In the wondrous world of divination, Mystic Dylan’s latest offering, “Throwing Bones, Crystals, Stones, and Curios,” promises a journey into the ancient practice of bone throwing, complemented by insights into crystal divination, pendulum dowsing, and more. Packaged within a beautifully crafted book of 128 pages, including 20 unique casting boards, the reader is invited to explore a diverse range of divinatory methods.
First Impressions
Upon first glance, “Throwing Bones, Crystals, Stones, and Curios” captivates with its visual appeal. The book’s cover is crisp and inviting, hinting at the depth of knowledge within. Full-color pages enhance the reader’s experience, making the act of flipping through the book a pleasure in itself. Mystic Dylan, with his extensive background in the occult and as a seasoned author, brings credibility and anticipation to the exploration of divination.
Throwing Bones: Content Overview
Contents:
- Meet Mystic Dylan
- Introduction
- What is divination?
- Types of divination
- Understanding psychic senses
- Traditions and techniques
Chapter One – Cleromancy (The Art of Casting Lots)
- Building your psychic arsenal
- Building your cleromancy kit
- Half in/Half out
- Preparing for a cleromancy reading
- Cleansing and consecration rite
- Protection ritual
Chapter Two – Necromancy
- Necromancy incense
- Necromancy ritual
Chapter Three – Scrying
- Venus glass
- Oil and water scrying
- Cup reading
- Cup reading ritual
- Scrying symbolism
Chapter Four – Pendulums
- Pendulum dowsing
Chapter Five – Other Forms of Divination
- Astragalomancy
- Modern dice divination method
- Oomancy
- Egg cleansing and reading
- Astrology
- Astromancy
- Rune craft
- Nornic runecast
- Cartomancy
- Cartomancy 3-card spread
Chapter Six – Boards
- How to cast lots on a board
- Board 1: Bone Casting
- Board 2: Druid Circle
- Board 3: Greco-Roman
- Board 4: Oracle
- Board 5: All Seeing Eye
- Board 6: Wheel of Fortune
- Board 7: Serpent
- Board 8: Medusa’s Gaze
- Board 9: Wishing Star
- Board 10: The Seer’s Eye Reading
- the Seer’s Eye board
- Board 11: Sun and Moon
- Board 12: Astrological
- Board 13: Prophetic Pendulum Reading
- the Prophetic Pendulum board
- Board 14: Venus Vibes
- Board 15: Hecate’s Weekly Prediction Wheel
- Board 16: Weekly Guidance Forecast
- Board 17: Minotaur’s Maze
- Board 18: The Sybil’s Circle
- Board 19: The Witches’
- Board Board 20: The Fool’s Journey Reading
- the Fools’ Journey board
- Index
- Dedication and special thanks
- Further reading
The book embarks on its journey by laying a foundational understanding of divination, covering various methods and psychic senses. The inclusion of ‘the Clairs’—clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, and others—is particularly enlightening, offering readers insights into their own psychic abilities. Each section provides techniques aimed at enhancing these senses, albeit some may find the guidance to be more suggestive than prescriptive.
Dylan’s discussion on the personalization of the bone-throwing kit is engaging, emphasizing the intimate connection between the practitioner and their tools. The book excels in its variety, covering a broad spectrum of divination forms—from necromancy and scrying to pendulums and a plethora of other techniques. The casting boards, a unique feature of the book, offer a hands-on element that is both innovative and practical.
Critique
However, it’s in the anticipation of delving deep into the art of bone throwing that the book may leave some readers wanting. Despite its title, “Throwing Bones” occupies a surprisingly small portion of the book, with detailed exploration of bone throwing relegated to a single chapter. This may lead to a sense of unfulfilled expectations for those keen on mastering this specific practice.
Moreover, while the book is rich in breadth, covering an impressive array of divinatory methods, its depth in certain areas—most notably in the core topic of bone throwing—feels lacking. The techniques for enhancing psychic senses, for example, could benefit from more detailed, step-by-step instructions rather than broad suggestions.
The boards, while a novel idea, suffer from a lack of clarity in their intended use and symbolism. The connection between the boards and the divinatory practices they are meant to support could be more explicitly drawn to avoid confusion and enhance their utility.
Conclusion
“Throwing Bones, Crystals, Stones, and Curios” is a visually stunning introduction to the world of divination, offering a broad overview that newcomers may find valuable. However, for those seeking in-depth knowledge and practical guidance on bone throwing, the book might not fully satisfy. It shines as a general primer on divination, enriched by Mystic Dylan’s insights and the book’s aesthetic qualities. Yet, its title might overpromise on the depth of exploration into bone throwing specifically.
In recommending this book, it’s with the caveat that readers temper their expectations regarding the focus on bone throwing. Instead, approach it as a gateway into the wider practices of divination, where the beauty of the book and the diversity of methods introduced can still offer a rewarding experience.