5 Easy Divination Methods for Beginners

Divination is a rich and expansive field of esoteric spirituality where you can learn the will of the universe. This can be a powerful and life-changing way to learn about your inner self or your destiny.

But with so many divination methods out there, which ones are best for beginners? Those who are new to divination would best be served by methods that require no background knowledge or obscure tools.

Here are five divination methods I think you should try.

1. Flipping a Coin

Almost everyone has flipped a coin to make a decision before. Sometimes it was just to reduce the anxiety of making a choice, but it’s not uncommon for many to assume there’s divine intervention in the answer they’ve received.

Of all the divination methods you can try, flipping a coin is the easiest, most familiar, and cost-effective. You can use a coin you already have, or you can purchase a coin made especially for divination. There are “Yes or No” coins which you can find online and occasionally in local stores.

However, any lucky coin is just as good. Many Americans, for example, love keeping a coin that features their state in their wallets and will respond in joy when they encounter one when receiving change.

Some people will also use random objects, but I would advise against this. Most objects don’t have equalized weights.

But even coins aren’t 50/50 because of the physics behind the way most choose to throw them.

I find that it’s best to cup the coin in your hands and shake it furiously. Then throw it up into the air. This prevents the natural bias of coins to slightly favor coming up the same side that they were thrown on in the traditional way most people flip coins.

Keep in mind that simple “yes or no” and comparison questions are the only appropriate prompts for flipping a coin. If you want a nuanced answer, then you should investigate a different method of divination.

But this is the best method for those who have no prior experience using their intuition for divination.

2. Shufflemancy

Though I’ve heard of something similar being used with the radio, shufflemancy is a relatively new method of divination. The basic idea is this: think of a question in your mind and then shuffle your music player to receive an answer.

Unlike flipping a coin, shufflemancy allows for a more nuanced and layered answer, though you will need to use some intuition in your interpretation because songs can be quite metaphorical and symbolic at times.

Also, pay attention to the lyrics and how the song makes you feel. It may also bring to mind memories you have associated with the song. But even though it does require the use of your intuition, shufflemancy favors songs you already know pretty well which should take some of the mystery out of the equation.

Some people find that it’s best to shuffle a pre-determined number of times, similar to shuffling a deck of cards.

There’s a good reason for this technologically. Many companies have found that the way humans perceive random isn’t random (how else would divination work?), so they have programmed their algorithm to use pseudo-randomness instead.

Once you press shuffle, it creates a queue, so you need to press the shuffle function button on and off to create new random queues.

However, I find the best practice is to only use shufflemancy when you feel a pull from your intuition to go and do it. That way, the universe is guiding you to the right answer at the right time.

3. Bibliomancy

This is an older technique that has its roots in traditional religions and cultures across the world. Sacred or important texts, from Homer, the Bible, the Quran, the I Ching, and others, were used by learned and ordinary people to divine truth or destiny.

You can actually use any book, though it’s recommended that you use a book which is important to you. I also believe it’s best if it’s poetic or metaphorical. In the Bible, the Psalms were used more often for bibliomancy than other parts of the Bible.

Yes, some Christians were known for using bibliomancy! If you have an old family bible with the names of your ancestors written in it, then that might be a particularly useful book for bibliomancy even if you aren’t a Christian. Regardless, the Bible is full of symbolism from which many Western esoteric motifs are derived anyway.

The reason you should prefer something with symbolism is that it’s easier to interpret symbols across different situations than straightforward prose.

Bibliomancy is simple. All you need to do is flip through the pages at random or wait for a spark of inspiration as you hover over the edge. Then you open that page.

Some people will throw their finger down at random and others will read until they feel an interpretation dawning on them. Either one is appropriate depending on the type of book, but bibliomancy does require the use of your intuition to make the most of your interpretations.

4. Oracle Cards

Tarot cards are great, and they don’t cost a lot of money, but it does require time and effort to learn them. However, there’s an alternative that has gained popularity in the last few years: oracle cards.

This is another system of cartomancy, divination using cards, which combines symbolism with straightforward interpretation. Oracle cards are designed to be read using only the card in front of you, though decks usually include guidebooks for more nuanced meanings.

You will need to use your intuition to make the most of the symbolism, but since oracle cards are generally to the point, you don’t need to worry about being especially skilled at doing so.

Unlike everything else in this article, you will still need to make a purchase since you don’t already have the tools lying around your home (like a coin, music player, or book). While most oracle card decks are easy to find, they do cost about the same as a newly published hardcover book.

There’s another downside as well which I don’t often see talked about. Many oracle card decks are very specific in the types of readings they give, often according to a theme, like love or spirit guides, so it’s not unusual that you wouldn’t get the full reading you could get out of a tarot card deck. Many see oracle cards as supplements to tarot instead of replacements for that reason.

Still, if you research your deck beforehand then you should be able to find one that fits your divination needs.

5. Pick a Cards

Perhaps the most popular alternative to tarot cards are digital tarot cards. There are many channels on YouTube of professional and hobby tarot readers who film interactive pick a cards for free.

These are interactive videos where you select a pile of cards on the screen and hear your fortune read to you as if you were sitting with a tarot reader in real life. They’re a lot of fun to watch, and you’ll often get to see many different styles of tarot and oracle decks in the same reading.

I find the best way to use pick a cards is with your intuition or a coin. Sometimes I feel a pull to go watch a pick a card and either look in my YouTube subscriptions or do a search. Whatever video calls out to me is the one I watch. And if I can’t make a decision… I flip a coin!

If you can’t watch a video, there are also many apps and websites which generate digital tarot readings for you too, though these usually don’t have oracle cards to accompany them. The great thing about these apps is that some offer the option to save your readings and look them up later. This can be a valuable data collection tool for self-development.

Whatever option you choose, keep in mind not to go overboard. Some people become addicted to pick a card readings or tarot generators and spend hours watching readings on the same topic. It’s best to function on this rule: how long you spend in between readings of the same topic is how long, on average, a reading is valid for.

Final Thoughts

Learning more about yourself or your future doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many friendly methods of divination out there for you to try which don’t require a lot of study or the purchase of expensive tools.

You should select your divination method based on how nuanced the answer will need to be, how familiar you are with the tools, and how well-developed your intuition is.

But even if you’re new to using your intuition, it will improve over time. Divination isn’t just a gift – it’s a skill. You can learn to divine the truths of the universe. All you need to do is get started.