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Crafting Your Bone Casting Ritual

collection of bone casting items

Bone casting is a deeply personal practice, and the rituals you incorporate should reflect your unique style and beliefs. Here, “ritual” refers to practical, repeatable steps you perform each time you cast, not spiritual or cultural ceremonies (Cultural appreciation vs cultural appropriation).  For those, draw from your own heritage or beliefs to create a practice that feels authentic to you. Below are practical suggestions to help you develop your bone-casting ritual, adaptable to your preferences.

 

Setting the Stage

  • Cast on the Ground: For practical reasons, throw your bones on the floor rather than a table. This prevents items from falling off and getting lost, allowing a free and uninhibited toss. Use a casting cloth (like my custom designs), a marked circle in the dirt, or a simple paper outline as your “map.”

  • Create Ambiance: To focus yourself and your client in the moment, consider placing candles at the four corners of your casting area. You can also add offerings like greenery, sage, salt, or flour along the edges for added symbolism, if it resonates with you.

  • Opening Words: Center yourself with a few words or a short phrase of your choosing to enter a “now” mindset. Keep it simple and aligned with your comfort level.​

 

Preparing and Casting Your Items

  • Selecting Items: Your casting collection might include bones, shells, coins, charms, or trinkets, each with personal or assigned meanings. You can toss all items, grab a random handful from your bag, or select specific pieces for each reading based on intuition or intent.

  • Refining the Cast: After tossing, remove items that feel irrelevant—those that land outside the map’s boundaries or stand alone, unconnected to groupings. This helps you focus on the core message without distractions. I often set aside several items to streamline the reading.

 

Reading the Bones

  • Take Your Time: Don’t rush the interpretation. Use your fingers, a wand, or a tool like my decorative wooden knitting needle to gently move or point at items as you analyze their positions, groupings, or orientations.

  • Trust Your Intuition: The first and second throws may offer initial insights, but by the third, patterns often become clearer. Interpretation is subjective, relying on your skill and intuition. Feel free to ask your client questions to deepen your understanding of the bones’ message

 

Closing the Session

  • Keep It Simple: Closing rituals vary by preference. Some readers ask clients to dispose of items like candle wax, salt, or greenery in specific ways (e.g., burying them to manifest outcomes). I prefer a straightforward approach, avoiding such tasks to keep the experience comfortable for everyone. However, assigning a small action can help clients stay connected to the reading’s insights or support their intentions—decide what feels right for you.

 

Make It Your Own

Your bone-casting ritual should feel natural and meaningful. Experiment with these suggestions, adapt them to your style, and incorporate elements that resonate with you. The goal is to create a focused, engaging experience for you and your client, grounded in authenticity and respect.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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