One of the techniques of everyday magic I have come to rely upon is Bibliomancy, the act of using literature as a tool of divination to discover meaningful messages and truths. I was practicing this magic before I even knew it had it name and it has become one of my morning rituals and a gentle reinforcement through difficult and challenging times. Here's some tips on how you can use bibliomancy to make conscious contact with the divine.
It's no secret that I love books, in fact I've fostered a long love affair with the power of words in my life. When I moved to the Northwest Territories in 2019 and left 95% of my life behind, books and crystals were the things I could not part with. It made for some heavy boxes.
Over the years, my practice of spirituality has needed to be grounded in everyday life and performed in a simple and disciplined way. I am the kind of person that needs a daily reminder that:
I need a spiritual solution to my problems
I must demonstrate my willingness to connect to that spiritual power and
I must strengthen my ability to receive the answers I am seeking.
Intuition is like a muscle. I need to get into the plank position and shake a bit before my inner strength kicks in, so to speak.
Bibliomancy takes only a moment of my day, but the results can be profound. I take these messages as a reminder that I am guided and can tap into an unlimited resource of peace and understanding.
The Right Books for Divination and Bibliomancy
One of my absolute favourite adventures is seeking out a new local bookstore and asking for their "hocus pocus" section to find new treasures. The owners usually know what I mean. The Mysticism and Magic section, New Age, Spirituality, the weird stuff. That's where I like to venture. Second-hand loves are always special because sometimes there are underlined passages and messages in the margins. I love this!
It's important to find the right book for bibliomancy. What we are looking for is a morning devotional, something that touches upon the realm of spirit. We're looking for books that hold a lot of high vibrational energy of truth, love and awe. This is how we build a meaningful connection with our soul.
I look for inspiration from poets like Rumi or authors like Marianne Williamson who are writing about healing and a connection to a higher power. We want to steer away from fiction or trendy intellectuals who hold a pessimistic perspective about life. Find someone who speaks to you and whose words give you a thrill or open your heart. We're looking to activate a higher awareness and activate your positive emotions.
You can also start off this practice with a daily reader that offers a thoughtful passage or prayer for each day. I find this is a really great place to start. If you're doing specific healing work around addiction or codependency for instance, these can offer a lot of comfort and guidance. You can find daily readers in just about any and every topic. It can be an excellent support for your healing process.
How to Perform Bibliomancy
Once you have your books selected, keep them close to your bed or your morning/evening meditation spot. You want these tools to become part of your daily life.
Hold the book and close your eyes. Focus on a question or ask for insight and wisdom for your day. Open the book on a random page and pay attention to the message.
And that's it. It can be that easy.
When we begin this practice, we are likely to doubt what the message means or want to start again and receive a "better" message. Resist this urge. You might find later in the day why you needed this oracle, or it may not make sense to you at all, but I've found in practice and belief in this ritual, it provides exactly what I need to hear.
Try it out and see what happens!
Some of my favourite daily readers or spiritual books:
Return to Love by Marianne Williamson
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
Simple Soulful Sacred by Megan Dalla-Camina
Light is the New Black by Rebecca Campbell
Each Day a New Beginning (Daily Meditation for Women in Recovery) Hazelden
The Alchemist Paulo Coelho
Any book of poetry.