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Smoke Billets

I've just come across this on Facebook, of all places.

You hold a piece of paper, or 'billet', over a candle flame to coat it with smoke and then interpret the images which apparently appear on the paper. The faces of the dead are supposed to appear.

I seem to remember reading about this, and may even have tried it, as a child. (Dunno though. Being a precocious reader of my father's Fortean books, I learned to set 'ghost traps' with talcum powder. Got several wallopings for that so I'd have had a memorable belting for messing with paper and a lit candle! Laughing

)

This is my project for tonight. I will post pictures.

If my house burns down, know that I did it in the name of pseudo-science. Wink

Posted: 29-03-2013 10:00 Post subject:

It's Easter, try for a face of Jesus.

Posted: 29-03-2013 12:42 Post subject:

I'm hoping other investigators will have a go too. Why should I be the only one living in a burnt-out shell this Easter? Laughing

Posted: 29-03-2013 18:55 Post subject:

Just be careful, this might lead you to poring over sheep's entrails or something before long.

Posted: 30-03-2013 08:11 Post subject:

Last night we popped out for a very fine curry so I wasn't up to dabbling in smoke-related jiggery-pokery. Tonight's looking better, though. Cool

Here are some instructions.

Oooh, how very ritualistic. Can't WAIT. Very Happy

Wait, sheep's entrails, you say?
Hmm…

Posted: 30-03-2013 20:29 Post subject:

Posted: 30-03-2013 22:52 Post subject:

We've had a go. Techy did two strikingly good ones, which appeared to depict a mother and child and, er, a cock'n'balls. Rolling Eyes

Posted: 30-03-2013 23:03 Post subject:

I just did this and lost an eyebrow.

I think the spirits were telling me I can't be trusted around fire.

Posted: 31-03-2013 19:51 Post subject:

Posted: 01-05-2013 01:53 Post subject:

escargot's anecdote number 14,212

Posted: 01-05-2013 06:39 Post subject:

The problem I've found with the smoke billets is that they're very messy. You only have to touch one lightly and you're covered from head to foot in candle smoke. Laughing

I'll have more time over the weekend and will have another go at burning the place down with them. Wink

Posted: 06-06-2013 18:46 Post subject:

The results in that video link all look really boring!

I might have a go and be very careful, don;t want to remind people about the court case. Embarassed

Posted: 07-06-2013 11:29 Post subject:

Never heard of this before, but I'll give it a try over the weekend Very Happy