To: alt.magick
From: catherine yronwode <cat@luckymojo.com>
Subject: Re: Ipsissippimus
Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 08:21:04 GMT

[X] wrote:
> 
> Well it is inherent of course in the tacit deceit of divination that
> it *isn't* random, but is meaningful and directed, but the way most
> people do it the book just opens where the spine has broken. When I 
> do bibliomancy I don't just open the book I flick the pages then 
> stop, so it could open anywhere

In folk-magical bibliomancy, as practiced by both white and black people
in the US South (probably derived from British custom), there are
several methods -- and none of them comprise opening the book in the
middle. 

1) KEY AND BOOK AND RIBBON: Get a key and hang it from a ribbon, sew the
ribbin into the spine of the book (like a sewn-in book mark), then,
holding the key, use the ribbon to "cut" the closed book like a deck of
cards

2) KEY AND BOOK: With your eyes closed, use a key to "cut" the closed
book like a deck of cards. Open your eyes and read the passage that the
key is touching. 

3) EYES CLOSED, ONE PASS: Close your eyes, ask your question aloud, open
the book at random, draw circles with your index finger around and
around, over the two opened pages (with your eyes still closed) until
you feel it is "right" to stop: open your eyes and read the passage your
finger is touching. 
 
4) EYS CLOSED, THREE PASSES: Do the same things as in #3, but after the
first pass, do not open your eyes; rather, close the book. Make a second
pass, exactly in the same manner. Close the book again without opening
your eyes. On the third pass, after your finger comes to rest, open your
eyes and read the passage your finger is touching. 

There are other methods, but those are the most common ones i know. 

cat yronwode 

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