Creating an Oracle with Everyday Objects

Divination is the practice of seeking hidden knowledge or guidance.

This practice is about using symbols and intuition to gain insight and is also often described as the intuitive art of connecting to the Spirit. The appeal of DIY oracles is that anyone can do it with little more than creativity and items you already have.

In fact, history is full of people using ordinary things for divination when fancy tools weren't available (or were forbidden). In ages past, obvious fortune-telling props could attract unwanted attention, so practitioners turned to simple household items like playing cards, kitchen utensils, even scraps of paper. These humble methods worked then and are just as useful now for developing your intuition.

DIY oracles are accessible, low-cost, and they prove that you don't need to spend a dime to get a glimpse of what fate (or your subconscious) is whispering, you just need an open mind and a bit of imagination.

You can turn almost anything around you into an oracle. The universe is always throwing us clues; we just have to pay attention.

Here are some everyday objects and methods you can use for divination:

Overheard Conversations: 

• Ever catch a random snippet of conversation and feel like it was meant for you? Even a comment from a stranger can serve as a message.

• The ancient Greeks actually had a word for this: cledonomancy, divination by chance. For example, you might ask a question in your mind as you walk down the street, then take the first words you overhear as your answer. If you step out your door pondering whether to pursue a new opportunity and immediately hear someone exclaim "Go for it!" Well, that's your answer. Treat these chance remarks as your personal, real-time oracle.

Bibliomancy: 

• Put your personal library to use. Bibliomancy is the art of flipping to a random page in a book to find guidance. Grab any book, it could be a novel, a dictionary, a holy text, or even your favorite cookbook and close your eyes. Focus on your question, then open to a random page and point to a line without looking.

• The word, phrase, or sentence your finger lands on is your message. Part of the fun is the creative interpretation that follows. A line from a story or a recipe ingredient might answer you in a metaphorical way. (If you landed on "simmer for 20 minutes," maybe it’s telling you to be patient and let things develop!)

Signs in Nature: 

• Mother Nature has her own language of omens if you watch closely. For instance, noticing a sudden breeze when you ask a question could signal a fresh change coming, or seeing a particular animal could carry a personal meaning (a playful puppy on your path might mean "approach with joy").

• Many ancient cultures interpreted natural signs as messages from the divine. You can do a modern version by simply observing your surroundings: the patterns of bird formations, the way leaves fall, a rainbow after rain, all can be adopted as your oracle. The key is to assign or intuit a meaning that resonates with you. If a bird singing loudly at dawn feels like a yes, go with that. Nature is a free oracle service available 24/7; all you have to do is step outside and listen.

Street Signs and Synchronicity: 

• The modern landscape is full of words and symbols that can speak to you.

• You can walk around with the right awareness and treat things like billboard slogans, graffiti, or license plates as tarot cards. Ask a question and then notice the first sign or literal sign you see. You may wonder if you should take a risk, and the next street you drive on is named "Adventure Road"; or you’re debating calling someone and a bus pass with an ad blaring "Just Do It." Coincidence? Maybe, or maybe synchronicity at work.

• This technique turns your city or neighborhood into a giant oracle deck. The messages are everywhere: a song lyric on the radio at the perfect moment, a random text from a friend, the name of a café that catches your eye. Stay open and you’ll start seeing meaningful connections in the unlikeliest places.

Coins: 

• When in doubt, toss a coin, it's basically the simplest form of divination, and yes, it counts!

• A coin flip can be your quick decision-maker (heads = yes, tails = no) when you need a straightforward answer.

  
  

Household Omens:

•  Folk wisdom around the world is full of superstitions about everyday objects behaving oddly so why not adopt some as your own oracle? For instance, ever heard that when you drop a utensil, it foretells a visitor? According to old sayings, a dropped knife means a man may soon visit (or that an argument is brewing), a dropped fork means a woman will visit, and a dropped spoon signals a child coming.

• If nothing else, it makes you feel better about accidentally flinging a fork across the kitchen! Another household divination trick: the spinning bottle (or pen). Write your options or questions on scraps of paper and place them in a circle. Give a bottle or a butter knife a spin in the center and see where it points, voilà, you've got your answer.

These are just a few examples of everyday oracles. The truth is, anything can become a divination tool if you imbue it with meaning. Get creative: use the first color you spot in the morning, the pattern of tea leaves in your cup, or the way the cookie crumbles as your guide. As long as you approach it with respect and intuition, your DIY method is perfectly valid, the only limit is your imagination. (If you come up with a method that no one has tried before, go for it.