We’ll start with a description of the components of this four bone system:
• Thola- is a short, fat bone. Its weighty appearance represents a hidden strength, which may not be apparent at first, which factors into either the problem being addressed, or its solution. Thola has a friendly, relaxed spirit and it lends a positive note to the reading. This bone can also represent a female or feminine influence in the matter.
• Cohado- is a long, slender bone. It is concerned with more long-term matters and a long-term approach to life. It can imply a powerful, enduring element which runs through the whole question at hand. Cohado wields more authority over a reading, especially when it points to the same segment of the casting map as Thola. Cohado can serve to lessen the negative influence associated with Scita. Cohado can also represent a male, or masculine influence in the matter.
• Scita- is a broken bone. This bone represents problems, areas of concern, or impending worries. Scita is at its strongest and most negative when Thola and Cohado are pointing to different segments of the casting map from Scita. If the feeble bone, Imbay points to the same segment as Scita, it tends to reinforce whatever negativity or concern Scita represents, meaning there is additional cause for concern. Scita can also represent the influence of a physically or mentally ‘broken’ individual in the matter.
• Imbay is the smallest and least-powerful of the bones. This represents the more lightweight and impermanent, temporary aspects of the problem or issue at hand. This bone serves as a modifier, lending additional weight to whatever bone it aligns with when they point to the same segment. Imbay can play a refining role and lend clarity to any unclear elements of the reading. Imbay can also represent a child’s or diminutive person’s influence in the matter.
• Two Red Jasper stones- represent evil influences, bad luck, illness, or misfortune in the reading. If they land near, or come in contact with Scita, they can reinforce that bone’s negative message and emphasize the area of concern. It’s up to the reader to discern what specific kind of ill-fortune the Jasper stones are indicating, depending on where they fall.
• Two Tiger Eye stones-represent good influences which come from the inquirer him or herself, either because of any efforts they’ve made on their own behalf, or because they used common sense. If they land near, or come in contact with a positive bone, such as Thola or Cohado, it reinforces the positive nature of these bones.
• Two large seeds, such as a peach pit, an apricot pit or other similar large seed. These two large seeds represent “the wisdom of the ancients” which is supposed to protect and guide the inquirer. These seeds can represent the care and guidance of the Ancestors.
Even though there are four stones and two large seeds included in this set, for simplicity’s sake, these are collectively called ‘the Bones.’ If you don’t want to go the route of eating a whole roasted chicken from the hot-table at your local grocery store to get the right set bones, it is an entirely-acceptable alternative to buy clay (polymer or otherwise) from a craft supplies store and make your own. Certainly it’s more sanitary.