The Fortune Telling Directory: Divination Techniques to Unlock Your Fortune Ollies

Discover the secrets behind a wide range of fortune-telling tools and methods with this beautifully illustrated directory.

The ancient sages were fascinated by the patterns in nature, which they believed to be manifestations of the divine. They noticed things like the ripples on water, the flight patterns of birds, the lines on a tortoise’s shell, or the way leaves fell on the ground. All of these natural patterns spoke a secret language to them, revealing the truth of the past, present, and future. Over thousands of years, this symbolic imagery has been used to create many fortune-telling methods.

With easy-to-follow instructions and clear illustrations, The Fortune Telling Directory takes the mystery out of the tools of divination and details the use of the following 13 fortune-telling methods:

• Tarot Reading
• Palmistry
• Numerology
• Pendulum Dowsing
• Runes
• Tea Leaf Reading
• The I Ching
• The Coin Method
• Chinese Love Signs
• Crystals
• Geomancy
• Scrying
• Ceromancy

No matter which avenue you choose to seek your fortune in, this practical guide will help you to unlock the secret messages they hold and to create for yourself and others a happy and positive future.

Originally published in 2014 as The Secret Language of Fortune Telling.

The Spiritual Directories series offers concise handbooks on a variety of spiritual and new age subjects. Written by experts in their fields in easy-to-understand language and beautifully presented in a visually driven format, the directories are essential guides for beginners. With practical and simple step-by-step instructions, you’ll discover how to interpret the secret languages of the universe to create a happy and positive future for yourself and others.

From the Publisher

The Fortune Telling Directory: Divination Techniques to Unlock Your Fortune

This book explains all the principal and most popular forms of fortune telling and divination that are currently used. It sets out why the language of fortune telling is both literal and unique. Using the language of symbols, you will soon be able to understand not only what your individual needs are, but also how to direct your own future. This is not a science that can be measured and put into a box, but an art that adapts to each person. The aim of fortune telling is to acquire information about your current situation, to know yourself better and, of course, to plot your future. It also means that you will develop your own intuitive skills to “communicate” with the hidden forces of the cosmos.

 

There are many different ways of using the Tarot. You can draw one card in the morning to see what kind of day you will have or do a full spread using anything from two cards to twenty. On the following pages are some different layouts you can try to start you off. As you develop your intuition, get to know the cards, and begin to realize how revealing the spreads can be, you can also start to invent your own layouts.

HOW TO READ THE CARDS

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

When you are more experienced, you’ll be able to combine the meanings of all the cards and eventually read the spread without even thinking about it, as if reading the words in a book.

• Shuffle the cards in one of the recommended ways on p. 26 and cut three times. As you shuffle, focus on your question or desire.
• Place the deck face down on the table and gradually spread the cards out into a long line in front of you, still face down.
• Close your eyes and run your finger along the line of cards until you feel ready to choose one card. You may have a flash of intuition about a card or just feel the moment is right.
• When you have chosen a card, place it FACE DOWN in the first position shown in whichever diagram you are using (see pp. 58–65). Continue choosing and placing cards in positions as shown.
• Next, turn the first card you placed down face up. If it is upside down, place it the right way round. (Reversed cards require more advanced tarot readings.)
• Look at the card and think about what it might mean before you look up the interpretations given, then turn over the other cards one by one.

HAND SHAPES – To discover the basic shape of your hand, hold it up in front of you, palm facing you, and compare it with the illustrations below to see which shape is closest to yours.

THE PRACTICAL HAND Astrological affinity: Earth Shape: Square palm, short fingers Keywords: Practical, sensible Reliable and down-to-earth, you are realistic and take pride in your appearance and tastes. Loving and loyal, you could do well in all kinds of creative work, and have practical abilities that others envy. You thrive on challenges and are motivated to succeed and live a good, materially secure life. You take relationships seriously, and prefer long-term commitment to brief flings.	THE SPIRITED HAND Astrological affinity: Fire Shape: Long, oblong palm with medium-length fingers Keywords: Animated, restless You thrive on adventure and exploring new opportunities. If you’re not out and about, or passionate about some cause, you are quick to find a new challenge. You just want to get on with life and live it, and you need a busy social lifestyle, physical exercise, and mental stimulation. In love relationships, you can be impulsive and impatient; you need your freedom and don’t like being tied down.	THE INTELLECTUAL HAND Astrological affinity: Air Shape: A squarish palm with long tapering fingers (all about the same length) Keywords: Idealistic, communicative You are a thinker first, a doer second. You have a brilliant mind, and with a logical and positive outlook on life, you inspire people around you. Research work or transmitting information of any kind suits you, and you have a highly objective and optimistic approach to life, making you able to go with the flow. Romantic and idealistic, you can feel totally out of your depth in love relationships.	THE SENSITIVE HAND Astrological affinity: Water Shape: Narrow, slim palm, long slim fingers (third finger usually much longer than the others) Keywords: Creative, emotional Dreamy and unrealistic, you escape into your imagination and can be hugely successful in any artistic, musical, or creative work. Generous and compassionate, you often empathize too strongly with others and get overwhelmed by the energy around you. Your intuition is powerful, so trust it, rather than others who lead you astray. Romantic and needy, you often get involved in secret love affairs.

THE MEANING OF THE RUNES | Fehu | Possessions

The original meaning of this rune was to do with how many cattle you had. The more cattle, the wealthier you were. Nowadays, casting this rune indicates prosperity and material fulfillment in the future, but you will need to work hard to earn that wealth. Share your good fortune with others and make sure you know what your true values are.

Reversed: Frustrated goals. You may be suspicious of others or not be able to work as successfully as you had hoped.

THE MEANING OF THE RUNES | Thurisaz | Challenge

Now is not the time to make hasty decisions, but to take a good look at all the options. Thurisaz warns you not to assume you know all the answers and challenges you to take a step back and resist the temptation to act now. Wait until you have crossed a few more bridges.

Reversed: You regret making a hasty decision, but in the future you will see there is a way to change your mind.

THE MEANING OF THE RUNES | Jero | Harvest

Time to cultivate your skills and be confident about reaping the rewards of your efforts. Like any harvest, you must work hard to achieve your best, but in the future there will be plenty of opportunities coming your way. This rune can also indicate that celebrations and rewarding experiences are about to change your life for the better.

Reversed: This rune can’t be reversed.

THE MEANING OF THE RUNES | Elhaz | Self-control

Elhaz reminds you that you are about to feel in control of your life. It signifies that you are about to go through a series of fortunate new influences. This could be a new friendship, love affair, or business interest. Don’t become too sure of yourself, though; compassion is important when you cast this rune.

Reversed: There are people who could take advantage of your good nature. You are vulnerable, so trust in your intuition and don’t listen to unsolicited advice.

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CHINESE LOVE SIGNS | Your love forecast and compatibility In Chinese astrology, apart from animal signs that determine someone’s destiny, there are also five elements, known as Fire, Earth, Wood, Metal, and Water. These elements are symbolic of universal energies and how they flow through everything. They are used extensively to map out Feng Shui placements in the home. By knowing your element, you can also discover what kind of love relationships you are likely to have, which are favored, and what kind of love is best for you.	TEA LEAF READING | How to read tea leaves Known as tasseomancy, interpreting the patterns of tea leaves, coffee grounds, and even wine sediment has been a long-held tradition in many cultures. The word derives from the French word for cup, “tasse,” from the Arabic “tassa,” and from “manteia,” an ancient Greek word for divination. Western tasseomancy can be traced to medieval European fortune tellers who first predicted the future by reading the patterns in nature and the way wax falls from a candle. When Dutch merchants introduced tea from China into Europe in the seventeenth century, tea leaf reading evolved and became highly popular. Included here is a varied list of the most basic meanings of the common shapes seen in the teacup.	GEOMANCY | Fortune telling with magic oracles Translated from ancient Greek, geomancy literally means “foresight by earth,” and is a way to align your home harmoniously with existing sacred earth energies to improve your future. The practice originated with ancient Eastern shamans who drew mystical patterns in the sand to invoke earth energies. In medieval Europe, the famous magician and astrologer Cornelius Agrippa developed sixteen mystical symbols from these ancient shamanic patterns. Agrippa’s geomancy symbols correspond to the astrological elements, the planets, and their associated crystals.