Book Review: Divination: Your Personal Guide

Steven Bright, Divination: Your Personal Guide. New York: Wellfleet Press, 2021. ISBN: 9781577152613.

 

Genre: short reference

Subgenre: divination

Format: e-book galley

Source: NetGalley

 

This small volume provides an introduction and overview of various divination practices. The book presents well known practices as well as some lesser known practices. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction.
• Chapter One: Lenormand Cards.
• Chapter Two: Kipper Cards.
• Chapter Three: Playing Cards. 
• Chapter Four: Elder Futhark Runes.
• Chapter Five: Witches' Runes.
• Chapter Six: Casting Charms.
• Chapter Seven: Divining with Crystals.
• Chapter Eight: Reading Colors. 
• Chapter Nine: Reading Buttons. 
• Chapter Ten: Reading Tea Leaves.
• Chapter Eleven: Reading Flowers.
• Chapter Twelve: Reading Shells.
• Chapter Thirteen: The I Ching.
• Chapter Fourteen: Divination Through Dice.
• Conclusion.
• Index.

The book does not aim to be comprehensive, but it does provide a pretty broad sampling of divination methods.  Some readers may ask why Tarot, that most popular system is not included. The author explains that "there is a lot of easily accessible information available on it, so I decided to talk about some other less well-known decks" (11). In terms of cards, we get Lenormand, Kipper, and playing cards. 

 

A strength of the book is how it combines a bit of history and trivia with tips and steps to do the various practices. Each chapter gives a short historical overview, goes over tools needed, basic meanings, and symbols, and steps on how to do the specific practice. In many of these, the author emphasizes that you can start with common objects you may already have at home and/or objects you can easily acquire at very little to no cost. This makes the practices accessible to many. 

Overall, the book is well written and very easy to read. Nothing in it is complicated. It does present just the basics. If you really want to go in depth, you may want to find additional resources for areas that may interest you. A small issue is that the book lacks a bibliography and/or recommended reading list. That could have added a bit more value. Still, as a guide to learn more and start exploring these practices the book works well. 

 

On a small side note, the book publisher notes the book includes a wall chart. I cannot comment on that since it does not come with the e-book galley.

 

This can be a good selection for public libraries, especially those building up a spiritual/esoteric collection. This is an accessible book any seeker at a beginner level can use and appreciate. This is also a good book for folks who are curious and want a starting point. 

 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2020 Reading Challenge: