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Do Mystery Patterns Shape Our Lives? By Lindsey Williams

Fortune Telling by Observing Animals By Paula Haworth

How to Make Predictions using Dominoes By Paula Haworth

"The Runic Tarot" by Caroline Smith and John Astrop: A Review By Cheryl Lynne Bradley

Do Mystery Patterns Shape Our Lives? By Lindsey Williams

Are there "mystery patterns" in life that shape coming events?

Emphatically, I do not believe in fortune telling, astrology or precognition.

Yet there are many strange reoccurrences of big events that seem to be something more than coincidence.

Have you ever noticed that air crashes seem to happen in two or threes? Though one shrugs off these cycles as superstition, one event in the news seems to echo in similar happenings.

Scientists are beginning to study this phenomenon seriously. Meteorologists have detected a 37-year pattern in the weather which assures us pretty much the present kind of wet summers until the year 1997. A rhythm of sun spots and cosmic rays seem to affect our weather, and the weather effects human behavior.

Major wars appear to run in mathematical patterns. The Boer War, for example, ended in 1902. If you arrange the figures 1, 9, 0, and 2 underneath that year and add, you get 1914, the beginning of World War I. By taking 1919, the year of the peace treaty and adding the figures 1, 9, 1, and 9, you get 1939, the beginning of World War II.

This same little trick would place the start of a new war in 1964, but the Indo-china war was well along by then. The mystery patterns of life, are either non-existent or we do not understand them well.

It's a fact that all the American presidents who were elected or re-elected in the years 1840, 1860, 1880, 1940 and 1960 died in office. However it won't necessarily take a brave man to run for election in 1980 for little attention is paid to these strange quirks of circumstances.

Todd Lincoln, eldest son of President Abraham Lincoln was urged for 25 years to run for this nation's top office. He steadfastly refused because he had been a witness to the only three presidential assassinations up to his lifetime. He felt he was jinxed and fated to see death in presidential office.

Todd's vaguely sensed pattern manifested itself in still another strange incident. At a railroad station he slipped and nearly fell under a moving train. A nearby stranger grabbed him and undoubtedly saved his life. The stranger turned out to be Edwin Booth, the actor, and brother of John Wilkes Booth who fired the fatal bullet into Abraham Lincoln's brain.

History is said to repeat itself, and fateful patterns can be found in nearly every systematic human endeavor. Whether these cycles are inevitable, and predictable, is a matter for speculation.

A few years ago Dr. Adam Rutherford, president of the Institute of Pyramidology, was popular on the lecture circuit with his predictions based on measurements of the great pyramid of Cheops.

Rutherford contended this largest of manmade structures was built as a divining tool. The distance between niches in the long passageway leading to the sepulcher chamber, he said, relates to specific years of the calendar.

Rutherford said his calculations "prove" the Cheops pyramid was completed in 2141 B.C. Archeologists generally put the date somewhat earlier but never before 2700 B.C.

The year 2141 B.C. is represented by scored lines in the pyramid's entrance chamber, declares Rutherford. Exactly 688 pyramid inches further on is an aperture in the roof - obviously a big event is intended. One inch to a year gives 1453 B.C., the date of the Exodus from Egypt.

This marks the beginning of an ascending passage of 1,485 inches (or years) long. That brings us to 33 A.D. - the Crucifixion.

Dr. Rutherford's father, an Egyptologist who got his son interested in the subject, deduced in 1893 that an ominous event of great magnitude would occur in 1914. He figured this from the length of the grand gallery in the pyramid 1,881 inches (or years) from the end of the passage at 33 A.D. The event, of course was World War I.

When last heard from, Dr. Rutherford was predicting World War III before 1979 when measurements show the start of a long, perhaps permanent period of peace on earth. Neither Communism nor the United Nations would be around then, according to the pyramid inches; but, Rutherford added, they won't be needed.

Theologians find significant patterns in the Bible, and many an otherwise dull sermon is livened up with predictions of doomsday and eternal paradise.

The present conflict between Israel - the returned Jews - and Egypt is viewed seriously by many ministers as the fulfillment of prophesies more than two thousand years old.

Divine revelations? Parlor tricks? Natural patterns?

What do you think?

July 29, 1970

Fortune Telling by Observing Animals By Paula Haworth

It may seem a crazy notion that observing animals (Alectryomancy, Zoomancy, and Theriomancy) can be used to foretell ones future. But then on the other hand, selecting random tarot cards out of a pack of seventy-eight or deciphering a hand full of pebbles or seashells thrown to the ground also challenges the logic in us all. There are hundreds if not thousands of divinational systems (methods to forecast the future) that operate by intuitive rather than scientific or rational means. The premise of all these techniques is in the belief that there is a spiritual world that parallels our own. This incredible world is inhabited by highly intelligent beings often known as spirit guides or guiding angels who lovingly aid the human race in it’s development.

The actual process of how pebbles land in a particular pattern and why a particular tarot card was chosen and not another is as much a mystery to the experienced psychics as it is to the public. However, the key to building a rapport with any of the mantic arts (articles used to focus the intuitive process) is to first adopt a frame of mind in which there is a sense of suspension of ones everyday beliefs.

More than 2,400 years ago the people of ancient Italy (Etruscians) practised Alectryomancy. By utilising a hen or rooster the psychics of those days would draw a circle on the ground, around it where drawn twenty of the Etruscian alphabet. In front of each letter was placed a kernel of grain. The hen or cock was placed in the circle. As the bird ate the grain, the psychic would note down the letters next to the piece of grain and use this to predict the future or to answer a question asked by some one requesting guidance. This form of divination is related to the Ouija board, by the random selection of letters. In contrast, the Babylonians would splash water three times on the head of a sleeping ox. A psychic would interpret the future through observing seventeen possible reactions the ox would make. If for example both eyes opened the answer was ‘yes’. If only one eye opened the answer would be a maybe, and if they remained closed the answer was ‘no’.

Alectryomancy is still practised in many parts of the world. The African tribe of Zande uses a method where by two leaves are placed in an ant hill, if the ants eat the one on the left first the answer is ‘yes’, if the one on right, the answer is ‘no’. In the United States and Canada Groundhog Day is a traditional festival celebrated on February 2. If a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks.

Cats have always held a fascination for people and in some cultures held in high esteem. Felidomancy is divination through observing the behaviour of both domestic and wild cats. If a cat sneezes, licks its face or sleeps with it’s back to the fireplace, it is said to rain, if a black cat crosses your path in the British Isles it’s a sign of good luck (bad luck in the USA). A cat at a wedding is to assure a long happy marriage. All these predictions and omens stem from the age-old art of Felidomancy. Cats have often played an important part in religious and occult ceremonies in India and held in reverence by the Egyptians, Incas and Chinese.

In the Celtic divination system of Hippomancy horses where trained to walk in certain areas of consecrated groves. Psychics and priests would then make predictions from the observations of their movements; the prints left in the ground and even the amount of dust created. The custom of hanging horseshoes on the wall dates back to the times of Hippomancy. In England in the 1500’s they where hung in farmhouses as a charm against evil.

In Scandinavia psychics of the time would meditate as they watched fish swim within a stream or lake. Ichthyomancy was treated with great reverence and interpreting their movements could indicate anything from a successful battle to the sex of a child.

The divinational system of Ophimancy (observing the behaviour of snakes) is practised in many civilisations. Snakes were considered God-like creatures and messengers of information and omens. For example a coiled snake might mean be patient whilst one that was ready to strike meant act now with regards to the questioners predicament. Ornthomancy is divination by observing the flight of birds. It was practised in ancient Greece and Rome where the psychic would foretell the future by travelling to a holy place, and blindfolded, interpret the meaning of birds passing overhead with the aid of an apprentice who would describe them to him/her.

Paula is a gifted psychic and the owner of www.email-a-psychic.co.uk and www.psychic-trudy.co.uk where your personal questions will be answered professionally and compassionately by Email.

How to Make Predictions using Dominoes By Paula Haworth

Dominoes are a simple method for telling fortunes, although they are associated with children’s games they are a lesser-known form of ‘Sortilege’ system known as Cleromancy. The practice of using dominoes as a way of casting the future dates back to twelve-century China. The game appears to have reached western civilisation when it first became popular in the courts of Mediterranean Europe trading nations in the 1700’s. By the end of the eighteenth century they were in popular use as a game in England, France and Italy and it is most likely that they reached the USA via Chinese immigrant labourers. The word “Dominoe “ originated from the French word referring to a black and white hood called a “Domino” which was worn by catholic priests in cold weather,

Dominoes are still widely used in provinces of China, Korea and India for both gambling and fortune telling. In a similar way to runes, dice and tarot dominoes are a way of enhancing ones psychic power and are still used by some psychics in the west. It has also been claimed that gypsies used to tell fortunes using dominoes printed on cards in a similar way to tarot or playing cards. Psychics say that you should not use dominoes for divinational purposes more than once a week or the results may lose there effect.

Modern dominoes are usually made of wood, plastic or metal but in earlier sets ivory was commonly used. Standard sets in the West consist of twenty-eight rectangular tiles called bones, cards, tiles, stones or spinners. .Each tile has two halves the sides that are not blank bear dots or pips numbering one to six. The dots represent all the possible number combinations, from double blank to double six.

There are various ways of laying down the dominoes; one such method is similar to that used in tarot card spreads. And a domino is selected for past, present and future. To answer a question or respond to a persons need for guidance or direction, the dominoes are placed face down upon a flat surface and shuffled well. The question should be asked by the person requiring guidance and meditated upon for a period of time. Three dominoes are usually turned over and are interpreted as follows :

Six/six - Prosperity and unexpected good fortune.
Six/five - An act of kindness will bring good luck, be patient.
Six/four - Unfavourable aspect, possibly legal related.
Six/three - Unexpected enjoyable travel or gift related to travel.
Six/two - Improved finance and good health.
Six/one - Wedding or positive joint venture.
Six/blank - Careful of false friendships.
Five/five - Good financial changes.
Five/two - Birth or new creative ideas.
Five/one - New love but possible unhappy ending.
Five/blank - A friend may need comforting.
Four/four - Happiness and celebration on its way.
Four/three - Success but problems in relationships or domestic scene.
Four/two - Unhappy change of events or relationship going off course.
Four/one - Financial obstacles to overcome.
Four/blank - Temporary setback in relationships but room for reconciliation.
Three/three - Work or love related obstacles, but outcome positive.
Three/two - Happy changes , career, money, home.
Three/one - The answer is No.
Three/blank - A challenging invitation.
Two/two - Celebrations in career and relationships.
Two/one - Career, friendhip, love change due to loss of something of value.
Two/blank -Stressful time, check false advice, good for friendships/business.
One/one - Harmony in all aspects. Caution needed if making fast decision.
One/blank - Be especially careful all is not as it seems.
Blank/blank - Short term Obstacles may effect predictions of other dominoes.

Paula is a gifted psychic and the owner of www.email-a-psychic.co.uk and www.psychic-trudy.co.uk where your personal questions will be answered professionally and compassionately by Email.

"The Runic Tarot" by Caroline Smith and John Astrop: A Review By Cheryl Lynne Bradley

The Runic Tarot is a unique book and deck set collaboration by the husband and wife team of John Astrop and Caroline Smith. Caroline is the artist and John is an astrologer. They have successfully collaborated on The Moon Oracle, The Elemental Tarot and the Oracle of the Radiant Sun. This book and deck set comes in a unique package which opens to reveal the book on one side and the cards in their own "box" on the other side - and interesting way of keeping it all together in a tidy package. It is not large or awkward and the cards themselves are about the size of a regular deck of playing cards for anyone who prefers a smaller deck size.

The Runic Tarot is billed as "A powerful blend of Runic and Celtic Lore that resonates with the seasons and the movement of the planets." The deck itself is comprised, like the Tarot, of 78 cards but in the following combinations: 24 Rune Cards, The Elder Futhark, which they use Old English names for, arranged in a Zodiac Wheel and which comprise the Major Aracana; 4 cards which represent the Solstices and Equinoxes and 48 Cards which are broken down into 12 cards each for the Four Seasons of Imbolc (spring), Beltaine (summer), Lughnsadh (fall) and Samhain (winter) which comprise the Minor Arcana. The potential for accurately depicting a time frame in a reading is greatly enhanced by this system and is one of the things which stands out immediately when you first look at this book and deck. Any experienced reader knows that time frame is one of the most difficult areas to assess in readings.

Each card is clearly labelled and named, for the minor cards, the number, season and elemental symbol across the top of the card and the astrological symbols, date, theme and seasonal symbol are at the bottom. The Major Arcana, are also clearly labeled with their numerical order and name across the top and the runic glyph, astrological symbol and theme across the bottom. The cards are quite uncluttered and the symbols easy to interpret and identify - these small things are a bonus when getting to know a new deck or divination system. The book is also set up to be easy navigate and two pages of text are devoted to each card. There is an overall definition or explanation of the card, the individuals or event represented by the cards and a divinatory meaning section for quick reference which also gives reversed meanings for each card.

The artwork is really wonderful. It is very fresh and appealing in its simplicity, use of colour, the symmetry of each card and the traditional Celtic elements in the artwork. I am a big fan of Celtic knotwork and symbols and I love the way the artist has woven these themes into each card with such originality. They pictures are beautiful and detailed but not fussy or cluttered. The braided hair on the card Birca, the fundamental female archetype, is a clever use of knotwork and colour - simple but elegant. The Card of Daeg, the final rune and Odin's messenger, is beautifully detailed with a horse and sunwheel depicted in shades of gold, orange and red. Even the Minor Arcana are depicted with their own unique artwork, many of the new Tarot decks on the market don't go into such intrictate detail with the minor pips, so this is a lovely addition to the quality of this deck.

Three sample layouts are revealed at the end of the book The Celtic Tree Layout which is a 10 card reading borken down into The Question, Postive and Negative Influences, The Past, The Future and The Outcome. The Seasons Layout is a simple 4 card layout laid out as, you guessed it, the Four Seasons. Spring represents the question's starting point, Summer the flowering or the possibilities, Autumnd the appearance of fruits - the outcome and Winter the beneftis gained. This is recommended for quick and daily practice readings and is really quite a nice little reading. My favourite reading is the final one in the book and it is called The Sun Wheel Layout and it is set out to describe each month's events for the coming year. The cards are laid out face down following the tradional Zodiac Wheel - which is illustrated at the beginning of the book - and turned over and read one at a time. I lke a good reading that will calendar the upcoming year, I believe everyone should do one at the beginning of the year as a basis point for analyzing the upcoming themes that you will be dealing with. This layout certainly fits the bill.

Cheryl Lynne Bradley is a mother, photographer, writer, internationally respected professional Tarot reader and the President of Tarot Canada. She writes extensively on Tarot, Divination, Omens, Superstitions, Dreams and Reviews on Books, Tarot Decks and Music.

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