What is it?
For those who are unfamiliar with the practice, it is a method of divination using books, but only narrative or texts books. The use of poems, songs, odes and rhapsodies for divination is Rhapsodomancy, which is another one I am eager to try!
The practice was popular in the Ancient Rome, in which Homer's Illiad and Odisey, along with Virgil's Aeneid, were often consulted seeking the answer to all sorts of questions and needs.
In the Middle Ages, the Bible was also used for Bibliomancy, which is a practice that still happens in very religious families. I know there are several of my friends whose mothers open the Bible to get some guidance, and the method has always been simple.
After getting the book that should contain the answer, it would be balanced on its spine and allowed to fall open. A passage is picked, with the eyes closed, and this passage should be interpreted in order to get the answer.
However, I balancing book on their spine often makes the fall closed (in my case), so I simply pass my finger through the pages, not opening the book, saying something like "That which I shall know, here it should be found". I stop as soon as I say here. I open the book, do the same to pick one of the two pages, and then the same to pick a line.
So far, it has given me good results, and hey, you don't need a sacred, pretigious book. I am currently working with Andrea Cremer's Nightshade, a YA, dark fantasy novel about werewolves, yet it works perfectly.
The book has black pages with the moon cycle for each chapter, the alchemical symbols for the elements in the sequence that I use them in the circle, and I love, L O V E the story, so it's unsurprising that it gives me good results.
If you want to try doing bibliomancy, I would suggest that you think a bit first. Which kind of books do you like the most? I there any category you find yourself most comfortable with? Are there some you want to avoid? Have a clear idea and don't focus on the kind of questions you will make.
Once that's done, then select a random book from that category, something that fits in the limits you have established. Why? Because there has to be a limit, a familiar environment that you feel safe in, so you won't worry.
Try not to pick the same book for every question, see what happens, which one is easier and which ones resonate the most with you, and don't be hard on yourself if you don't get the meaning, it's perfectly fine. Just as with any divination method, and everything else, practice makes perfect.
When you feel ready, pick a book you will always use. It can be a YA novel, the Bible, maybe even your diary or journal, or a phone guide if you're into numerology, get creative, and get to know the book's way to respond.
You may have noted I didn't mention any deity to work with, and the reason is that I haven't done it first. I feel that I need to know the basic, have a previous knowledge, before asking for divine help. That's a rule I apply to everything I do. However, there are a few that you could use if you think otherwise.
Wikipedia's lists of Knowledge Deities and Messenger Deities will be of help if you want to include the Gods from the beginning, all you have to do is Ctrl + F and type 'writing' or 'scribe' for the first list, and all the deities associated to those terms will be highlighted.
Since I haven't done it myself, I cannot say which could be the best one for bibliomancy, but I think you should start with the pantheon you like the most. Celtic and Greek mythology are mine, so maybe I'll start working with Hermes, Ogma, and maybe Iris, although Hekate, Goddess of the Crossroads, could also be an option. Think about it: She guides Persephone between the worlds, so she certainly could be considered a messenger.
Feel free to try whatever it is you are called to, and share your thoughts on this here or in my Instagram (@kylerb.warhol).
Kinky regards, K!
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