Oh crikey, I do this every day. Always the same handful of books. I carry two books with me at all times - one that I'm actually reading, usually for the first time, and one old favourite for the oracle. My best results though, are not when I'm all settled and ready, they're when I'm snatching a moment when I'm frazzled. I'll grab 10 minutes for a Belmonte coffee, and snatch a quick oracle from Steinbeck, or Neruda, or whoever I happen to be arse over tit in love with at that moment. Doesn't work with books I haven't read a million times. Has to be texts I've lived & breathed.
I recently found a used green canvas bag that is the perfect size for my colored notebooks, colored pens and pencils. Now, I will make some more room for a book…or two.
Thought I'd mention the bag as it made me chuckle thinking of you, thinking about me wandering about the streets with a book in each hand. That's not how it works :)
I was trying to explain to some perfectly innocent Jehovah's witnesses the other day, who had made the mistake of knocking on my door, how literally everything is an oracle, if you're open to reading it. Patterns in tea leaves, you know? The dear, dear Jehovah's we're all tied up in "there must be a CEO". I have a small peeling bit of paint on my gate, and, as an experiment, in the last year or two, I've given it the gift of oracle. We can do that with anything, that's the point. Every morning I look at the little bit of peeling paint on my gate and say "ok, what are you telling me?". And I get answers. Point proven, really. It's not the medium, that can be literally anything. It's the thought energy you put into it. Ask questions, you'll get answers.
I’m reading this before I get out if bed this morning. It’s inspired me to make my coffee and go to my “have read” bookshelf, feelnthe book that wants me to choose for this exercise. I’ll open my laptop and settle in first some good thought. Thank you! Yesterday was my birthday and this is a perfect way to begin my next trip around tge sun!
I did! Oddly it was a book sitting partially behind a photo of my sons and one I haven’t picked up in years: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. It’s from the perspective of a whimsical narrator who is a young woman. The section I turned to was about a ritual she engaged in for Midsummer. Beautifully written passage vividly describing the British countryside at day’s end. I wrote of rituals in my life and their meaning. Very serendipitous!
I love this and I love the words and wisdom of John O’D! I will try this with a favourite book, I feel like Kerri ni Dochartaigh’s Cacophony of Bone could be a good one! xx
Thank you for sharing this lovely practice. I have heard of it before, but never tried it. I am excited to pull some special books off of my bookshelf today. I am excited to add the books mentioned here to my ever growing To Be Read list. I can never have enough inspirational books.
Oh, I used to love doing this when I was younger, haven't done it in years! Ok here goes... I've opened Brene Brown's Daring Greatly... Three questions jump out. at me:
"1. What do I do when I feel emotionally exposed?
2. How do I behave when I'm feeling very uncomfortable and uncertain?
3. How willing am I to take emotional risks?"
You know sometimes you are faced with yourself in the mirror and you wish you weren't, because now you have to look at yourself, and you weren't quite prepared to? That's how I feel right this minute. I wasn't ready to answer these questions, and now I kind of have to!
Thank you Claire (I think...!) - what a lovely exercise - let's keep doing this. And thanks for the opportunity to do it collectively too.
Love this, Claire! Thanks for sharing as I never thought to do this - but as a lover of books, I have many to choose from. Today - since I'm reading this on my lunch break at work- I chose the book Relationship Responsibility, and Regulation: Trauma invested practices for fostering resilient learners by Kristin van Marter Souers. I asked what I need to remember today - and the line "being caught off guard triggers an uncomfortable stress response that compels us to do something to regain a sense of predicatability." This reminds me to not catch others off guard, to be open and transparent in my communication, and to appreciate the predictable aspects of my day.
Oh crikey, I do this every day. Always the same handful of books. I carry two books with me at all times - one that I'm actually reading, usually for the first time, and one old favourite for the oracle. My best results though, are not when I'm all settled and ready, they're when I'm snatching a moment when I'm frazzled. I'll grab 10 minutes for a Belmonte coffee, and snatch a quick oracle from Steinbeck, or Neruda, or whoever I happen to be arse over tit in love with at that moment. Doesn't work with books I haven't read a million times. Has to be texts I've lived & breathed.
Best reply ever
I love picturing you carrying 2 different books wherever you go. What a wonderful practice.
I do have a little man bag with all my things. Keys, money, smokes, phone. An exercise book, a couple of biros, and two books...
I recently found a used green canvas bag that is the perfect size for my colored notebooks, colored pens and pencils. Now, I will make some more room for a book…or two.
Thought I'd mention the bag as it made me chuckle thinking of you, thinking about me wandering about the streets with a book in each hand. That's not how it works :)
I just unintentionally dabbled in bibliomancy for the first time in years and next day here’s your post! I love those kinda of synchronicities.
Ahh that's the oracle speaking nice and clearly.
I was trying to explain to some perfectly innocent Jehovah's witnesses the other day, who had made the mistake of knocking on my door, how literally everything is an oracle, if you're open to reading it. Patterns in tea leaves, you know? The dear, dear Jehovah's we're all tied up in "there must be a CEO". I have a small peeling bit of paint on my gate, and, as an experiment, in the last year or two, I've given it the gift of oracle. We can do that with anything, that's the point. Every morning I look at the little bit of peeling paint on my gate and say "ok, what are you telling me?". And I get answers. Point proven, really. It's not the medium, that can be literally anything. It's the thought energy you put into it. Ask questions, you'll get answers.
I’m reading this before I get out if bed this morning. It’s inspired me to make my coffee and go to my “have read” bookshelf, feelnthe book that wants me to choose for this exercise. I’ll open my laptop and settle in first some good thought. Thank you! Yesterday was my birthday and this is a perfect way to begin my next trip around tge sun!
Happy solar return. Did you find a book?
I did! Oddly it was a book sitting partially behind a photo of my sons and one I haven’t picked up in years: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. It’s from the perspective of a whimsical narrator who is a young woman. The section I turned to was about a ritual she engaged in for Midsummer. Beautifully written passage vividly describing the British countryside at day’s end. I wrote of rituals in my life and their meaning. Very serendipitous!
Happy birthday!
Ohh I love doing this! It's such a fun way to gain a bit of insight.
Fun. Yes. Divination is for fun too.
I love this and I love the words and wisdom of John O’D! I will try this with a favourite book, I feel like Kerri ni Dochartaigh’s Cacophony of Bone could be a good one! xx
Yes I thought of her book too.
Thank you for sharing this lovely practice. I have heard of it before, but never tried it. I am excited to pull some special books off of my bookshelf today. I am excited to add the books mentioned here to my ever growing To Be Read list. I can never have enough inspirational books.
Enjoy
I'd never heard of this before so thanks for sharing!
You're welcome 😊
Oh, I used to love doing this when I was younger, haven't done it in years! Ok here goes... I've opened Brene Brown's Daring Greatly... Three questions jump out. at me:
"1. What do I do when I feel emotionally exposed?
2. How do I behave when I'm feeling very uncomfortable and uncertain?
3. How willing am I to take emotional risks?"
You know sometimes you are faced with yourself in the mirror and you wish you weren't, because now you have to look at yourself, and you weren't quite prepared to? That's how I feel right this minute. I wasn't ready to answer these questions, and now I kind of have to!
Thank you Claire (I think...!) - what a lovely exercise - let's keep doing this. And thanks for the opportunity to do it collectively too.
Always look at yourself in the mirror in the softest light. Take care.
Thank you.
Love this! Thankyou ❤️
Thank you for reading it.
Ooh I’d never heard of this before! Thanks for sharing. Going to try it right now! 📖
Did you give it a go Victoria?
Love this, Claire! Thanks for sharing as I never thought to do this - but as a lover of books, I have many to choose from. Today - since I'm reading this on my lunch break at work- I chose the book Relationship Responsibility, and Regulation: Trauma invested practices for fostering resilient learners by Kristin van Marter Souers. I asked what I need to remember today - and the line "being caught off guard triggers an uncomfortable stress response that compels us to do something to regain a sense of predicatability." This reminds me to not catch others off guard, to be open and transparent in my communication, and to appreciate the predictable aspects of my day.
Hope it helped in some way Katie.