Ceromancy (Wax Divination)

'The time has come,' the walrus said, 'to talk of many things: 
of shoes and ships - 
and sealing wax - 
of cabbages and kings." ~ Lewis Carroll

Ceromancy is a fancy word for Wax Divination.

I'd like you to come along with me for intuitive FUN!

Have I ever told you the story about my Great Aunt Billy?
She was my Grandmother's sister on the French Canadian side of my father's family.
A bit of a character (apples don't fall far from the tree do they? :)
and she spoke French for most of the time I was around her as a child.

Well, Aunt Billy read tea leaves (which is called Tasseography).
BUT
She would only read them for: "Women of marrying age".

I always wished I were older when she did this when I was little so I could find out about ME too.....
but I was never old enough....
SO
When I WAS older, I found out that the symbols for tea leaf reading & those of wax divining were the same!

But surely I digress... :)

Back to Ceromancy or Wax Divination:

You will need:

*A candle

 *Some essential oil (I like patchouli for the grounding effect)
*A bowl of water
*A spoon

 *A towel

Take a candle for your purposes and say a blessing over it.  Rub the candle with some oil to dedicate it for your purpose.
Lite the candle with a prayer of Goodness for some Insight.
Once the wax has started to melt a bit...
Ask a Question:
I usually like to ask in a broad manner ....something like:
"Tell me about............" (include subject or area of interest).

Then take your spoon and swirl the water....clockwise.

Pick up your candle....ask question again....and drip a small amount of wax into the water.
Take the spoon and carefully lift the wax shapes out of the swirling water.

You can interpret using the symbols below....
BUT
You should also keep an open mind to what some symbols mean TO YOU.

i.e.:
Maybe an "anchor" may mean a weight or heaviness...to you...
Or a "bridge" may be a time of crossing over to a new situation...
a "Moon" may mean a month's time...
a "spider web" may mean lies....
a "snake" may mean kundalini sexual power...

Get the idea? :)

Remember to keep an Open Mind and have FUN! :)

SYMBOLS:
Airplane: A trip
Anchor: Your loved one is faithful.
Ball: Your problem will roll away.
Bed: A restful holiday would be good for you.
Bells: A wedding.
Bird: News is coming.
Bridge: Time to take a chance.
Broom: Time to sweep in a change.
Candle: Spiritual growth.
Chain: Go ahead with your plans.
Circle: Time of reconciliation.
Cloud: Something or someone threatens you with a stormy situation.
Cross: You are protected.
Ear: Listen for opportunities to advance in your work.
Egg: There will soon be new developments.
Fan: A surprise is coming.
Feather: The problem will be solved.
Ghost: Someone from the past is looking for you.
Grass: Good fortune grows.
Heart: Friendship becomes love.
House: Better times are coming.
Leaf: There will soon be changes.
Lion: An unpleasant situation.
Moon: More money may be coming.
Mountain: Close friends are willing to help.
Pen: Letter from a friend or relative.
Ring: Marriage may happen in the near future.
Scissors: Separation.
Snake: Beware.
Spider web: Pleasant occurrences.
Star: Happiness.
Sun: Good fortune.
Table: An abundance of blessings.
Tree: A good time for new ventures.

Walking Stick: Go and visit friends.

Wheel: Travel, or someone journeys home soon.

Cartomancy (Card Divination)

 (Plainly speaking, Cartomancy is a fancy word for Card Divination
or "Reading Cards".

I'm a card reader.
I've read cards for many years.
But unlike most Tarot card readers...
"I don't play with a full deck".

 Yah, ok, that's my joke.... and it makes you feel at ease when you sit down for a reading with me, but it's really the TRUTH.
You see....
I read only the Major Arcana.

The face cards are my BUDS.
Very powerful and they cut to the point....or the "crux o' the biscuit" :)

This is the way I learned and it works for me. Others may read all the cards, and that is awesome. But so is this way. I have found a lot of Magick works for different people in different
ways...
This is just "Merlyn's Way" :)

Card readings have a long history, and the current playing deck of cards have come from it.
Coins=Diamonds
Cups=Hearts
Swords=Spades
Wands=Clubs

Kings, Queens, Knights all have their places here

 Pages have been dropped off the playing card deck in recent history...

But the Jester, of course, will always play the part of the Fool :)

While there may be certain meanings for cards (Upright/Reversed/Blocked) and there are certain layouts to do cards, every card reader has their own "style" of reading.

I will share with you my Style and Approach for reading.

First off..
I personally, have dedicated decks for doing festivals and faires. I offer my potential client the opportunity to
pick from an assortment of decks laid out, usually with some familiar card like the Wheel of Fortune

 or the Empress out for them to see....to pick their deck of choice...

and I let them choose the deck they most feel like consulting.

I encourage them to shuffle and think of a "Question to Ask the Cards". This helps them FOCUS and imprint their thoughts, desires on the moment and their needs.
Then when they are "shuffled enough" or "Done" I accept the cards back from the Questioner and I fan out my cards and offer them to "Pick" after we have decided which layout to do.

Then I read "the answer that they pick".

I can offer a Single card ...
3 Card (Past/Present /Future) reading,
Basic Four (Past /Present/Future/Blockage),
a "Mystic 7 Card Reading"
and a "Complete" reading (10 cards).

I also have started adding in EXTRA cards:
Angel Cards

 or Goddess Cards

 to give some extra input to the person to help them.

I am committed to helping people.

As I wait for them to shuffle and think, I hold a crystal or gem-that has called to me from my pile of stones- and I pray for Guidance & Clarity by holding this thought:
"Let me help them for their Greatest and Highest Good".

A lot of people are scared when they see the Devil card or the Death card.
I teach them that the meanings are certain things....not necessarily what they have been stereotyped to think they are.

The Devil card can mean many things: Sex/Power/Lust/Greed/Illusion...

The Death card means Transformation/Beginnings/Ends/New ways of sexuality.

The Lovers card can sometimes mean Choice and following your HEART and not your head.

I like to tell them that the Hanged Man card is sort of like the Tarot equivalent to emotional or event Constipation... it makes them laugh...
"See? He's OK...he's just STUCK...he isn't going anywhere right now"...
(Sometimes just like we are at certain points of our lives. It makes sense to them.)

 When someone new comes to me for a reading, I like to put them at ease, love them, teach them, help them.
Make them laugh. Enjoy the process. Enjoy the fun and the Magick!

My view with all this, is that my job is to be a "Poor Man's Counselor".
There is worth and dignity in that.

Remember that sometimes this is as close as this person may ever come to real counseling or help with this problem.

I want the person to leave my booth with a lifted attitude that they can change their stars, remove blockages and find a better way through their problems. To find HOPE in their situation. That they can turn their blockages (once they know what they are) and to alter their destiny when they alter their attitude.

Cards....
and a loving disposition....
can be a HUGE help to people in this way.

Have Fun!