The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum

So I'm wondering: do any of you practice augury? And if you do, would you mind pointing me to a few reliable sources on it or, if you have the time and spoons, maybe post a very, very basic rundown of interpretations of the omens?

I dabble in what I call "half-assed augury"--on the occasions that the sight of a bird feels to me like it has special, spiritual significance, I take note of it, and I try to figure out what that significance might mean for me. But I don't know of any formal resources, and it sounds like you're looking for something much more systematized.

Augury has started to feel like it fits into an empty space in my practice, and I was thinking of adapting it for roadwork in some way. I'm in the middle of reading an article about its history, but when I look for resources specifically about the interpretation part of it, I can't seem to find anything.

So I'm wondering: do any of you practice augury? And if you do, would you mind pointing me to a few reliable sources on it or, if you have the time and spoons, maybe post a very, very basic rundown of interpretations of the omens?

Thanks so much!

 

I know in Germanic paganism there was a belief that people could speak the language of the birds and foretell the future by their flight patterns, as well as them being messengers. So that might be something to look into. And then the bird shape-shifting cloaks, but that might not be part of what you're looking for.

Augury has started to feel like it fits into an empty space in my practice, and I was thinking of adapting it for roadwork in some way. I'm in the middle of reading an article about its history, but when I look for resources specifically about the interpretation part of it, I can't seem to find anything.

So I'm wondering: do any of you practice augury? And if you do, would you mind pointing me to a few reliable sources on it or, if you have the time and spoons, maybe post a very, very basic rundown of interpretations of the omens?

Thanks so much!

 
I'm not completely sure about definitions; to me, augury is a very broad term that can potentially include any symbol or symbol-set.  I'm assuming, in this case, that you're talking about what I might call "free-form divination" or "free-form scrying" - the interpretation of symbols that you don't (consciously) call into your life.  I'm not saying your definitions are wrong or that mine are right - I'm just trying to get on the same page.

If you are talking about what I'd call "free-form divination," I would recommend a couple of practices.  First, cultivate a knowledge of symbols - read, listen to music, learn other divination systems, study mythology, and do anything else that exposes you to symbols, symbol-sets, and multi-forms.  Second, work on your meditation skills.  We are constantly bombarded with potential symbols, many of which aren’t immediately useful.  I find that meditation can really help you understand which are meaningless and which carry a particular message for you.  A knowledge of symbology and a regular practice of meditation can transform a jaunt through the woods into a powerful walking initiation.