Lithomancy...what it is and isn't

[Moondragon]

Lithomancy aka stone casting is often confused with rune casting. But stone casting is much much older. It is believed to be one of the most ancient forms of divination along with fire gazing. It isn't to hard to imagine ancient peoples gathering pretty stones off river bed or just as they are walking. It is a divination which is very close to the earth.

Lithomancy does not require any of the stone to have symbols on them. Divining by these stones is told by the way the stones fall and what the stones associated aspects are. for ex. Rose quartz-Love & harmony.

Lithomancy is very easy to learn and I have found several people who have a natural affinity towards stones. It can be as simple or as complex as the caster wishes.

I feel it is important to go over stones aspects. and have a good knowledge of the stones you use. as with most divinations they should be attacted to you.

The first thing that needs to be done is that you need t choose three stones you would like to work with.

[mol]

Hehe...I actually have three stones that I picked up at a creek. No real reason why at the time. Maybe I know the reason why now...continue. Maybe someone else would like to join in on this discussion as well.

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

How interesting!!

I had a stone find me about 2 years ago! I was walking through a local park...looking for stones....and I find avery beautiful, small heart shaped stone! The front is flat and there is NO mistaking it is a heart, almost perfect, like it was carved....and the bottom/back is rounded like a bowl. I don't know what the stone is itself...just a gray stone. But I was so excited when I found it, I knew it was one for me. This stone now sits on my alter with a few other selected stones. :sunny: I would love to learn more about this topic.

Dagda

[Phrater]

Is lithomancy done in any way similar to reading bones?
Is it from any specific origin?
There are tales of Bone readers from Sumeria that
used pieces of spine exclusively. They saw them
as the center of human power. There was also a
connection drawn, that stones are the bones of the earth. *shrug* I'd love to hear more about this topic.

[Moondragon]

well your in luck the first lesson on how to cast stones is using three stones.. it is one of the easiest ways to divine, for it depends on the relationship of the objects rather then remembering set placements. Using three stones you will only be able to get three answers, yes, no, and maybe.

some basic precautionary measures- only ask three questions per session, never ask a question you do not want to know the answer to, emotionally envolve questions like "does he/she love me" are considered not appropriate because you will not be able to be dispassionate about the outcome and can influence the casting.

Prepareation:
gather three stones <in this case mol does not need to> then decide which represtents, yes, no, and the question. For this exercise any sone will work.

Method (casting)
*find a uninterrupted space.
*take a few breaths to center you energy.
*hold the stones clasped between your hands, Think about your question until you have a firm image in your mind.
*Tumble the stones in your hands to gather your energy.
*when you are ready cast the stones upon the ground.

(practice these steps until you find a casting method you are comfortable with)

Inteputation
*the sonte closest to the question is your answer
*if it is an equal distance between them it is undecided

Timing
*sometimes you can tell the time, the yes stone represents future, the no stone is the past or memories, the question stome is the present.
* Agian if it is equal distance between it is considered present.

[Moondragon]

Bone casting is very similar to lithomancy and are both said to have been started arounjd the same time in the neolithic times.

The ancient peoples believed and many still do that the earths most valuable treasures comes from within her body. The stones where believed to be mother earths bones. They used them to make tools, create fire, build hoses, jewelry, Divineing the future, predicting weather patterns, and keeping track of time.

It is easy to become more in tune with the earth by using stone casting, tp precieve more of the living earth. We do this by working with her bones, we anchor our psyche with thier energies. all sotnes are unique, having their own personality, pattern, inner rhythums, and we can dream them into our lives.

Lithomancy is conisdered by many to be the mother of runes and rune casting, The method I use I believe it is from the northern european area.

[Moondragon]

that sounds great, many stones will make themselves known to you when they feel your need for a paticular energy. In you case with the shape of the stone you were probably going through a hard emotional time and it had loving, soothing energys which could help you. Enjoy you amulet and know that it will move on it's way to help people when it feels you no longer need it to be there. Stones are like very good friends!!

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

I do have a question. In your response to Mol's post, you describe timing.

Quote:

" Timing
*sometimes you can tell the time, the yes stone represents future, the no stone is the past or memories, the question stome is the present.
* Agian if it is equal distance between it is considered present. "

If your answer is yes.....are we to presume it happens in the furture?? and no is in the past or about memories?? I know that timing isn't always important....but I'd like to know how that works. It just didn't make sense to me.

Thank you!

Dagda

[PaganBoyNC]

I have seen one method of stone casting where the center of the circle was marked off and the stones that fell closest to the center were seen as being the ones most related to the answer of the question, those falling outside the circle were things to avoid or where the answer could NOT be found, and stones that fell very close together were seen as being associated with one another or in combination... for example a stone meaning love and one meaning aggression near the center might indicate a conflict in a love relationship.

[Moondragon]

Dagda,
Ok it works similar to the tarot when you get a yes answer like "will I get a job soon?" then if it was in the center you could expect a job to be coming your way in the near future, or if closer to the question stone is closer to the yes stone farther way in the far future. help any?

[Moondragon]

Great!
yes that is a more advanced method of casting right now I am starting basic and working up because it takes awhile to gather all the stones needed, make personal connections with them, the full layout consits of twenty three stones, which will also be influence by the type of stone you choose for which association ie rose quartz in house of venus.

so be patient with me, we will get there :)

[Moondragon]

How to Awaken/ Pre- programming a crystal:
When you are looking for a stone, pick up the stones one at a time hold them in your left hand. Open your senses and focus on the stone. When you feel it’s energy open up to you feel it. You will know whether it is the right stone for you. Choose the one, which feels the most comfortable to you.

Listening with the body-
Lie down or sit comfortably. Hold the crystal in your left hand. Take a few deep breaths in and out. Let yourself completely relax. Mentally ask the crystal what its specialty is. Be aware of any feelings it sends to you. Thank the crystal for communicating with you.

Tuning in with Dreams-
Place the crystal under your pillow at night. Just as you are about to fall asleep ask the crystal to communicate with your subconscious mind, your dream self. Upon awakening while you are still partially asleep ask your crystal to help you interput correctly any dream messages. Now place the crystal on your third eye. With eyes closed. Let it’s feeling come to you. Finally give thanks to the crystal for its communication

Meditation on stones.
Go into a meditation which you like hold the stone in between your hands, then feel energy from your feet come up into your hands, and the energy from the sky come down into your head and down into your arms. Feel the fire of live inside you burning, feel its essence move slowly into your hands. And feel the essence of water within you move into your hands. Slowly work a ball around the crystal, it should reach out for the energy. Soaking it up slowly. The stone will let you know when it is done. Listen for its voice in your head. The you mentally and emotionally picture what you want of the stone. Hold this until it feels done. Keep it close to you as much as possible.

Programming Stones:
When you have gotten down this meditation connect with the stone, Visualize in pictures and feelings to the stone. Stones commune this way. Tell it what you wish it to do be it Protection, Healing, Love, Wealth, etc. Sit for a while with what you want pictured. When you feel it is done stop and withdraw slowly, then keep the stone with you for manifestation of your desire.


Part two tomrrow- Cleansing and Charging

[Moondragon]

Gemstones:Cleaning and Charging

There are Diffrent Ways to Cleanse Stones:
Water, moonlight, incense, visualization, air, earth, now with each stone they have elements associated with them. You use a difrent technique depending upon the association of the stone.

A piece of petrified wood would have earth as it's element. So when you cleanse it you would burry it in the ground, and leave it there for a while. And as you bury it is best to be done by a tree. And say a small incantation as you bury it. Whatever you feel is right at the time.

If you had a stone of air. You might leave it out on a windy night. So the air might recharge and cleanse it. Also say something, which is subtitle for the occasion.

If you have a stone of fire. You might pass it above a fire or in the smoke of incense or in the light of the sun. Letting the energies cleanse the stone. Saying something suitable.

If a stone of water, Use salt water or spring water, put it in a running body of water or leave out in a rainstorm, say something suitable.

Now a general cleansing is not as effective but works with all stone. It is to leave stones in sun/full moonlight. Over the day/night. And let them cleanse themselves slowly. Each stone has a zodiac sign associated with it and that is where you get its elemental signature.

Earth stones- fossil, petrified wood, amber, galena, garnet, jet.
Air - lepidolite, levynite, mesolite, mica
Fire - nuummit, obsidian, apache tear, peridot.
Water - rhonite, roselite, shell, silver.
These are just a couple of examples.

When you program a stone it is fairly simple. All you have to do is sit with a stone in meditative and pour your energy into the stone. In this way you can tell the stone what you would like it to do. Thus program it.

Amethyst - water, earth, and air. By pouring your energy into the stone you create an energy bound with it. Sometimes after you do this stone likes only to be held by you. Others are fine with anyone touching them. All stones have personalities.

You need to bound with the stone to use it magickal workings. Always cleanse a stone when getting it from somewhere other people has handled it. People leave emotional baggage in stones, since they are so receptive to emotions and they retain these emotions until cleansed again. If you ever handle the stone when you are emotionally upset, angry sad, you will want to cleanse it afterwards. It can inhibit its next use if not done. When you handle them to program them use mainly mental pictures and emotions, these are what they respond best to. And at the same time dedicate them to you. Handle stones often if you don't handle them for long periods of time they will need to be cleansed and recharged before their next use.

With all these techniques with stones are intensely between personal between you and the stones. You should come up with your own incantations for cleansing.
Charging
Dedicating and programming the stones. It is well worth the effort. All stones have their own voice they tell you what you need to do if you but listen, they talk slow but have ageless, knowledge. The have been here on this earth for hundreds of thousands of years.

[Flar's Freyja]

bump