Dice or Astragalomancy

[Fae Oonagh]

Astragalomancy

A term derived from the Greek astragalos ('dice' or 'knucklebone') and manteia ('divination') and applied originally to a method of telling the future from the throw of small bones (usually sheep bones), but nowadays is also applied to the throw of dice, since they were once made from bones.

Dice have been used for centuries to indicate fate and they are quite possibly one of the most ancient of all systems of divination. They give a simplistic answer to a question and are purely intended for fortune telling rather than to give an insight into a situation.

~Method 1~
Place three dice into a small box or dish. Close your eyes. Make a wish. Then toss the dice onto a China plate. If any of the dice should fall off the plate do not count.....Add up the number of dots and interpret as follows:
Three: Imminent good luck and a wish fulfilled.

Four: A slight setback will cause disappointment.

Five: A stranger brings much new happiness.

Six: A new blessing comes well disguised.

Seven: You become the victim of gossip.

Eight: Confusion causes unwise decisions don't act in haste.

Nine: Success in love and reconciliations.

Ten: Success in career and finance is imminent.

Eleven: Short-term illness causes you anxiety.

Twelve: Seek advice regarding legal documents.

Thirteen: Self-pity causes delays and hassles.

Fourteen: A new social circle brings excitement.

Fifteen: Follow your intuition about false friends.

Sixteen: A short journey brings profit and pleasure.

Seventeen:A stranger from overseas brings successful propositions.

Eighteen: Happiness, financial success and a rise in status.

~Method 2~
Take three dice and mark out a large circle on the floor or on a board.

Hold the dice cupped in your hand while focusing on a question. Lightly shake the dice and allow them to fall into the circle. Any dice that fall outside the circle are discarded. If all the dice fall outside the circle, then no fortune can be read on that day. Add up the numbers on the top face of the dice in the circle and consult the list below for the meaning.
1. A new arrival, a baby or an unexpected sum of money.

2. A road that forks two ways, but the longest is best.

3. A pleasant surprise and the granting of wishes.

4. A disappointment.

5. A stranger coming soon, will bring with them happiness.

6. There may be a material loss, but an increase in spiritual or emotional wealth.

7. Gossip and spite should be ignored.

8. An unwise course that will lead to blame.

9. Joy in love, maybe even a wedding.

10. Family happiness, leading to a meeting that will bring new opportunities in the business world.

11. Illness or unhappiness in someone close will be resolved.

12. A letter needing a quick decision - seek sound advice.

13. Tears and sorrow.

14. A new admirer who will soon become close.

15. The need to avoid being drawn into intrigue or trouble by others.

16. A pleasant and profitable journey, but delays must be avoided.

17. Journeys overseas or dealings with those from overseas will be adventageous.

18. A great profit or promotion within a short period.


~Method 3~
by Lady Elsbeth

It seems lately I have been receiving more and more inquiries about dice divination (other wise known as Astragalomancy, Cleromancy, or Psephomancy depending on who you talk to). There are many ways to divine with dice, but I will share with you the method I use. For my method, you will need the following: 3 six sided dice, penny, nickel, dime, quarter.

Choose a coin to represent yourself and place it in front of you.

Concentrate on your question.

Throw the three dice.

Add the values of the three dice until they arrive at a single number (EXAMPLE: 6 + 4 = 10 then 1 + 0 = 1 which makes 1 the answer.). This is the overall reading.

The die or dice closest to the coin represent what is most important in regards to your question or what is coming into your life or has recently left. The die or dice farthest away from the coin are things that are leaving your life or will come in the far future.


~Alternative Methods~

Some choose to draw a circle rather than using a coin. You would then only add the values of the dice that land within the circle (not any that landed outside the circle) until they arrive at a single number. This is the overall reading.

Some choose to use a coin and draw a circle. You would only add the values of the dice that land within the circle (not any that landed outside the circle) until they arrive at a single. This is the overall reading. Then the die or dice closest to the coin represent what is most important in regards to your question or what is coming into your life or has recently left. The die or dice farthest away from the coin are things that are leaving your life or will come in the far future.

~Number Representations~

NOTE: You should use your own associations with colors and numbers, but here are my interpretations.

One – Red. Fire. Symbolizes new beginnings, individuality, pure vision and creation. KEYWORDS: strength, power, energy, health, vigor, enthusiasm, courage, passion, sexuality, sexual love, danger, charity, leading, independent, individual, confidence.

Two – Orange. Fire/Air. Indicates duality, partnerships, and balance. It indicates adaptability, intuition, wisdom and foresight in one's affairs. KEYWORDS: clearing the mind, strength, healing, pulling things to you, adaptability, luck, vitality, encouragement, dominance, authority, attraction, stimulation, attraction, plenty, kindness, cooperation, adaptability, consideration of others, partnering, mediating.

Three – Yellow. Air. Symbolizes expansion, fertility, optimism, and joy in one's goals. KEYWORDS: divination, clairvoyance, learning, creativity, mental alertness, intellectual growth, prosperity, changes, harmony, studying, the mind, persuasion, charm, confidence, jealousy, joy, comfort, expression, verbalization, socialization, the arts, the joy of living.

Four – Green. Earth. Symbolizes compromise, understanding, and working within certain limitations to achieve progress in a stable manner. KEYWORDS: balance, herb magic, luck, healing, fertility, employment, prosperity, courage, agriculture, changing direction or attitudes, money, finance, energy, charity, foundation, order, service, struggle against limits, steady growth.

Five – Blue. Water. Symbolizes communication, versatility, flexibility and ingenuity. KEYWORDS: health, meditation, tranquility, devotion, sincerity, psychic awareness, tranquility, intuition, opportunity, understanding, quests, safe journey, patience, ward depression, dreams, protection, meditation, truth, change, impulse, expansiveness, visionary, adventure, the constructive use of freedom.

Six – Indigo. Symbolizes money, prosperity, love, and emotional well being as well as an appreciation of the arts, literature etc. KEYWORDS: meditation, spirit communication, karma workings, learn the ancient wisdom, ward slander, neutralize another’s magick, changeability, impulsiveness, depression, ambition, dignity, responsibility, protection, nurturing, community, balance, sympathy.

Seven – Violet. Symbolizes dreams, mystery and the world of the spirit as opposed to that of matter. KEYWORDS: self-improvement, intuition, success in searches, tension, power, sadness, piety, sentimentality, analysis, understanding, knowledge, awareness, studious, meditating.

Eight – Pink. Symbolizes reserve, prudence, wisdom and patience in dealing with any problem or decision. KEYWORDS: honor, morality, friendships, emotional love, strength, love, leadership, judgment, arbitration, respect, practical endeavors, status oriented, power-seeking, high-material goals.

Nine – Gold. Symbolizes perfection and completion of current undertakings and to the preparation of new ground for development. KEYWORDS: divination, solar energy, power, physical strength, success, achievement, mental growth, skill sought, healing energy, intuition, fortune, happiness, communication, joy, cheer, hope, counseling, humanitarian, giving nature, selflessness, obligations, creative expression.


~Coin Representations~

NOTE: You should use your own associations with coins, but here are my interpretations. Also, when doing a reading for yourself, draw a coin from a bag, don’t choose one. If doing a reading for someone else (that you haven’t done a reading for), have her pick one. This will tell you a lot about how a person views herself.

Penny – low self worth, outcast, different, looking away from the herd (the head on the penny faces opposite of that on the other coins) or setting self aside from the herd, unique, rebel, solitary, small, quick, change quickly, discarded, low value.

Nickel – youthful, large in physical size but small in value, adolescent, naive, young, mentally think is big but still is limited.

Dime – small in physical size but is of moderate worth, frugal, thinks about actions before acting upon them, cautious, watch what one does, conscious.

Quarter – ego, large in physical size and worth, feel have something of value make it look valuable but falls short in other things, pretentious, ego bruised easily, stereotypically male, trying to do better than the Jones, prideful.

I suggest you come up with your own method of dice divination. I do not always stick to this method. Sometimes I interpret the dice differently. Sometimes I add the two closest to the coin. Sometimes I don't add them all together at all. It depends on the person and the reading itself. Always keep this in mind. There isn't a right or wrong way to divine with dice, only your way.