One night, during the time I was writing The Mysteries of Isis, I had a dream of the ancient temples. A nighttime celebration was taking place, and I remember walking toward the high pylon gates, hearing music drifting out over the sands; the night was warm and bright with moonlight and hundreds of oil lamps illuminated the temple courtyards. Everyone was mingling together—temple staff and students, local residents, and a few merchants and travelers, all enjoying the music and dancing. The presiding priestess of the temple called everyone';s attention to a divine game about to be presented. She took hundreds of carved scarabs of all different colors and shapes, gathered them together into a net, and then swirled the net and scarabs above her head, suddenly releasing a corner and letting a rain of scarabs fall on the assembled crowd.

Whatever scarab touched us, that was the one that would be interpreted. My attention had been caught earlier in the evening by a young trader from far away, and now, the scarabs seemed determined to bring us together. One of the stone bugs bounced off of him, hit me, and then tangled in my robe. The resulting laughing efforts to extract our scarab attracted the attention of the high priestess, who came over to us. She noted that the shared scarab which had chosen us was one that indicated impending marriage.

From this dream, and extensive research into Egyptian arts of foretelling the future, I developed the Sacred Scarab divination system which has now manifested as the Egyptian Scarab Oracle kit and the book Sacred Scarabs for Divination and Personal Power. The kit includes the book, a pouch, and thirty scarabs designed and sculpted by Kerigwen.

I have always loved scarabs, and an ordination of mine was blessed by the spontaneous appearance of one which we passed from hand to hand. This dream seemed to be a special gift, a way of sharing the magic of scarabs. While today the ankh symbolizes ancient Egypt to us, in times past it was the scarab that was more frequently revered as a symbol of Egypt and of ever-changing life itself.

Khephera, the name of the sun in its form of a divine scarab beetle, is also the Egyptian word that means to become, to transform, to take on new shapes, new roles. It is a word of regeneration, of expanding the self and of taking on new forms, in life and in other planes of existence.

So when we hold a scarab in our hand, we are holding the essence of change and transformation. While the Egyptian Scarab Oracle can be used to foretell future trends, it is also ideal for bringing about personal change and growth. You are in charge of your own transformation; we are all self-created anew each and every day. You can passively accept the future as it weaves around you or, like Khephra going through the physical phases of transformation from grub to pupa to winged metallic beetle, you can choose to change and so alter the future. Any divination speaks to the person you are at that moment. Don't like the future? Change the local present, which is yourself, and what is to come will amend itself.

One of the reading patterns given in the Egyptian Scarab Oracle is the Double Arc of Nut. This pattern can be used in two ways—outlining approaching trends and situations, or revealing the strengths and weaknesses already active in an individual. It is also very insightful in considering different careers or job choices.

When using the Double Arc of Nut pattern for this purpose, simply hold the thought in your mind that you wish to understand your strengths and weaknesses as you draw the scarabs. Remember, too, that few traits of character are entirely one or the other. Lay out ten scarabs in an oval before you. Picture an imaginary horizon line dividing the scarabs into two groups, five active above the horizon, five lying nascent below. All that is above the line is positive, active, and in use; all that is below it, is challenging, latent, or intuitive. In some cases, those positive strengths above need the compensation below.

Interpreting from left to right above the horizon, you find those traits that are most active now. The first two scarabs are "morning" scarabs—influences which are just coming into play. The key scarab is in the middle or noon position, where it shines over all others. The last two are "afternoon" scarabs—parts of you that are diminishing in influence, though still active. Continuing under the horizon, you find the evening scarabs, distant influences, deep parts of yourself just beginning to exert a pull. At the center, at the place of the midnight scarab, you find what balances, modifies, or diminishes your brightness above. Proceeding on, you find the scarabs of the approaching dawn—latent influences that may be about to break through and affect your everyday reality in a more potent way. Read all together, this pattern gives you a grasp of what is active and "above the horizon" in your life as well as what is concealed in mystery "below the horizon."

As scarabs have always been used as amulets of protection and magic, the scarabs in the set can be carried to draw their influence to you. They can also be used to make traditional impressed images on foil or paper, which can be folded and carried for use as talismans.

Enjoy the magic of the mysterious scarabs!