The Book of Destiny (Book Review)

The Book of Destiny by Barbara Meiklejohn-Free and Flavia Kate Peters

The Book of Destiny is an impressive oracle book. It takes a very multifaceted look at each of the symbols represented, which means that you have many angles to look at any given result. This oracle could be used, exactly as it is, for quick insight or a direction for further introspection, or it could be a launching point for further research and delving into the meaning of each symbol.

There is an extensive amount of symbols presented in The Book of Destiny: 111 to be exact. And each one is given two pages, one of which is picture based and the other word based. The picture pages include an image of the symbol, it's name and a keyword that is represented by it all surrounded by a knot work border. The word page has a quote that relates to the symbol, a section that explains the symbol from an oracle standpoint, a section that includes historical use of the symbol and it's relevance and advice for how to apply the symbols wisdom in your life.

Some of the symbols are common, like the four leaf clover or the raven, while others are more specific and unusual, like the crystal skull or dowsing. It was interesting to read how the less traditional oracle symbols were interpreted, and I definitely feel that it opens up a lot of room for thinking about symbols in new ways.

What I found really interesting is that there sometimes isn't an obvious connection between all the information presented. For example, the symbol of the Broomstick is given the keyword 'Composure', and the quote for it is 'don't fly off the handle'. These two mesh very well with the first explanation that keeping your cool and maintaining your self-control will serve you better than loosing your temper. But much of the historical use of a broom centers around cleansing or fertility. The advice for the broomstick is to clear out old and make way for new.

Personally I like this, as there is a lot of different ways to interpret each symbol. I love the inclusion of the quotes. That is a really neat way to tap into the wisdom of any symbol and there are so many sayings that we use all the time that tie into these very common symbols, which makes it highly accessible. I also found the historical tidbits to be wonderful, as it often gave insight into how the meaning of the symbol has evolved. We may be familiar with how an item is used now or what it means in a modern context, but may not be aware of the roots of some of these meanings.

The advice at the end I felt gave a good practical step. Sort of the answer to 'what now?' that sometimes comes up when you draw a symbol and may understand what it means but may also be unsure as to how to move forward with that information.

I felt that each section was broad enough to give you lots of room to find the information that speaks to you in any given situation. It could be used to seek answers on a broad variety of topics, without running into situations where the symbol you get can't be applied to your question or problem. Sometimes you may need to do some thinking or look at things from a different perspective, but I find that to be part of the answer seeking process, so I like that it isn't too specific.

I also think that this leaves you with lots of jumping points for delving into any of the symbols deeper. Whether you just want to explore a particular symbol because it resonates with you or you have a tricky problem that you think you need to work in depth on, you can use this book as a starting point and research any of the leads it gives you to come to a more thorough understanding of the points presented. There were lots of times where I read something, especially in the 'revealed' (where the historical information was presented) that I wanted to know more about and was interested in doing further reading to see where it went.

The copy of the Book of Destiny that I have is digital, which I actually found rather clunky. I think this book was intended to be a physical book, and though it is still usable in digital form, it isn't nearly as user friendly. When doing my read through (and I read it from front to back), I found myself wishing the picture page came before the word page. So what I ended up doing was flipping two pages forward, looking at the symbol and keyword, then flipping back and reading the actual text. I also think that it would be a bit trickier to use it as an Oracle, though of course you could pick a random number and then read up on the symbol you picked. This does make it a handy thing to keep on your phone for using while you are out and about!

I definitely enjoyed this book, and I think that it offers up quite a lot of information. I would highly recommend getting a physical copy unless you wanted it specifically as an away from home oracle. The book can absolutely be used it as it is, but there is also lots of inspiration for going deeper into any of the symbols, should you desire to do so. It can serve as both an introduction to what different symbols mean as well as an alternative to oracle decks for divination.