is part of a kit the sangoma carefully selects with the guidance of spirit, initially with the help of a mentor. Spirit and the ancestors instruct the seeker as to the symbolism and meaning of each sacred item in the collection, and precisely shows the student where to find it and which one to use in a divination. In Southern Africa, a mentor assists the thwasa (trainee sangoma) in the process of learning to receive information from the bones, and in reading the patterns in which the bones are likely to fall.
The Lotus Flower Reading
I recently attended an online psychic development workshop. In one of the tasks, we had to partner with another student and do a ‘flower reading.’ I know touching an object using psychometry works well in readings, but this is something else.
Our teacher paired us up and we didn’t know in advance with whom. We also had to intuitively pick a flower for our partner beforehand. At the beginning of the session, we had to show the other person the actual flower or a color photo of the flower we had chosen for them on our shared screens.
In preparation for this, I placed many pieces of paper, each with the name of a different flower on it, into a bag, shook it up, and drew one. Spirit guided me to select the Indian lotus flower or nelumbo nucifera.
When it was my turn to read for my classmate, I relaxed and observed the image of the lovely white lotus in front of me. The depth of information that came forth in the reading about her past, how her life was now, and what lay ahead, was truly amazing!
The reading revealed that she was going to be blossoming soon like the lotus, because she currently finds herself in a strong development stage. I later learned that she’d been through some dark times, almost giving up on herself. She had recently begun doing deep shadow work, as well as exploring her psychic development.
She is also recovering from a recent trauma and the lotus is traditionally known for being the ideal gift for someone recovering from any traumatic experience or physical injury. Many years ago, I attended a Yoga class during which the challenges of the lotus position was discussed in-depth. The teacher said that through proper breathwork and becoming more flexible, one’s body will allow you to achieve this pose.
I was only 19 years old at the time and not very supple. I saw no hope of achieving that position for quite some time. However, only a few classes later, we did a session during which a lot of emphasis was placed on our breathing. And to my amazement, I was able to easily get into the lotus position!
Psychic Reading With Ordinary Playing Cards
I do psychic readings using a normal deck of playing cards. Yes, the kind you buy at your grocery store. It is is actually the original form of oracle card reading.
Cartomancy as we know it today originated back in the 14th century, when playing cards were first introduced to the world. Some historians believe it might even date back to Ancient Egypt. Using an ordinary deck of cards was actually the most popular form of cartomancy for centuries, especially in Europe from the 18th to the 20th century.
Today divination using a standard deck of playing cards has sadly become the ‘little brother’ of the Tarot. These days people find it unusual if a psychic uses a regular deck of playing cards to do readings.
To give the most accurate readings, I use a specific approach when I use the cards. First of all, I tune in with my client’s energy and I make sure that I am connected with my spirit guides.
Also, if a client has had a bad day or if they are upset, it helps a lot if they clear their mind as much as possible before we start the reading. If a client is not feeling well, I usually recommend they hold off on the reading, because their energy is too low. Reading for someone in this state usually does not yield very good results.
Before you make a phone call for your next psychic reading, take three deep breaths and let them out very slowly. If you are having a bad day, take seven deep breaths and slowly let them out. You will be very surprised how much this will relieve your tension or your stress, before you make this phone call. You will also find that your reading experience is much more enjoyable and meaningful.
Can Anyone Read The Tarot?
During this past week alone, several people from different walks of life have asked me this very question. Yes, anyone can learn, but as some of my Tarot students have shown, it’s the passion you have for Tarot that makes the difference, and that can turn someone into a reader with a difference.
Tarot readings can be used for one’s personal growth only, or for doing readings for self and others. Often individuals learn the Tarot of their own volition, paying particular attention to its imagery and symbolism, as they develop their skill with practice, practice, and more practice.
Once they feel they can trust their higher self and their spirit guides, and feel they are being directed to the symbols and imagery in Tarot, which will kick start the required information to be revealed, they will be confident to do Tarot readings.
A good teacher or mentor will always encourage a student to be guided by the way the Tarot talks to them, and not just by learning ‘parrot fashion’ the many meanings each card may have.
It is the language of symbols which helps us more easily tune into the unconscious mind, especially when there is not always time available to spend many hours doing psychic development, and going within and meditating before a reading.
Many Tarot readers work with various spreads, or layouts, to help them answer specific questions and to define events, timing, important influences and important people in the questioner’s life. Tarot helps us find clarity as to the direction in which we are headed and even helps identify blocks which may lie ahead.
I have in my collection at least fifteen Tarot decks, but one or two would suffice for most people. I just love the way talented people have been able to bring Tarot to life in their own Tarot deck design, using their own imagery, shapes and color.
Fate Karma And Your Life Lesson Number
Have you ever noticed we seem to circle around the same problem or kinds of problems? In Numerology this theme can be found in the Life Lesson Number which comes from our birth date. The birth date identifies what it is our soul wants to master in this lifetime. It is also called the Life Lesson Number or Destiny Number in Numerology.
The meaning of your Life Lesson Number is an underlying theme that will dominate our current life. You will continue to learn more and uncover more layers about the lesson as you go deeper and experience more in life.
So if you sometimes think that you seem to keep dealing with the same issues over and over or repeating the same patterns (or maybe you think that about someone else), I would say to you, “Yes, you are!”
That is what the art of mastery is all about. It is interesting; we don’t hear people ever complaining that Picasso, for example, kept painting and painting, but we often criticize ourselves for repeating patterns in our lives. It is helpful to re-frame our thinking about spiritual life lessons.
In order to master something, it means we need to learn about it, and discover the best ways to handle the pros and cons of the lesson. In order to learn something, we need to practice, and that means repetition.
So, when you find yourself up against the demands of your Life Lesson Number, instead of saying to yourself, “When am I ever going to get out of this rut?” it might be more helpful to look at all the progress you have already made in this area of your life! You should seek progress, not perfection.
The Psychic Power Of Everyday Dowsing
Dowsing can be used in our daily lives for tracking down missing car keys, that have been absentmindedly misplaced, or finding lost jewelry and other specific objects. Dowsing is also great for locating a lost pet…or even a child playing hide-and-seek!
The origins of dowsing can be traced back thousands of years, before technology and satellites were there to help locating oil…or pyramids. All those years ago, country folk would use a ‘Y’ shaped tree branch or twig to find water wells, or hidden treasure. It is commonplace these days to dowse for water, auras or even land-mines.
The only reason dowsing is being considered to be a ‘psychic tool’ is because scientists haven’t been able to find a logical explanation for how dowsing works. This is also complicated by the fact that some dowsers have better results than others. Their accuracy often depends on how attuned the dowser is to their dowsing tool. Fine tuning to this art seems to come with experience.
When I begin a dowsing session, I set my intention as to what it is I want to uncover or find, and I ask for clear precise feedback. The feedback is given to me in the form of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response from my dowsing tool. I believe that my guides help to influence my higher self in creating muscle contractions along my arm and hand, to influence the movement of the particular dowsing tool being used.
Each of my pendulums and dowsing rods are programmed from the start, so I know which motion signals ‘yes’ or ‘no’. When I do a dowsing session it helps energetically to have something like a photo, or another object in my hand which belongs to the person who the question relates. This is known as psychometry.
Unfortunately, I’ve also discovered that asking a question which is emotionally charged, for example “does he love me or not’, doesn’t always work, because one’s emotions tend to influence the response, and therefore you tend to receive the preferred answer!
A Time For Turquoise
In town today, I passed a jewelry store predominantly showcasing pieces of turquoise jewelry. I instinctively looked at my hand. Yes, I was wearing my turquoise ring!
Some eight years ago, as I sat in my monthly psychic circle, my father came through with a no-nonsense message for me to “wear the turquoise ring!” The other sitters in the circle looked a bit taken back, because they had no knowledge of me owning such a turquoise ring.
And so, I did wear it for a while. But, in time, it increasingly remained in my dressing table drawer. However, recently, in a profound reading I had with a trusted medium, the turquoise ring was brought up again, and in even less uncertain terms this time! So, now I’m wearing it again, upon dad’s insistence.
Turquoise is known in metaphysics for its protective qualities. When I was studying Aura-Soma, some twenty odd years ago, I was always drawn to turquoise as a color. Aura-Soma is a method of color therapy, as well as a divination system based on colors, originally devised by British pharmacist and chiropodist Vicky Wall.
I soon learned that the color combinations, and the sequence in which I chose the turquoise, were both relevant to my past lives in Atlantis. This interpretation by my course mentor made absolute sense, because in two very significant past life regression sessions later on, these lifetimes in Atlantis also featured very strongly. Perhaps this is why I always loved the color so much, even from a very young age.