In this installment of Practical Magic, Lisa Stardust explains charm casting, the art of using jewelry in divination. Always remember that magic is for believers, but this column can also simply serve as a guide to getting in touch with yourself — magically or not.
Charm casting is a type of divination that's gaining a lot of hype on TikTok, particularly as charms and baubles trend. It involves taking meaning and context from a seemingly-random assortment of charms, looking at how they show up to learn more about your future. Since charms are in style and everyone is collecting them, it's extra exciting that we can use these trinkets to tell our fortune. Charm casting is a great way to connect to the spiritual realm and the universe by finding personal meaning in the anatomy of objects.
Charm casting is not a new endeavor — it's been around for centuries. So, let's give it a whirl and see how we can elevate your life. This fun activity will be a great way to gain insight in our lives, as well as point us in the right direction.
How to charm cast
Gather your collection of charms
You’ll need to assemble charms — whether gold, plastic, brass, or small everyday objects like buttons, paper clips, or small items that resonate with you. I like to include small shells and tiny pieces of sea glass I’ve collected. There are no rules about what you can or cannot use. If you feel like using plastic charms or tiny bells, that works too. The key is to add charms that are meaningful to you. Store the charms in a sachet or small bag.
What particular charms mean:
Lightning Bolt: Ingenuity
Sword: Clarity
Butterfly: Freedom
Sun: Creativity
Moon: Memories
Evil Eye: Protection
Shell: Renewal
Star: Luck
Skull: Being present minded
Heart: Love
Clovers: Success
Horseshoe: Abundance
Key: Discovery
Wishbone: Prosperity
Locket: Secret
Feather: Spirituality
Dice: Chance
Flower: Growth
Astrological Sign: The energy that's coming in or out of your life.
Birthstones: The month you should pay attention to.
Create a casting mat
Casting is when you throw the charms onto a surface, which is what we're curating here. How the various charms land tells you the area of life that you need to focus on. Draw a big circle on a piece of paper and divide it into eight sections with the following categories: travel, romance, friends, self, family, finances, home, and school/work. You can use any aspects of life that you desire in the wheel of the casting mat; these are some ideas. Then, draw a line in the middle of the circle. On the top of the line, write “yes,” and beneath the line, write “no.”
Ask the right questions
Before you cast your charms onto your mat, ask a question that you want the charms to guide you on. But, you can't ask just any question, it has to be concise. Rather than stating a general question, ask what you should know about a specific situation or relationship. Write down the question in your journal to ensure you don't ask it twice. Doing so can yield conflicting answers.
Throw the charms on the mat
I pick a few charms to use that I currently connect with. I don’t use them all, but you can do either. As I stated before, doing what feels right to you is crucial. Take the charms out of the bag and shake them up in your hands. Throw them on the casting mat like a pair of dice when the vibe feels right. Pay attention to where the charms fall if you ask a “yes” or “no” question. Are they in the ”yes” or “no” part of the mat? What charms fell in each part? This will tell you more information about how to proceed and what you must know about the matter. If asking a more general question, toss the charms on the mat to see what the specifics, based on the categories they fall in, are of the answer the universe is telling you. The charms that are in the category are essential to note.
Analyze the reading
Find meaning based on what the charms in each category mean to you. For example, if you throw a bow and arrow charm in the romance sector of the wheel, it might mean Cupid’s arrow is coming for you, or there could be drama brewing in your love life. Context is essential, so it’s crucial to ask precise questions. Interpretation is based on your relationship with the symbols and intuition that the charms represent.
Journal the results
Keep a record of the information coming to light from the reading. Journaling the results will help you to understand the data you're receiving. Also, you could denote patterns over time, letting you know what essential guidance the spirits convey. Beyond that, you can always return to a former charm reading to gain clarity from the past and comprehend how it plays out in real time.
How to maintain your charms
Spiritual hygiene is necessary when handling metaphysical objects. After each reading, place the charms in a sachet or trinket bag with an amethyst crystal for protection or cleansing. You might even want to burn copal incense and let the charms absorb the smoke to realign their energy when using them next. Store the sachet in a safe place where no one can touch them but you.
