‘Shooting the Lead’ – Another New Year tradition

I thought I knew about most forms of divination – but here’s one that was news to me and to everyone else I’ve mentioned it too since. Do you know what ‘shooting the lead’ is? A psychiatrist friend introduced us to this – he’s been doing it every New Year for the last 20 years because he finds it so interesting. The technical term for this practice is Molybdomancy – divination using molten metal. It originated in ancient Greece and became a New Year tradition in Scandinavia and German-speaking countries. At a party yesterday we were all queueing up to do it. You dissolve some solder in a ladle, and then drop it when liquefied into a bucket of cold water. The result is a unique sculpture, or sometimes several. A woman who loved the Tarot got a set of four clubs. I got the creation you can see above. Stephanie got a pearl in an oyster. Like a Rorschach you then free-associate to ideas and feelings that come from contemplating your New Year surprise.