The Strega practice the art of Palmistry.
Palmistry and Divination
Divination has been an Art associated with witches for a long time and with good reason. We develop the power of second sight thanks to tools such as the crystal ball or the tarot cards, but in the past these tools did not necessarily exist… Then, what is the power of divination? What does it consist of?
Divination is generally seen as the clairvoyance of future events through the use of various tools, such as crystals, tarot cards, runes and others. In the Italian system of practice, we see divination as what is likely to happen if nothing and no one does anything to prevent what will happen.
In other words, the Strega does not believe that what she can see through these tools is fixed in time and space. She believes that the role of divination is to foresee the results of such and such an event, allowing her to make the changes necessary to change these future events, or else to accept them if she cannot change them.
If the future were fixed and unchangeable, then divination would be rather pointless, serving no purpose other than to allow the future reader to prepare for their fate. Fortunately, the powers-that-exist are much more compassionate: we are given the chance to change the course of things by being warned of how they will happen if we do not act.
The oldest form of divination still employed for the majority of Strega is divination runes. Second is the use of cards, followed by the use of oil and water. Certainly the observation of omens and the signs of Nature in time predates these techniques, and there have certainly been others, but we will content ourselves with these.
La Strega believes that everything before appearing in the material world that we know, already existed under an astral plane. On a mundane level, we can compare this to a thought arising before an action takes place. From an occult perspective, the energies created stimulate astral substance and forms begin to take shape, reflecting the desired outcome.
Thoughts literally become things in the astral dimension. Through the arts of divination we can look at these energies and discern the images which form and move accordingly towards their manifestation in the material world.
In Italian witchcraft, astrology indicates the stellar "imprint" on a soul when supported in a physical body. In the mythology Italian, the kingdom of Alster is the stellar dimension in which the gods dwell. There also resides the community of souls who have completed the cycle of rebirth (lives and deaths) in the physical world.
The astrological impression is a reminder to the soul of lessons awaiting in current physical existence. Astrology depicts the strengths and weaknesses that the soul carries within it in a particular life experience. However, among the Strega, Will freely surpersedes the models of one star. Therefore, in Stregheria, astrology becomes a tool for reflection and self-corrections only.
The chakras
Palmistry, for the Strega, is linked to psychometry (the art of receiving impressions, flashes through touch). Energy, influenced by the chakras, shapes the shape of an individual's aura. The chakra system comes from Eastern mysticism. Each chakra – there are seven main ones – is linked to one of the seven dimensions of the occult universe.
The chakras send and receive energy and form the dimensions with which they are associated, and therefore the aura contains information about the individual and their connection to the dimensions that exist. See the figure below and the associations of the occult and physical dimensions that attach to each chakra.
Base chakra: located at the level of the pubis, is the center of energy and represents the spiritual plane.
* Sacral chakra: located below the navel, is the center of personal power and represents the physical plane.
* Solar Plexus Chakra: Located in the middle of the ribs, is the center of power and represents the divine blueprint.
* Heart Chakra: Located at the level of the heart, but still in the middle of the body, is the emotional center and represents the elemental plane.
* Throat Chakra: located at the level of the throat, is the vibrational belly and represents the mental plane.
* Third Eye Chakra: located between the eyebrows, is the psychic center and represents the astral plane.
* Crown Chakra: located a little higher than the forehead, is the divine center, represents the ultimate plan.
hand line
Holding a person's hands to read them allows the person reading them to see the energy flowing from the person's aura. The lines on the palms of the hands are representations of aura energy – symbols of its past, present and future manifestations. These lines give a sort of summary of the person's life experience. The diviner who reads them has access to the astral memory, to the imprints of the present energy, to the possible future manifestations just in contact with the aura of this person and his physical body.
“Palmistry takes into consideration many aspects of the hand to correctly interpret the signs. The lines of the hand do not allow a complete interpretation. This is why it is necessary to add the texture of the skin, its color, the length and the width of the palm, the size of the fingers, etc. The depth and length of a sign affirms its character. For example, a deep and long line is positive. On the other hand, the cuts and the disappearance of a line in certain points of the hand indicate a negative vacuum.
Each finger of the hand indicates the potential of the individual: the thumb corresponds to strength of character, the index corresponds to ambition and leadership, the middle finger corresponds to virtue, the yearbook corresponds to imagination and the little finger corresponds to sociability. Each mount is significant of the individual's temperament.
The mount of Venus denotes sensuality, the mount of Jupiter denotes business acumen, the mount of Saturn denotes the sense of responsibility, the mount of Apollo denotes the artistic sense, the mount of Mercury denotes the sense of communication and the lunar mount denotes the sense of romanticism. The thickness of the mountain determines the affirmation of a meaning: the more a word is visible, the more the meaning that corresponds to it is developed in the individual.
Each line of the hand is significant of the individual's personality:
The line of life indicates the intensity and the rhythm of life of the person, the line of the heart denotes the confidence that the person carries in him, the line of head indicates the intelligence and the adaptability of the individual and the line luck reveals personal successes. When a line of the hand is strongly marked, it is positive for the individual. The crosses and stars on the lines indicate troubled times. On the other hand, the squares are to be interpreted in a positive way.
divination by fire
The light of the fire or the way it burns are also two ways to practice divination. Before lighting it, tradition dictates that the following be said:
“Fire, blessed fire, My house waits for fortune and always comes to you with the hope that its wish for good fortune will come true thanks to you!”
To start, you establish what you want to know. This ritual must be performed in a fireplace. If the fire is having difficulty starting or its flames are weak, this is a very bad sign. Otherwise, study the flames as you ponder your question. There aren't really any standard answers, but you'll be able to read the signs when they come up, if you're paying attention.
Another type of divination by fire uses an effigy of Befana. It can be a wooden puppet representing Befana, she must be holding cattails. The hollow figure is stuffed with grapes, dried figs, chestnuts, pears, apples, carob, etc. A pyre is then established in a conical pile, six to seven meters high. Cut wood is placed on the bottom of the stack. Blackberries are spread, then horse chestnuts and finally straw.
When everything is ready, Befana is opened, sawn and all its ingredients are scattered to the celebrants. Afterwards, the effigy is burned on the pyre. Simple answer questions such as yes or no are asked while the fire is burning, and popping chestnuts indicate a yes answer. The way the sparks fall can also be interpreted.
Rising bursts indicate abundance, those going to the right indicate an important event to come while those going to the left announce loss. A rain of sparks directed at a person means that he will be in danger.
