Divination Games have been performed for centuries to provide guidance during Samhein; the thin veil between the worlds at this time allows us to obtain advice from our ancestors and see a glimpse of our future…
Old fashioned divination or parlour games often involved an open fire and many involved lots of apples and nuts. So they may not be as practical today:
This is called Fortune – An engaged couple would throw a hazelnut into the embers of a fire. If the hazelnut split apart with a loud cracking noise, this was a sign that the marriage would be a strong and happy one. If the hazelnuts only caught fire and burned, this was an indication that their love would fade away. A variation of this game was to crack a walnut in half. If the walnut cracked easily into two equal sections, the guest would be lucky in love. If the walnut broke into pieces, this would signify a shattered love.
Another fire game – A person would write their name on a stone and cast it into a bonfire. Next morning, they would find the stone in the ashes and take note of its condition. This would give them information about their state for the coming year.
This Irish game is called Puicini – A blindfolded person is seated at a table which holds a number of saucers. The saucers are shifted around, and the guest chooses one at random. The contents of the bowl predict his/her future for the coming year.
An apple game – A girl slowly peels an apple while looking into the mirror; the face of her husband will appear. If she’s destined to die before marriage, a skull would appear instead. In a variation, Boys and girls peeled their apples into one continuous paring which was then thrown over their shoulder. The letter formed by the dropped paring would be the first initial of the person they would marry.
Here are some more modern methods of divination that you could try today:
1) Choose a picture or memento of a beloved relative who has died. Sit quietly with the picture in your hands and think of an issue or question for which you would like to have guidance. Close your eyes and allow your mind to relax. Imagine standing face to face with your beloved relative and asking them the question. What is the response? An actual memory of your loved one may drift naturally into your mind. When you open your eyes, write down anything you remember.
2) Ground and center yourself in a dark room. Light a single candle and sit with your back to a mirror. Cut an apple into nine pieces and eat eight of them as you hold a question gently in your mind. Throw the ninth piece of apple over your left shoulder, then turn to look over your left shoulder at the mirror. What do you see? The patterns of light and shadow may form an image or sign that will be of help to you.
If The Great British Bake Off has inspired you, then why not bake a Barmbrack cake for Halloween. The Irish predict the future with Barmbrack cake – a raisin and spice tea cake which has been filled with different objects. These cakes usually contain a coin to predict prosperity, a key to signify a journey, a thimble for spinsterhood, a button to indicate a man will remain a bachelor, and a scrap of cloth to predict poverty. As the cake is sliced and served, the object inside the recipient’s slice will divine their future for the upcoming year.
Barmbrack Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
- 375 g (13oz) packet of mixed dried fruit
- 50 ml (2fl oz) whiskey
- 250 ml (9fl oz) cold tea
- butter, for greasing
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 225 g (8oz) plain flour
- 125 g (4½oz) soft light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp mixed spice
- 1 large egg
Method:
- Place the mixed dried fruit in a bowl and pour over the whiskey and cold tea. Allow to soak up the liquid overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F/Gas 3). Grease and line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and mixed spice in a mixing bowl. Make a well and break in the egg, then use a wooden spoon to mix it with the dry ingredients. Add a little bit of the liquid from the mixed fruit and mix it through. You may not need all the liquid, though you are looking for a wet dough.
- Stir in the mixed fruit until everything is thoroughly combined. Add the divination items (if using) and stir through. Spoon the wet dough into the lined loaf tin, place on the middle shelf in the oven and bake for 1 hour.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before removing from the loaf tin and placing on a wire rack. Cover in cling film and foil and allow to sit for 1–2 days before cutting into it.
Ref:
C. Jeanne Heida, Yahoo Voices
Cait Johnson, Care 2 Make a Difference
RTÉ Food
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