Divination Series - Part 3.5 - Palmistry: Alternative Hand Types (The Elements) & More Detail on the Palm (Post 2 of 2)

The  Alternate Hand Types

In my last post we talked about the 7 classifications of hands in palmistry. Another way of looking at them classifies them into 4 categories, the elements, a method which I kinda favor. Keep in mind however, your hand element won't necessarily match up with your astrological element.

"Earth hands are wide, with square palms and fingers, thick or rough skin, and ruddy in appearance. The length of the palm is usually equal to the length of the fingers.

People with Earth hands are usually very practical and level-headed. They’d rather get out into the world and do something rather than learn about it. They can be quite conservative, and prefer to be outdoors. If you have Earth hands, cabin fever is real!

Air hands feature square or rectangular palms with long fingers. They often have protruding knuckles, low thumbs, or dry skin. The length of the palm is usually equal to the length of the fingers.
Air types are very intellectual, always curious and full of ideas. They practically hum with nervous energy, and can be prone to worry and stress. People with Air hands are great communicators, but they can internalise their feelings too much. This can lead to difficulties within their close relationships.

Water hands are based on a short, sometimes oval palm, with long, flexible fingers. Their palm is usually wider than it is long, with fingers equal to the height of the palm.
People with Water hands are very emotional. They are always looking for peace, and are extremely artistic. It can be hard for Water hands to deal with stress, and they are mostly motivated by feelings.

Fire hands have a square or rectangular palm, flushed or pink skin, and shorter fingers. The length of the palm is usually greater than the length of the fingers.
Fire hand types are energetic and always on the go. They need variety, and can be a little impatient and intolerant! People with Fire hands are often fiercely individual, and make great leaders.

If your hands are clammy, you are lazy and unstable, but well-intentioned. If it is hot, you are wild and successful, but can be insincere. If your hands are cold, you are generous, reserved and a bit of a hermit!" - Source

Palm Lines

Now we touched briefly on a few palm lines, but here we're going to go more in detail and cover a little more ground. Picture of where to find the following lines is location below.

Life Line - Now, we already know this is the most important line. But what else? Well...

• Special markings on this line indicate specific events which occurred in your life. The line can be divided into three parts to help judge when certain events occurred or might occur: (1) represents youth, (2) represents adult, (3) represents old age.

• If the Life Line is long and deep, then this represents a long life full of vitality and health. A short line, if strong and deep, also shows great vitality in your life and the ability to overcome health problems. However, if the line is short and shallow, then your life may have the tendency to be controlled by others.

• Extra lines are often noted as vitality lines. If your Life Line is doubled, or even tripled, then this shows a great vitality in your life, and positive forces around you. 

Fate Line(line of destiny)- 

• If the Fate Line starts joined to the life line, it indicates that you are a self-made individual. Often you will know very early in life just what your life's aspirations are.

• If your Fate Line starts clearly and at the wrist, but joins the Life Line, this indicates a point where you have to surrender your own interests to those of other people. If the Fate Line separates again from the Life Line, it indicates that you are now in control of your life again

• If your Fate Line starts on the base of your thumb, inside your life line's curve, it indicates a point where family or close friends are supportive of you

Heart Line-

• A normal and content love life is represented by the line that starts beneath the index finger.

• A selfish and materialistic look at love is characteristic to those whose Heart Line start below the middle finger. A slight disregard to the true meaning of love and its responsibilities are indicated by the line that starts between the middle and index finger. The person tends to easily give their heart away

• If the line extends boldly across the entire palm, then the person tends to look for those whose status rises above their own, and has great respect for them. If such a line is very straight and parallel to the Head Line, then it shows strong emotional control. 

Head Line-

• If your Head Line and Life Line are joined at the beginning, this indicates that your strong sense of mind generally rules over your body. You also look at childhood with a cautious and fearful outlook. Separated lines show a love for adventure and an enthusiasm for life.

• A deep long line stretching across the palm indicates a logical and direct way of thinking. The straighter the line, the more realistic the thinking, and the deeper the line, the better the memory. If the line is short however, it tends to indicate limited mental aims, and the shift towards "physical" thinking rather than reflection.

• If the line is wavy then you tend to have a short attention span, with a lack of deep thinking, however, this does not affect your intellect.

Health Line (Line of Mercury)-

The Health Line deals with the material well being as much as the physical. This is especially so when the Life Line may be missing or faint. If a person has very faint fate, fame and success lines, then the Health Line also plays a strong part in the development of material wealth.

• ·         If the line is missing, it indicates no health problems. Generally however, the line can be divided into three parts to help judge when certain health problems might occur: The top (1) represents youth, the middle (2) represents adult, the bottom (3) represents old age.

• ·         If the line is strong and undisturbed, then you tend to have a strong business sense as well as the strength to work hard to make money

• ·         Wavy lines show potential health problems as a result of anxiety and nervousness.

• ·         A broken line, tends to show that poor health will create problems in your business situations.

The Girdle of Venus-

• The Girdle of Venus is positioned on the upper portion of the palm and runs from the index finger to the little finger. While in some people a complete ring is formed by the Girdle at the base of the fingers, in some hands it does not occur at all.

• Girdle of Venus appears on the hands of individuals who tend to be ultra-sensitive. Symbolically it can indicate a need for shielding or creating emotional boundaries

• A strong and healthy girdle of Venus correlates to a strong and healthy sensuality and wholesome emotions. It can also indicate a deep aesthetic sense and love for art and beauty, whether it is found in another person or in artwork. Persons with a girdle of Venus can be poets, writers, or artists.

• However, a broken line can mean a fragmented sense of love, with too many flirtations and fickleness and too little devotion to the love object. It can also mean too much sensitivity, an inability to control the emotions, depression, or constant upheavals.

 Not finding the specifications of your palm in this post? Check out my Source to find more descriptions and meanings!

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Divination Series - Part 3 - Palmistry: Palm Types, and Charts to Try This Practice on Yourself and Others! (Post 1 of 2)

Now, I was going to also cover dream interpretation today but the whole thing just got overly long. Splitting it into 4. Classic 7 Palmistry Hands and Basic Lines today, 4 Element Hands and more in-depth Features tomorrow, Most Common Dream Symbols Interpretation the next day, and Most Common Dream Themes Interpretations the next day. That said, let's talk about:

Palmistry!

Palmistry or chiromancy (also spelled cheiromancy, is the art of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as palm reading, or chirology. The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations. Those who practice chiromancy are generally called palmists, palm readers, hand readers, hand analysts, or chirologists. (wikipedia)

Palmistry is not a difficult form of divination, for the most part. However, it can be very enlightening.I've compiled a basic guide of description and pictures from a variety sources to help get you started! The first picture will help you to more clearly identify the lines of your palm, and the 2nd will give you a brief, basic meaning. 

At the end I've included link if you want to learn more, and am offering an e-book on Palmistry to anyone who follows and asks.

"Which palm should you read? Well, ideally, you should read both. The theory is that the left hand shows potential, while the right hand shows what you’ve done with that potential. Some palm readers believe that “the left is what the gods give you, the right is what you do with it”."

- Source

 

 Types of Palm

According to "The Science of Palmistry", the palm can be classified in a variety of ways. Cheiro's way (a famous occult figure of the early 20th century) gives 7, which is what we will discuss below:

1. Conic- the artistic type.
2. Spatulate - nervous active type
3. Square - useful hand
4. Philosophical - jointed hand.
5. Psychic- the idealistic hand.
6. Elementary - lowest type 
7. Mixed

 According to another Source:

The Elementary

As its name implies, the Elementary is the lowest type of all. It is just a little above the brute creation. This type is extremely short, thick set and brutal-looking.
People having such hands naturally have very little mental development or ability. They are found engaged in occupations requiring only unskilled labour and the very lowest even of that.
They are violent in temper, and have little or no control over their passions or their anger. They are coarse in their ideas, possess little or no sentiment, no imagination or feeling, and it has been found that even the nerve system of such types is more or less in a state of non-development. They do not feel pain as the higher types of humanity feel it, and have little ambition except to eat, drink, and sleep


The Square
The Square Hand is also called the practical or useful hand. People who possess this type are essentially practical, logical, and rather materialistic. They belong to the earth and the things of the earth. They have little imagination or idealism, they are solid, serious workers, methodical and painstaking in all they do.

They believe in things only by proof and by their reason. They are often religious and even superstitious, but more from habit than from anything else.
They are determined and obstinate, especially if their thumbs are long and the first joint stiff.

They succeed in all lines of work that do not require imagination or the creative faculties, and as business men, lawyers, doctors, scientists, they do extremely well, and are generally to be found in such callings.

The Conic Hand
From another Source:
The conic hand has a medium-sized palm, tapering fingers and conical nails. The nails are pointed and the hand as a whole gives the appearence of a cone. Its shape is similar to the next type of hand known as psychic hand which is again a long and narrow hand with extremely long and tapering fingers

The main characteristics of the people with a conic hand are that they are impulsive and instinctive. Such people may be clever in thinking and quick learners but the hurdle lies in their impulsive nature because of which they are unable to carry out their intentions. People with this kind are artists and are good conversationalists. They live life for sensual pleasures. Such kind of people win people in conversations and grasp the subject very quickly. This quality makes them vulnerable to the influence from outside world. They are easily influenced by the people with whom they come in contact with or by their surroundings.

The Spatulate Hand
Source 

A spatulate hand is one that is narrowest at the wrist end of the palm and tapers outwards towards the base of the fingers.

The person with a spatulate palm is a creative sort- an inventor, a maker, a fabricator, an investigator. He finds things or makes things. Artists have this kind of hands, and artisans, and craftsmen, and inventors, and explorers, and scientists (mad or otherwise.)

The person with a spatulate palm moves into a space and makes it his own, and when he moves out again, there is something there that was not there before, whether it's something concrete like a painting or a building, or more abstract, like a philosophy or a revolution.
He can sometimes get so focused on his next big project, that he forgets how that project and the effort he is pouring into it affects his life and those of the people around him.

In love, the person with the spatulate palm may come up with amazing or astounding ways to express his affection. He may also look at your challenges in life and come up with the perfect resolution to them.

The Philosophical Hand - Source

The Philosophic Hand is long, bony, and angular with knotty joints, and
is as a general rule fairly thin.

People with this type of hand are
always studious. They are great readers and usually have a strong
tendency towards literature. They love sedentary work, and have a
somewhat lonely, ascetic disposition.

The Psychic Hand

This type, may in many ways be considered as the
highest development of the hand on the purely mental plane, but from a
worldly standpoint it is the least successful of all. Its possessors live
in a world of dreams and ideals. They know little or nothing about the
practical or purely material side of existence, and when they have to
earn their own bread they gain so little that they usually starve.

These beautiful hands do not appear made for work in any sense. They are
also too spiritual and frail to deal blows and hold their own in the
battle of life. If they are supported by others, or have money of their
own to live on, all may be well, and in such cases they will be likely to
develop strange psychic gifts dealing with visions and ideals that some
few may hear and understand. But if not, their fate as a rule is a sad
one, they will easily be pushed aside by the rougher types of humanity
or, in sheer helplessness, take their own lives, and so end the unequal
struggle.

In constitution they are seldom strong physically, and consequently they
are doubly unfitted for the struggle for existence.

The Mixed Hand-  

What is called the "Mixed Hand", is an aggregation
of all the types, or at least, some of them.

It is very often found having all the fingers different from one another,
as for example one pointed, one square, or spatulate, and so on. Or
sometimes the palm may be of one type, say spatulate, with all the
fingers mixed.

Such persons are always versatility itself, but so changeable in purpose
that they rarely succeed in making much out of any talents they may
possess. They can generally do a little of everything but nothing well.
They can talk on any subject that may crop up, but never impress their
listeners with depth of thought on any subject.

It is only when the Line of Head is found on such hands clear and
straight that there is a likelihood of these persons developing some one
talent out of the versatility that this type gives.

I've included below 2 pictures. 1 is to help you clearly identify which line is which on your palm, the second for a very brief, basic interpretation of the lines.

Palm Lines

The Life Line represents your vitality and the length of your life. This is the most important line on your hand and will always be present. The Life Line is the easiest to recognize and helps to determine where your other lines are. Generally if the line swoops down to about an inch above the base of the palm, then it shows a life expectancy of about 70 years for women, and 60-65 for men.

This line begins on the edge of the palm, between the index finger and the thumb. It extends across the middle of the palm and wraps around the base of the thumb.

The Fate Line, also known as the line of destiny, tells the effect society and world events have upon your life (things that come to you from outside). The stronger and deeper the line, the more strongly fate controls your life. If the line has many breaks or changes of direction, it means that you are prone to many changes in your life from circumstances you can't control.

This line begins in the middle of the palm, near the wrist, and runs towards the base of the middle finger.

The Heart Line deals with all the emotions and events that are centered around love, whether it be your ability to love, or be loved. In general, the stronger and deeper the line, the stronger and warmer your devotions.

The Heart Line is the horizontal line above the Head Line. It begins beneath either the index finger or middle finger and extends across to the edge of the palm on the side of the little finger. 

Being the second most important line, the Head Line deals with your beliefs, your philosophy, your attitude on and how you approach life. It is a representation of your mentality and intelligence. Because it is so important, the Head Line must be present on the palm.

The Head Line begins just above the life line, on the side of the palm between the thumb and the index finger, and spans horizontally across the palm. 
Source 

Source

Source

Learn More:

http://astrobix.com/palmistry/

http://palmistry.findyourfate.com/palmistry-typesofhand.htm

http://www.palmreadings.org/

http://psychiclibrary.com/beyondBooks/palmistry-room

http://www.timelessspirit.com/MAR05/alissa.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmistry

Divination Blog Series - Part 2 - Omens and Scrying

"omen

noun \ˈō-mən\

: something that is believed to be a sign or warning of something that will happen in the future"

(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omen)

That's the technical definition, though I like how my 'Book of Shadows' tarot book describes and talks omens: "Omens are simple things that occur in everyday life that are somehow significant." It goes on to explain how some are very common, like superstitions, using the example of a black cat crossing one's path.

You'll notice something to likely be an omen when a signal, animal, word, image, or situation occurs a certain number of times in a short period or has great personal significance. Omens can be the Universe's way of telling us whether we are on the right or wrong path. Being aware of your thoughts, actions, feelings, and even current or potential events at the time of occurrence can be key to interpretation.

This excerpt from "Steps to Enlightenment" describes some messages and potential meanings:

• Your car starter broke down:  there is somewhere in your life where you are having a problem getting started.
• Car battery dies:  lacking energy, energy being drained
• Odometer numbers line up in an unusual combination:  notice where you are going or what is going on in your life and how do the numbers support this, for instance a set of 4’s in numerology would mean you have a good foundation under your current project.
• Car radiator leaks or breaks down:  unresolved anger
• Minor car accident:  need to adjust something
• Major car accident:  major shift in direction of your life is needed
• All red lights while on the way to a meeting: something is jammed.
• All green lights while on the way somewhere:  supported flow
• Left front tire leaks: subconscious resistance to going forward in some part of your life.
• Minor accident while on a bike where your right knee gets banged up: flow in life is getting jammed due to conscious stuck stubborn, ego, pride
• Eye gets temporarily irritated: something you don’t want to see clearly, or somebody else strongly doesn’t want you to see through something
• Broken left arm:  having trouble getting your emotional or subconscious self around whatever is going on in your life
• Left foot gets sprained: subconscious resistance to move forward in your life in a certain area
• Right foot gets sprained: conscious resistance to move forward in your life
• Bump your head: guides trying to get something through your head
• Earache: don’t want to hear something
• Sore throat: something needs to be said or you speak rudely
• Pneumonia:  emotions severely stuck
• Life and death illness: some personal issue is critically stuck
• Right pointer finger is sore for no apparent reason:  increase your management of consciously judging others
• Dog or cat becomes sick: may be a reflection of where we are not well
• Someone tells us of a healer and we get chills: perhaps it is time to go see the healer.
• Smoker: clouding issues in your life, something you don’t want to see
• Plumbing backs up in your home or water spills:  backed up emotions need to be dealt with
• House foundation is rotting:  some area in your inner foundation needs reassessing and transforming
• House electrical problems: you have a short in your energy field somewhere
• Fire somewhere in the house:  explosive anger needs to be managed and released
• House broken into:  could owe karma for violating someone else’s space
• Friend inadvertently answers a question you have been wondering about without you telling them the question
• You have been searching for an answer and as you read an unrelated book you read a passage that answers your question and you get chills
• Picture forms in the clouds guiding your way
• Computer dies mid-project:  your project is off somehow OR the dark is trying to block you OR you are being taught patience. You must discern which is true
• While playing any card game you notice the cards either flow or are jammed
• Walking through the library and a book falls off the shelf in front of you.
• Your job is outsourced and you are out of a job: time to look in new career directions
• Someone says something and you get chills of confirmation
• Break a glass:  a breakthrough has just occurred or is imminent
• Find a $20 bill or any money:  good financial omen
• You are planning an expenditure but don’t feel quite right finalizing the deal, then suddenly, you get a call with an unexpected offer of something better
• You are wondering if you should go somewhere when suddenly the phone rings offering you a free ride
• You have a dream warning you on an issue or guiding you to go in a direction
• Flies irritating you excessively: something or someone is bugging you
• Shooting star:  good sign, good luck or a big event coming
• Unusually familiar with a stranger: can be a past life connection
• Rainbow or moon bow: promise of good coming to viewer.
• Food burns:  there is anger in you or directed at you.

The same source even gives a method for becoming more aware of omens in your life; here is the excerpt:
To become more aware of omens coming to you take a day to focus on omens. Any day will do. Set your intent in the morning to be mindful of omens. Place a ribbon around your wrist to remind your self. Then notice everything:

• A stubbed toe
• The odometer
• Red (green) lights en route to work
• Paper cut
• Co-workers unsolicited comment
• Pet’s unusual behavior
• Anything Unusual
• Particular clouds
• Comments on the radio
• Car trouble
• Glass breaks
• Banged knee
• Broken finger nail, which nail, what were you thinking at the moment it broke
• Eye irritation
• Stomach ace
• Bowels too tight or too loose
• Malfunctioning appliance
• Blister on foot, which foot
• Car gets banged up, which part

1. With each potential omen, wonder for a few seconds what the message is.
2. Notice the first thought that comes to mind.
3. Does it resonate?
4. Repeat this process for a month. You will awaken your awareness to omens and tap an invaluable source of personal guidance. ******************************************************************************

Scrying
"A method of perceiving events and answers by way of the unconscious."
"to use divination to discover hidden knowledge or future events, especially by means of a crystal ball."

I'll admit, in this one I have little experience.  As I believe I mentioned in my last divination post, I just acquired a crystal ball, but I believe some real work will need to be put in to become proficient.

In my readings, I've seen the claim that scrying is one of the most difficult forms of divination. I won't discredit that, although part of my crystal ball failure I blame on the presence in this house..(long story).

Some methods of scrying include the following:

• Crystal sphere
• Crystal skull (carved)
• Mirror (could be a black mirror or a silver mirror)
• Glass of water
• Bowl of water colored with ink
• Candle flame
• Coals of a fire
• fire smoke
• Pool of water
• Fog or mist over water

 Beginners may only see clouds of mist at first, which is what I saw. According to e-how.com:

"White symbolizes good fortune while gray/black/deep purple indicates misfortune. Yellow indicates obstacles to come and orange is reflective of anger or intense negative emotion. Red is always indicative of danger. Blue indicates success and green is symbolic of happiness and good health." 
Also

"Rising clouds are symbolic of positive energy and sinking clouds are negative. If the visions are distant then they can be the past or the future, while strong foreground images are indicative of present or near future events."

In my opinion, color interpretations could be personal. Different colors symbolize different things to different people of different culture, background, and belief system. I, myself, don't necessarily believe there is a "cut and dry" "all in one" interpretation of color meaning, although guides like above can be helpful if you're clueless where to start (like me! -_^)

Crystal Scrying Steps: (from the "Pocket Guide to Crystals and Gemstones" (Crossing Press), publication date, August, 1998)

1. Scrying is best when done at night because traditionally night rules the psychic mind. Find a quiet spot, sit comfortably, and place the crystal on a stand, table or hold it in your hands.

2. Candles are conducive to scrying. If you find yourself distracted by the reflections and movements of the flame, then experiment by using other light sources, or try moving the candle until you find what works for you.

3. Now relax by breathing deeply for a few moments with your eyes closed.

4. Upon opening your eyes, hold the crystal in your hands until it is warm. Many scryers say this is important because this step connects your energy to that of the stone. Heating the stone also activates it.

5. While holding the stone, think about what your intentions are for scrying. Examples of intention might be information regarding your career, relationship, or future. Be clear about your intention.

6. Next, place the stone back in its resting place or continue holding in your hands, and then begin gazing into the crystal.

7. As you gaze deeply into the crystal, move your mind beyond the physical structure of the stone, merging into the light within. The idea is not so much to see physical images, but instead to use the crystal and the light reflecting in it as a tool to connect to the divine energy within yourself and all things. When connected, you will begin getting impressions and insights. Practice this technique, particularly merging with the crystal, until everything flows and feels comfortable to you.

 A Guide to Scrying

Personally I've seen some crazy stuff gazing into the flame of a candle dedicated to my Goddess, but never knew I was scrying. As far as all the options go, I'll stick it out with my crystal ball. 

Ponderings to the readers:
Is scrying a form of divination you practice? What means do you use and why? 
 

Diviniation Galore- Every Diviniation Form Under the Sun - Part 1: Crystal Balls and Pendulums

In celebration of my brand new crystal ball, and the requirement to do some reading on how to use it, I thought it'd be appropriate to cover divination for today. I may actually split this into two or more posts, because I have a feeling there's going to be an abundance of info!

 But seeing as how I like to leave no stone unturned, I couldn't leave it at just one thing. No.....
 I'd like to cover as many forms of divination as I can come up with, especially with Samhain around the corner- a great time to do divination for seeing what messages spirits from the other planes might have for is.

So let's dive in!

First up, (just because I have a shiny brand new one) is Crystal Ball gazing.

(my brand new ball and stand, and book which I'm hoping is reputable)

Although I know nothing, I made a first attempt at gazing by looking into it the same manner in which I look at anything else when I'm looking for their/it's aura. I did see some silvery/whitish clouds swimming around I thought was energy but it meant nothing to me. However, my research claims that does actually have a meaning!

Source 

"Crystal Ball Gazing

This technique is best if done with a Crystal Ball 2-5 inches in diameter and works best on nights of the full moon.

Light one or two candles in a darkened, quiet room. You can hold the crystal or place it on a stand, but it should have a blue or black velvet cloth underneath it. Make sure that there are no reflections from anything showing in the ball. You can also burn incense if you wish. Patchouli is a good choice.

Before beginning, center yourself. Gaze into the ball, but do not stare. Try not to blink that much. While you are gazing, breathe in and out slowly and deeply. Just relax and gaze. You will feel a sense of limitless time. Enjoy the peacefulness and simply gaze. Do this for at least 15 minutes, and increase your time by 5 minutes with each succeeding session.

Usually around the second or third session, you will notice a small cloudy glow in the center of the crystal. This is your focusing area where your visions will appear. You may get a vision on your first try, while others have to
attempt it several times before seeing something. Go at your own pace.

Just a small warning: Always remember the saying "Be Careful What You Wish For" while gazing. Think about what you wish to see before gazing.

There are also different forms that visions come in. You can get actual visions of places and people, or you can get symbolic pictures. Another form that visions come in are color clouds. Although no one has been successful in
identifying what each color cloud means, the following has been pretty accurate for a lot of seers.

Blue clouds - success of career or business
Gold clouds - prosperity, steady cash flow, and renewed romance to come
Gray/Dark gray - ill fortune
Black clouds - some seriously bad stuff coming one's way
Green clouds - health, happiness of the heart
Orange clouds - hidden aggression and anger, troubled emotions
Red clouds - danger to come. This person must watch themselves
Silver clouds - troublesome times ahead followed by goodness
White clouds - very good fortune to come
Yellow clouds - upcoming obstacles "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~...
Crystal Ball Gazing Technique


1. Darken the room around you. Put the crystal ball on a dark surface that will not reflect any light that will distract you. Have a candle or other form of light shining into and illuminating the ball. The light source can be reflecting up inside the crystal ball stand or behind the crystal. It can also be shining from behind you into the crystal ball.

2. Sit comfortably with your spine straight. Keeping your spine straight enables you to channel all the energy that comes through your body when you to your readings. Ground yourself and calm your mind.

3. Clear the crystal before using it, use the Smudge method. Then charge it using this method:

Hold the crystal ball and rub it with both hands. Then set it back on it's stand while still maintain your focus. Next point a single-terminated quartz crystal or a crystal wand towards the ball at a distance where you most comfortably feel the two connect. When you feel or sense the subtle connection between the crystal and the ball, begin to circle the single-terminated crystal in a clockwise direction. Maintain the connection between the crystal and the ball. Soon you will feel the crystal ball pulsate. When you feel it
pulsating strongly you can lay your single-terminated crystal or crystal wand down and begin the next step.

4. Diffuse your vision.

5. find a spot in the ball the interests you. Bring all your attention to that spot. Now look at it in more detail. Allow your intellectual mind to relax. Leave yourself open to any impressions. Don't have any preconceptions. Have no judgments. Remain relaxed, open and focused.

6. Now look at that area in still more detail. As you look at this area even more closely you may find yourself tensing. If so, take a deep breath and relax as you let it out. Continue to do this until you release the tension.

7. Continue to gaze into the particular area, seeing more and more detail. As you look at this minute detail the crystal ball seems to become larger. The more you lose your sense of yourself and are only conscious of the detail in the crystal space, the larger the ball seems to become. As you are looking, feel yourself opening as if you have no edges or boundaries. Allow yourself to lose your awareness of yourself and just be aware of the crystal ball.

8. Your eyes may or may not close at this point. If they feel like closing, let them close and continue to feel as if the crystal is around you. If your eyes remain open, still feel as if your inside the crystal. Whether your eyes are open or closed a point is reached where there is no difference between you and the crystal. There is only crystal and just what you are seeing. You are now in an altered state of consciousness or trance state.

9. You may at this point find yourself feeling compelled to do something. This may be to breathe in certain ways, move energy in a particular pattern in your body, or to work with the crystal in a different manner. Trust yourself and let this compulsion guide you. Your body may almost involuntarily assume different positions. Let it. You may find yourself making sounds. Feel free to allow this to happen. At the same time there is no necessity to force it to happen. Successful crystal ball reading doesn't depend on any of these occurrences.

10. Now either ask specific questions in your mind or use your will to guide you to a specific locations that you mentally view. If you haven't a specific question, mentally refer to your more general purpose in crystal reading at the time. Then let impressions come and go. Don't hang onto them but communicate them to another or out loud into a tape recorder. Let the impressions flow through you. Continue to communicate what you see until you have a feeling of being finished.

11. When you are through, remain with the crystal for a few minutes. Release any tension. You will feel a sensation of floating inside the crystal ball. Varied impressions may come and go. Just watch them pass. In this space are all possibilities, all assistance, all knowledge, and all wisdom.

12. Now, after enjoying this space for a while, slowly begin to back out of the ball. Start to feel edges around yourself while you continue to gaze. Have a feeling of backing up as you become more aware of the edges around the ball. If you followed a certain route into the ball, retrace it. Continue until you see the ball in front of you. Become aware of the surface on which you sit. Be aware of your breathing. If your eyes are open, let go of the diffused vision and bring it back to normal. If your eyes are closed, slowly open them. Now stretch and shake yourself a little until you feel completely in your everyday consciousness.

13. Ground yourself. Next, clear your crystal ball, the other single-terminated crystal or crystal wand, yourself, and the room you are in.

14. If you like, cover your ball with cloth or put it in a pouch. Store it in a special place.
You can also use a bowl of water to gaze into, and follow the same directions above. 

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Second on the list, because it's my second newest item (although not the first; one of many!) is the pendulum! 

 

Right now I have the hollow pendulum that came with the boards (pic 1) and a chakra and a moonstone pendulums (pic 2).

When I first get a pendulum, I hold it in my receptive hand and attune to it's energy field. I also like to consecrate and charge the stone.  I charge with a simple incantation, holding it in my projective hand pulling energy from myself and the earth and channeling it into the stone:11 <--- leaving that "11" in, my kitten typed it. That's his message to the world, and I won't take that from him. LOL

"Stone of secrets,
Stone of knowledge
I empower thee upon this hour
Whatever answer I shall seek
Is the answer you'll bring to me
By power of air and land, fire and sea
This is my will, so it shall be"
(written by me, E. Gilman-Steiger)

Then you need to determine what is yes, and what is no. 
Ask a simple question like "is the grass green" clockwise or counterclockwise, whichever way, will be your "yes", and the opposite your "no". 
Back and forth is typically a neutral or "cannot be determined at this time" answer. You might want to try asking in a different way if this happens.  

You can hold it in your hand, or attach it to something like a stationary pole (my husband's preference) to eliminate human error. It's very easy to subconsciously trigger the pendulum to move in the answer you want/expect to hear when you're holding it in your own hand.  

And that being my two cents,visit this site for GREAT- tips on successful Pendulum usage. Awesome, fabulous, better than mine, pendulum tips that are really worth checking out 
They also have a good article on Discovering Your Own Pendulum Power and Learn How to Use It 
 
Go there, I mean it. Its a great article, they just ask that it not be reprinted without permission but that links back to the page are acceptable. 

And I for one, would never take anyone's work when they outright say they only want link backs. The stuff I do provide from elsewhere, I do admit is from elsewhere, and provide sources when I can. But some stuff, just because I got the info so long ago, I never saved the source as I never planned on a blog. 
**If you see something and are or know of the source/author, please let me know so I can give proper credit/ask for permission**

All that said, my original stuff, feel free to copy just grant this blog as the source or E. Gilman-Steiger as the Author. Thx ♥ ^_^