If you are in a difficult situation and you need to know how many people or forces oppose you, take 21 new sewing needles and place them in a bowl. Carefully pour water into the bowl. The number of needles that cross each other are the number against you in your present situation.
Another variation for Yes / No questions is if the number of crossed needles is greater than the number that remain uncrossed the answer is NO.
If more needles remain uncrossed the answer is YES. If they are about equal, then rephrase your question.
~from Maat's Book of Shadows