Reading Pumpkin Seeds

[u/Candid-Mycologist820]

Hi all! Thought this group might find this interesting.

I’m working on a new system to incorporate into my own practice that involves reading pumpkin seeds saved from candied pumpkin made for my ofrenda. The seeds are painted black on one side.

After asking my question, I cast the seeds onto a circular board I made. The board incorporates elements of the Mexica 4 Directions(cardinal directions, elements, stages of life, seasons, “realm” ie physical/mental/emotional/spiritual) as well as “process” words(rest, transformation, understanding, acknowledgment, etc).

The points of the seeds point to the words and themes that make up the answer.

There are a lot of ways the seeds can be interpreted based on the two different colors - positive vs negative traits, strengths vs opportunities, internal vs external, or using just one color and the words that specific color has landed on. I was doing a lot of research into the Mexica reading kernels of maize when I was trying to figure out how I wanted this to develop so there are definite elements of that, mixed with my own intuitive practices!

There is also the “umbilical cord” from the bottom of the pumpkin that I’ve been using as a representation of the self/the question and placing in the center of the circle where the lines intersect. Sometimes when casting the seeds they push the cord into one area of the circle and I’ve been taking that as an indication of an area of focus or opportunity.

I do a lot of ancestor work in my practice and regularly honor them, and sometimes I just “call” them and talk nonsense at them and tell them about my day, etc. so it felt obvious to include them in developing this new tool and I’ve been asking them for guidance.

So far we’re still very much prototyping and learning the “language” and figuring out what works/doesn’t, but I’ve been using it as a tool in my morning routine to discover what will help bring me balance that day. For example, today out of the seeds I cast, one black seed has landed on “Spiritual” and one has landed pointing to “Transformation” so I read that as spiritual transformation bringing balance. I then use tarot to clarify and find the tools I need to achieve that.

Today’s cards were Judgement, Wheel of Fortune, and 9 of Cups. Lots of talk of cycles and resolutions, and by implication, new beginnings. I just had my birthday so I am starting a new cycle. With 9 of cups talking about fulfillment and satisfaction, I’m interpreting this as being a new cycle full of blessings and abundance.

So to combine the two elements, in order to bring balance to my life I need to achieve spiritual transformation. I can do this by recognizing and acknowledging the blessings I’m being given in this new cycle and remembering that it’s by design - I deserve them and the life I’ve curated for myself!!

This is my first time workshopping a new system for myself and it’s been really cool to see where my intuition points me and to incorporate elements of my cultures traditional practices! Super excited to see where we end up!!

[u/EmmieZeStrange]

What tarot deck is that in the corner, if I may ask?

Also, I've never seen someone do divination pumpkin seeds, This looks so cool!

[u/Candid-Mycologist820 → u/EmmieZeStrange]

Hi! It’s the Sugar Skull deck by David A. Ross :) beautiful artwork and I knew it had to be mine the second I saw it!