Any helpful tips for practicing divination? I have a difficult time getting into a meditative state.

I share your problem -- an overactive mind, an imagination that sometimes seems to be its own separate intelligence inside my head, and tinnitus in *both* ears makes that kind of mental blankness/openness very difficult to attain. There's also a positive feedback loop that gets in the way: I have trouble fully clearing my mind so I start stressing about fully clearing my mind which makes it more difficult to clear my mind which increases my stress over not clearing my mind which... <sigh> On and on. :-(

However, all is not lost. :-) I work with cartomancy (Tarot plus I'm beginning to use a non-tarot oracle that's been laying around for years) and runes, and am beginning to experiment with a pendulum, and I've found a couple of tricks that seem to be working...

1) If I achieve what feels like the right state of mind, even just for a few moments, then I just run with it. This could be a deep blankness, or just the feeling of, "Yeah, I can ask that question now" or something in-between. This allows me to start to work with the tool I'm using without stressing over being unable to get into a trancelike meditative state.

2) I've stopped worrying about getting into the right state of mind and simply try to concentrate on my question, repeating it (usually silently) at least 3-4 times before laying out cards or drawing runestones from their bag. As long as I can clearly recall the question I'm working with, the message seems to get through the ground clutter of other thoughts.

3) Sometimes I'll just hold the deck of cards or bag of runestones in my hand and gently just move it around, creating a sort of tactile connection while my mind just kind of flirts with the question I want to ask. I don't concentrate on anything -- I may even be listening to music or even watching a video; I just keep moving my deck or bag around in my hands while the question floats in & out of my mind for a few minutes. Then, when that intangible "something" everyone talks about tells me I'm ready, I'll state my question out loud and start the spread/drawing.

I hope some of this helps you...!

I hear you on this! I have two daughters, my husband, two dogs and 3 cats who always seem to know when I am looking for quiet time lol! Plus I have a wandering wondering mind that likes to try to think about a billions things instead of focus on a few things. I agree with Brian NobleHeartedLion on not worrying about the perfect state of mind. If you have a few minutes to pull a rune, card or to think and focus on an intention then just go for it. I try to pull a rune or oracle card daily and if that doesn’t work at least weekl. The rune goes into my jacket pocket for the day and the card goes on my little alter On top if the microwave. Yes I said alter on the microwave, it’s in a place I can see it often, and go by it constantly. Plus my husband and kids see it and they will often ask (more so our daughters asking), what rune I got for the day or what does the card or cards mean. Yes sometimes the proc is rushed but I look at it as at least I Am making a conscious effort to practice daily-weekly. Sometimes a witch just has to do what a witch can manage lol. Good luck if finding the right headspace and flow for you and your practice.