Deception Disguised as Light: The Dark Side of Divination

Divination: Ancient Art or Spiritual Danger? What Every Christian Should Know

What Is Divination?

Divination is the art, practice, or gift of discerning or discovering future events or hidden knowledge through perceived supernatural means. It is a mystical practice dating back thousands of years and is deeply rooted in many ancient cultures. From the temples of Egypt and the oracle chambers of Greece to the royal courts of China and Babylon, divination was used to seek guidance, make political decisions, and uncover hidden truths.

Despite its seemingly mystical allure, divination has spiritual implications—especially from a Christian perspective—that warrant serious reflection and caution.

Examples of Divination Modalities

Divination encompasses a variety of tools and techniques. Some of the most commonly practiced forms include:

Tarot Cards: A deck of 78 cards used for divining spiritual insight and future outcomes. Each card holds symbolic imagery and archetypes believed to communicate messages from the spiritual realm.
Astrology: The study of celestial bodies' positions to interpret personality traits, predict events, or offer life guidance.
Palm Reading (Chiromancy): Interpreting the lines, shapes, and mounts of the hand to reveal information about a person’s character or destiny.
Runes: Stones or pieces of wood engraved with ancient letters or symbols, used for casting and interpreting outcomes.
Crystal Ball Gazing (Scrying): Using a reflective surface like a crystal ball or mirror to receive visions or impressions.
Pendulum Dowsing: A method in which a pendulum is used to answer yes/no questions based on its directional movement.
I Ching: An ancient Chinese system of divination based on a book of wisdom composed of 64 hexagrams.

These modalities all share a common goal: to gain insight beyond the natural realm, often bypassing divine authority.

The Purpose and Origins of Divination

The primary purpose of divination is to access hidden knowledge—about the future, one’s destiny, or spiritual matters—through supernatural or spiritual means. While often seen as empowering, this pursuit can shift dependency from God to other sources.

Historically, divination has no single founder. Instead, it evolved independently across various ancient civilizations:

Babylonian and Mesopotamian priests practiced hepatoscopy—reading animal livers for omens.
The Greeks consulted oracles like the Oracle of Delphi, believed to speak for Apollo.
The Chinese used oracle bones and the I Ching as early as 1200 BC.
Egyptians used dreams and astrology to discern divine will.

These systems were often rooted in polytheistic religions. Their practitioners believed in communicating with multiple gods, ancestral spirits, or cosmic forces, contrary to the monotheistic worship of the God of the Bible.

Divination and Religion: Worldviews in Contrast

Many divination systems are intertwined with pagan, Eastern, or New Age belief systems. These worldviews often emphasize:

Pantheism: The belief that the divine exists in everything.
Reincarnation and karma: Concepts from Eastern religions.
Spirit guides: Beings believed to assist humans spiritually.
Gnosis: Esoteric or hidden knowledge as a path to enlightenment.

These beliefs contrast sharply with Christian doctrine, which centers on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, salvation by grace, and the authority of Scripture.

How Divination Works (or Seems To)

Divination operates on the assumption that certain tools or practices can channel messages from spiritual sources. Practitioners claim to receive guidance from:

The “universe” or “higher self”
Spirit guides
Ancestral spirits
Unknown supernatural forces

Some results may appear accurate or eerily specific, creating a false sense of trust. However, the Bible teaches that not all spiritual knowledge comes from God. The enemy can disguise himself as light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and deceptive experiences may lead people further from the truth.

Why Christians Should Avoid Divination

The Bible is explicit in its condemnation of divination. This means those who practice divination or go to someone to know their future. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, God warns His people:

“Let no one be found among you who... practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft... Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”

Here are reasons Christians should avoid divination:

It Opens Spiritual Doors
Engaging in divination invites spiritual influences outside of God's authority. This can lead to demonic oppression, torment, and confusion.
It Replaces Dependence on God
Seeking answers from tarot cards or astrology creates a reliance on man-made systems instead of the Holy Spirit. This is a form of idolatry.
It Can Lead to Mental and Emotional Distress
Many people report anxiety, depression, or fear after engaging with divination. Rather than bringing peace, it often stirs inner turmoil.
It Can Lead You Away From Christ
As one becomes spiritually entangled, it becomes harder to hear God’s voice. One may become desensitized to sin, leading to spiritual apathy or rebellion.

Can Divination Lead to Torment?

Yes. While it may begin as a harmless curiosity, divination can act as a gateway to spiritual bondage. People who repeatedly dabble in divination often experience:

Nightmares or sleep disturbances
Hearing voices
Paranoia or fear
A sense of being watched or oppressed

Many Christian deliverance ministers testify that these symptoms are not just psychological, but spiritual. These manifestations often lift when the individual repents and renounces involvement with occult practices.

Freedom Through Christ

If you’ve engaged in divination, there is hope. Jesus came to set captives free (Luke 4:18). Freedom begins with:

Repentance – Acknowledge it as sin and ask God’s forgiveness.
Renunciation – Verbally break all ties with occult practices.
Deliverance – Seek prayer or counseling from a trusted, mature believer.
Filling with the Word and Spirit – Replace the counterfeit with truth. Spend time in Scripture and prayer.

God doesn’t leave us to guess our way through life. He has given us the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and prayer as safe, God-honoring ways to receive guidance.

Conclusion

Divination may seem like a helpful tool in uncertain times, but it carries serious spiritual risks. Rather than unlocking hidden truths, it can open doors to torment, lead to spiritual deception, and pull hearts away from the living God. For the believer, our future isn’t hidden in cards or stars—it’s secure in the hands of Christ.

Methods of discernment:

• Who was the founder of this modality?

• What was his/her spirituality?

• What culture did it come out of?

• What were their beliefs?

• Who is their God or gods?

Many occult practices in Christianity need to be discerned. Another method of discernment is the Word of God. The word of God is our measuring stick. The more we read the word, know the word, and have a relationship with the Lord, the more we discern right and wrong. We perish from a lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6 declares, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”

By Teresa Morin, President of Touch of God Int'l Ministries of Healing and Deliverance.

See list of occult practices.

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