Afrikan Divinatory Systems

African Divination Systems: Ways of Knowing

(African Systems of Thought)

Edited

by

Philip M. Peek

 

“This volume of finely crafted case studies is also the vehicle for an important general theory of divination…. this is a book overflowing with ideas that will powerfully stimulate further research.” — Journal of Ritual Studies

“The essays in this collection provide a very useful overview of both the diversity of African divination systems and of recent approaches to their study.” — Choice

“This unique collection of essays by an exceptional international group of Africanists demonstrates the central role that divination continues to play throughout Africa in maintaining cultural systems and in guiding human action. African Divination Systems offers insights for current discussions in comparative epistemology, cross-cultural psychology, cognition studies, semiotics, ethnoscience, religious studies, and anthropology.

The essays in this collection provide a very useful overview of both the diversity of African divination systems and of recent approaches to their study. The introduction critically reviews the preoccupations of earlier students of African divination. The essays that follow are divided into five sections that explore, in turn, the identity of the diviner; comparative and historical issues; the central role of divination in the articulation of cultural ideas, norms, and values within society; the making of knowledge through the divinatory process; and the integration of normal and nonnormal ways of knowing within the divination process. Although all of the essays provide rich ethnographic data, the essays in the fourth and fifth section are the most interesting from a theoretical perspective. They provide the clearest critique of previous positivist approaches to divination, which focus on the outcomes of the divinatory process while failing to appreciate the meanings and truths that inhere to, and are articulated by, the process itself. Of particular interest are the facinating articles by Rosalind Shaw and Philip Peek. Highly recommended for advanced undergraduates.” — R. M. Packard, Tufts University, Choice, December 1991

Divination Theory

Theory of Divination

by

Tim Maroney (1990)

“‘Divination’ is the production of information by magical, occult, or supernatural means. Tarot cards, I Ching, astrology, and the other well-known oracles are forms of divination.

Many other forms of divination are known, such as the prophecying of the Pythoness at the ancient shrine of Apollo at Delphi; oneiromancy or dream interpretation; geomancy, divination by making dots in a tray of sand; bibliomancy, flipping randomly to a passage in a book (usually the Bible); chiromancy or palm-reading; necromancy, communing with dead souls; pyromancy or divination by flames; crytallomancy or crystal-gazing; ornithomancy, interpretation of the flights and cries of birds; and, of course, the Tibetan milk-bottle method of Special Agent Dale Cooper…”

Complete Essay -
http://tim.maroney.org/Essays/Theory_of_Divination.html

Chinese Occultism & Divination

Chinese Occultism, by Paul Carus, [1907],

at sacred-texts.com

---

DIVINATION.

An explanation of the universe which derives all distinctions between things, conditions, relations, etc., from differences of mixture, must have appeared very plausible to the ancient sages of China, and we appreciate their acumen when we consider that even to-day advanced Western scientists of reputation attempt to explain the universe as a congeries of force-centers, acting either by attraction or repulsion in analogy to positive and negative electricity. On the ground of this fact the educated Chinese insist with more than a mere semblance of truth, that the underlying idea of the Chinese world-conception is fully borne out and justified by the results of Western science.

While it is obvious that the leading idea of the yih is quite scientific, we observe that as soon as the Chinese thinkers tried to apply it a priori without a proper investigation of cause and effect, they abandoned more and more the abstract (and we may say, the purely mathematical) conception of the yang and yin, fell victims to occultism, and used the yih for divination purposes. When we compare the vagaries of the occultism of the yih with the accomplishments of Western science, we may feel very wise and superior, but we should not forget that it was the same fallacious argument of wrong analogy which produced in China the many superstitious practices of the yih, and in the history of our civilisation, astrology, alchemy, and magic. These pseudo-sciences were taken seriously in the world of thought throughout the Middle Ages and began to be abolished only after the Reformation with the rise of genuine astronomy, genuine chemistry, and genuine nature science. If the Chinese are wrong we must remember that there was a time when we made the same mistake.

The Chinese outfit for divination consists of fifty stalks called “divining-sticks” and six small oblong blocks to represent the hexagrams. These blocks are not unlike children’s building-blocks, but they bear on two adjoining sides incisions dividing the oblong faces into equal sections, so as to give the surface the appearance of a yin figure. The sticks are made of stalks of the milfoil plant (ptarmica sibirica) which is cultivated on the tomb of Confucius and regarded as sacred.

Pious people consult the oracle on all important occasions. They are first careful to make themselves clean, and then assume a calm and reverential attitude of mind. The diviner then takes out one stick and places it in a holder on the center of the table. This single stalk is called “the grand limit” (t‘ai chih), the ultimate cause of existence. He next lifts the forty-nine remaining sticks above his forehead with his right hand, and divides them at random into two parts, at the same time holding his breath and concentrating his thoughts on the question to be answered. The sticks in the right hand are then placed on the table, and one is taken out from them and placed between the fourth and fifth fingers of the left hand. The three groups are now called heaven, earth and man. The left-hand group is then counted with the right hand in cycles of eight, and the number of the last group yields the lower trigram of the answer, called the inner complement. This number is counted after the oldest order of the eight trigrams, viz., that of Fuh-Hi corresponding to the inverted binary arrangement. The upper trigram, called the outer complement, is determined in the same way.

After the hexagram is determined, one special line is selected by the aid of the divining-sticks in the same way as before, except that instead of counting in cycles of eight, the diviner now counts in cycles of six. Having thus established the hexagram and a special line in it, he next consults the Yih King which contains a definite meaning for each hexagram as a whole, and also for each single line; and this meaning is made the basis of the divine answer.

It is obvious that this complicated process presupposes a simpler one which, however, must have been in use in pre-historic times, for as far as Chinese history dates back the divining stalks and the kwa system are referred to in the oldest documents.

---

Footnotes

34:21 Anu, Bel, and Ea are the Sumerian trinity. The words Bel and Ea are illegible on the tablet and have been restored by an unequivocal emendation. A doubtful word of the tablet has been translated by “omen” which presupposes that the translator regards the tablet as a means of divination.

Complete Text -

http://www.sacred-texts.com/cfu/choc/choc03.htm

Autumn: Cardinal Sign of Libra

The Month of Libra, 2009
By Sharita Star

As with all Cardinal Leadership Signs, we now initiate a new season at hand. Libra comes as we embrace Autumn: requesting the collective to focus upon relationships, be friendly, sharpen our understanding, and most importantly- pay attention to balance in our lives. With its’ ruling planet Venus, those influenced by The Scales take on life with a fair, helpful, and dignified approach.

The typical Libra native displays a charming, friendly, harmonious, idealistic, and diplomatic nature. Always in the role of the impeccable judge, they are innate in seeing both sides of any issue. Yet, if their Scales become tipped in any way- they can fall to indecisiveness, vanity, insincerity, drama, and inconsistencies. One way a Libra can keep in check is always to be fully aware of the decisiveness they have with themselves, which in turn creates the consistency they need to be successful.

The Zodiac House that Libra’s energy rules in the birth chart is the 7th of Partnerships/Marriage. Here is the area of life in our chart that indicates the immediate energy behind how we manage our intimate relationships, both business and romantic. Looking to how the Zodiac Wheel may spin in any individual birth chart, the House Libra falls is the area of life where you will see a diplomatic, balanced, and judicial energy behind all you do. Any planets that may be placed in Libra at the time of birth also take on their innate expression through the qualities of this pleasure-seeking, idealistic, and peaceful sign.

Mercury turns Direct 29 September. The Messenger will take until 14 October to complete the shadow of this recent Retrograde passage. Remember all that possibly had to be decided upon will find a way to be reworked and organized within the shadow period. After ironing out all the details in forward motion through Virgo, Mercury in comparative Libra asks us to polish our diplomacy. The Virgo/Libra piece of your Zodiac pie points where to expect a communication boost; while from 09 til 28 October, the area of life that a new understanding can be brought to.

Harmony-seeking Venus joins the Sun in Libra’s energy on the 14th. As the romantic planet now journeys with the Scales, expect sociability, charm, and dignity to be at the core of value related matters. Checking where Libra affects you will be the slice of life that the potentials of susceptible, proportionate, tender, and easily expressed affections can emerge until 07 November.

Mars fuels its’ natural fiery energy in Leo upon the 16th. A Universal urge to be enthusiastic and exuberant will be strong; while one should be aware of the tendency to swing to militant, brash, and unbridled desires. The Leo ruled area of the birth chart points to where one can anticipate an independent and dramatic stimulation over the next 9 weeks Mars visits the sign of benevolence, where upon 20 December it will enter a Retrograde passage.

May your start of Autumn ‘09 be full of peaceful adjustments and moments of spectacular beauty.

Questions…Comments??? Email me! sharita@sharitastar.com 

Since the young age of 7, Sharita has been a student of the planets above and all of the mysteries of our Universe. She is available for all levels of astrological, numerical, and lexigram analysis through readings and party services, available at: http://www.sharitastar.com Residing between New York City and Chatham, NY, she is currently publishing her first book, while hosting her own radio show, ‘What’s Your Sign? I Have Your Number!’ http://www.sharitastarradio.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharita_Star
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Month-of-Libra,-2009&id=2961519

How To Make A Dowsing Pendulum

How To Make A Dowsing Pendulum

Author: Shen Gerald

A pendulum is a very useful communication tool for spiritual inquiring. When used in conjunction with a chart, it can be used for dowsing and divination. It can be used for the following:

1. Provide Yes/No responses and answers to queries. This is similar to muscle testing or applied kinesiology.
2. Provide more accurate answers to queries, such as degree, intensity or percentage.

There are commercial pendulums available on the market. Usually they can be bought from shops dealing with metaphysical or new age stuffs. However these shops are quite scarce and can be quite hard to find. Alternatively, pendulums can be ordered online through websites selling them.

This article is about making a do-it-yourself (D-I-Y) pendulum for dowsing. If you want to save some money or commercial pendulums are not available for you, you can opt to make one yourself.

Actually, to make a pendulum is not that difficult. We can always find substitutes for the various parts of a commercially-manufactured pendulum. The parts that need to be substituted are:

1. The bob which is the weight at the lower end of a pendulum.
2. The chain which connects the hand to the pendulum bob.

For the pendulum bob, we can use any reasonably weighted object. I personally, use arrow shaped pendants. In fact, the smaller-sized fishing weights can also be used. Although, I much prefer some pendants over fishing weights as they are more visually attractive than the latter. Pendants can be bought from fashion accessory stores. As for fishing weights, they can be found in large departmental stores as well as shops selling fishing equipments.

For the chain, they can be acquired from fashion accessory shops that sell necklaces and chains. Metal ones are preferred. The length of the chain should not be more than a foot. In my opinion, 1/2 to 3/4 of a foot is quite ideal.

Once we have the parts, all we need is to assemble them. At the tip of the pendant or fishing weight is usually a loop or ring. We need to hook one end of the chain through the ring (or loop) at the tip of the pendulum bob (which is either a pendant or fishing weight).

Normally, most chains are made up of many little metallic rings. To assemble the pendulum, we may need to pry open one of the metallic rings (at one end of the chain) and insert the loop/ring of the pendulum bob through it. After that, we will need to re-adjust the metallic ring (on the chain) back to its original closed-looped position. A long-nose plier is most suitable for doing these fine handiworks.

That’s all to making a pendulum for dowsing. Quite simple, isn’t it!

I hope this article is useful. Happy pendulum making.

About the Author:

The author runs a Self Growth site with pendulum dowsing and divination resources.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – How To Make A Dowsing Pendulum

Shamanism and Divination

Shamanism and Divination

Author: Howard G Charing

Shamanism is not a system of belief or faith, it is a system of knowledge, and divination is one of the paths to gain direct knowledge. Direct knowledge can be defined as that which is experienced first hand by the senses. Divination is not ‘fortune telling’, it is a way to a deeper understanding of events and influences surrounding a situation or person. Divination has always been an integral part of shamanism. One of the most important roles of the shaman has been to seek revelatory knowledge from visionary sources, which may be for healing purposes, “why has this person become ill?” “what medicine does this person need?, or important communal needs “where are the herds of caribou?”, divination is also often used to get meaning from dreams and visions.

Divination is as old as humanity, but unfortunately in mainstream Western society it has been regarded as something primitive, irrational, and pandering to superstition. Divination is simply a way of revealing the truth. The diviner reveals or uncovers to their client hidden truths about themselves, or the circumstances surrounding them. In societies outside the West, divining continues to play an important role, revealing that which is hidden, easing anxiety, and helping in coming to terms with challenging circumstances that may demand the implementation of difficult decisions.

In divination, the role of the shaman is to act as a mediator or ‘middle-man’. The shaman by exploring and providing the initial reading and interpretation allows the seeker of this information to avoid projecting personal wants, desires, and wishes if the question or situation is emotionally charged.

The Multi-dimensional Cosmos of the shaman

In shamanism, there is another kind of time, not linear or sequential but a time which is one single moment. This vast ever moving moment has no boundaries which separate the past, present and future. This is a time in which anything which has ever happened to anybody anywhere, somewhere it is still happening. The shaman travels ‘outside’ of linear time into this vast unending ever-moving moment to seek the information at the place where this event is happening.

One of the main gateways to this vast moment of time or universal consciousness is our own powers of imagination coupled with the three fundamental principles of expanded perception;

1.Intention All actions begin with an intention, a desire for a specific outcome. The principle of intention operates on two levels, the obvious , ‘this is what I want to do’, and the subtle level , i.e. it is a signal or alert to energy to be prepared to move to a certain destination.

2.Trust Trust is an ineffable quality, it is experienced in the body, not the mind. Trust takes time, and to get trust we need feedback which either directly or indirectly validates our experience. With trust our experiences and confidence in our actions increase significantly.

3.Attention This is about the application and focus of energy and intention. Attention is not ‘hard-work’ yet it needs consistency, to place your awareness at the interface of events or places….. Energy flows where Attention goes.

Divinatory methods

The shamans used many diverse methods for divination, either ways seeking patterns in natural objects and events, or using techniques to directly obtain hidden knowledge. An example of the former could be the practice of divination with rocks.

Rock Divination To do this the traditional practice is for the seeker looks for a rock whilst holding the question in the mind, eventually there will be a rock which stands out or ‘metaphorically’ shouts out “me, me!”. Here is an opportunity to practice the principle of trust!. As a helpful tip the more faceted and inner forms the rock has the better as more facets and patterns mean more detail will be available to the reader. The seeker should then give the rock to the shaman or practitioner and state the question. The shaman (who knows as little as possible about the questioner or the circumstances regarding the question) will gently focus on the rock and allow patterns to form within the imagination. The shaman may ask the seeker to state the question a few times as this helps to deepen the trance state of awareness, to the place where the shapes and patterns in the rock become a ‘gateway’ directly into the universal field of energy, and images, pictures, words, feelings will start to form within the shaman’s being. Each rock face represents a different aspect of the question, and the initial response is generally “where the questioner is at this moment”, and this leads to other rock faces, each rock face exposing and presenting an expanded view of the answer. To me personally this work is awesome, mysterious and poetic, and I have found that is as if a person’s life story is contained in a rock.

Sunbeam Divination Journey An example of a specific technique to discover hidden knowledge is the Sunbeam divination journey of the Labrador Naskapi shamans. This journey has a single specific purpose to find out the physical location of a person, object, or place where an event will take place. In this practice no information will be given about the object, person etc only it’s location. One can see the usefulness and practicality of this technique, for example to help hunters locate game animals, or the to find out and rescue a lost member of the tribe and so on. I have used this practice many times often to locate lost keys or the wallet of a client!

An Exercise – Naskapi Sunbeam Divination Journey.

First meditate or reflect on what you want to locate or know the whereabouts of, remember the first principle of Intention. When ready, find a place where you will not be disturbed for half hour or so, darken the room, and lay down and relax. Note: It is best if you have tape for shamanic journeying drumming (which will smooth the transition into expanded states of awareness). In the imagination, the launch-pad into multi-dimensional perception, go to a place where you can visualise, perceive, or sense being in the open landscape. Sense being fully in this place, experience your feet on the ground and the ground pushing up against the soles of your feet, experience the air and the wind on your face, become fully present in this landscape, and when ready look up to the sky where the sun will be, with the question firmly in your mind, ask the sun to show you the location or whereabouts of what it is you are searching for. Typically a particular sunbeam will either shine brightly or capture your attention in one way or another, follow this beam of sunlight, you may even experience yourself flying over the landscape, and where this specific sunbeam touches the ground, that is where the location is. When you recognise the location, and can correlate it to an actual physical place, it is then time to return. So turn around and go back to the place where you started from, and when you have returned, gently feel yourself back in the physical world, and gently open your eyes.

Remembering the second principle of trust, check the information out, try and get verification of the validity of the journey, keep on doing this until you have developed trust and the confidence will then follow.

Shamanic Trance Postures.

Another form of specific techniques is the body of work known as Shamanic Trance Postures. They take the form of certain precise bodily postures. These postures are gateways to an altered state of consciousness, and visionary experiences. This body of knowledge originates from ancient civilisations and many indigenous cultures throughout the world. Rediscovered in the 1970’s by the renowned anthropologist Felicitas Goodman, these postures are a piece of living history from our heritage of spiritual tradition.

It involves holding non-strenuous, but precise physical positions together with an accompanying rhythmic sound eg. Shamanic drumming or rattling. There are a number of specific postures for divinatory purposes, for example the Nupe people in sub-Saharan Africa, use these ritual postures, and in the one that their divinatory shamans work with gives the experience of detachment and a dispassionate persepective of the question.

An Exercise – Nupe Divination Posture

Once again meditate or focus on your question, as with this work it really helps if the question is sharp, no ‘ifs’, ’shoulds’ , ‘but’ and so on, get your question as razor honed as possible.

Sit on the floor, leaning toward your left and supported by your left arm. Hold your left arm rigid, with your hand at a right angle to your body. Place your left hand at a spot three to five inches to the left of your body and just behind a straight line drawn along the back of your buttocks. Bend both legs at the knees with both feet pointing to the right, positioned so that your left foot is resting just to the left of your right knee. Place your right hand on your lower left leg, where the muscle indents about halfway down your calf. Move your head slightly to the left, so you are looking over your left knee, and close your eyes.

If possible listen to a shamanic drumming or rattling tape, as this will enhance the visionary potential and makes the experience smoother, and more powerful. Allow the visionary imagery , or just simple ‘knowing’ to take place, when you have a sense of an answer (even if you do not understand it rationally) just gently release yourself from the posture, and come back fully into the present. If an answer is not immediately understood, incubate it, play with it, draw or paint it, this is important as the answer is not always addressed to the rational mind. Being with the imagery or vision will often lead to a deep and profound revelation.

To conclude there are many other ways of divination in shamanism many which underlie well known practices eg; divination with quartz crystals, casting of objects, Scrying.

As the Tungus shamans of Siberia say “we are all connected, we are all one”. So is it no wonder that we can discover ourselves through the natural world.

About the Author:

Howard G. Charing, is an accomplished international workshop leader on shamanism. He has worked some of the most respected and extraordinary shamans & healers in the Andes, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Philippines. He organises specialist retreats to the Amazon Rainforest at the dedicated centre located in the Mishana nature reserve. He is the author of the best selling book, Plant Spirit Shamanism (Destiny Books USA). His website: http://www.shamanism.co.uk

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Shamanism and Divination

Disclaimer

Journal of Ancient Divination
DISCLAIMER

All products presented here, at the Journal of Ancient Divination, are for entertainment purposes only. No claims are made as to the accuracy of any forecasts made by the user of these methods. Visitors to and users of the Journal of Ancient Divination accept all liability from any actions taken based upon the forecasts made, methods, and practices used. Some ethno-cultures may consider these methods and practices to be of the religio-spiritual nature. No income or lifestyle changes are perceived, claimed, guaranteed, or warranted by the use of these methods.

Last Updated: 1 October 2009
© 2009 Journal of Ancient Divination

Welcome!

The Journal of Ancient Divination (formerly known as InnerLink Metaphysical Research Journal: Journal of Ancient Divination) is an independent, non-profit project devoted to the research and study of religion and magick and their collective, syncretic interrelationship with divination from the practitioner’s experiential and perspective. Our focus here centers and focuses upon all forms and aspects of divination throughout history. This project is under the direction and facilitation of Dr. Kheti A. Sahure, DD, MscD, ThD of the Temple of Kemetic Wicca. You can read all of the older posts prior to October 1 at:

InnerLink Metaphysical Research Journal

According to Wikipedia:

“Divination (from Latin divinare ‘to be inspired by a god’, related to divine, diva and deus) is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of a standardized process or ritual. Diviners ascertain their interpretations of how a querent should proceed by reading signs, events, or omens, or through alleged contact with a supernatural agency. Divination can be seen as a systematic method with which to organize what appear to be disjointed, random facets of existence such that they provide insight into a problem at hand. If a distinction is to be made between divination and fortune-telling, divination has a formal or ritual and often social character, usually in a religious context; while fortune-telling is a more everyday practice for personal purposes. Particular divination methods vary by culture and religion.” [Source: "Divination." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 19 May 2009, 03:14 UTC. 24 May 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Divination&oldid=290864344.]

Here are just a few topics and subjects of interest:

▪Astrology (Chinese, Esoteric, Horary, Vedic)
▪Diloggun (Oracle of the Orishas)
▪Divination (All Methodologies)
▪Dowsing (Divining Rods)
▪I Ching (Cards, Coins, Yarrow Sticks)
▪Numerology (Chaldean, Chinese, Kabbalah, Pythagorean)
▪Obi (Mystical Oracle of Ifá)
▪Ouija (Planchette Divination and Channeling)
▪Palmistry (Chiromancy, Cheiromancy)
▪Ritual Beads (Mala Beads, Afrikan Traditional Elekes and Mazos)
▪Runes (Runic Divination of the Elder Futhark)
▪Scrying (Crystal Ball, Mirror, Pendulum, Water)
▪Tarot (Tarotology, Cartomancy)
▪Vodou (Voodoo Divination Veves and Cards)