What Is Capnomancy?
If you are looking for a new way to add depth and dimension to your practice and rituals, then capnomancy may be the answer for you.
Capnomancy is a form of divination that uses smoke to exchange wisdom and suggestions that forecast actions or results. This type of divination can be used in a number of ways - for example, you can use it as part of your practice and rituals, or you can use it as a way to gain insights about specific situations. In this blog post, we will discuss what capnomancy is, why smoke divination is useful, and how to read the symbolism involved.
My name is Lizzie Burgess and I run BackyardBanshee.com. I'm so excited to work with the lovely team/Kayla at Wicked Obscura to help you develop your spiritual practice in a way that makes divination more enjoyable, and more accessible.
Everyone's magickal practice is personal and completely unique to themselves. When I share with you about capnomancy, I in no way set the rules on how you should interpret the smoke, what it means for your life or what you should do with the information. Instead, I encourage you to use this blog post as a starting point, and then explore capnomancy in your own way. There are no wrong answers when it comes to divination - the only thing that matters is that you trust your intuition, and go with what feels right for you. You are the only authority in your magick.
What is Capnomancy
Capnomancy is the method of divination through smoke. When you use Incense it's a form of capnomancy, and all of this falls under the lovely fiery magick umbrella of Pyromancy divination. As a double Aries I love candle magick as part of my witchcraft practice, it brings me so much joy and passion, and it's a beautiful way to connect with multiple elements at one time.
When you spend time with a candle specific for divination purposes, you are helping your body connect into a meditative state that allows you to relax enough for clarity and insight purposes. Focus on the flickering of the flame, and allow the calmness to flow through you. When you're ready to perform your reading, blow out the candle, and immediately think on your question or situation you want further guidance with. Focus on the wisp of smoke as it rises into the air. It is best to do this in a well-ventilated room, or even outdoors if possible! Allow yourself to be mesmerized by the tendrils of fragrant smoke as they curl and weave their way around you.
Why it's a great addition to a witchcraft practice
Whether you are new to witchcraft or you have been practicing for years, capnomancy is a great addition to your toolkit. Divination is an important part of many witchcraft practices, as it helps us gain more coherence, wisdom and insights about our lives. Capnomancy can be used for a variety of purposes - for example, you can use it to gain insights about your love life, your career or your finances. You can also use it to get guidance about specific situations or problems that you are facing.
Smoke as it's own element is also incredibly powerful. It's often used in cleansing and protection spells, as well as for banishing negative energy. It is also a powerful element for connecting with the spirits - both your Ancestors and otherworldly entities. When you use capnomancy in your practice, you are tapping into this power and using it to gain insights and guidance.
One of the great things about capnomancy is that it is a very versatile form of divination - you can utilise it in a number of different ways, from bonfires to small birthday candles, and you can interpret out loud or in your head, if you're uncomfortable sharing when surrounded by others. It can be performed in the home, in a garden, at parties if you're in the broom closet or on the days that you're really tired and are enjoying a nice bath ritual with a candle lit. So as you can tell, it's one of my favourite elemental divinations as you can use it anywhere, for many purposes, in many ways. There aren't many tools in our magickal arsenal to assist us in such a way, and that's why it's so exciting for me to share with you!
My additional advice is to have a notebook and pen, or your own book of intuitions specific for divination readings to record what comes up for you. Go back to the notes after your session to research at a later time, so you can be most present when performing the reading itself.
Symbolism of smoke divination
When you are interpreting the symbolism of capnomancy, there are a few things that you can keep in mind. First of all, it is important to remember that capnomancy is a form of divination, which means that it is not an exact science. The interpretation of the smoke will be based on your own personal understanding, and it is important to trust your intuition when you are doing a reading.
Another thing to keep in mind is that capnomancy is a form of divination that uses symbols. This means that the smoke itself is not going to give you a direct answer like tarot with it's structured meanings. Without trying to be ironic, the fluidity of the smoke hopefully unravels your own perspective of the shapes within the smoke. Some people may see a face, for example, where you may see flowers.
For those completely new to smoke divination, here's a small list of my own understanding when it comes to smoke patterns and smoke shapes;
- Smoke rising in a straight line = clarity, truth
- Smoke rising in a spiral = new beginnings, change
- Smoke rising in a zigzag = new challenges, obstacles
- Smoke forming into shapes = insights about the question at hand
- Smoke densely packed = confusion, unclear
- Smoke dissipating quickly = the answer is no
- Smoke lingering = the answer is yes
If the smoke forms features of a person, it could be that someone is trying to contact you from another space. It would depend on who they resembled! If the smoke forms features of an inanimate object, it would be worth researching what that specific shape meant (e.g. seeing the shape of a Closed Door would suggest that opportunities are closing for you too, or seeing the shape of a House may be that you are looking to find more security in your day to day). If the smoke forms features of an animal, research the meaning (or connotations) behind that animal for metaphysical purposes (e.g. a Fish would suggest to me abundance, fertility, or seeing a Dog would suggest to me loyalty and the start of a friendship).
I hope this has helped you to understand capnomancy a little better, and that you will give it a try the next time you light one of the beautiful candles from Wicked Obscura. If you have any questions or would like to share your own experiences with smoke divination, please leave a comment below! Until next time xox
Hey, I’m Lizzie with BackyardBanshee.com. I am a professional tarot reader and a witchy business owner. I created backyardbanshee.com as a platform to share my passion for all things tarot, divination, magick, and rituals. I provide lots of services, tools and resources for spiritual and professional growth!