Fortune Telling
Contents
The Oracle
Fortune Telling is an ancient technique of divination. It is also known as "casting the oracle" or "reading the trails", for in the past four snail would be placed on a board in the evening, and two bundles of fresh grass at its extremities, and the trails left read in the morning.
Techniques
There are several ways of casting the oracle. Although the techniques differ, a general principle of casual generation underlies them all and any fortuitous ways of obtaining the figures is equally valid. Two techniques are most widely used.
The Casting of the Coin
This system is the most widespread, for it does not need any equipment and it just uses a silver coin (although any coin will do). The two principles - moving and still - are assigned to the sides of the coin that is then cast on a board or a circle. The lines are drawn from top to bottom, and the coin recast if it falls outside the board, for the casting was not done in line with the cosmos. With four castings a figure is obtained.
The Drawing of the sticks
A bundle of sticks is held in one hand, or in a container. The bottom half of half of the sticks is painted evenly, while the other half of the sticks is painted in broken sections. Four sticks are drawn in order and a figure obtained.
Other Techniques
Any mean of obtaining the figures is equally valid is the principle of casual generation is respected. A deck of cards can be used, or the flight of birds observed. It is rumored that the Bloodmoon Fruit is secretly used in the chambers of the West, and the lines drawn in the trances it induces.
The Figures
The Well
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The Well, or the Abyss, receptive primal power. The well represents the inscrutable depths of water, absolute malleability and adaptability, and the primordial creative energy. The well stands for the earth in opposition to the sky, receiving its life giving rain, and woman in opposition to man. Life yielding passivity, the Well represent endurance and perseverance, bringing to existence and transformation what around like the yeast in the dough.
The Well in the oracle can mean that bringing about change is not advisable, but one needs to stay steady and let things develop. Like the well receives whatever is thrown into its depths, so one needs to be open to advice and receptive to what surrounds him. It also represent duration in time and and patience.
Like, in the forest, the hunter immobile listens to the sounds around him, and knows that movement will scare away its prey, so one needs to wait and be receptive, for it is not time for action.
Its animal is the turtle, its body part the belly.
The Word
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The Passage
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Thunder
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Thunder, or the Snake, divides the sky to earth in a frightening moment, tearing apart the fabric of the air. It represents sudden change, revolutions and revolts, and the division that comes with them; it embodies excitation and ferment, energy too strong and restless to be confined and the breaking of boundaries.
Thunder in the oracle can mean that sudden change is about to come, and action must be taken to bring it about. The conditions are ripe, the old rulers are weak and it is time to bring them down and seize the kingdom. The wood of the cage is rotten, and a powerful blow is needed to set one free. Thunder asks for brave and reckless behavior, for one's life to be put on the line for a radical change. Initiative must be taken, now is the moment.
Its animal is the snake, its body part is the foot.
Reflection
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The Swamp
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pleasure gluttony mouth
Youth
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pelvis genitalia
The Tower
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spine bone structure
stability
The Road
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The Road, or the Way, represents the basic principle of activity and strength.
The Cave
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The Spouse
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The Knot
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The Cage
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The Firmament
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The Beaker
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Exile
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