The Moonflower, also known as the Moonflower vine or Moonvine, is a beautiful and enchanting plant that possesses a variety of magical properties. Native to tropical and subtropical regions, the Moonflower is a nocturnal plant that blooms at night, releasing a sweet and intoxicating fragrance. Its large white flowers open only in the evening and close at dawn, making it a mystical and intriguing plant. In magical traditions, the Moonflower is associated with the moon and the feminine energy it represents. It is regarded as a symbol of dreams, intuition, and inner exploration. The Moonflower is believed to enhance psychic abilities and facilitate deep spiritual connections.
I encourage others to develop an art from these principles, but will confine myself here to an Old Babylonian cuneiform text on the subject, which follows a somewhat different set of criteria. Firstly, the correct reading of smoke omens according to the Old Babylonian method requires the diviner to stand facing East, with the brazier or burner before them. As Maria Stella Cingolo (Some Remarks about the Old Babylonian Libanomancy Texts) observes, four steps are described, although it does not seem that the third and fourth must be involved:
The same is ultimately true of extispicy, although the process to get to the binary answer is much more complicated see Derek Collins, Mapping the Entrails The Practice of Greek Hepatoscopy. Thick smoke could indicate the presence of heavy energies or emotional blockages, while light, airy smoke could signify positivity and clear thoughts.
The Moonflower is believed to enhance psychic abilities and facilitate deep spiritual connections. It is said to bring forth visions and prophetic dreams, making it a popular plant among those practicing divination and meditation. Additionally, the Moonflower is thought to possess protective properties, warding off negative energies and evil spirits.
Libanomancy (Incense Divination)
Ancient animal sacrifice was not just an offering, but also a mode of divination. For one thing, of course, there was haruspicy or excispicy, the inspection of the innards (exta), especially the liver of a sacrificial animal. We are not particularly well informed about the details of this practice in the Greco-Roman world, due to the loss of ancient handbooks on the subject, but there are extensive surviving materials on the art of extispicy (akk. bārûtu) in cuneiform – no doubt enough to revive the art, if one wished, once the extant material are made available in translations with good commentaries.
Aside from this highly technical mode of divination, there were also more casual observations made during sacrifice: “They used to trouble themselves further about the corpses of the victims, (observing) whether they would fall down to the right or the left; and in the former case, they would predict fortunate (events), in the latter, unfortunate ones.
“They would also observe the moment of the (final) spasm after the sacrifice: and if the victims immediately breathed their last, they would predict a fast resolution for themselves in the matters at hand, but if not, a drawn-out and troubled one” (Psellus, On the Sacrificial Science).
These two examples are both binary (left vs. right, fast vs. drawn out), and deliver an essentially binary answer: yes or no, auspicious or inauspicious. The same is ultimately true of extispicy, although the process to get to the binary answer is much more complicated (see Derek Collins, Mapping the Entrails: The Practice of Greek Hepatoscopy).
But why do I spell all this out in a page on divination from incense? My point is that, while animal slaughter was the primary means of divination through sacrifice, the basic method (of making binary observations) and result (of learning whether the offering was received auspiciously or not) is generalizable, and in principle could be applied to any kind of offering that involves events or effects outside human control.
After all, “those who would placate the gods with frankincense were heard (by the gods) no less than those who immolated animals. For in place of victims, it is also possible to make an auspicious offering to the gods with nothing but a good conscience” (Lactantius Placidus, On the Thebaid 2.247).
And whether in animal sacrifice or pure incense offerings, it is possible to read smoke and fumes. As Lactantius Placidus writes: “The art of haruspicy contains this, that it observes the movement and crackling of the (grains of) frankincense, and the movement and inclination of the smoke, because these signs first testify the promise of the innards, if they are good – or if they are contrary, it is obstructed, as the book On the Signs of Frankincense attests, which is ascribed to Tiresias himself” (On the Thebaid 4.468).
“This kind of haruspicy is called καπνομαντεία (kapno-manteía, ‘smoke-divination’), because future events are shown from the distribution of the smoke itself” (ibid. 10.599). “There is a certain art of foreseeing the truth from the smoke of the altar, because those who are called καπνομάντεις (kapno-mánteis, ‘smoke-diviners’) know what things are going to happen from the distribution of the smoke itself” (ibid. 4.412).
In the scholia on Homer, there is even an explicit distinction made between “those who make divination using innards (gr. splánkhna)” and “those who make divination using incenses (gr. epithyómena), the burnt-offering-diviners (gr. empyroskópoi); these they call frankincense-diviners (libanománteis)” (Scholia on Iliad 24.221). According to Porphyry, the first to use such vegetarian divination from frankincense was Pythagoras himself (Life of Pythagoras 11), the sage who enjoined us not to stain altars with blood but to offer honey-cakes, frankincense and hymns (Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 1.1).
[Work in Progress: add Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 1.31]
What has been said should more than suffice to show the viability of divination from incense, but how can one actually practice it?
Its blooms are said to create a mystical barrier that shields one from harm. Many believe that displaying Moonflowers or wearing them as jewelry can provide a shield of spiritual protection. Furthermore, the Moonflower is associated with love and romance. In some traditions, it is believed that the Moonflower can be used to attract and strengthen existing relationships. It is said to enhance the bonds between lovers and bring about feelings of passion and desire. Aside from its magical properties, the Moonflower also has practical uses. In certain cultures, the plant has been used medicinally for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The leaves and seeds of the Moonflower have been used to treat conditions such as arthritis, headaches, and inflammation. In conclusion, the Moonflower is a plant that possesses a myriad of magical properties. It is associated with the moon, dreams, intuition, psychic abilities, and protection. Its blooms are mesmerizing and fragrant, making it a symbol of enchantment and allure. Whether used for its mystical properties or its medicinal benefits, the Moonflower continues to captivate and inspire those who encounter it..
Reviews for "Moonflowers: Enhancing Intuition and Psychic Abilities"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Moonflower Magical Properties" because I love fantasy and magic in stories. However, I found the plot to be too predictable and the characters lacked depth. The main character, Lily, was supposed to be this powerful witch, but she felt more like a caricature. The romance between Lily and the love interest, Ethan, was also cheesy and forced. Overall, I was disappointed with the book and it didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - I couldn't even finish "Moonflower Magical Properties" because the writing style was so confusing and disjointed. The story jumped around from one scene to another without any clear transitions, making it difficult to follow. The author also used a lot of unnecessary descriptions, which only served to drag the story along. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. I had high hopes for this book, but it turned out to be a major disappointment.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - The premise of "Moonflower Magical Properties" sounded intriguing, but the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took forever to get to any sort of action or conflict. The world-building was also lacking, and I didn't feel fully immersed in the magical realm that the author was trying to create. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. Overall, I found this book to be quite boring and wouldn't recommend it.