Yearly Archives: 2018

The Egyptian Dream Book

The Egyptian ‘Dream Book’ is preserved in the form of a papyrus with a hieratic script. This papyrus was found in the ancient Egyptian workers’ village of Deir el-Medina, near the Valley of the Kings. This papyrus has been dated to the early reign of Ramesses II (1279-1213 B.C.).

Each page of the papyrus begins with a vertical column of hieratic signs which translates as ‘If a man sees himself in a dream’. In each horizontal line that follows, a dream is described, and the diagnosis ‘good’ or ‘bad’, as well as the interpretation is provided. Thus, as an example: ‘If a man sees himself in a dream looking out of a window, good; it means the hearing of his cry’. The good dreams are listed first, followed by the bad ones (written in red, as it is the colour of bad omens).

Around 108 dreams, which describe 78 activities and emotions, are recorded in the ‘Dream Book’. These activities may be said to be things commonly undertaken by the average person. Most of these activities deal with some form of sight or seeing. The second largest category deals with eating and drinking, and a few more deal with receiving and copulating.

The papyrus probably had several owners before being finally being deposited in Deir el-Medina. Although it is unclear who its original owner was, some of its owners can be traced through their names on the papyrus. For instance, we know that the scribe Qeniherkhepshef once owned this papyrus, since he copied a poem about the Battle of Kadesh which took place during Ramesses II’s reign. Also, the names of this scribe’s wife’s second husband, Khaemamen, and his son, Amennakht, can be found on the papyrus, indicating that the papyrus belonged to them.

Another interesting thing about the ‘Dream Book’ is that it was once part of an archive. In addition to this papyrus, there were a variety of papyri which dealt with literary, magical, and documentary works. As the ‘Dream Book’ has demonstrated, this was an heirloom that was handed down from one generation to the next.

It is interesting to consider whether the ‘Dream Book’ was regarded by the ancient Egyptians as a piece of ‘serious’ or a ‘popular’ piece of writing. After all, if archaeologists of the future were to discover newspaper clippings of the ‘daily horoscope’ (without the knowledge of the social context of our age), they would probably be equally unsure as to whether these ‘predictions’ were meant to be taken seriously or not. Obviously, how serious a reader takes these ‘predictions’ would be a whole different matter that could be explored as well.

Nevertheless, the Egyptian ‘Dream Book’ is a fascinating piece of work which shows one of the beliefs (be it serious or not) held by the ancient Egyptians. Moreover, the value placed by the ancient Egyptians on knowledge can also be seen, as this papyrus was passed down from one generation to another as an heirloom.

The Dream Interpretations

Here is a list of the dreams and their meanings. You will notice that some of them make more sense than others. The simplest way to read the list is to preface it with, ” If a man sees himself in a dream…”

  • Against his finger ~ good ~ signifies receiving cattle.
  • Anointing self with oil ~ bad ~ indicates his people will be taken away from him.
  • An ape represents a heart.
  • As helmsman of a boat, ~ bad ~ speaks of a judgement against him that is not justified.
  • Baring his own rear-end ~ bad ~ means he will be poor.
  • Barley and emmer in the beyond ~ good ~ he will be protected by his God.
  • Being appointed an official ~ bad ~ in a dream means death is approaching.
  • Beaten by a willow ~ bad ~ foretells a funeral procession.
  • The bed goeth up in flames ~ bad ~ indicates his wife will be expelled.
  • Beer represents surging emotions.
  • Being given a head” ~ good ~ “in order to speak.”
  • Being pricked by a thorn ~ bad ~ signifies telling lies.
  • Binding ~ good ~  receiving a house in the end.
  • Binding people who are netted in the night ~ good ~ speech will be taken away from his enemies.
  • Binding your own legs ~ good ~ dwelling with fellow-citizens.
  • Bitten by a hound ~ bad ~ means to be touched by magic (but not in a good way).
  • Bitten by a snake ~ bad ~ means a dispute against him.
  • Blood ~ good ~ an end to his enemies.
  • Blossoms ~ good ~ prosperity.
  • Bones ~ good ~ sustenance of the palace.
  • A bow in your hand ~ good ~ receiving an important office.
  • Breaking a vessel with his feet ~ bad ~ fighting.
  • Breaking apart stone ~ bad ~ his God is angry with him.
  • Breaking into ~ good ~ receiving a wife.
  • Breeding with a cow ~ good ~ happy day.
  • Brewing beer in the house ~ bad ~ foretells of being turned away from his own house.
  • Bringing mice from a field ~ bad ~ signifies a bad heart.
  • Building a house for oneself ~ bad ~ foretells contrary words ahead.
  • Building his own house ~ bad ~ foretells disputes against him.
  • Burying alive ~ good ~ lively prosperity.
  • Burying an old man ~ good ~ prosperity.
  • Busiris ~ good ~ great old age.
  • Carrying off temple items ~ bad ~ foretells property confiscated.
  • Carved-up billy-goat’s limbs are given to him  ~ good ~ a favorable outcome.
  • Casting copper ~ bad ~ indicates a future of roaming the earth.
  • A large cat ~ good ~ a large harvest.
  • Catching birds ~ bad ~ something of his will be carried off.
  • Causing cattle to come in  ~ good ~ people will be assembled for him by his God.
  • Chewing ~ good ~ something will happen.
  • Chewing a melon ~ bad ~ disputes will happen.
  • Chewing a plant ~ bad ~ indicates a debate.
  • Chewing waterlily leaves ~ good ~ you will enjoy something.
  • Climbing up a mast ~ good ~ he will be elevated by his God.
  • Clothes are wet ~ bad ~ means fighting.
  • Closing house ~ bad ~ indicates repulsion.
  • Consuming the flesh of a donkey ~ good ~ to become great.
  • Consuming the flesh of a crocodile ~ good ~ consuming the possessions of an official, it may also mean acting as an official.
  • Copulating with a female aardwolf ~ bada judgement against him.
  • Copulating with a kite ~ bad ~ something might be grabbed right out of his hand.
  • Copulating with his mother ~ good ~ he will be joined by clansfolk.
  • Copulating with a pig ~ bad ~ your possessions will be emptied.
  • Copulating with his sister ~ good ~ something will be assigned.
  • Copulating with his wife in the daylight ~ bad ~ his crimes will be seen by the God.
  • Copulating with a woman ~ bad ~ signifies mourning.
  • Cranes ~ good ~ prosperity.
  • Crocodiles signify acting as an official.
  • Cultivating herbs ~ good ~ victuals will be found.
  • Cutting up a bull ~ good ~ the opponent will be killed.
  • Cutting up a female hippopotamus ~ good ~ much food of the palace.
  • Cutting your own hair ~ bad ~ something will be taken from the house.
  • Dreaming you are dead ~ good ~ a long life.
  • A dead bull means enemies.
  • Drinking blood ~ bad ~ signifies fighting.
  • Drinking warm beer ~ bad ~ suffering will come upon him.
  • Drinking wine ~ good ~ living according to truth, or mouth will be open.
  • To drive away his tears for God ~ bad ~ denotes fighting.
  • A dwarf or midget ~ bad ~ signifies taking away half his life.
  • Dying from a back-wound ~ good ~ you will live after your father.
  • Eating in a dream represents food.
  • Eating an egg ~ bad ~ something will be stolen.
  • Eating figs and grapes ~ bad ~ foretells pain.
  • Eating grapes ~ good ~ receiving something of one’s own.
  • Eating a gutted catfish ~ bad ~ you will be seized by a crocodile.
  • Eating hot meat ~ bad ~ signifies no justification.
  • Eating sycamore figs ~ bad ~ signifies pains.
  • Eating faience ~ bad ~ indicates strong dispute.
  • Eating the flesh of cattle ~ bad ~ fighting or that something bad will happen.
  • Eating tigre-nuts ~ good ~ governing townspeople.
  • Eating what he detesteth ~ bad ~ he will eat unwittingly (not a good thing).
  • Enchanted by a spell ~ bad ~ foretells mourning.
  • Entering the temple of ‘female deity’ ~ bad ~ denotes an unfavorable outcome.
  • Extinguishing~ bad ~  possessions will be ended.
  • A face as a panther ~ good ~ acting as chief.
  • Fallen prostrate before the southern tribunal ~ bad ~ you will be removed from office.
  • Falling ~ good ~ prosperity.
  • Falling off a wall reveals the outcome of a quarrel.
  • Following behind a herd of billy-goats  ~ good ~ a favorable outcome.
  • Fattening the cattle ~ bad ~ an unfavorable dream.
  • Feces ~ bad ~ his possession will be consumed.
  • Ferrying in a ferry-boat ~ good ~ the going forth of all disputes.
  • Fetching jars out of the water ~ good ~ a life of abundance.
  • Fire~ bad ~ your son or brother will be taken away.
  • Flames coming against him ~ bad ~ he will be slaughtered.
  • Giving one’s self victuals of the temple ~ good ~ life will be assigned to him by his God.
  • God Who Is Above” ~ good ~ a great meal.
  • Guarding patras monkeys ~ bad ~ change is ahead.
  • Hair hath lengthened ~ good ~ your face will brighten, or possibly, the multiplying of possessions.
  • Harnessing a wagon ~ bad ~ indicates insults against him.
  • Herbs of the field ~ good ~ sustenance for father.
  • Homage-praesent ~ good ~ your call will be heard.
  • Honey jar with a cover ~ good ~ something by his God.
  • Immersing in the river ~ good ~ being purified from badness.
  • In the field ~ good ~ you are giving to him.
  • Killing a bull ~ good ~ your enemies will be killed.
  • Killing snakes ~ good ~ disputes will be killed.
  • Looking into a deep well ~ bad ~ you will be placed in prison.
  • Looking through a window ~ good ~ his call will be heard by his god.
  • Lying down on the floor ~ bad ~ something of his will be consumed.
  • Making love with a cow ~ good ~ a day of love.
  • Measuring barley ~ bad ~ signifies a dispute against him.
  • Measuring barley with a measuring cup ~ bad ~ victuals will be regulated.
  • Milk ~ good ~ much food.
  • Mixing dates ~ good ~ victuals will be found.
  • Moon shining ~ good ~ clemency to him of his God.
  • Mourning ~ good ~ the multiplying of possessions, or possibly the road will tilt.
  • A mouth filled with earth symbolizes eating off fellow-citizens.
  • Nomads ~ good ~ your dead father will come.
  • Notching sycamore figs ~ bad ~ indicates depression.
  • An ostrich ~ bad ~ signifies harm to him.
  • Paddling water ~ good ~ prosperity.
  • A papyrus scroll ~ good ~ established in own home.
  • Penis stiffening ~ bad ~ the victory of his enemy.
  • People far away ~ bad ~ death is drawing near.
  • Placing beer into a jug ~ bad ~ something will be taken away from the house.
  • Placing incense on the flame for the God ~ bad ~ the power of God against him.
  • Placing your own face against the floor ~ bad ~ requirements by yon (?) ones.
  • Planting gourds ~ good ~ a good life as his God’s gift.
  • Plastering his house with yellow ochre ~ bad ~ his people will be taken away.
  • Ploughing emmer ~ good ~ something unspecified.
  • Plundering ~ good ~ you will be satisfied.
  • A pond ~ good ~ the road will tilt.
  • Potting ~ bad ~ foretells that you will be in pain.
  • Pounding barley and emmer ~ bad ~ seeking from him.
  • Praising ~ good ~ he will be justified before his God.
  • Preparing a shrine ~ bad ~ a crime will be brought to light.
  • Pressing wine ~ bad ~ your possessions will be confiscated.
  • Receiving ~ good ~ estate will be united.
  • Receiving copper  ~ good ~ you will be exalted.
  • Receiving a harp ~ bad ~ you will come to harm.
  • Receiving material  ~ good ~ prosperity.
  • Removing a wall ~ good ~ purification from badness.
  • Removing his fingernails ~ bad ~ removing works of his hands.
  • A river ~ good ~ he will be heard by his God.
  • Sailing downstream ~ bad ~ means tying, it also signifies life running backward, and/or speaks of a violent dispute.
  • Sailing in a boat ~ good ~ dwelling with fellow citizens.
  • Sawing wood ~ good ~ his enemies are dead.
  • A seat in his boat ~ bad ~ means his wife will be set aside.
  • Seeing a woman’s vulva ~ bad ~ a “backside” of misery.
  • Seeing your own face in a mirror ~ bad ~ signifies another wife.
  • Sees himself in a dream, and the mouth is broken ~ bad ~ God will break his heart.
  • Shank of his leg is amputated ~ bad ~ a judgment against him.
  • Shaving your lower body ~ bad ~ mourning to come.
  • Shod with white sandals ~ bad ~ roaming the earth.
  • Shooting at a target ~ good ~ something will happen.
  • Silver and gold ~ good ~ much food of the palace.
  • Sitting in a garden of sunlight ~ good ~ pleasure.
  • Sitting in the hold of a ship ~ bad ~ the dragging of your own heart.
  • Sitting on a sycamore tree ~ good ~ badness will be driven out.
  • Sky is raining ~ bad ~ disputes are coming.
  • Snaring birds ~ bad ~ being deprived of possessions.
  • Snatching the wood of a God from his hand ~ bad ~ his own crimes will be discovered by his God.
  • Standing on high ground, holding ~ good ~ a favorable outcome.
  • Stone  ~ good ~  receiving something.
  • Taking dates ~ good ~ victuals as a gift of his God.
  • Tearing your own clothes ~ good ~ you will be freed from all badness.
  • Teeth falling out below ~ bad ~ an underling will die.
  • Tending small kids ~ bad ~ possessions will be lost.
  • Threshing grain ~ good ~ receiving life in house.
  • Throwing hay onto water ~ good ~ elation.
  • Throwing wood ~ bad ~ harm will be brought into the house.
  • Throwing your own clothes on the ground shows the outcome of a dispute.
  • Tigre-nuts ~ good ~ a happy life.
  • A tomb ~ good ~ possessions will be great.
  • To send far (a message) ~ good ~ great.
  • Tossing about his house ~ bad ~ he will be ill.
  • Towing a boat ~ good ~ landed well in his house.
  • Uplifted fingers ~ good ~ provided by his God.
  • Upon a roof ~ good ~ something will be found.
  • Upon a sycamore ~ bad ~ you will lose.
  • To dream of urine ~ bad ~ something belonging to his daughter will be consumed.
  • Veiling himself ~ good ~ he will drive away his enemies.
  • Waving a rag (or pennant) ~ bad ~ you will be challenged.
  • Dreams that you are weak ~ bad ~ you will find enemies.
  • Wearing an Asiatic garment ~ bad ~ you will be expelled from office.
  • Weaving thread ~ bad ~ your possessions will be confiscated.
  • White bread ~ good ~ that your face will brighten.
  • Wings enfolding ~ bad ~ he is not justified before his God.
  • With a blow ~ good ~ something to him.
  • With one greater than oneself ~ good ~ you are exalted by your own ability.
  • With one side paralyzed ~ bad ~ something taken away.
  • A woman signifies “against a wife by the husband.”
  • Working stone ~ good ~ established in his house.
  • Writing ~ good ~ being established in office, it also means life is good.
  • Writing on a papyrus roll ~ bad ~ his crimes will be reckoned by his God.
  • Your own face in water (reflection?) ~ bad ~ spending a lifetime in another life.
  • Your penis hath enlarged ~ good ~ an increase of possessions.
  • Your woman with a married man ~ good ~ retreat.

Kasia Szakowska : Behind Closed Eyes : Dreams and Nightmares in Ancient Egypt. The Classical Pr of Wales, Swansea, 2003.

Is Your Lover True?

On receiving a love letter that has any particular declaration in it, lay it wide open; then fold it in nine folds, pin it next to your heart, and thus wear it till bedtime; then place it in your left hand glove, and lay it under your head.

  • If you dream of gold, diamonds, or any costly gems, your lover is true, and means what he says.
  • If of white linen, you will lose him by death.
  • If of flowers, he will prove false.
  • If you dream of his saluting you, he is at present false and means not what he professes, but only to draw you into a snare,

Found in: Encyclopaedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences

Divination Pudding

Here’s something really fun. It’s a Divination Pudding, traditionally served at Yule or New Year’s celebrations.

This is not a creamy milk-based dessert pudding; instead, this is a traditional English dinner pudding. You’ll need about a loaf of stale bread, three eggs, a half cup of heavy cream, a quarter cup of brown sugar, and spices such as cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, allspice, mace, and ginger. Pick two spices, and use no more than a quarter teaspoon of each.

You will also need some trinkets such as small toy cars, rings, large coins like half-dollars, or other prizes. They will be baked into the pudding, so use common sense when picking the objects.

Grease a quart baking dish. Tear the bread into small pieces. Beat the eggs until stiff. Fold in the heavy cream and add the sugar and spices. Place the bread into the baking dish, pour the wet mixture over it.

Now comes the fun part. Hide the prizes in the pudding. Push them down into the gooey bread, then cover them over. Bake your pudding in the oven for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, checking it frequently. The top should be golden brown and an inserted toothpick should come out clean. Serve hot, with butter and whipped cream.

Caution: WARN your guests about the prizes, so that nobody chokes on them! You might want to make a separate pudding for toddlers, or use prizes that aren’t small enough to swallow. The coins represent money, the cars mean a journey, and the rings signify love.

Source: Llewellyn Journal

Reading Candle Wax

The art of reading a candle’s melted and hardened wax is called Carromancy. Carromancy is one of the most ancient types of divination. Wax drippings provide hints into how effectively your magic is working and if your messages are being blocked or thwarted. Divination by dripping hot wax in water is called Ceromancy or Ceroscopy.

How to Read the Signs of Carromancy

The way that a candle deconstructs as it melts can be extremely significant. Uncovering the hidden meanings of your candles wax can be done in two ways. The first is to examine and interpret the natural forms left after your candle has burned. The way the wax pools when the candle burns down, the way it drips on the sides of the candle, or if the wax “drowns” the wick all have meaning.

During the burning process, the wax melts and forms images. Transient images are the forms that the wax takes as it is melting. These images can appear as droplets or “tears.” If the tears melt and disappear by the time the candle is finished burning, it is believed that any sorrow you carry will pass quickly. If the tears harden and remain on the sides of the candle, you may be burdened with your sorrows for a long time to come before you achieve your desired goal.

The shapes taken on by the solidifying wax are called persistent images. After a candle burns, the puddle that is left should be observed for any significance to the spell it was used with. For example, if you have conducted a love-drawing spell, a heart-shaped wax puddle is a good sign. If you are burning a candle as part of a money-drawing ritual and the wax spills over onto your altar and dries on your monetary offering, the spell is working and the money has been blessed.

If you are conducting a marriage spell and incorporating a Marriage Candle into the ritual, observe which figure – the bride or groom – burns more quickly. It can be said that this partner is the more eager of the two to get married and may dominate the other after the marriage ceremony has been performed.

Novena or glass candles are often used in Hoodoo spellwork. When you are burning an encased candle, the waxy residue left behind can offer you clues. If there is a lot of wax remaining at the bottom of the glass after the candle has burned, there may be some unfinished business left for you to explore and address. A second ritual may need to be conducted to fully resolve any lingering issues. Wax left on the sides of the glass could mean that you are subconsciously blocking yourself from achieving your desires.

Look for any black soot left behind after your glass candle has burned. If the soot is mainly at the top half of your candle, the obstacle you were trying to overcome has been unblocked. Soot appearing the entire length of the candle or at the bottom of the candle should be taken as a warning that there is negative energy that is blocking your path. You may want to consider performing an uncrossing ritual to counter the negativity.

Any white soot left on the glass is a positive message from the spirits. It is a method of spiritual communication letting you know that your request has been received and your prayers have been heard.

Wax on Water: Candle Drip Divination

Another way to observe and identify the messages from the candle’s wax is by tipping the candle over a shallow bowl of water and letting some of the wax pour into the water. This is the form of divination called Ceromancy. When you drip candle wax in water, it hardens and forms images. These images can be decoded and clarified, similar to the art of reading tea leaves.

A candle wax reading is similar to reading tea leaves, but instead of reading symbols and messages formed by wet tea leaves inside your teacup, it’s the candle drippings formed in water that we interpret. No matter what type of divination tools you use, two basic elements are required:

  1. A Question
  2. An Answer.

What You Need

  • Scrying Bowl – You can use just about any type of container in place of a scrying bowl. It is best to use a cup, bowl, or shallow dish made from natural materials. Ceramic or glass are good choices. You can also use an abalone shell if you like. Avoid using plastics or aluminum containers.
  • Water – You can use tap water or fresh water. If the water is drinkable, then it should be just fine for your candle wax reading.
  • Candle /w matches – A plain white candle is fine, or you can use a color that corresponds to your question, for example, green represents success and abundance.
  • Pencil and Paper – It is important to write your question down, this will help you to decipher the answers you might be given.
  • Anointing Oil – This is optional, and the oil used would depend on the type of question asked.

Performing the Divination:

Sit with your thoughts. Meditating for a few minutes before you begin will set the mood for quiet reflection. Write your question down on a piece of paper or notepad.

Fill your scrying dish with clear water. The water should be cool or room temperature. Sit at a table with the dish sitting in front of you. Alternately, you can place the dish on the floor if you wish to sit in the lotus position during your reading.

If you are using an anointing oil, start by dressing your candle. You can also magically charge your bowl of water with three drops of the same oil with which you anointed the candle.

Light the candle wick. Hold the candle upright over the water for a moment, focusing on your question. Allow a good amount of wax to pool around the wick. When the flame is fully burning and the wax has begun dripping, tilt the candle about an inch away from the water’s surface. Holding the candle over the dish allow the candle wax to drip into the water. Pour the molten wax flow from the lit candle while you ask the question.

Find your patience and let the candle get a nice pool of wax rather than a few drips. Don’t move the bowl or touch the water. Let the wax and water blend naturally.

Allow the wax to drip onto the water. The tiny drops should merge together into shapes. If they do not, you must focus harder on your question. Wax will move in the water and will continue to float around during the reading, giving you an interesting interaction between drips of wax. After a minute or two, a definitive shape will appear on the water. As it hardens, snuff out your candle. Look at the shape. Study it to see what it looks like and touch it to see if you receive any messages from the wax.

Sit quietly while you peer into the water to review the candle wax drippings. Take care to look at the shapes and the fluid movement of the floating wax particles. Individual clumps of wax may look like an animals, objects, or numbers. Also, look at the drippings as a whole to see if they are forming a complete picture. It may appear like a piece of abstract artwork that speaks to you. Allow your intuitive self to form impressions about the various wax formations. Thoughts and impressions can be fleeting so consider writing them down as they come to you for future scrutiny.

It’s kind of like staring up at the clouds, using your imagination to “see” things in the clouds … like a dragon, a house, a dog… etc. You will get your answer if you really look and put these shapes together.

If you use a clear bowl for your wax divination, you can place an astrological chart at the bottom of the bowl to give you a quick reference as to what house or part of the querent’s life the symbol floats. The closer to the center, the further away the issue is (or in the past); the closer to the edge of the bowl, the closer it is to arriving.

Numbers can indicate days, weeks, months or even years. Letters can represent clues to a person’s name or place. A circle could indicate the end of a cycle, such as a completed project. A cluster of dots might indicate a group of people. If there is one formation sitting a distance from the rest of the drippings it could represent isolation or going off on a distant trip. There are no right or wrong ways to interpret the candle wax… have some fun with it!

Once you read the wax in the bowl and it is fully cooled, pick it up. The bottom of the wax dripping will hold even more symbols and interesting messages. Wax reading is very three-dimensional!

Sometimes you will receive a little “surprise” in the wax. A special symbol that has great meaning for you. This is a gift that will bring amazing luck and miracles to you. If you see one, carefully break the shape off the glob of wax and place it under your pillow for 7 days. You’ll be amazed at what happens.

An Alternative Method:

An alternative method is to melt the candle completely and pour it into a bowl of ice water. The candle can be melted using a microwave oven, a conventional oven, or on the stove top using a double boiler. Be very careful when using any of those methods because candle wax is extremely flammable.

The candle can also be floated on top of the water, and then allowed to melt completely down. As the wax melts, it will pool on the water and create shapes. This method is best used with smaller votive candles that will melt fairly easily.

The most popular form of divination in Poland is pouring hot wax onto cold water. The wax is first melted over fire in a small mug, and then poured through a keyhole. People wait until it hardens properly in the cold water, then the pieces of wax are held against a candle to produce shadow on a wall. Its shapes symbolize things that will happen in the upcoming year.

Instead of a key, in the old days people used woven straw or a horseshoe. Those who find it impossible to get a proper key sometimes cut a shape of a key out of hard cardboard.

You can also melt crayon wax and use that instead. Put the pieces of crayon in a spoon, and hold the spoon over a candle flame until it melts. Then pour the melted wax into the bowl.

Interpretation:

Do your best to be confident in your findings. Try not to dismiss them as implausible or ridiculous. Remember that images can mean different things to different people. A star may be a happy image representing freedom and faith, or it can be a sad image representing loss. What you see in your wax drippings is a very personal thing and should not be influenced by anyone but you.

Tips:

  • Choose a candle color that contrasts with the color of your scrying bowl to better see the wax formations.
  • The more you practice the better you will become at intuiting the answers to your questions.
  • Candle waxing can be used as a sun and moon ritual. Set the water-filled dish outdoors under the moonlight overnight to soak up lunar energies. At sunrise or early morning do your reading outdoors in the sunlight.

There are many resources, including online sources and books, that can help provide meaning into the images that you see during your candle reading. It is important to remember that the most important interpretation comes from within you. Trust in your instincts and tap into what a particular image means most to you. Start with your own intuition and experience before looking up a symbol.

A Sampling of Symbols and What They Might Mean:

  • Airplane – A trip of a disappointment
  • Anchor – Your loved one is true
  • Arrow: direction, focus
  • Baby – Troubles are coming
  • Ball or Balloon – Your problem will not last very long
  • Beans – Money difficulties
  • Bed – A vacation would be good for you
  • Bells – A wedding
  • Bird: vision, clarity, news will reach you soon
  • Book: imagination, tradition
  • Boot: travel, work, industry
  • Bridge – Take a chance
  • Broom – Make a change
  • Candle: search for truth, spiritual growth
  • Cat: impetuousness, curiosity, a friend is untrue
  • Chain – Go ahead with your plans
  • Chair: marriage, stagnation
  • Circles: great success, reconciliation
  • Cloud – Something or someone threatens you
  • Coins: material security
  • Crown: leadership, ego
  • Cross: religious quest, do not fear for you are protected
  • Crown – Sickness
  • Cup – Bitter quarrel with a friend
  • Dog: loyalty, dependability
  • Ear – Be alert for an opportunity to advance in your work
  • Egg – New developments soon
  • Eye: soul, introspection
  • Fan – A surprise is in store for you
  • Feather: flight, independence, wanderlust, the problem will be solved
  • Fish – Someone will betray you
  • Flame: creativity, art
  • Ghost – Someone from the past is looking for you
  • Grass – Good fortune is approaching
  • Hand: helpmate, relationship
  • Hat – A change of location is indicated
  • Heart: love, emotion, partnership
  • House – Better times are coming
  • Key: knowledge, education, opportunity
  • Kite – Your wish will come to naught
  • Ladder – Take steps to change your attitude toward an old friend
  • Leaf or leaves: fertility, nature, energy, things will be changing soon
  • Letters: references to the names of friends or relatives
  • Lion – An unpleasant situation is developing
  • Moon: denial, female intuition, more money
  • Mountain – Good friends are willing to help you
  • Numbers: indicators of spans of time, such as months or years
  • Owl: wisdom, isolation, nocturnal
  • Pants – You will be tempted
  • Pen – Expect a letter from a relative
  • Pin – Your lover may be attracted to another
  • Pipe – Peace and comfort
  • Ring – Marriage may be possible in the near future
  • Scissors – Separation
  • Shoe – Be suspicious of a new acquaintance
  • Shovel: manual labor, hidden depths
  • Snake – Be on guard against an enemy
  • Spider web – Pleasant happenings
  • Squares: the need for caution
  • Star: spirituality, popularity, happiness
  • Sun: enlightenment, happiness, children, good fortune
  • Table – An abundance of blessings
  • Tree: family, stability, a good time for new undertakings
  • Triangles: good karma
  • Umbrella – Trouble is coming
  • Vase: material concerns
  • Walking stick – Get out of the house and visit friends
  • Wheel – One who has been away will return soon
  • Witch – Danger will pass you by
  • Worm – Business troubles ahead if you are not careful

Sources:

Dream Oracle Doll

This method, which resembles something from a fairy tale, traditionally uses a mandrake root, though ginseng, carrot, or any root that suggests a human form may be substituted.

  • Embellish and dress the root so it looks like a person. (German folk tradition suggests using millet for eyes.)
  • Wrap the root doll in silk when not in use and keep in a safe place.
  • Unwrap the doll and talk to it before bedtime. Tell it your concerns and questions.
  • Perch it on your pillow or tuck it beneath while you go to sleep and dream.

Isis Snake Divination

Spring is the time of nature, revelation, and discovery. Just as plants peek out of the ground, so do snakes and other creatures that have rested over the winter. March is the time of Isis, moon mother, and mother of the sea. Snakes are one of her symbols. This ritual respectfully conjures her symbolic reptile, paying tribute to her while invoking her spirit.

  • Draw a bath.
  • Into the bath, pour 1/4 cup Epsom salt, 1/4 cup coarse and 1/4 cup fine Dead Sea salt.
  • Put on a piece of moonstone (ring, necklace, bracelet, or anklet).
  • Light a blue candle and place on a fireproof container near the bathtub.
  • Bring a crystal ball (or clear quartz crystal) with you into the bath.

Gaze at the candle as you breathe deeply and very slowly until you are very relaxed. Realize that you are breathing in the smoke of Isis.

Call her name quietly but deliberately, drawing it out slowly like a snake’s hiss. “I-sis, I-sis, I-sis.” Breathe in and with the exhale whisper, “I-sis.” Do this for about five minutes.

Lift the crystal ball into the air once you feel the spirit of Isis within the room. Hold the ball in front of the candle flame. See what is in store as you divine by scrying both fire and crystal.

Found in: Four Seasons of Mojo

Tree Magick Divination

This ritual lets you ask a tree a question.

If you live near a pine forest all to the good, but as all woods have their own particular magic, any wood will do. Avoid following this ritual when there is a lot of wind, for you will probably find that there are too many leaves vying for your attention!

As you make your way to the woods, form a question in your mind to which you want an answer. Find a fallen twig and gently carve the initial letters of each word of the question on it. Hold this towards the sun and say the question aloud.

Now close your eyes and relax, listening to the breeze rustling the leaves. Let the sound form a picture in your mind. Do not try to make things happen or imagine things you do not hear. After a minute or two, you should feel that the leaves have said all they are going to say. Bury the twig so that it returns to Mother Earth and as you walk away, an answer to your question should come to mind.

By Michael Johnstone

Fig Leaf Divination

Figs were considered by many to be the tree of life. This ancient method of reading fig leaves to determine the future of your life is known as sycomancy.

Write your question, scheme or proposal on a fresh fig leaf. Retain the leaf and observe it. A leaf that shrivels up quickly provides a negative response, while a leaf that dries slowly, retaining a fresh, green appearance provides encouragement.

This is also an excellent way to choose between various alternative actions. If you have a number of different ideas, plans, choices, schemes, proposals or scenarios, write each one on a fig leaf — one leaf per option or choice.

Retain the leaves so that they are together under exactly the same conditions but not touching. The leaf that remains fresh, green, and youthful looking the longest represents the oracle’s choice.

If all leaves age at exactly the same place, the indication is that there is yet another, more appropriate choice that has been overlooked. Consider your options further before making a choice.

From: Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells

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