Get to know the
deities and spirits.
Learn about the deities and spirits who you'd like to communicate with
you through smoke. Some are more fire and smoke friendly than others.
Some are more or less communicative through smoke. It's important to
remember that you can't force the spirits to fit within your frame.
This is one reason why it's good to have guidance from an elder with
experience.
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Learn to Make the
Proper Ceremonies
One of the first things you will probably learn when you are learning
capnomancy, or develop if you are forced to go it alone, is ceremony.
Either your teacher or the deities themselves, will teach you how to
approach them properly.
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Learn the Proper
Incense and Immolations
Some deities or traditions require a specific recipe of incense or
immolation materials. Learn to prepare these properly.
Generally, though, a "talking smoke" will at least contain some animal
or animal-like materials, if it is not the immolation of a sacrificed
animal itself.
Be aware that some ancient recipes are toxic or will lead to health
problems later. It is up to you whether you are willing to take the
risks involved.
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Prepare Your Space
This can be outdoors on a day without too much wind, or indoors. Make
sure your space is well ventilated. Also, make sure that it is a
welcoming place for the spirits with whom you would like to
communicate. If you will have others participating in the session, make
sure that they are not doing, wearing, or bringing anything that is
offensive to the spirit(s) either.
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Prepare Yourself
Since you are asking for the spirit(s) to affect or touch something in
the physical realm, the same as you would before any other ceremony,
purify yourself. It is best if you do this with smoke of incense or
purifying herbs. Smudging with sage, wild tobacco, lavender, pine,
rosemary, etc. is a good idea.
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Relax
A time of relaxation and clearing the mind is important. Scrying of any
sort requires a receptive mind and soul. Although there are some
standard signs, and the spirit(s) may often choose to give you very
clear symbols, to understand the subtleties and specifics of what they
are telling you, there is a need to let go of prejudices, and to not
have concerns other than the matters at hand at the forefront of your
mind.
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Open the Gate
Most living polytheistic belief systems have a Gate Keeper (such as
Eshu) and commencement ritual. Do this, and when you do, this is the
time to focus and prepare for trance. Give the first bit of incense to
the Gate Keeper.
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Go Into Lucid Trance
Lucid trance, or aware trance, is the state you want to be in for smoke
reading. You want to be flowing with the spirits, but at the same time,
able to see what is going on with the smoke. You may also want to take
notes or make marks in the ground to remind you later of what came out
of the reading. Some use drumming, singing, and dancing as a way of
getting there. Do whatever works and is compatible with your traditions.
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Give Talking Smoke Materials and Watch
Put the materials for talking smoke on the fire or charcoal, and watch
what they do. Most traditions and ways have signs that are given at the
point materials are applied to the fire, and some signs that happen
along the way. Again, it's good to take notes of what occurs as you go.
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Thank the Spirits
At the close of the ceremony, thank the spirits who have spoken to you.
This is a good time to give them something on the fire that is pleasing
to them, not specifically for talking.
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Leave the Area Better Than You Found It
If you have done your ceremony outside, be sure that you haven't left a
lot of trash or debris. Make sure all fires and embers are out, and
there is no trash around, whether you brought it there or not.
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Capnomancy or
libanomancy is divination or scrying with the use of smoke.
Various cultures have various traditions around capnomancy. It is
a method used in Hoodoo, some Native American
cultures, and among those following various restored Greek, Babylonian, and middle eastern
traditions.
