Diviners On Divining is a monthly online class series hosted by The Cauldron Black and presented and chaired by Dr Alexander Cummins exploring the mysteries, minutiae, and mastery of divination with a range of visiting guest diviners.

The Diviners On Divining series consists of twelve monthly events across 2023 featuring a host of very special guest speakers discussing various fundamental aspects of divination: from focused exploration of particular systems and styles of oracular reading to widely-applicable techniques, tips, and tricks of interpretation, diagnosis, remediation, and enchantment for one’s personal and professional divinatory practices.

We are proud to host a fantastic range of guest speakers with an illuminating range of expertises for this series which welcomes conjure doctors, folk healers, mediums, astrolators, cartomancers, rune readers, witches, geomancers, candle-workers, and many other sorts of diviners and workers. We are excited to invite you to this series of talks celebrating the unfolding mysteries and practical wisdoms alike of divination in its many many forms, functions, and fashions.

Use of cartomancy, oracles, and other divination techniques are now common to see across the Ozark region. This wouldn't have been the case in the past where these methods were both difficult to obtain in such an isolated, rural area as well as labeled as being against traditional religious values by more conservative communities.

Healers and magical practitioners of the past have left us many unique methods of traditional divination, however. Practices like dowsing with a spicebush leaf floating in a bowl of water, listening to the pops and cracks of burning grains, watching patterns form in a rising stream of tobacco smoke, and many others will be examined in this talk.

Rather than divining futures and fortunes, divination methods in the Ozarks have traditionally been the tools of healers and other folk doctors to diagnose illnesses and hexes within their patients. This form of diagnosis is based on the foundational idea that if a healer is able to discover the location, element, and zodiac sign of the illness or curse, that healer can then counter the malady.

These correspondences traditionally derive from a divination session with the patient. These divinatory methods then serve as foundational practices for Ozark folk magic and healing, despite negative connotations from wider, conservative communities.

About the Presenter:

Brandon Weston is a healer, writer, and folklorist who owns and operates Ozark Healing Traditions, an online collective of articles, lectures, and workshops focusing on the Ozark Mountainregion. As a practicing folk healer, his work with clients includes everything from spiritual cleanses to house blessings. He comes from a long line of Ozark hillfolk and is also a folk herbalist, yarb doctor, and power doctor.

THIS CLASS IS ONLINE ONLY! The class link will be emailed to you in your registration confirmation. The class recording link will be emailed to you within 3-5 business days of the conclusion of the class and will be available to you for 30 days after the conclusion of the class.

By purchasing this ritual you agree to the following Non Disclosure:

This Agreement is between The Cauldron Black (“OWNER”); and the Purchaser (“RECIPIENT”). WHEREAS, OWNER has developed through substantial effort, research, time, and expense certain inventions, design concepts, methodologies, technical know-how, copyrightable material and trade secrets directed and related to this class.  (“INFORMATION”); WHEREAS, OWNER desires to disclose the INFORMATION on a confidential basis to RECIPIENT.  The OWNER wishes to maintain the confidentiality of the INFORMATION and the protection of OWNER'S intellectual property rights. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the  mutual promises, covenants, and conditions contained herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:  I. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION A. OWNER agrees to disclose  INFORMATION to RECIPIENT for the purposes of an online class.  B. RECIPIENT agrees to receive such INFORMATION and to refrain from  copying, disclosing, using, selling, or offering for sale any and all of said INFORMATION. RECIPIENT agrees to keep confidential and refrain from disclosing any and all of the INFORMATION, and to take all necessary and reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized disclosure or  use  of any and all of the INFORMATION.  Failure to uphold this NDA may result in legal action.