The Tradition of Lead Melting

There is an old tradition in Turkish culture that is used to get rid of bad luck. It involves pouring melted lead into a bowl of water. The steam that is produced by doing so is sometimes seen as a cleansing action. The lead will immediately solidify in the water and then can be "read" to see if your bad luck will end and what your near future will bring. The lead can be found at mechanic and hardware type stores and tends to come in thin sheets. The lead can be melted in a pot on the stove, or in a spoon over a flame. Do not use the pot again, as lead is toxic. There are many interpretations of this tradition, including holding the bowl over your head as you pour in the lead. The reading of the lead is a personal thing, however some shapes (such as the lead curling into a ball) have more universal meanings.