Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 5.djvu/253

 "orthodox" and "intermediate" methods are altogether too complicated to be explained here, but the "abridged" is comparatively easy. It matters little, indeed, which method is employed, so far as the method itself is concerned; but since everything depends on the singleness of the diviner's mind and the fervour of his faith, and since ordinary men cannot hope to abstract themselves completely from their surroundings for any lengthy period, the quickest process is the most likely to give good results. The diviner, having thoroughly cleansed his body, seats himself perfectly upright in a secluded chamber, and reverentially grasps the fifty divining rods, remembering always that they are sacred media through which the purposes of the all powerful are revealed by the aid of certain numerical mutations. One of the rods — any one — is separated from the rest and set upright in the rod-rack, thus becoming the "great origin," The lower ends of the remaining rods are then held with the left hand, and their upper ends are slightly dovetailed. With the right hand, thumb inside, fingers outside, the forty-nine rods are now raised above the head. This is the supreme moment. The eyes are closed, the respiration is suspended, the thoughts are concentrated solemnly on the almighty intervention about to be invoked. Presently the senses are pervaded by a thrill indicating that communication with the supernatural has been established, and at that instant the rods are divided into two