Candlemas By Amber K & Azrael Arynn K

Salt, Bay Leaves and Dried Peas In The Fire

Source: Candlemas

By Amber K & Azrael Arynn K

Using salt for divination is called alomancy or halomancy. “In Scotland on Imbolg night, it was a tradition for each member of the family to throw protective salt in the fire and divine their immediate futures by the pops and lights it made.” This is a subset of capnomancy, which covers all forms fo “throwing-something- on-the-fire and figuring out what it means.”

A specialized version of this daphnomancy, which involves throwing laurel (bay) leaves on the fire. The louder the leaves crackle, the better the omen. Originally, the leaves had to picked in a grove sacred to Apollo, so we don’t know how well it would work today. However, one could always try consecrating a tree in the back yard to the sun god, to see if that works

In Brittany, “grain sheaves not used to make the Grain Dolly were thrown into the fire. If they were quickly consumed it meant spring was a hand; if they took a long time to burn, the winter would be a long one. If they broke half and burned in two distinct pieces, there would be a brief respite from the cold, with more winter to come.”

Powdered dried peas, pitch, or almost anything else can be thrown on the fire for divination (but nothing explosive, we trust). Usually the faster something burns, the better the omen. Sudden sparks from knotty logs mean something, as do colored flames from burning driftwood and odd shapes caused by flames or smoke. Your goal is to determine what these omens mean for you. Ask yourself this: when something happens, what is your instant emotional reaction? Trust your feelings. If an event feels scary, if your chest grows tight and your neck tenses up, than it’s a warning or negative portent, no matter what any book might say. If your response is a feeling of pleasure or relaxation, it’s a good omen. It can be that simple; except that, for many people, tuning in to their own feelings is never simple.