Lithomancy, the casting of stones is an ancient art. This type of divination is usually associated with both Witchcraft & Shamanism, world-wide.
In France, the French word for witch, ” sorcier ” is used for a male witch & ” sociere” is used for a female witch. The witch or sorcier / sorciere is one who practices Sortilege, literally one who casts lots for the purpose of divination. Sortery is when certain objects have been assigned a meaning or characteristic. Tarot cards are a form of sortery. Each card is assigned a title and meaning, like the Hermit, the Moon, or the Six of Pentacles. The cards are then placed in various spreads (like the Celtic Cross), and then interpreted by the reader for the querent.
I find Lithomancy one of the most powerful psychic arts for the following reasons:
1) This method of psychic reading is highly efficient in that it offers insights into many different issues and reveals how they interrelate and manifest on a weekly basis. Patterns formed by the Stones clearly outline-in symbolic form-the person’s present situation, upcoming situations, challenges, opportunities, and changes coming into play. They also always reveal the ‘light at the end of the tunnel,’ so I never leave a person without a great deal of insight and inspiration, regardless of the situation. The readings I give should never replace free will. To the contrary, they act as guides to help people exercise their free will, benefit from their situations, connect with the Universal Forces, and see the complexities and challenges they face as opportunities for empowerment, happiness, and peace.
2) Every Pattern is unique, as is every person, situation, and moment in time. Using intuition and decades of experience, I tap into this uniqueness and see beyond the surface issues and into past lives, other people and situations, spiritual guides, karmic ties, discarnate souls, and systems at work under the surface. And every Pattern reveals how – via attitudes and actions – a person can develop intuition, become and stay empowered, create positive outcomes, and expand in personal and spiritual growth.
3) Most of us are concerned with how to deal with the immediate future: the groundwork for the longer term. Everything is interconnected, there are no accidents or coincidences, and our lives unfold as a sequence of events: patterns, in essence. The Patterns I interpret during Lithomancy readings reveal details as well as an overall perspective about what is happening and why. They also address the questions and concerns a person already has in mind. We all know what we want to ask. What we often don’t know is what we should ask: questions like “Why is this happening?” and “Where is it leading me?” Using Lithomancy, I cover it all, even matters a person needs to know about, but doesn’t consider asking. We are entitled to know such things, but in most cases we must consciously and actively seek such knowledge.
Gary Wimmer
There Are Basically Three Approaches:
One is a simple yes or no approach in which the stones are meaningless except as decided before the cast. For example, a black and white stone can be selected and the black one assigned to “no” and the white one “yes” Then cast the stones having decided that, say, the one that lands closest to you is the answer. Many variations are available.
You might use a silver one too and assign it the meaning “maybe”. Or use four stones – a white, black, silver, and brown, and have the silver one mean “maybe yes” and the brown one “maybe no”. A popular approach is to use five stone, with one being the Personal Stone. Then the stone that lands closest to the Personal Stone indicates the answer.
A second approach is that the stones or crystals that are cast each have a specific meaning. The clustering and spacing of the cast stones provide the relationships and meanings to the cast. This works particularly well if you have a personal stone within the mix.
The location of the personal stone within the resulting cast tells you what influences are close and which are remote. Many lithomancy approaches that are based on the zodiac use this method. Stones representing the different houses of the zodiac are cast and the influences of the houses on the person are read from the results.
A third approach is to cast stones onto a grid, or layout of some kind. There are many such grids and layouts. Some are based on the Bagua, others on the astrological signs, others just simple grids or circles in which each section has a particular meaning to the reading. This is a popular approach. It can be adapted easily, and readings need not be difficult.
To accomplish a Lithomancy reading using a grid or layout, select a group or set of crystals or stones, hold them in your hand and then gently cast them onto the grid. The patterns and clusters of the stones are then interpreted as they relate to each other and the areas of the layout.
In the British Isles, thirteen stones are used. Seven stones represent astrological signs: the Sun, Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn. The remaining six stones represent the home, love, life, magic, luck, and news.
For example, rose quartz would indicate love issues, amethyst spiritual issues, and red jasper (or red agate) issues involving your health.
ideally, the stones should be smooth and similar in size and shape. They may range from pebbles (Pessomancy) found on a beach in semi-precious stones.
Here Is One Approach:
This casting approach requires 13 stones & gives good results.
The caster should collect these stones himself/herself, at an appropriate time. Example: By using Astrology or the Moons phases, { the increase of the Moon} or by seeking it on the Great Sabbats. Sometimes a stone will find you, you will be instantly attracted to it & pick it up or buy it, or a stone may be given to you by someone who cares for you. The best place to look for your stones is on the beach, along river beds, during nature walks & picnic outings & in your local gem shop. Look for stones that are curiously marked or have appealing colors.
All the stones must be roughly the same size, the essential point is that all the stones should appeal to you personally as being right for their purpose. If you are using semi-precious gemstones from a gem shop, check your gem charts for the correct attributes before you go shopping.
13 Stones Are Used
- 1 Stone for each of the 7 Planets.
- 1 Life stone.
- 1 News stone.
- 1 Luck Stone.
- 1 Lovestone.
- 1 Home stone.
- 1 Magic stone.
Some examples are:
- Moon: Moonstone, White Quartz, White pebble, stone with silvery markings.
- Sun: Sunstone, Citrine, Topaz, Amber, Tigers eye, any stone with golden markings or flecks.
- Mars: Bloodstone, Ruby, Garnet, Flint or any red colored stone.
- Mercury: Agate, Mica, Any variegated stone, streaked or spotted,
- Jupiter: Amethyst, Lepidolite, Sugilite.
- Venus: Emerald, Jade, Peridot, Any green stone.
- Saturn: Coal, Apache Tear, Jet, Any black stone.
- Magic stone: Any unusual stone, Fossil stone or a stone marked with a star.
- Luck Stone: Cross stone, Holystone, Opal, or any stone that feels lucky to you.
- Life Stone: Petrified Wood, Agate, Carnelian or any red or flesh colored stone or a pebble with an ankh marked all round the stone or on its various sides if it is square in shape.
- Home Stone: Moss agates, Sapphire, or any stone that is square or reminds one of home.
- News Stone: Multi- colored stone or pebble, its streaks or spots of colors are used to show if the news is good or bad.
- Love Stone: Rose Quartz, Botswana Agate or any pink stone or a stone that is roughly in a heart shape.
A special bag is made for these stones with a drawstring, { runes & symbols can be used on it, but not on the cloth/leather used for spread} soft leather is best. A black velvet cloth or a large piece of soft leather is used for the divination spread & a cord to form a circle on the cloth/leather.
The stones, cord, bag & cloth are cleansed ritually with the 4 Elements during an Esbat rite. Place all beneath your pillow for one full month, at the next Esbat rite take all outside & offer them up to the Moon before using.
Ask the Lord & Lady for wisdom, and guidance & then meditate on each stone [ while holding it in your receiving hand ] on what it now will represent in your future divination readings.
The Reading
Psychic reading via Lithomancy – Drop 16 stones into a circle, which represents the environment.
The divination is made from the way in which the stones relate to each other as they fall. The diviner must be guided by intuition, as well as by some knowledge of what the different Planets govern.
Here are a few generalized indications:
- SUN is a good influence bring light & cheerfulness into a situation.
- MOON indicates journeys over water, also feminine matters & motherhood, together with psychic things.
- MARS brings strife & struggle & the strength courage & energy to meet them.
- MERCURY governs communications, writing, travel & gaining of knowledge.
- VENUS is the Planet that governs love matters, beauty, & artistic things.
- SATURN indicates restriction, change, time, slowness & sometimes misfortune.
- JUPITER brings good fortune, expansiveness & gain of wealth & money.
Procedure of Divination:
The stones are thrown within a circle made by the cord or witches’ garter, coiled around upon the cloth or skin which is laid out smoothly upon the floor or table.
The words of an Old Welsh Charm are used when casting the stones:
ADA ADA IO ADA DIA. It is pronounced like this: “ Ah-da, ah-da, ee-o ah-da dee-a” Exactly what it means is now lost in the mist of time, but it is a traditional divination rune or formula of words of power, probably Celtic in origin.
Light a candle & stand it by your cord circle. The room should be dimly lit, or darkened if it is daylight. Light some incense & bless both flame & incense smoke. Bless both salt & water, then place a pinch of salt in the water & stir with wand or finger deosil 3 times, now with your wet finger mark your 3rd Eye & eyelids. Take time to relax & do some deep breathing, then think about your question. Now take up your stone bag & hold it to your third Eye for a moment & then return it to altar or floor. Take your athame & consecrate the cord circle with it, circling 3 times around the cord circle while saying these words:
Witches’ Garter, bind the spell.
13 Stones, the truth foretell.
Earth & Water, Wind & Flame,
Magic in the Old One’s Name!
Now lay your athame aside & take out your stones. Hold them in your hands & warm them, shake them from hand to hand as you recite “Ada Ada Io Ada Dia ” 3 times. When you are ready, cast stones completely at random into the cord circle, Then look carefully at the way they lie & consider & interpret them.
You may throw the stones 3 times at a sitting, but no more. This will allow for a general reading & two questions. [ This stone divination may also be done with Coven Esbat rites.]
To answer a question ” YES” or “NO”, a slightly different procedure is followed.
In this case, you use just 3 stones, one for affirmation, one for negative & one for the indicator, laying the rest aside. You use the MAGIC stone for the indicator. If you are asking the question, ” Shall I follow such & such a course of action?”, then you use the JUPITER stone for affirmative & the SATURN stone for the negative.
Shake the stones together and recite the rune as before. Cast them into the circle, the answer will be told by which of the stones are nearest the indicator stone. If both are at an equal distance, the answer is doubtful & can indicate that the question was frivolous or insincere.
Tell Stones
Making and Reading Tell Stones
These were not called Runestones, but “Tell” stones, and were simply a method of divination.
Tell stones were made from clay and were rounded into fairly thick stone shapes. Some were made into a definite ball shape and these were rolled within a wooden frame, about two feet square. The flatter ones were preferable, though, as they could be thrown on a table or onto a flat surface without rolling away. One stone, which represented the querent, was fashioned of plain clay. It was placed on the table, with the other stones held in two cupped hands as the question was asked. These were then thrown onto the table towards the querent stone.
The stones landing neared the querent were closer in time or importance. Any group of stones was read in conjunction with each other. Those that landed with the symbol hidden were removed as they were not communicating. If one landed on its side then its answer was iffy and could go either way.
Although this was a very simple method, with practice a lot could be obtained from these stones. As with any method of divination, the more they were used, the more the practitioner learned of their meanings.
The tell stones had the following symbols on them:
- A five-barred gate – News, letters, ideas
- Water – Journeys, distance to be crossed symbolically someone traveling.
- An even-armed cross – Parting, angry words, quarrels, bad feeling
- A door – A death of something, a finishing, some kind of severing.
- A ring – Marriage or a joining of some kind, either people or things.
- A gold spot – health, wealth, happiness.
- A crescent moon – A waiting time, possibly a woman involved, intuition.
- A silver spot – Hopes, wishes, dreams, and ambitions.
- An Apple – The fruition of something; a harvest; combined with the gold spot, could mean the birth of something new.
These, with the plain stone to represent the querent, are the complete set of Tell stones. They can be made from handcraft clay, a stone color being used and the emblems pained in colors or colored clay can be used, a different color for each, and the symbols painted on in a complementary color. I do not think it matters if the colors are altered, as long as the user knows which is which.
They need to be about an inch in diameter, as any larger size is difficult to hold. The querent stone can be of any size but was usually uniform with the others. The querent stone was invariably green.
Example Casting of Stone Reading Question: Where Will I Find Happiness?
Let’s use the Feng Shui Bagua for our layout.
Five stones were selected at random from a bag holding 12 stones all of the different colors. These were cast onto the Bagua and the result is below. (the colors of the stones in the photo are labeled for reference)
Here is an interpretation of the results using the Color Wheel for the meaning of the stones and location on the Bagua for the meaning of the location:
There is a grouping of three stones in the West and Northwest. The green stone representing new growth and new beginnings in almost completely in the creativity and children area. Young children are a key element of the reading and the quest.
The gold crystal crosses both the West – creativity and children area and the northwest – helpful people and travel. Gold is the color of success, enthusiasm, and adventure.
The red crystal is partly on the layout and partly outside. It is barely related to the helpful people and travel area. Little influence from red – energy, courage, and passion have yet to influence this area.
Together the three indicate that success and happiness might well lie in travel and in activities involving young lives of some sort, likely children.
The blue stone is in the south. This is the fame and reputation area. The blue signifies trust and respect. Clearly, happiness is to be found in assuring your reputation for trustworthiness stays spotless. It would appear that some of your prosperity is tied to this since the blue stone extends into the southeast area of prosperity and abundance.
Finally, the yellow stone representing enlightenment, decisiveness, and clarity is completely in the middle of the diagram in the center of balance and harmony. This arrangement suggests happiness may depend on the clarity of understanding of the balance of nature and the need for balance in your life.
Altogether the stones indicate your path to happiness may well lie in travel, association with young children, and in clearly understanding the need for balance in your life. The need for a spotless reputation for trustworthiness is essential and is tied to your prosperity.
As you can see, there are many approaches to casting stones. You can find your own way, and you can learn from others. There are excellent sources to learn Lithomancy. Sue Lilly’s book Crystal Decoder is outstanding and very highly recommended. It gives you complete instructions on casting stones, a detailed section with the meanings of the stones, and several layouts. One is similar to the Bagua layout above, another is an astrological layout. It is a complete work, and easy to use!
The website of Gary Wimmer is one. Gary is a long-time practitioner of the art who offers readings, provides instruction, and is the author of an upcoming book on Lithomancy.
Finally, however you proceed, give it a try. You might be really good at it.
Charts
Here is a basic chart of directions that can be used for a simple reading:
| North Future influences |
||
| West Obstacles |
Centre Present situation |
East Helpful elements |
| South Past influences |
An alternate chart to use is one outlining the houses of astrology in the traditional way:
Interpretation of The Houses
Pebbles can be marked with symbols or colors. You can then draw them from a bag individually or draw a random number and scatter onto the ground or a chart. This form of divination is called pessomancy or psephomancy, and is a form of sortilege.
FAQs
Can Lithomancy predict specific future events?
Lithomancy is more about guidance and insight rather than precise predictions. It helps in understanding patterns and potential outcomes based on current circumstances.
Is it necessary to have psychic abilities to practice Lithomancy?
While psychic abilities can enhance the practice, anyone with an interest and willingness to learn can practice Lithomancy. Intuition plays a key role.
How do I choose the right stones for Lithomancy?
Stones often choose the practitioner. Look for stones that resonate with you, whether found in nature or purchased. Each stone’s energy and appearance should feel right to you.
Can Lithomancy readings change over time?
Yes, as situations and energies change, so can the readings. Lithomancy reflects the current state and potential future based on present circumstances.
Is Lithomancy connected to any particular religion or belief system?
Lithomancy is a tool used in various cultures and belief systems, including shamanism and witchcraft, but it is not exclusive to any one religion.
How often can I perform Lithomancy readings?
There’s no set rule, but it’s generally advised to allow some time between readings to let circumstances evolve and to avoid becoming overly reliant on the practice.
Final Words
Lithomancy, with its rich history and diverse methods, offers a unique window into the realm of divination. Whether through simple yes-no questions or complex interpretations based on astrological houses, this practice provides insights that intertwine the mystical with the practical.
It’s a journey of discovery, not just about the future, but also about oneself and the interconnectedness of the universe.