Divine Divination

The book that I'm currently engrossed in had a very long chapter dedicated to just talking about divination, the divination tools, divination techniques, and how to connect yourself to the Divine through divination. I wanted to make a post about this because I rarely use divination for myself unless it's during spellwork such as scrying or having a tarot card image or rune stone that goes along with what I'm doing. Before reading this chapter, I had just sat down with a friend and talked about how I feel really disconnected with divination.

This book put a lot of things into perspective for me. So first off, what exactly is divination? Divination is a form of magic and prophecy that helps us make practical decisions in our every day lives by revealing truths about our past, present, and future. It aids in our personal growth as Witches by explaining how our past shapes us and clarifies what we are going through in the present. Phyllis Curott in her book Witch Crafting explains it this way:

The word divination comes from the Latin word divi, which means deity. Divination is the means by which you engage in dialogue with the Divine. Communication with deity provides proof that you are not alone, that the Universe is alive, and that it is aware of your presence, your longings, fears, needs, wounds, gifts, and truest self. As you craft yourself as a Witch, you will find that divination provides divine guidance when you most need it.

Divination is a very unique tool that helps us know thyself. These words were inscribed over the entrance to the temple at Delphi. Before you were to enter to see the oracles, every visitor had to receive their own vision of themselves first. In order to know your future you must first become self-aware. You don't have to by psychic in order to work with divination; the tools help you with this second sight.

There are many divination tools to assist you on this journey such as rune stones, tarot cards, I Ching, pendulums, astrology, and even tea leaves! When starting out, you may wish to start with tools that you have heard of before and are somewhat familiar with such as tarot cards. Take some time and meditate on which deck is right for you or which tool calls to you more strongly. You don't have to immediately understand how to use the tool. Many tarot decks come with books that already have the meanings of each card, layouts, and how it all works. Try meditating on one card a day or one rune stone a day to become more familiar with the deck or stones. Even highly experienced practitioners do this technique to stay in tune.

You can even use your practices with divination as a daily devotion to your deities. Since divination is strongly connected to your own inner power and connection with the Divine, try seeing this time as strengthening that bond. By doing this, readings may be clearer. If you don't understand a reading you can always ask for clarification as well. Be weary and don't ask the same question over and over again expecting a different answer because you didn't like the first one you got. They only tell you what you need to hear. You don't have to limit your divination abilities to just when you are using tools. Observe the world around you. There are signs and symbols all throughout nature.

Animals are very instinctual creatures and we can learn a thing or two from them. My familiar assists me quite frequently when I'm needing some spiritual guidance. He knows when I should be devoting my time to my deities and tells me so. He also helps me pay attention to other things in life. He's a very skittish but intelligent cat and probably the best judge of character I've ever known. As I'm writing this, he's laying on me right now purring comfortably with content. He knows that I'm setting out on what I need to do by spending this time being reflective about my own studies.

Another form of divination that I have always paid attention, but never really considered it divination, are dreams. I have very vivid dreams and much of it is lucid dreaming, which is something you can train yourself to do over time. A couple of nights ago I had a dream about my friend who runs the Grove with me. In the dream I was at her house after a ritual and needed to leave or at least felt the urge to leave although there was a terrible storm outside. She had provided me with a place to sleep but I chose to leave and embrace the storm instead. This dream can have several meanings and I invite my readers to interpret it as they wish (a little dreamscaping exercise if you will). Dreams like this and all dreams should be paid attention to because our subconscious is directly in connection with the Divine and we receive messages all the time and all around us.

Keep practicing and devoting yourself to your Craft. The outcome may mean a better and brighter future for you.