Crystal Visions: the ancient art of divination

Caitlin Stallings
Contributing Writer

The stigma of fortune telling has created an abundance of misconceptions for years that have unfortunately never truly been clarified. Divination, also known as fortune telling, follows its own unique code and language of symbols. Therefore, it is its own art form. Because divination is considered to be a taboo subject most of the false claims about this ancient method of intuitively understanding the present moment, as well as the past and future, are that it originated from witchcraft and devil worship. Contrary to popular belief, fortune telling did not become what it is today by the brew and bubbles of a cauldron or the sacrificial ceremonies conducted around a satanic pentagram.

The practice of divination evolved from the patterns found in nature that intrigued the ancient sages, such as the ripples in water and the rings of a tree. This symbolic imagery admired by the wise elders who lived thousands of years ago triggered their infatuation with the future, and ultimately led to the development of the many fortune-telling methods still utilized to this day. Each fortune-telling tool offers fresh insights into reality, which result in beneficial outcomes in the future.

Ancient civilizations believed that everything in the universe is linked by an unseen force. The various patterns and symbols associated with divination open our eyes up to this peculiar force. By primarily using our intuition, we become in balance with this force and are then able to read well into the future.

Once put in perspective, fortune telling began to be viewed by society as an act of evil after Christianity gained massive popularity. The Bible has a collection of verses condemning fortune tellers, necromancers, mediums, charmers and the like. In chapter 18 of Deuteronomy, verses 10-11 read “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead.” Although there are obvious differences between wizards, psychics and fortune tellers the Bible still groups them together, since Christianity banishes anything that has to do with spiritual mystery outside of the religion.

Since the Bible says a person who practices divination should be sentenced to death, a majority of people are under the impression that fortune telling is a terrible, unforgivable crime when this is clearly not the case based on its unique history. Other religions that disapprove of fortune telling include Islam and Judaism. Chapter six, verse 59 of the Qur’an says “And with Him [Allah] are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him.” In the Torah, Devarim 18:13 states “[Do not probe into the future, but] be simple-hearted with God, your God.”

Apart from the religious angle, fortune telling is also deemed a financial scam. There have been a couple of incidents that the media has reported on involving people seeking guidance from a fortune teller, who then in turn scams them out of their life savings. Conning people out of their money is plainly deceitful, but it is vital to remember that the world is filled with all kinds of people. There are individuals here that take the best interest of others into consideration, and there are individuals here that are filled with self-absorption and greed. Not all fortune tellers are focused on the monetary factor. Everyone who practices divination does it for different reasons. This is where the saying “don’t knock it until you try it” comes into play. Ruling out something based solely on a bad reputation and not from experience will only contribute to a narrow-minded way of thinking.

From my own experience with fortune telling, I discovered a deeper understanding of not only the nature of all humans, but the intuitive capabilities each human being possesses. There is no harm in practicing divination to create a brighter today and tomorrow for one’s self.  Whether the answers to our questions are sought in Tarot cards or crystals, fortune telling can unveil the messages most of us often miss in our day-to-day lives and allow us to make way for a happy, optimistic future.