The Organisation and Religion to Re-unite All Religions

BIBLIOMANCY
Lisa Tarrance

 

Bibliomancy is the practice of seeking spiritual insight by selecting a random passage from the holy bible.  Bibliomancy has been a popular method of divination for at least 3,000 years, when the I Ching was first used to divine the future.

The most common way to get an answer is placing the book on its spine, with eyes closed, allowing the book to fall open to a random page, then when eyes closed still, place a finger on that open page and read the passage that spirit has led you.

Tarot is also a form of Bibliomancy; the main difference is the cards are unbound. When put together from the major arcana to the minor arcana, is pretty much like a story from the bible.

One thing to keep in mind that the bible isn’t the only sacred book that can be used for Bibliomancy. Other texts that can be used includes the , Bhagavad gita, Koran, Sephir yetzirah, Tibetan book of the dead, Dead sea scrolls , Gnostic scriptures and other religious texts. For thousands of years Jews and Christians have used the bible for divination purposes.

Bibliomancy is another term for stichomancy, which means "divination from lines". Some sources refer to bibliomancy as a specialized form of stichomancy, since they think that the "biblio" in bibliomancy refers to the bible rather then understanding that it refers to books in general. Another thing to keep in mind that numerology as well with tarot has a lot of significance to bibliomancy. The holly bible is filled with numerical symbols and references.  From the trinity to the "number of the beast" to the repeating patterns of 12 (tribes, disciples, etc) and so on it’s apparent that numerical symbolism is an important is an important part of the mystical tradition of understanding the bible. In Old Testament stories, numbers also play an important part in dreams and their interpretation when using bibliomancy.

Numerical symbols can be both universal in meaning and unique to the setting, time, or individual. This is really important to remember when interpreting dreams and using bibliomancy as a method of divination.

Here are some common numbers found in the bible and what these numbers usually mean, very similar to the principles of numerology.  Here is a list from the resources and studies I have gathered up:

One - Unity, commencement, sovereignty.  God's sovereignty.  The Bible often says "The Lord God is One", so I've always seen the number one as representing the Divine, in addition to wholeness and unity.

Two - Differences, distinctness, a witness. Also, opposition, enmity and division.  I'm reminded of the scripture that says "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" and the concept of being "double-tongued."

Three - That which is solid, real, substantial, complete, entire. Divine perfection. Symbolizes fullness of testimony or manifestation.  I'm reminded of the N.T. account of Jesus' resurrection on the 3rd day. There seems to be connections to resurrection themes with the number three.

Four - Four is the number of things that have a beginning, of things that are made, material things, and matter itself. Four is the number of material completeness. It is a world number and especially the "city" number. Creative works and tangible manifestations. 4 is also the number of man in his relation to the world created.  I'm reminded of "the four corners of the Earth", which indicates all things terrestrial and "under the Sun".

Five - Divine grace. God adding gifts and blessings to the works of creation. God-enabling. Five is also a leading factor in tabernacle measurement.

Six - Six is the number of man in opposition to God. It is a human number. According to the creation story, man was created on the 6th day and this first occurrence of the number 6, and all of its multiples, is a hallmark of all that is connected to mankind. Men who have stood in defiance of God (Goliath, Nebuchadnezzar, and the Antichrist) are emphatically "marked" with this number.  When I think of the "number of the beast" (666) I can't help but think that the true "beast" is really the ego/flesh--man's nature apart from the Divine.

Seven - Spiritual perfection. Seven is the number which regulates every period of incubation and gestation. To swear an oath of completion.  I tend to see 7 (spiritual perfection) as a melding of God (1) with man (6).

Eight - Re-generation; a new beginning or commencement. The 8th is a new "first", e.g. octave in music, days of the week, etc. Eight and its multiples are associated with all that has to do with the names of God. By Gematria JESUS makes 888.

Nine - The conclusion of a matter, last of the digits, summation of all man's works. Finality of divine things. It is 3x3, the product of Divine completeness.  Finality of judgment. The number nine, or its factors or multiples, is seen in all cases when judgment is the subject.  Nine is also the number of the Fruit of the Spirit, as well as the Types of the Enneagram.

Ten - Ordinal perfection. Perfection of order or rank. Another new first after the 9th digit Symbol of law, order, testing, and trial.

Twelve - Governmental perfection. It is the number or factor of all numbers connected with government--whether by tribes or apostles, or in measurement of time, or in things which have to do with government in the heavens and Earth.  Divine and apostolic government.

Twenty-Four - Symbol of priesthood and order. Heavenly government and worship.

Forty - Symbol of testing, trial, closing in victory or defeat.  5x8=product of grace extending to renewal. Period of testing, probation, and chastisement (not punishment but molding through discipline).

Seventy - The product of 7x10 exhibits the significance of each in its intensified form-perfect spirit and order. Also, perfect spiritual order carried out in all spiritual power and significance.  Symbol of number prior to increase.

So it’s very important to know numerology and symbolism when using bibliomancy. It plays a very important role in today's life.

I often use this kind of divination when I’m seeking answers in my life, and sometimes the bible may not be so clear in words, and the reason being is sometimes you cannot take the bible literally, It is mainly symbolic, and I’m afraid one must understand symbolism.  Everything has a symbolic meaning even your dreams.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES USING BIBLIOMANCY:

One day I had a question and asked god to show me a scripture in the bible about jezzabel, well I was doing some research on the subject and just wanted to know. So what I did was flip through the bible with my eyes closed and stopped at a page, place my fingers on that certain page and it led me to the passage, Kings 9 - 10.

Another thing I wanted to know that Christians today don’t realize that there is a mother, a female side of god in the bible which it talks about, Sofia, mother god. I flipped again through the holy bible and placed my fingers on the page with eyes closed and pointed to the page about the passage that led me to Proverbs 8.  The bible talks about Sofia meaning wisdom, mother god. So now I have an understanding of mother god and father god. Mother god is the moved mover, she is of spiritually and experience. Father god is of religion and knowledge, he is the unmoved mover. This I understand from reading this passage from the holy bible.

Practice using your bible or any religious texts in getting to know some answers. You would be surprised what spirit has to offer you and what you can learn from using bibliomancy.

 

 

Sources and Credits:
Wikipedia
Wichita public library various books:
Bibliomancy (four novellas) by Elizabeth Hand
Bibliomancy- divination with tools
Number in scripture: Its supernatural design and spiritual significance by E.W. Bulliger

 

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