In the past I've had a hard time finding information about using dice for the purposes of divination. The few things I've found never really spoke to me or inspired me and as a consequence I've forgotten all it. The itch has returned and instead of looking for what other people are saying about it, I'm going to develop a system of my own from first principles in a way that is meaningful to me.
I'll use this blog as a way to both document that journey, so anyone can follow along and understand the reason for each decision and, if they so choose can fork off their own variant at any point in the decision tree. If you do so, please share your results with me! I want to learn from all of you as well as share my knowledge to those who find this stuff interesting. I hope you will also provide your impressions and ideas along the way. We can expand the world of dice divination together!
In an attempt to construct such a divination system we can start with some basic ideas to contemplate. Some of the things that come to mind as significant for me would include:
- Standard six-sided dice are shaped like Cubes
- The symbolic meaning of a Cube is the Material Universe
- Important numbers related to the cube are 6 Faces, 6 Corners, 12 Edges
- The 6 Faces are the six possible end states of one roll, each marked with a number from 1 to 6 represented by pips in a standardized configuration
- The numbers on opposite sides of the cube always add up to 7, with the three pairs being 1+6, 2+5, and 3+4.
Since dice can't really come to rest on their corners or edges in a standard roll scenario, I think it's clear that the number on the upward face after a roll is going to be the foundation of the interpretation. As one gets more comfortable with this level of interpretation, they can include information such as orientation of the dice, or other visible numbers from the position of the reader or from the point of view of other dice, if multiple dice are used, in their interpretation.
Probably the most logical and intuitive first practical step would be to establish an underlying basic meaning for each face/number on a single die. The pairing of opposite faces feels significant to me, and feels like the basic pairings of the planets in classical astrology. This also connects with the idea of a cube being the material plane.
In both Gnostic and Hermetic schools you will find the idea of the seven Planets as Archons (literally meaning "Rulers") who assisted the Demiurge/Creator god in maintaining the material plane.
Of the Seven classical Planets there are three pairs with Mercury left alone, but complete. This is clear through the shape of the symbols used for the seven Planets. For more info on that, check out the video I did on the subject serval years back:
This is perfect because the opposite sides of the cube can be the paired planets and Mercury can be within the center. Mercury is known for being the god of Magic, Math and Communication, and is often called the Messenger of the gods. Seems appropriate for a divination system! One could begin each divination session by making an appeal to Mercury, (or some variant of that archetype) and thanking them afterwards.
Intuitively, off the top of my head I would assign the faces in the following way:
1 is the Sun and it is paired with 6 the Moon.
2 is Mars and paired with 5 Venus.
3 is Saturn and 4 is Jupiter.
The single dot/pip in the center of the 1 face is easily seen as a symbol of the Sun. The opposite side is the Moon, taking up the final number (6) in the sequence as the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.
Mars is the god of War, so 2 seems appropriate as a symbol of division. The natural pair to Mars is Venus, which takes up the opposite face with a value of 5. This is appropriate because observed from Earth, the planet Venus repeatedly traces a pentagram (5-pointed star) in the night sky across the backdrop of the zodiac.
The final pairing being Saturn and Jupiter. Saturn is restriction and focus, and the triangle is the smallest polygon capable of enclosing a space, therefore it is assigned to the 3 face. The opposite side of the cube is Jupiter on the 4 face. This is appropriate because Jupiter relates to empire or kingdom. The expansion of domain and abundance. The square is a four sided shape that represents the material plane. The cube itself is the extension of the square into three dimensions.
With that, I think we have the solid beginnings of a practical system of divination! Let me flesh this out into an actual reading structure:
Casting the Die
0 - Select a six-sided die that will be used as your divination tool. Clean a clear working space upon which you can successfully roll that die. This can be a table or an altar, with or without a cloth on top. It could also be a box that you will cast the die into. If so, consider using a box that is cubical in shape or a double-cube shape? (Or perhaps a circular box lwould be more appropriate here? What do you think?)
1 - Practice your favorite breathing exercise and relax your body. Clap six times to announce the beginning of the divination. Pick up the die with your dominant hand and place it into the palm of your non-dominant hand and close that hand over it. Bring your non-dominant hand up to your forehead and say, either mentally or aloud, "Wise Nabu, son of Marduk, you brandish your stylus while riding the dragon Sirrush! I [your name or magical motto], a student of the arts and sciences, call upon your name in the spirit of Knowledge! Let the Truth be Revealed!"
2 - Bring you hand down and looking at your closed hand speak your question, either mentally or aloud and then roll the die.
3 - Take a moment to contemplate the results for at least a few minutes. How does the result relate to your question? If you have any follow up questions, repeat steps 2 & 3 for each question.
4 - Pick up the die with your dominant hand and place it into the palm of your non-dominant hand and close that hand. Bring your closed hand to your forehead and say, mentally or aloud, "Wise Nabu, Thank you for opening the channels of awareness and the insight I've gained thereby. May our communications become increasingly clear with each interaction."
5 - Place the die down on your working surface and clap six times to signal the end of the divination. Take a deep breath and exhale. Clean up your working space and put everything away in it's proper place.
Notes:
A simple one die, single roll reading isn't likely to give very specific information, but there is a chance you will know instantly what it is referring to. Either way, more information can be obtained through additional questions for clarification.
In the next installment, I will explore ideas on how to do a more elaborate reading with multiple dice. Is there anything else you'd like me to cover? Please let me know in the comments below!
Also check out my other articles on esoteric subjects at @jeremycrow and for anything blockchain related, check out @crypto-spore
This is a very well thought out approach. I've considered using dice for divination, but never actually put in the effort to learn or devise a system, since there are so many other tools I'm already comfortable using. But I'm always up for an excuse to enjoy the satisfying physical interaction of dice as a tool. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! I have a special love for cards and dice. I already practice cartomancy so it only seems natural to roll the bones sometimes too! I would love to hear how it works out for you. If you find it useful or if you've come up with your own tweaks or methods.
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