bibliomancy?

[Mercuria]

Was wondering if anyone here ever uses bibliomancy (divination using a book or religious text)?

I've only tried it a few times, and the results were interesting. I actually used a dictionary, which worked quite well.

Mercuria

[Lavender]

That sounds interesting. Can you elaborate on it a bit more? How does it work with a dictionary? I've seen books at the bookstore - The Little Big book of Answers - or something like that. It said you ask a question, holding the book & let it fall open. Where your eyes takes you is the answer you seek.

[WtchyChick13]

I've been using bibliomancy a lot lately with a book called the Tarot Handbook. It's a great book that goes into different aspects of Tarot and relates the cards to different aspects of your life. There are even affirmations that you can use or say to yourself (or put them on Post-It notes and stick everywhere like I do!). LOL

Every nite before I go to sleep I focus on a situation that I need guidance with or an answer to a question and open that book and see what card comes up! It has been pretty on the ball each time and the affirmations help me to get some of the added focus I need.

I've done this for years using many different books. A good idea to try is when you open the book, close your eyes and point to a spot on the page. Open your eyes and most likely, that sentence or paragraph will pertain to your question. Good luck!!! :)

[Nina]

.... I've done this occasionally, with a book on Greek mythology - I've had some very apt results with the pages dropping open on a deity that has some aspect that could help a situation!

[Mercuria]

Wildchild- you're right, you simply take a book and let it fall open. Most of the time people use spiritual books, or one of those little books that has inspirational phrases on each page.

I found it really interesting to use a dictionary, because you wind up with a single word. The first time I tried it I got the word Dynamics, and the definition was:
"1. Physics. the branch of mechanics concerned with those forces which cause or effect the motion of bodies. 2. the science or principles of forces acting in any field."

This was really quite accurate, because at that time I felt like all these different things were pulling me in different directions, and there were people trying to influence me on certain matters.

I don't know what one would do if they ended up with a word like abalone or glockenspiel- you would certainly have an interesting interpretation :)

Nina and witchychick- I've never tried it with tarot or mythology...I should give it a go sometime.

Mercuria

[Zaniah]

My favorite book for Bibliomancy is either any random one on the shelf or the big bad Bible. There is so much text in the Bible and you'd be surprised how often you'll land on a verse, for good or for bad, that relates to your life. Trust me on this- I'm 100% (well, 98%) Wiccan.

Light and love,
Zaniah

[Mnemosyne]

hmmmm, I have never heard of bibliomancy until now. I have used it though. Currently, I am quite interested in the I Ching. I use bibliomancy to learn more insight about situations from this particular book. I don't know if it actually works, but I have read many meaningful words and have learned more about myself. I can't ask for more.

[Silver Venus]

Originally posted by Zaniah
My favorite book for Bibliomancy is either any random one on the shelf or the big bad Bible. There is so much text in the Bible and you'd be surprised how often you'll land on a verse, for good or for bad, that relates to your life. Trust me on this- I'm 100% (well, 98%) Wiccan.

Light and love,
Zaniah

Mee too Ive done that from when I was a kid, its the only sense the bible ever made to me ;)
I also use it as a learning tool for some of my big pagan books and goddess research books, I just close my eyes, centre and when I feel the time is right open the book... it always opens on a chapter that is so interesting and helpful to me at that time :) Its the best way to get away from the norm of reading a book from start to finsh ;)

Ive never known the correct term for it before ' bibliomancy' so thanks for teaching me something new :D

[JuNiPeR]

I'm going to have to try this!!


Do you close your eyes and point to a spot on the page....

or just focus on the first thing you see on that page.

[Silver Venus]

Originally posted by JuNiPeR
I'm going to have to try this!!


Do you close your eyes and point to a spot on the page....

or just focus on the first thing you see on that page.

Whatever works for you ;) Id try both or just do what comes naturally and seems to flow :)
I personally find that my eyes just get drawn to one part of the page and then I read from there :)

[JuNiPeR]

Thanks. I'll have to give it a try :)

[manstranger]

I just tryed it ... once i got a battle scene from a book, and the second time i got a quote "he might be getting desperate".

Its kinda weird, but i'll see how it applies.

[Niamh]

Thanks for this thread! I'm a bit of a new comer to the Craft, and had never even considered using bibliomancy! And I'm a LIBRARIAN! Go figure... :)

[Mnemosyne]

Wow! Niamh, that's cool that you are a librarian. I bet that you have lots of books to choose from when using bibliomancy. I was going to ask if bibliomancy has impacted anyone's life. Then, I read Mercuria's post again. Mercuria, it was so interesting to see how you applied the word "dynamics" to your life. After reading that, I wanted to use a dictionary to see what word I was drawn to. Now, I have a question regarding bibliomancy. It is a natural to open a book to the middle section. Do you have a page number in your head before you open the book? I just ask because I would not want to surpass the beginning or ending sections of a book.