Augury

Augury is an ancient form of divination usually associated with birds.  Some use augury as a form of geomancy; reading of portents and omens (earth/nature signs).  

 It was especially used and developed by seers in Italy and Scotland.  I don’t personally recommend the killing of little, furry critters in order to examine their organs and bowels.  I prefer more of a look but don’t touch approach to augury.

Walk into a field, woods, etc... (best done outside your home and yards)

You can turn around a few times (or dance) with eyes closed, or pick a direction to use as inspiration and for question:

• North - money, material possessions, home, career, education;
• East - new beginnings, inspiration, ideas, methods, moves, new relationships;
• South - changes, inter-communications, challenges, answers to long term problems, business terminations, anger/aggression;
• West - love, relationships, ending
  relationships, travel, depression).

When you open your eyes (like a camera snap shutter), notice first thing you see and DON'T look around. 

Write them down as you go.  Interpretation takes awhile as you have to ask yourself what does this mean to me based on your life, experiences, current events, situations, etc...  Many people like to write a poem or chant of their experience.  I do recommend dating and keeping.  You move to the right, clockwise.  If you move counter clock wise, what is shown would denote more of things from the past or present to rid yourself of in life (in other words, let go and move forward).  I like to pick up 'signs' during augury and keep them as reminders to myself.

Open your eyes see and close your eyes-
In front of you...this lies before you to experience

With eyes closed turn to your right - open and close again ...This is a strength you possess

Turn behind you (repeat process)
This is a past experience and is relevant to the question and/or the other directional sights

Turn again to the right again, repeat process
This is a weakness or challenge for you to handle or incorporate into your life

Return to starting direction...tilt head up and look up...This is above you and coming into your life and/or follows you through life

Tilt your head down and look at the ground.
This is beneath you…over and done and/or overcome or accomplished.  If you feel whatever is shown is NOT over in your life, then this is becoming your foundation for yourself of your own shaping and doing.

There is no 'good' or 'bad'.  Changes and such are completely at the whim and will of the self.  For interpretations, the sign/item needs to be closely examined.  Consider color (lack of color), alive or dead, animal, vegetable, mineral, textures, type of material, shapes, positioning, etc.

For an example, here was my first attempt at augury.  I deliberately walked into an open field that at a quick glance appeared to have nothing around (I ’m a skeptic by nature).   I closed my eyes.  When I looked in front of me, I saw 2 pine trees with saplings growing in front of them.  I closed to my eyes and turned to my right.  I saw a fence with 2 wires acting as rails.  One was broken and hanging down to the ground.  I closed my eyes and turned again.  I saw a road that wound around a small hill and out of sight.  I closed my eyes and turned again.  I saw a small, white building and a closed door.  It all looked very secure and impenetrable.  I turned again and looked up.  I saw a small, dot of a cloud, surround by the expanse of a blue, southwestern sky.   I looked down and was amazed to find a bit of black leather with white stitching.  I picked up the leather.  It was hard and would not bend.  To this day it sits on my personal altar.

My interpretation (though not in prose) was:
In front of me, what lies ahead? The 2 pine trees represent my husband and children.  The other saplings I believe represent the people who have come and joined what would become Hekate’s Torch (there was no temple/coven at the time).  Another meaning of the trees, planting, growth and lasting.

To my right, a Strength�?/FONT>
The fence can be my own barriers of protection; which I can tear down or mend as I need.

Behind me, the past�?/FONT>
A road that ran out of sight meaning so many options, choices; wide open and ready.

To my left, weaknesses or challenges�?/FONT>
A building secured.  It was the door that truly stayed with me.  Once the door is closed, it is time to move one and not try to reopen it.