The top of the tray is known as the head and the bottom known as the tail. They may be circular or rectangular, are flat and may be carved with figures or designs. It is used by the diviner or Babalawo to communicate with the spirits in order to find out what problems there are, how they can be corrected, and to restore harmony with the spirits. Opon Ifa in CleromanyĪn Opon Ifa is a tray used for divination in african religions, most particularly in Yoruba religious traditions. All the other days are considered favorable, but if you consistently drop the stones or the dice roll out of range you should stop casting on that day because conditions are not favorable. Sunday and Friday should never be used for casting. The best days to perform casting lots are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. If all the dice roll off the table or out of the rolling area you should not perform any more casting or cleromancy that day. The combination from the first cast and the second cast is the number of your answer. Cast the dice again and write those numbers down, then add them to the first number. Write the total number down unless one dice falls out of the bowl or off the table the numbers on any dice that falls to the floor or out of the area where they were cast should be ignored. Make a list of twenty possible answers to a question and number them four through twenty-four. If you want to cast lots using dice you will need a pair of normal, ordinary dice. If there are an even number of white and black pebbles then the answer is no, not right now and you will want to try casting lots with pebbles again later. More white pebbles means the answer is yes and more black pebbles means the answer is no. Look and see if there are more white or more black pebbles. Carefully place them on a nearby surface like a table or the ground. Close your eyes and reach into the bowl or bag and grab a handful of the stones.
Repeat the question a second time, then take a deep breath and repeat the question a third time. While you ask it, place the pebbles in a bowl or a small bag and shake them at least two times. Be sure they are similar in size and shape you want them to be as indistinguishable from one another as possible. If you want to practice cleromancy with stones, you want to gather thirteen light colored or white pebbles or stones and thirteen black or dark colored stones or pebbles. Many cultures still engage in cleromancy as a form of divination.
Anything can be used as a lot in cleromancy: pebbles, colored crystals, bones, sticks and in the modern day dice are most commonly used. Almost all cultures have some sort of Cleromancy tradition the Germanic tribes cast runes, the Chinese used I Ching. In fact one of the prophecies surrounding the crucifixion of Christ centers around the soldiers at the crucifixion casting lots for his clothing. It is one of the oldest forms of divination in the world and is even referenced in the Bible. Cleromancy is the method of divination that involves casting lots.