Divination has been in use for centuries to gain insight or some knowledge of what is yet to come. The means to do this are vast, from the natural tools found in nature to man-made tarot cards and Ouija boards. These crafts fulfill mankind’s innate desire to foretell future events; a chance glimpse of happy times or impending doom and disaster. Many of the most enduring methods of this ancient practice incorporate the use of natural objects, such as crystals, herbs, the human palm, and astrology. How do these methods work? What knowledge can be gained from reading one’s palm or reading the stars?
Throughout ancient history, stones and crystals have been held in high regard for their magical properties. One of the most common and well known would be the crystal ball; despite its popularity, many individuals have no idea what to do with a crystal ball or what the process of crystal scrying entails. Author/researcher Ellie Crystal breaks down the process, in her article “Scrying-Oracles of Divination.” The article explains that the crystal ball is used as a subject of focus, to help the seer clear their mind of any outside influences. This allows the seer to enter a trance-state; here they seek out any images created by the play of reflected light or physical flaws within the crystal. As the trance continues to deepen, these mundane details give way to symbolic images, and finally, to moving scenes of events yet to pass (Crystalinks.com, para. 1,3). This type of foretelling has been in place for thousands of years and has been used by several different cultures such as the Ancient Greeks and Celtics. Their tools of choice consisted of a vast array of translucent objects such as beryl, black glass and quartz. (Crystals, para...
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...ningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. 2nd ed.
St. Paul: Llewellyn, 2003. Print.
Hand, Robert. "On ASTROLOGY, PROPHECY, & RELIGION." Revision 23.2 (2000): 38. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 31 Oct. 2010.
McCamley, Tre. Palm Decoder. Hauppauge: Barron’s Educational Series, 1999. Print.
Pratt, John P. “The Zodiac Testifies of Christ.” John P. Pratt Web Page. 15 Jun. 2005. http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2005/zodiac.html. Web. 4 Nov. 2010.
Saint-Germain, Jon. Karmic Palmistry. St. Paul: Llewellyn, 2003. Print.
St. Clair, Marisa. Sun & Moon Signs: An Astrological Guide to Love, Career, & Destiny. New York: Random House, Inc, 2007. Print.
Valder, Roshan. “Palm Reading Chart.” Buzzle.com Website: Intelligent Life on the Web. 2010. Web. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/palm-reading-chart.html. 4 Nov. 2010.
LaHaye, Tim, and Ed Hindson. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. Eugene, OR.: Harvest House Publishers, 2004.
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield tells the story of a man who tries to learn and understand the nine key insights into life itself in an ancient manuscript that has been discovered in Peru. It predicts a massive spiritual transformation of society in the late twentieth century. We will finally grasp the secrets of the universe, the mysteries of existence, and the meaning of life. The real meaning and purpose of life will not be found in religion or in material wealth, but rather in things like auras. He comes across the insights in numerical order since that is how one must understand them. Overcoming an initial skepticism, the narrator's understanding grows with each insight. They include the following: 1. A Critical Mass. 2. The Longer Now. 3. A Matter of Energy. 4. The Struggle for Power. 5. The Message of the Mystics. 6. Clearing the Past. 7. Engaging the Flow. 8. The Interpersonal Ethic. 9. The Emerging Culture.
There have been many psychological profiles of Zodiac, perhaps because his true identity and motives have never been revealed. Graysmith, the author of the best selling novel Zodiac, also crea...
Oxtopy, W., & Segal, A. (2007). A concise introduction to world religions. (1st ed., p. 258). New York: Oxford University press.
Zodiac began his legacy on the calm, cool night of December 20th, 1968, when a seventeen year-old named David Faraday was getting ready to take sixteen year-old Betty Lou Jensen on her first date. David arrived at Betty’s house, picked her up, and promptly proceeded to Lake Herman Road, a well known “lovers lane” of the local teenagers. Soon after arrival a car, possibly a blue Valiant, pulled up next to David’s 1961 brown four-door station wagon, and a man got out. “Framed only in a silhouette, the man appeared to be stocky in build and slightly heavy with an eerie sense about him” (Wark, 5). The man requested the teens get out of the car, but they refused. Upon hearing David and Betty’s refusal, the man pulled out a gun, and fired a round into the right rear window, shattering it. He then moved to the front and fired another into the left tire. Stricken with panic, the youths rushed o...
According to Max Dublins THE POWER OF PROPHECY, He seems to want to give a feeling that prophecy is all in the listeners mind and that Prophets are mostly very manipulative people and can influence people greatly. I tend to agree with this to some degree.
Smith, Huston. World’s Religions: A Guide to our Wisdom Traditions. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1994.
Raisaned, Heikki. "Revelation, Violence, and War: Glimpses of a Dark Side." In The Way the World Ends? The Apocalypse of John in Culture and Ideology, edited by William John Lyons and Jorunn Oklund, 151-165. Sheffield: Sheffield Pheonix, 2009.
In Tibetan tradition, the word oracle, or kuten, literally interpreted means “the physical basis.” The word oracle is also used to define the spirit which enters into men and women who are acting as a medium between the spiritual and natural realms. Oracles serve as a guide for Tibetans in political decisions, predictions about natural forces, etc. Their decisions help guide internal and external affairs. They most clearly demonstrate their function while in trance. In this mind-altered state prophecies and predictions are made about questions asked. Their answers are taken seriously by Tibetans and high-standing political and religious individuals. The occurrences that take place while in trance cannot all be explained by scientific means and there is some spiritual force acting on the situation.
LaHaye, Tim F., and Edward E. Hindson. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2004.
Oxtoby, Willard G., and Alan F. Segal. A Concise Introduction to World Religions. Oxford, Canada: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Smith, Huston. The Illustrated World's Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions. San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco, 1994. Print.
Welcome back to Divination. Over the past few weeks we have looked into many different ways to unleash your inner eye. Today we shall be looking at an art form that is very close to my own heart. Cartomancy, more commonly known as Tarot is a valuable skill for any Seer to learn. You will see on the table in front of you my own Tarot deck laid out. I must ask that you do not touch, as you may
When people believe in astrology, what they believe is that the planets and stars directly or indirectly influence their lives and determine what happens to them in life. (Weblinkers.com Enterprises, p.1) The stars are said to show guidance and meaning for the lives of people. (Woolfolk, p.297)
Organ, Troy Wilson. Eerdmans' Handbook to The World Religions. Woodbury, NY: Barron's Educational Series, 1974. Print.