Note: This will be the first of several entries on what I am calling the Stones of Light. Each week I will focus on a different stone from various traditions and cultures.
THE STONES OF LIGHT
Part One: The Urim and Thummim
Pictured: Urim and Thummim, Carolina Dean ©2021
The Urim and Thummim are devices mentioned in the Bible used to cast lots to determine the will of God. They take the form of two dissimilar stones which can be distinguished from one another by their color, type of stone, or words which have been engraved upon them (1 Samuel 28:6). They are known to be objects which are held in the breastplate and which are associated with a system of casting lots mentioned in the bible (Exodus: 28:30)
They usually take the form of a white stone and a black stone that are indistinguishable from one another except by their color. The white-stone is called Urim meaning light and the black stone is called Thummim meaning perfection . Some scholars have interpreted this names and meaning Revelation and Truth. I then to think of them as perfect light or enlightenment.
The precise manner in which to operate the Urim and Thummim is largely unknown. Biblical scholars looks to 1 Samuel 14 as the lynchpin to understanding how Urim and Thummim were used to cast lots. This Chapter describes an attempt to divine the identity of a sinner by use of the Urim and Thummim. Essentially every one present was divined into two group and lots were drawn to see which group contained the sinner. After each lot was drawn, the group believed to contain the sinner was divided in half and half again until only one person remained and they were believed to be the sinner who had angered God.
It has also been theorized that the Urim (a white stone) represents no while Thummim (a black stone) represent yes. To use the stones, they are placed in a bag, an objective question is asked and a stone is drawn unseen from the bag. The answer will then be given as either a yes (black stone) or a no (white stone). By process of elimination one may arrive at more complex answers as in the case above. For example, let us say that you wish to know the name of the person who cursed you. You may write down all the names of your suspects on separate pieces of paper. I would also advise you to include a slip of paper which says unknown to account for the culprit possibly being someone you do not know. Next, divide the names into groups which you designate Group A or Group B.
Now, place your hand in the bag containing your Urim and Thummim and swirl them around asking something like: Is the name of the person who cursed me in Group A? If the answer is yes, you would divide Group A in half and continue casting lots until only one name remains. If the answer is no, then logic dictates the name of the person who cursed you was in Group B. In this case, you set aside Group A and divide Group B in half and continue in this manner until only one name remains.
In the book of Proverbs 16:33 it states “The lot is cast in the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord,” meaning that the person casts the lot but every outcome is determined by God. Therefore, when using the Urim and Thummim you are to trust the first answer that is given and do not keeping asking until you get the answer you want - this is a good rule of thumb for any divination system in general.
In the book The Alchemist by Paul Coehlo the Urim and Thummin are explained in the following manner:
"Take these," said the old man, holding out a white stone and a black stone that had been embedded at the center of the breastplate. "They are called Urim and Thummim. The black signified 'yes,' and the white 'no.' When you are unable to read the omens, they will help you to do so. Always ask an objective question.
Santiago, the Shepard boy who receives the Urim and Thummim keeps them and uses the device throughout the story to guide him on his journey as he searches for his greatest treasure.
In addition to using the Urim and Thummim for divination, I carry a set of them with me in a muslin bag each day as this was something that I was felt led to do by Spirit. It is my belief that the Urim and Thummim also act as talismans. The Urim (white stone) brings good things to you and the Thummim (black stone) keeps the bad away. Finally, I also keep a set of Urim and Thummin on my Ancestor Altar to represent my ancestors .
Urim and Thumum: The Mormon Perspective
The Mormon Religion has it's own version of the Urim and Thummim. These take the form of lenses fashioned into a pair or glasses which they refer to as spectacles or interpreters. According to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, he was lead by an angel to dig up some golden plates which detailed the history of ancient inhabitants of North America. The spectacles were found along with the plates and Joseph used them to translate the contents of the plates into English and this became the Book of Mormon. However, all of this is widely disputed.
In other version, Smith also found a seer stone along with the Golden Plates which he used for scrying purposes. His method of scrying entailed placing his seer stone into a hat and then place his own face into the hat, blocking out all the light and thus receiving visions. Nonetheless, there is evidence to suggest that Smith owned several seer stones throughout his life and owned at least one before he claimed to find the Golden Plates. We will talk about seer stones in a future entry in this series.
- Carolina Dean
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