✦ Cleromancy ✦
Dice Casting
Cast three dice and read the numbers the fates have rolled. Each value speaks; their sum reveals the whole.
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Cleromancy — divination by casting lots — is among the oldest forms of fortune-telling known to humanity. From the temples of ancient Egypt to the streets of Rome, people have thrown bones, seeds, and stones to read the will of fate.
What is cleromancy?
Cleromancy is divination by casting lots: small objects — stones, bones, seeds, shells, or marked tiles — are thrown onto a surface, and the pattern they form is interpreted. The randomness of the cast is believed to let fate or the divine speak through the fall of the pieces.
Because it requires no special literacy or expensive tools, cleromancy spread across nearly every culture. The I Ching (yarrow stalks or coins), African bone-throwing, and Roman sortes are all forms of cleromancy.
Common objects used in cleromancy
- Marked stones or pebbles, each carrying a symbol or meaning.
- Animal bones (astragaloi), valued for their irregular, chance-shaped falls.
- Seeds, beans, or nuts — biodegradable and easy to obtain.
- Shells (cowries), long used in African and diasporic traditions.
- Wooden or clay tiles inscribed with letters or runes.
- Coins, the basis of the I Ching and many folk methods.
How a cast is read
| Element of the cast | What it signifies |
|---|---|
| Which pieces land face-up | The active influences in the situation |
| Pieces that cluster together | Related forces working in concert |
| Pieces near the caster | Personal, immediate matters |
| Pieces far from the caster | External or distant influences |
| Pieces that fall outside the circle | Escaping or irrelevant energies |
The circle as a boundary
Many traditions cast into a drawn circle. The circle defines the field of meaning: what lands inside concerns your question; what falls outside is out of scope or slipping away. Drawing the circle focuses the reading.
Cleromancy FAQ
Q: Is cleromancy the same as drawing lots?
Yes — 'casting lots' and 'drawing lots' are both cleromancy. Casting throws objects to read their pattern; drawing selects one from a set (like a raffle). Both rely on chance as the mouthpiece of fate.
Q: How many objects should I use?
There is no fixed number. Traditions range from two (a binary yes/no) to thirteen or more. Start with a small, meaningful set whose meanings you know well; complexity can grow with experience.
Q: Does the surface matter?
Yes. A cloth, a drawn circle, or a tray of sand gives the pieces a defined field and softens their fall. A hard, unbounded surface makes patterns harder to read. Choose a surface that holds the cast.