Bone Throwing vs Casting Lots: Which Ancient Divination is Right for You?

Quick Answer: Bone Throwing vs Casting Lots

Bone throwing is an African traditional divination practice where a diviner casts a set of bones, shells, stones, and other objects onto a mat or surface, then interprets their positions, relationships, and patterns to answer questions and provide guidance—it's complex, intuitive, and deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom. Casting lots is an ancient practice (found in the Bible and many cultures) of throwing marked objects (stones, sticks, dice) and interpreting how they fall to receive divine guidance—it's simpler, based on sacred randomness, and trusts that the divine guides the outcome. Both use casting and interpretation—bone throwing is more complex with multiple objects and relationships, while lot casting is simpler with fewer objects and clearer outcomes.

Understanding Each Practice

What is Bone Throwing?

Bone throwing (also called bone reading, throwing the bones, or osteomancy) is a traditional African divination practice, particularly prominent in Southern African cultures (Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Sangoma tradition). The diviner casts a set of bones and other objects, reading their positions and relationships.

Key bone throwing characteristics:

• Uses bones, shells, stones, coins, dice, and other objects
• Each object has specific meaning
• Positions and relationships between objects matter
• Complex, intuitive interpretation
• Ancestral and spirit-guided
• Requires training and initiation (traditional practice)
• Deeply cultural and spiritual

What is Casting Lots?

Casting lots is an ancient divination practice found across many cultures where marked objects (stones, sticks, dice, or other items) are thrown, and the outcome is interpreted as divine will or guidance. It's based on the belief that God/Spirit/Universe guides the random fall.

Key lot casting characteristics:

• Uses simple marked objects (stones, sticks, dice)
• Fewer objects than bone throwing
• Outcome is often yes/no or selection among options
• Based on sacred randomness
• Biblical and ancient practice
• Simpler interpretation
• Trusts divine guidance in randomness

Side-by-Side Comparison

Bone Throwing: Deep Dive

Traditional African Practice

• Central to Sangoma (traditional healer) practice
• Requires calling and initiation
• Years of training with elder diviner
• Connection with ancestors essential
• Not just divination—healing and spiritual work
• Sacred, ceremonial practice
• Part of living cultural tradition

The Bone Set

A traditional bone set might include:

• Bones: From various animals (chicken, goat, etc.), each with meaning
• Shells: Cowrie shells, sea shells
• Stones: Different colors and types
• Coins: Various denominations
• Dice: Regular or marked dice
• Seeds or nuts: Natural objects
• Personal items: Objects with specific meanings to the diviner
• Sets can have 4 to 100+ pieces

What Objects Represent

• Male/Female: Certain bones represent masculine or feminine energy
• Young/Old: Age and generation
• Ancestors: Connection to those who passed
• Elements: Earth, water, fire, air
• Life areas: Love, money, health, family, work
• Spirits: Different spiritual forces
• Time: Past, present, future

How Bones are Read

1. Preparation: Diviner enters sacred space, calls ancestors
2. Question: Client states question or concern
3. Casting: Diviner shakes bones in hands or container, casts onto mat
4. Observation: Note which bones land face up, their positions
5. Relationships: Which bones are near each other, touching, pointing
6. Patterns: Overall pattern and energy of the throw
7. Interpretation: Diviner reads the story the bones tell
8. Guidance: Advice, warnings, or actions to take

Reading Positions

• Near the diviner: Present, immediate, personal
• Far from diviner: Future, distant, others
• Left side: Past, feminine, receptive
• Right side: Future, masculine, active
• Center: Current situation, heart of matter
• Touching: Direct connection between those energies
• Pointing: Direction of energy or influence
• Face up/down: Revealed or hidden

Casting Lots: Deep Dive

Biblical and Historical Practice

• Used throughout Old Testament
• Selecting Matthias as apostle (Acts 1:26)
• Dividing land among tribes
• Determining God's will in decisions
• Ancient Greek and Roman practices
• Norse rune casting (similar principle)
• Universal across cultures

Types of Lots

• Urim and Thummim: Biblical priestly lots (exact nature unknown)
• Marked stones: Stones with yes/no or different options
• Sticks or straws: Drawing short straw, etc.
• Dice: Rolling for divine guidance
• Written lots: Names or options written, one drawn
• Coins: Flipping for heads/tails (simple form)

How to Cast Lots

Simple Yes/No Method

1. Prepare: Two stones or objects, mark one "yes" and one "no"
2. Pray/Set intention: Ask for divine guidance
3. Question: State clear yes/no question
4. Cast or draw: Either throw both and see which lands closer, or draw one from bag
5. Accept answer: Trust the outcome as divine will

Multiple Option Method

1. Prepare: One lot for each option
2. Mark lots: Each clearly labeled
3. Pray: Ask for guidance to right choice
4. Draw or cast: Select one lot randomly
5. Accept: The drawn lot is the answer

The Principle of Sacred Randomness

• Belief that nothing is truly random
• Divine/Spirit guides the outcome
• Surrendering to higher wisdom
• Trusting the process
• Removing human bias from decision
• "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33)

Cultural and Spiritual Considerations

Bone Throwing and Cultural Respect

• Sacred practice: Not a game or casual divination
• Cultural appropriation concerns: Requires proper training and calling
• Living tradition: Part of active African spiritual practices
• Initiation required: Traditional practice requires being called and trained
• Respect: Don't practice without proper training and cultural connection
• Support: Learn from and support authentic practitioners
• Appreciation vs. appropriation: Learn about it, but don't practice without proper authority

Casting Lots and Religious Context

• Biblical practice, but context matters
• Some Christian traditions discourage divination
• Others see it as seeking God's will
• Used historically for important decisions
• Replaced by prayer and discernment in many traditions
• Consider your own religious/spiritual framework

Modern Adaptations

Contemporary Bone Throwing

• Traditional practice continues in Africa
• Some Western practitioners (often with African training)
• Adapted sets using available objects
• Respectful practice requires study and often initiation
• Growing interest but cultural sensitivity crucial

Modern Lot Casting

• Coin flipping (simple form)
• Drawing straws for decisions
• Dice rolling for guidance
• Rune casting (similar principle)
• Oracle cards (evolved form)
• Used for decision-making and guidance

What Each Practice Reveals

Bone Throwing Reveals:

• Complex, nuanced situations
• Multiple factors and influences
• Ancestral messages and guidance
• Hidden dynamics and relationships
• Past influences on present
• Spiritual causes of problems
• Detailed, comprehensive readings
• Healing and spiritual work needed

Casting Lots Reveals:

• Clear yes/no answers
• Divine will in decisions
• Selection among options
• Simple, direct guidance
• Removal of human bias
• Trust in divine timing
• Straightforward direction

When to Use Each

Bone Throwing is For:

• Complex life situations
• Understanding multiple influences
• Ancestral guidance
• Spiritual diagnosis
• Deep divination work
• When trained and called to practice
• Cultural and spiritual healing

Casting Lots is For:

• Clear yes/no questions
• Choosing between options
• Seeking divine will
• Removing personal bias
• Simple, direct guidance
• When you need clear answer
• Trusting sacred randomness

Learning and Practice

Learning Bone Throwing

• Traditional path: Calling, initiation, years of training with elder
• Not self-taught: Requires proper transmission
• Cultural immersion: Understanding the culture and spirituality
• Ancestral connection: Building relationship with ancestors
• Respect: This is not a practice to dabble in casually

Learning Lot Casting

• Very accessible: Can learn and practice easily
• Study history: Understand biblical and cultural context
• Start simple: Two stones, yes/no questions
• Develop trust: Practice surrendering to outcome
• Pray/set intention: Always invite divine guidance
• Keep journal: Track questions and outcomes

Ethical Considerations

Bone Throwing Ethics

• Only practice if properly trained and called
• Respect the cultural and spiritual origins
• Don't appropriate sacred practices
• Support authentic practitioners
• Understand this is healing work, not entertainment
• Honor the ancestors and spirits

Lot Casting Ethics

• Use for genuine guidance, not trivial matters
• Accept the outcome (don't keep casting until you get desired answer)
• Don't use to avoid responsibility
• Combine with prayer and discernment
• Respect the sacred nature of the practice
• Don't use for harmful purposes

Alternatives and Related Practices

Similar to Bone Throwing

• Cowrie shell divination: West African practice
• Obi divination: Yoruba practice with kola nuts
• Diloggun: Santeria shell divination
• I Ching: Chinese system (different method but similar complexity)

Similar to Lot Casting

• Rune casting: Norse practice
• Coin divination: I Ching method
• Dice divination: Various traditions
• Drawing cards: Simplified oracle work

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Bone Throwing If You:

• Have been called to this practice
• Are willing to undergo proper training
• Have cultural connection or respectful access to training
• Want to work with ancestors
• Need complex, nuanced divination
• Are committed to deep spiritual work

Choose Casting Lots If You:

• Want simple, accessible divination
• Need clear yes/no answers
• Want to remove personal bias from decisions
• Are comfortable with sacred randomness
• Prefer biblical or universal practice
• Want to trust divine guidance
• Need straightforward direction

Neither May Be Right If:

• You're looking for casual entertainment
• You want to control outcomes
• You're not willing to respect cultural origins
• You can't accept random outcomes as guidance

Getting Started with Lot Casting

Simple Starter Method

1. Find two similar stones or objects
2. Mark one "yes" and one "no" (or paint different colors)
3. Create sacred space (pray, light candle, set intention)
4. Hold stones, ask clear yes/no question
5. Cast stones or draw one from bag
6. Accept answer with gratitude
7. Journal the question and answer

Lot Casting Kit

• Two or more marked stones/objects
• Small bag or container
• Journal for recording
• Sacred space items (candle, etc.)
• Total cost: $0-20

The Bottom Line

Bone throwing and casting lots are both ancient divination practices that use thrown objects to receive guidance, but they differ dramatically in complexity, cultural context, and accessibility. Bone throwing is a complex African traditional practice using multiple bones, shells, and objects to provide nuanced, detailed readings—it requires proper training, cultural respect, and often initiation, and should not be practiced casually or without proper authority. Casting lots is a simple, universal practice using marked objects to receive clear yes/no answers or select among options—it's accessible, straightforward, and based on trusting divine guidance in sacred randomness.

These practices are not equivalent alternatives. Bone throwing is a sacred cultural practice that requires respect, proper training, and often a spiritual calling. It's not something to dabble in or appropriate. Casting lots, however, is a universal practice found across many cultures and religions that anyone can practice respectfully for genuine guidance.

If you're drawn to bone throwing, learn about it, appreciate it, and support authentic practitioners—but don't practice it without proper training and cultural connection. If you want an accessible casting divination practice, lot casting offers a simple, respectful way to seek divine guidance through sacred randomness. Whether you honor the complexity of bones or trust the simplicity of lots, both practices remind us that guidance can come through surrendering control and trusting something greater than ourselves.