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In times past, women considered ribbons, laces and braid trims treasures too pretty ever to discard. Among the mystical traditions of Western Europe, especially in Scotland, a kitchen-witch custom developed around bright ribbon bundles. The ribbons were knotted or stitched together at one end, then used as a form of divination. Those who came to seek advice from the wise one would be invited to select a ribbon. The reader would then combine psychometry with intuition to weave a story apropos to the situation. Today with the popularity of tarot, palmistry, mediumship and other divination systems on the rise, ribbon reading can again be enjoyed as a simple, beautiful and comfortable way to both divine the future and understand the past.  Begin with seven ribbons, saved, given or purchased, but carefully selected. Seven is a
number associated with wisdom. Think of the seven chakras in the body; the Sun, Moon and
visible planets are seven. There are seven musical notes, seven days of the week, seven archangels,
and other seven relationships. As time passes, more lovely ribbons may come your way and they can be
added to the original bundle. Any length is fine, but bundles about two feet long work well. They
are attrac-tive set on a reading table and not too unwieldy to handle.The reader can either preassign a meaning to a ribbon or thoughtfully consider what it means to a specific situation as questions arise. For example, a lace can relate to memories and history, while a ribbon embellished with snowflakes can indicate a change as winter nears. A vibrant, rich red ribbon suggests success and quality. Cheerful fringe hints at travel to a sunny climate and a holiday. The possibilities are endless. With a little practice, the wisdom carried in the ribbon bundle will unravel to reveal new depths of understanding. – Marina Bryony |