Lithomancy – Divination with Stones Given Meaning

You need at least thirteen stones (not big rocks) which are about the same size and shape.You’re going to put them in a bag you can shake up a bit so you don’t want to have something too heavy or clunky to carry around. If you like tiny and micro you could work with little pebbles (pessomancy) but you need to be able to tell one from the other.

They can be wild stones collected from the beach, the garden,. a park, the side of the road, your driveway… or polished stones, tumbled and shiny. You could pick stones that have something in common with the symbolism you give them. Of course you can paint the stones, write on them, but you could also choose odd stones with a hole in the middle, a very green stone, a stone found on your vacation. The stones don’t need to be exactly the same size, or weight. If you find a unique stone in an unusual shape or colour, use it.

I’ve heard lithomancy is about analyzing the shine on stones, but that would not work so well on the common garden or road found stone. I’d rather use a common stone I found than buy fancy, shiny stones. If you get to the point of focusing on the shine on a stone, maybe you have gone too deep and need to make things just a little simpler. But, that’s just my thought.

If you really want to keep things simple have just two stones. One for “yes” and the other for “no”. Ask yes or no questions and see which stone comes closer to you when you give them a toss up. Or, if you don’t want to go searching for a lost stone you threw just a bit too far and wide… have three stones. The third stone is your personal stone. When you pour your three stones out of the bag the personal stone is you. So, yes or no, depends on which stone is closer to your personal stone.

The stones represent/ symbolize:

The Universe – Represents the entirety of life on the cosmic level.
The Spirit – Embodies your inner self.
The Sun – Symbolizes energy, life, and power.
The Moon – Signifies psychic ability, intuition, and the power of the mind.
Mercury – Corresponds to intelligence, wit, and improvement of self.
Venus – Is the symbol of love and happiness.
Mars – Represents courage and bravery, but also conflict.
Jupiter – Signifies finances, prosperity, wealth, and other money matters.
Saturn – Stands for health and longevity, as well as protection.
Earth – Corresponds to family and the home.
Water – Embodies healing, cleansing, and compassion.
Air – Symbolizes desires, wishes, dreams, and aspirations.
Fire – Shows passion, determination, and will power.

(The above list comes from Tana Hoy).

1 Stone for each of the 7 Planets.
1 Life stone.
1 News stone.
1 Luck Stone.
1 Lovestone.
1 Home stone.
1 Magic stone.

(This list comes from Good Witches Homestead).

Using the stones:

You may just straight forward pull three stones out of the bag and consider them in answer to whatever question you asked (out loud or quietly, to yourself). Divination is mainly about interpretation.

You could make a board and pour the stones onto it. See which stones land near various things you add to your board. Which stones are close to each other and which are far apart? Do some stones point towards something or away from it? (Assuming the stones are not completely round). A board can be about your life, include your family, friends, work, school, the future, the past. It’s up to you. Think about what you most want to know about. What matters most to you. Make a new board as your life and your questions change.

I think of all divination as inspiration, and a chance to figure out what you really want when you stop trying to think so hard. Like losing your keys and going all over the house trying to remember, finally taking a break and then… you remember you left them outside on the deck last night when you had lemonade and hamburgers. It’s when your mind stops trying so hard that it sometimes gives your subconscious a chance to be heard. Subconscious being that part of your brain not always in charge.

Last of all, I had not even thought of making your own stones.

Making and Reading Tell Stones

These were not called Runestones, but “Tell” stones, and were simply a method of divination.

Tell stones were made from clay and were rounded into fairly thick stone shapes. Some were made into a definite ball shape and these were rolled within a wooden frame, about two feet square. The flatter ones were preferable, though, as they could be thrown on a table or onto a flat surface without rolling away. One stone, which represented the querent, was fashioned of plain clay. It was placed on the table, with the other stones held in two cupped hands as the question was asked. These were then thrown onto the table towards the querent stone.

The stones landing neared the querent were closer in time or importance. Any group of stones was read in conjunction with each other. Those that landed with the symbol hidden were removed as they were not communicating. If one landed on its side then its answer was iffy and could go either way.

Although this was a very simple method, with practice a lot could be obtained from these stones. As with any method of divination, the more they were used, the more the practitioner learned of their meanings.

The tell stones had the following symbols on them:

A five-barred gate – News, letters, ideas

Water – Journeys, distance to be crossed symbolically someone traveling.

An even-armed cross – Parting, angry words, quarrels, bad feeling

A door – A death of something, a finishing, some kind of severing.

A ring – Marriage or a joining of some kind, either people or things.

A gold spot – health, wealth, happiness.

A crescent moon – A waiting time, possibly a woman involved, intuition.

A silver spot – Hopes, wishes, dreams, and ambitions.

An Apple – The fruition of something; a harvest; combined with the gold spot, could mean the birth of something new.

These, with the plain stone to represent the querent, are the complete set of Tell stones. They can be made from handcraft clay, a stone color being used and the emblems pained in colors or colored clay can be used, a different color for each, and the symbols painted on in a complementary color. I do not think it matters if the colors are altered, as long as the user knows which is which.

For myself, I use my own wild stones and I like the symbols used with the tell stones. Switch them out for what feels right to you. Consider your own symbolism for relationships, health, happiness, career, etc. Whatever magick there is, comes from you. So add your magick to it, every step of the way.

Happy stone throwing… I mean, divining.

Do It Yourself Spells and Magick

Spells and magick are a do it yourself project.

Real magick, real spells, are not something you can buy from someone who will make things happen for you overnight. That’s fiction. If someone had that kind of power why would they need to sell it? Wouldn’t they already have everything they need? Wouldn’t they give themselves everything they wanted, first? Don’t count on finding a fairy godmother who fixes everything while you do nothing, learn nothing, and change nothing for yourself.

Real lasting change is something you work for and attain. It’s an achievement.

Spells, magick, hexes, prayers, positive affirmations, mantra, call them what you like. Each are about coaching yourself to change and bring about something you want. It may be something you want to happen, stop happening, or something you want to feel. In a nutshell its about change. Change isn’t easy. Changing a habit is difficult, with ups and downs along the way. But you can coach yourself, keep yourself on track, along the way.

Keep in mind, you can only change yourself. You can’t make someone love you. But you can make yourself happier by changing what you can in your own life. Being and feeling happier will attract people to you. It may not be the one you thought you wanted who didn’t notice you or chose someone else. That’s ok. People are allowed to make their own choices, have free will. Find someone who is with you for the right, good reasons, not something artificial and temporary.

You can’t make yourself instantly rich, but you can ask for a raise, apply for a new job, try a new career, take some extra training, and so on. Those are things you can do, for yourself. Improving yourself will last longer than a winning lottery ticket, and it can’t be easily lost or taken away.

You can make your own change, without paying for a spell, a hex, a prayer, etc.

What change do you want? Money, love, romance, there are so many things and it might not be as simple as love or money. Think about what it is you really want and what you need. Plan out the path to get there and start at the beginning. Don’t get side tracked or try to take a bigger step and avoid the smaller steps along the way.

Write your own words. Call it a spell if you like. Add things which have meaning to you, create a ritual. A ritual is something that becomes a habit. If having objects as part of an alter (something you can see and touch) helps keep your focus and makes the coaching work for you, do it! This is about you. It should be personal.

Keep it simple, short and to the point. Words easy to remember, especially when you need them, are feeling stressed or upset. These are words you will use to coach yourself through a period of change.

Your words will have far more meaning for you than anything someone else writes. You don’t need approval from someone else. This spell, words for coaching yourself, are only for you, custom made.

The hard part is to believe in yourself, your words, your ritual. This is the magick. Get help from friends, family, professionals, who ever can help you to find faith and belief in yourself. But, even with outside help, its you who makes the change. Its you who makes things work. You can do this because you want to do this.

Making changes isn’t easy, it won’t happen in a day (usually) but you can do it yourself, for yourself.

What do you Think About Sea Magick?

I found this link a few years ago and left it to explore for later. I’m glad the site is still up. It’s always sad to find things gone.

The Book of Tides, is a resource site for sea magick. Site started in 1995 by Minnie, “resident Sea Witch and mermaid-in-disguise”.

I have taken information and some quotes from the site and added my thoughts along the way. As Minnie herself says, I like to have things written down. So much easier to look at the information again than to hope I remember it. We do forget things and ideas meld and merge into something different. Not always a bad thing, but it is good to have the original to refer to.

I have read more about fire, and fire magick, than water magick. I do love the ocean though.

There is something about standing on the edge of a huge body of water (more often Lake Ontario, or the other Great Lakes, for me) and knowing there is depth there and layers of water covering over a world with creatures and life of its own, not seen by those who live on the land. Being on the lake, or the ocean, is an experience everyone should have at least once. Like flying. Being in the air or in/ on the water is something you can do. I highly do not recommend experiencing fire in the same way.

I have been to both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, here in Canada. For some reason the Pacific appeals to me more than the Atlantic. It might just the the different feelings about the provinces here in Canada. British Columbia, on the Pacific is thought of as wild, free and artsy. The Atlantic is about fishing and struggle. So far I have only been to the Atlantic side once and about half a dozen visits to the Pacific side.

In actuality, there is but one World Ocean. Without it, life as we know it would not exist on this planet. All life on this planet began in the sea, and each person carries within ourselves our own sea of blood as salt water runs through our veins. This internal sea establishes a connection between all beings through our origins in the sea. We are all affected by it, just as we affect it in turn.

Source: The Book of Tides

Do you need to live near the ocean, the sea, or large body of water?

Minnie says you don’t need to live near the sea and can use almost any form of water with salt added . At some point, without access to the sea or the ocean, wouldn’t this just become water magick?

I love the idea of sea magick but it does seem a bit sad to think any water and some table salt would do. You can create some form of salted water but I feel it would be the difference between something created by nature versus something man/human made.

Like using a plastic bottle instead of glass. The glass is just different, it feels different and looks different and reacts differently to the elements. I really feel a glass bottle, or the real sea/ocean is so much more than a plastic bottle, or water from the tap or hose.

Instead of making do with tap water make a point to visit the ocean or a sea and bring along a large container, collect your own sea water and use it sparingly until you can make another trip out to get real sea water. Don’t sell yourself short. I do agree with working with what you have, as she writes next, but tap water isn’t sea water. Table salt isn’t natural salt from the sea either. If you are serious about this don’t settle for less.

I would like to live on the ocean. Unless I moved I think I would have to consider myself a lake witch at this point. Maybe a combination of sea magick and forest magick? Lake Ontario is great for beach coming and we do have some seafaring lore.

Sea magick is associated with seafaring, beach combing, moon lore, the tides, and weather.

Minnie says it can be a dark or grey area of magick. This is something I believe for most magick. Anything claiming to be all light (or all dark) doesn’t sound believable. Almost nothing is that simple and uncomplicated.

She says it is for solitary witches, those who like the isolation, which suits me very well. But, like any tradition of Pagan or Witch, people can choose how they want to practice when it comes to being alone or finding a group. I do prefer not dealing with a group, but that doesn’t mean it is the best, or better, way. It’s just personal.

Also, I wonder why the sun is not included. Why only moon lore? Possibly to do with navigation by stars at night. But, you certainly feel the sun on the ocean, even on a lake.

Types of sea magick: Beach, Moon, and Weather magick.

Symbolism of the Sea – Quoted from What is a Sea Witch?

Gems: pearls, moonstones, aquamarines, clear quartz, shells, beryls, emeralds, coral
Metal: silver
Colours: white, blue, black, emerald green
Symbols: moon, spiral, wave, crescent, cloud, lightning bolt
Tools: mirror, cauldron, cup, broom, comb and mirror, mop and bucket
Herbs and foods: fish and shellfish, seaweeds such as kelp and nori, sea salt, bouillabaisse, watermelon, grapes, coconut, cantaloupe, champagne, honeydew melon, rosemary, parsley, chamomile, watercress, spearmint, basil, white rum

Minnie also writes about sea glass, which are glass or pottery pieces tumbled into stones by the ocean (lake, etc.). You can find these while beach combing. I have heard of a beach, it may have been in California, which is a rainbow of colours in sea glass.

She has very good information about beach combing and seashells. But, if you really want to know more about sea magick read the page which has information about the alter and tools she she uses. If you have read this and want to know more, I’d start there.

What is Fashion Magick?

This quote comes from an interview with Gabriela Herstik, author of several Pagan/Witch books.

Yes, in your book you talk about “casting a glamour.” Is there a difference between a glamour and personal style?
To me, a glamour is being intentional with your style. It’s a way for you to take control of the way you’re perceived. It’s a way to disguise what is beneath. Personal style is exactly what a glamour is — it’s a way for you to shape how others see you. It should empower you. No matter what we’re doing we have to live in clothing, anyway. A glamour is a way to reclaim sovereignty and to be energetically intentional and embrace your individuality in a way that makes you feel more connected and protected.

Source – a witch explains how to use fashion as magick – i-D

I don’t agree that fashion is protection but it certainly does change how you are perceived and how people react to you. Clothing isn’t armour, it is expression, art, and decoration. Fashion isn’t something people should follow. Wear what you like and even if you never become ‘in fashion’ you will be happier than people trying to look like someone else.

I am Witch, Hear me Roar

One thing that bothers me about people who are into Paganism, particularly Wicca, are the trendy money spenders. Those who forget it’s an Earth religion, not a shopping religion. You do not need robes, goblets, altar tools, athames, jewelry, etc. Being a Witch isn’t about how much stuff you can stack up on an altar it’s about having an altar at all and appreciating and knowing what it’s there for.

You can be a Witch without an altar. It’s the meaning of the altar that matters, not it’s existence. It’s not about spells either. People who focus on spells and magick really peeve me. What is all that but stuff for the tourists. Other than your own personal magick (that comes from within yourself and stays there) any other magick falls the wrong way of harms none.

You may think you’re helping someone but did they ask for help? Even if they did ask how are you helping them? People need to do things for themselves, to learn and to appreciate their own efforts. Helping other people will often backfire and next time they will seek you out instead of doing for themselves. You are their crutch, not their friend. Don’t weaken your friends, let them develop their own magick, inside themselves.

… and you thought only Dragons could roar. 😉

Where the Wild Things Are: The Whole Circle

The magic circle, sounds so mystical… But it’s like many things in Witchcraft, it’s adaptable to your own style, your whims and personal needs of the moment.

Witch/ Wiccan rituals take place in a circle. Not always, it’s not written in stone with blood or anything really dramatic. But, it does make things tidy in it’s own way. You draw in power and you keep it to yourself, out of the way of others. Then, when you’re done you release it. It goes back to nature and the powerful parts of yourself.

We draw the circle and then we close it. Some people cast the circle and banish it at the end of the ritual. I tend to think of it as drawing and closing the circle. When you draw your circle take a moment to bless each of the elements at each of the 4 directions. Yes, you might need a map to know where north, south, west and east are in relation to your location. If you choose, bless the goddess and god too. Then bless the Earth and life, those are most important to me. When you close your circle just do the steps in reverse order. Gather your pebbles, erase your chalk, whatever you used as you go around in the 4 directions again. Sounds too simple? Why shouldn’t it be simple. You’re welcome to make a bigger production out of it. I like it simple.

You can use chalk, hemp rope, embroidery thread, pebbles, sand, dust bunnies, anything really. Consider a circle of jack o lanterns for Samhain, wouldn’t that be fun! It depends on how fancy you want to be or how close to natural elements. My personal choice are pebbles. I love them. I collected them from a beach here in Ontario. Took my time to find stones I especially liked for their shape, colour or some markings on them.

The circle represents wholeness, the cycles of life and the seasons, the wheel of life to make it simple. In theory it is without beginning or ending and perfect in it’s completeness.

To draw the circle is to make a place set apart and sacred. Where ever you are- living room, backyard, beach, clearing in the woods – the circle becomes a place where we focus on magick in ourselves and the Earth around us. The circle is a pure place where we can think, make notes in our Book of Shadows, create and practice rituals, anything. It doesn’t have to be dramatic and you don’t have to feel you must do something special. It’s your circle, your dime.

This summer when I have a road trip out to the beach I want to cast a circle on the beach. Using a piece of driftwood to draw my circle and some stones to point to the directions. I don’t even know what ritual I might do. I just want to sit in a circle of my own creation and enjoy the world, life and being alive.
–

“In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.” -Charles Lindbergh

I take thee, herb, to cure my ills
or perhaps while dancing pon the hill.
I’ll dip you in the cauldron fine
Then asperge a circle in the pines.
I’ll make you into teas and brews
when picked from ‘neath the morning dews,
or hide you in a pillow seam
to guard me close, come night and dreams.

– Marian Loresinger

Originally posted to ‘BackWash: Where the Wild Things Are’ newsletter, March, 1, 2004.