Tuesday Techniques

Divination 103
Bibliomancy

By this stage on our Path, many of us have Experienced or dabbled with bibliomancy. Quite often an intriguing Experience of the Golden String that conects All That Is, bibliomancy is found around the world. Why? Because BOOKS are found around the world! The word “bibliomancy” simply means foretelling of the future by interpreting a randomly or Intuitively chosen passage from any book. This is found to be especially true for books such as those of major dogmas from around the world like the Qu’ran, Upanishads, or the Bible. These are books where great human spiritual energy has been placed for thousands of years.

For this type of divination, it is the use of books—typically sacred texts—as the best method to foretell the future and find guidance when sought. There are many different techniques of bibliomancy that may be utilized however, a Practitioner's own belief system is often found to MORE influence over the interpretative outcome. It is extremely important to remain OPEN MINDED.

Key Takeaway: Bibliomancy can be used with ANY book and on ANY Path.

The more important the book is to you, the greater the meaning of the answer in the passage will be.

Historically, Greeks and Romans of the classical period performed bibliomancy regularly, although the Romans called it sortes, in which a random passage or single sentence was drawn from a written work. The Sortes Homericae drew upon the writings of Homer, while the Sortes Vergilianae utilized the poet Virgil. Among Christians and Jews who perform bibliomancy, the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Bible itself are often utilized in bibliomancy. For Imams, the Qur’an is utilized.

In organized religion around the world, because these books represent the holy word of that Path’s deity, using them for spiritual guidance is allowable, unlike other forms of divination such as Tarot cards and spirit boards. Some people believe that old family owned religious texts, often inscribed with birth and death dates, are especially powerful when it comes to bibliomancy. A lot of familial spirit and Ancestors can connect through the book. Accessing texts such as this can be seen as a great tool when addressing Family Shadow.

Many practitioners of African traditional religions,  or ones where the Paths of two dogmas have blended and influenced one another like Hoodoo and Conjure, keep a copy of the texts at hand to use for inspiration and divinatory moments.

In some spiritual systems, bibliomancy is also used as a way of removing negative entities. Throughout all time, books have been employed for their untapped powers imbued to them by their writers.

One method used for millennia simply requires one to recite a “prayer” or “Invocation”, ask a question, and then let the book fall open at random. The image and text on the resulting page (Left of right is decided before-hand) presented the answer, and it could be interpreted in many different ways. Bibliomancy has played a role in the themes of many notable works of fiction as well.

A Technique

To perform bibliomancy, there are a number of different techniques. Having a question in mind is universal for all forms of divination, including this one. Write it down if need be, stay focused.

Next, select a book to use—this can be a holy book from one’s Path or religious belief system, or some other book that calls out from the shelf. Some people find that self-help books, mythology collections, or books of devotionals reveal some of the more valuable insights for them.

The key to successful bibliomancy, according to most Practitioners, is that it is important to utilize a book that is important personally. Because interpretations are so uniquely personal, so too should the Medicinal and Magickal tools that are used. Maybe the Koran or the Torah do not resonate well, but life was absolutely changed when Ishmael or the Hitchhikers Guide was read for the first time. Books that have significance in life are best used for this form of divination.

If that does not feel “correct” for you, a random book will work too. Some Practitioners have been known to stand in front of their bookshelf and run their fingers gently along the spines. Moving slowly over each, they stop when they feel the energy shift or a “thought” flashes in their mind’s eye.

Once chosen, find a quiet spot to sit. Hold your book in your hands, and breathe deeply, centering and grounding.

Feel the book.

Close your eyes in order to further your Focus. (Not all Practitioners do this.)

Now, Focus your mind on the question at hand.

It could be a simple yes or no question—"should I or shouldn't I?" Or it can be a questions that is more in depth, such as "what should I do next?" Whatever the questions, try to only have that question occupying the space in your mind.

When you are ready, open the book to any page. STOP on whatever page you open to… even if its blank. There is meaning there. You can interpret it relative to the question OR close and try again. Some Practitioners like to point to a random spot on the page – NOT LOOKING - and see what words are at their fingertips, while others prefer to simply look and note which passages catch their eye first.

Do whichever feels correct for you.

Once you have your words, they at first may not be an apparent answer to your question. Many Practitioners find that it works better deciphering if they write the words down. (Revisiting the words is good, too.)

Take your time deciphering the words. Ask yourself, if the words you are seeing in a cautionary passage? Are they words of hope or inspiration? Are they simply telling you what things you should be mindful of in the future? It will come to you in which how to apply the words to your questions. You will find their relevance they have to the situation at hand. It will be revealed to you.

Tuesday Y11

General - Journal - Book of Shadows

SUBMISSION: Y11 TUE BIBLIO Q (Due by Sunday)
After reading the above passage, find your book.
When the time is correct for you, ask the question:
SUBMIT Tile, Author, and page opened for book chosen.

“Where do I need to focus more on/in my Path this Turn?”

SUBMIT:
NAME OF BOOK
PICTURE OF PAGE UTILIZED
PERSONAL INTERPRETATION OF PASSAGE RELATIVE TO QUESTION


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