Wikipedia / Methods of divination
Wikipedia / Methods of divination
Methods of divination can be found around the world, and many cultures practice the same methods under different names. During the Middle Ages, scholars coined terms for many of these methods—some of which had hitherto been unnamed—in Medieval Latin, very often utilizing the suffix when the art seemed more mystical (ultimately from Ancient Greek , , 'prophecy' or 'the power to prophesy') and the suffix when the art seemed more scientific (ultimately from Greek , , 'to observe'). Names like drimimantia, nigromantia, and horoscopia arose, along with phrenology and physiognomy.
Some forms of divination are much older than the Middle Ages, like haruspication, while others such as coffee-based tasseomancy originated in the 20th and 21st centuries.
The chapter "How Panurge consulteth with Herr Trippa" of Gargantua and Pantagruel, a parody on occult treatises of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, contains a list of over two dozen "mancies", described as "common knowledge".
A
abacomancy (also amathomancy): by dust (Hebrew , + Greek , )
acultomancy (also acutomancy): by needles (from acutomancy below, influenced by Latin , , or , )
acutomancy → see (Latin [], + Greek , )
adromancy → see (from idromancy below, influenced by alomancy)
adryomancy→ see (metathesis of hydromancy)
aeromancy : by atmospheric conditions (Greek , + , )
agalmatomancy : by statues (Greek [], + , )
aichmomancy : by sharp objects (Greek , + , )
ailuromancy/aeluromancy → see
aiomancy: By artificial intelligence
alectormancy/alectromancy : by rooster sacrifice (Greek , + , )
alectryomancy/alectoromancy: by rooster divination → see
aleuromancy¹ : by flour; see also (Greek , 'meal' + , )
alomancy/Halomancy (also adromancy): by salt (Greek , + , )
alphitomancy: by barley (Greek [], + , )
alveromancy : by sounds
amathomancy → see by sand (Greek , + , )
ambulomancy : by walking (Latin , + Greek , )
amniomancy : by placenta (Greek , 'amnion' + , )
anemoscopy/anemomancy : by wind (Greek , + , )
anthomancy : by flowers (Greek , + , )
anthracomancy : by burning coals (Greek [], + , )
anthropomancy : by human sacrifice (Greek , + , )
anthroposcopy : by physical appearance (Greek , + , )
apantomancy : by chance encounters with animals (Greek , + , )
arachnomancy : by spiders (Greek grcarakhnē, + , )
archeomancy/archaeomancy : by sacred relicss (Greek , + , )
ariolation : by altars (Latin , , )
arithmancy: assigning numerical value to a word or phrase
armomancy : by one's own shoulders (Latin , + Greek , )
årsgång, archaic form of Swedish divination
aruspicina: study of entrails
aspidomancy : by sitting in a drawn circle or on a shield (Greek [, + , )
astragalomancy/astragalamancy → see
astragyromancy → see (from astragalomancy above, perhaps influenced by Greek , , and therefore vertebra)
astrapomancy : by lightning (Greek , + , )
astrology/astromancy/ : by celestial bodies (Greek , + , ). This method was widespread in medieval period, particularly in Mesopotamia.
augury → see
auramancy : by aurass (Greek , + , )
auspicy/auspication → see (Latin , + , )
austromancy → see : by wind (Latin , + Greek , )
avimancy → see (Latin , + Greek , )
axiomancy/axinomancy : by axes (Latin , + , )
B
batraquomancy/batrachomancy : by frogs (Greek , + , )
belomancy/bolomancy : by arrows (from bolomancy below, influenced by Greek , , or , )
bibliomancy → see
biorhythmicic divination: by biorhythms
bletonism/bletonomancy : by water current (named for Monsieur Bleton, a French bletonist)
bolomancy → see (Greek , + , )
bone-throwing: the tossing of pieces of bone or wood, practiced by various cultures
botanomancy : by burning pieces of plants, documented with burning vervain and briar. (Greek , 'flora' + , )
brizomancy → see (Greek , + , )
brontomancy/brontoscopy : by thunder (Greek , + , )
bumpology : by bumps on the skin (English bump + Greek , )
C
cabala → see
canomancy or : by dogs (Latin , + Greek , )
capnomancy : by smoke (Greek , + , )
libanomancy : by smoke or ash from incense (Greek , 'frankincense' + , )
carromancy : by melting wax (Greek , + , )
cartopedy → see (Latin , + [], )
cartomancy → see
catoptromancy/captromancy → see
causimancy/causimomancy : by burning (Greek [], + , )
cephalomancy → see
cephaleonomancy/cephalonomancy: by boiling a donkey's head (Greek , [with meaning influenced by Greek , ] + , )
ceraunoscopy : by thunder and lightning (Greek , + , )
ceromancy/ceroscopy : by dripping wax in water (Greek , + , )
chalcomancy: by striking gongs or copper bowls (Greek , + , )
chaomancy : by aerial visions (Greek , 'primordial space' + , )
chartomancy : by things on paper (Greek , + , )
cartomancy : by cards (Latin , + Greek , )
Parrot astrology: by parrots picking cards
stichomancy : by books or lines (Greek , + , )
aleuromancy² : by fortune cookies (of the same origin as ¹)
bibliomancy : by the Bible (Greek , + , )
stoicheomancy/stoichomancy: by the Iliad and the Odyssey or the Aeneid (Greek , + , ; to the Greeks, Homer's writings were held in similar esteem to the Christian Bible or the Muslim Quran, as were Virgil's writings to the Romans, making them the basic — or elementary — reading material in each culture)
cheiromancy/chiromancy→ see
cheirognomy/chirognomy → see
→ see
choriomancy : by pig bladders (Greek , 'placenta' + mantiea, )
chresmomancy : by the ravings of lunatics (Greek , , chresm + , )
chronomancy : by apt occasion (Greek , + , )
cineromancy/ceneromancy → see (Latin [], + Greek , )
clamancy (see also Fāl-gūsh): by random shouts and cries heard in crowds, at night, etc. (Latin , + Greek , )
cledonism/cledonomancy : by chance events or overheard words (Greek , )
cleidomancy/clidomancy : by keys (Greek [], + , )
cleromancy : by casting (Greek , 'lot' + , )
astragalomancy/astragalamancy (also cubomancy): by dice (Greek , 'vertebra' + , )
domino divination: by dominoes
favomancy : by beans (Latin , + Greek , )
Ogham casting: by Ogham letters
cometomancy : by comet tails (Greek , + , )
colormancy/coloromancy: by colors (English color + Greek , )
conchomancy : by shells (Greek , 'mussel' + , )
cosquinomancy/coscinomancy : by hanging sieves (Greek , + , )
cottabomancy/cottobomancy : by wine in a brass bowl (Greek , 'cottabus' + , )
craniognomy or → see (Greek , + , )
the crawling baby: by a baby's crawling
crithomancy/critomancy : by barley cakes (Greek , + , )
cromnyomancy/cromniomancy : by onion sprouts (alteration of Greek , + , )
cryptomancy : by omens (Greek , + , )
cryomancy : by ice (Greek , + , )
crystal ball gazing → see
crystal gazing → see
crystallomancy → see (Greek , + , )
cubomancy → see (Greek , + , )
cyathomancy : by cups (Greek , + , )
cybermancy : by computer oracles (English + Greek , )
cyclicomancy : by swirling water in a cup (Greek , + , )
cyclomancy or : by wheels (Greek , + , )
D
dactyliomancy : by finger rings (Greek , + , )
dactylomancy : by means of finger movements (Greek , + , )
daphnomancy : by burning laurel wreaths (Greek , + , )
demonomancy : by demons (Greek , + , )
dendromancy : by trees, especially oaks, yewss, or mistletoe (Greek , + , )
deuteroscopy : by second glance or double take (Greek , + , )
dictiomancy : by randomly opening a dictionary (English + Greek , )
divining → see
djubed→ see
: by animal horoscope (Japanese , + , )
domino divination → see
dowsing (also divining, water witching): by a divining rod (of unknown origin)
dracomancy : by dragons (Greek , + , )
dream questions: by dreaming
dririmancy/driromancy : by dripping blood (alteration of drimimancy, influenced by Middle English , ). Compare hemotomancy.
drimimancy/drymimancy : by bodily fluids (Greek , + , )
E
electromancy: by lightning and electricity (Greek + )
eleomancy/elaeomancy: by oil (Greek , olive + , )
emonomancy → see
empirimancy: by experiment/experience
empyromancy : by burning (Greek , + , )
encromancy: by oil ink stains (Greek + )
enochian chess: by playing a four·handed variant of the game
enoptromancy → see (Greek , 'looking glass' + , )
enthusiasm: speeches by those supposed to be possessed by a divine spirit
entomomancy/entomancy: by insects (Greek , + , )
eromancy : by water vessels exposed to air (Greek , + , ) — cf. aeromancy
extispicy/extispication : by the remains of sacrificed animals (Latin , + , )
F
favomancy → see
felidomancy → see (Latin [], + Greek , )
floriography/floromancy : by flowers' feelings (Latin [flōr-], + Greek , )
fractomancy : by fractals (English + Greek , )
fructomancy/fructimancy: by fruit (Latin , + Greek , )
Futomani is the Shinto tradition of divining from the shoulder blade bone of a sacred deer.
G
galvanoscopy : by galvanism (English + Greek , )
gastromancy¹ → see
gastromancy² : by guttural sounds (Greek , + , )
geomancy : by earth (Greek |, + , )
geloscopy : by laughter (Greek , + , )
gematria: by the Hebrew alphabet (Greek , + , )
genethlialogy: by birth dates (Greek , 'birthday' + , )
grammomancy : by writing individual letters (Greek , + , )
graphology (also graptomancy): by studying handwriting (Greek , + , )
graptomancy → see (Greek , + , )
gyromancy : by dizziness (Greek , + , )
H
hagiomancy: by saints (Greek , + , )
halomancy → see
: by bones or dice
haruspicy/haruspication → see (Latin , + , )
heliomancy: by the Sun (Greek , + , )
hematomancy/haematomancy : by blood (Greek [], + , )
hepatoscopy/hepatomancy (also haruspicy, haruspication): by liver (Greek [], + , )
hieromancy/hieroscopy : by studying sacrifices' entrails (Greek , + , )
hippomancy → see
horoscopy : aspect of the Stars at nativity (Greek , + , )
hydatomancy: by rainwater (Greek , + , )
hydromancy/hydroscopy → see
hyomancy: by wild hogs (Greek , + , )
hypnomancy : by sleep (Greek , + , )
I
I Ching divination: by yarrow stalks or coins
ichnomancy : by footprints (Greek , + , )
ichthyomancy → see
iconomancy : by icons (Greek , + , )
idolomancy : by idolss (Greek , + , )
idromancy → see (Greek , + , )
: geomancy patterns generated with palm nuts, opele, cowrie shells, etc. that refer to divination texts; a collection of verses
iridology: by eye color (Greek [], 'iris' + , )
isopsephy: by numbers and letters (Greek , + , )
J
: Vedic system of astrology
K
: by bamboo
: by rice gruel
kephalonomancy → see
keraunomancy → see
knissomancy : by incense (Greek [kniss-], + , )
kypomancy → see (akin to Greek , + , )
L
labiomancy : by lips (Latin , + Greek , )
lampadomancy : by flame (Greek [], + , )
lecanomancy/lecanoscopy : by a basin of water (Greek , + , )
letnomancy: by secrets (English let no (man see) + Greek , )
libanomancy → see and (Greek , 'frankincense' + , )
literomancy : by a letter in a written language (Latin , + Greek , )
lithomancy : by gems or stones (Greek , + , )
logarithmancy : by logarithms (English logarithm + Greek , )
logomancy : by words (Greek , + , )
lots: divination through chance, or the drawing or tossing of lots
lunamancy → see (Latin , + Greek , )
lychnomancy : by candles (Greek , + , )
M
macharomancy: by swords or knives (Greek , 'dirk' + , )
macromancy : by large objects (Greek , + , )
maculomancy : by spots on the skin (Latin , + , )
mahjong divination: by Mahjong tiles
margaritomancy : by bouncing pearls (Greek , + , )
mathemancy : by mathematics (English + Greek , )
mazomancy : by nursing (Greek , + , )
meconomancy : by sleeping (Greek , [i.e., an opiate] + , )
megapolisomancy: by large cities (English megalopolis + Greek , )
meilomancy: by moless
metagnomy or : by magic (Greek , + , )
meteormancy : by meteors (English meteor + Greek , )
meteoromancy : by thunder and lightning (Greek , + , )
metoposcopy/metopomancy : by the lines of the forehead (Greek , + , )
micromancy : by small objects (Greek , + , )
moleosophy or : by blemishes (English mole + Greek , )
molybdomancy : by molten metal (Greek , + , )
moromancy : by foolishness (Greek , + , )
myomancy → see
myrmomancy → see
N
narcomancy : by sleep (Greek , + , )
natimancy → see (Latin , + Greek , )
necromancy¹ : by speaking to the dead, by corpses (Greek , + , )
necyomancy : by summoning damned souls (Greek , 'invocation' + , )
nephomancy : by clouds (Greek , + , )
nigromancy : by black magic (Latin , + Greek , )
nomancy or → see (variant of onomancy, influenced by Latin , )
nggàm → see
numerology : by numbers (Latin , + Greek , )
numismatomancy: by coins (Greek [], + , )
O
oculomancy : by eyes (Latin , + Greek , )
odontomancy : by teeth (Greek [], + , )
oenomancy/oinomancy : by wine (Greek , + , )
ololygmancy : by the howling of dogs (Greek [], + , )
omoplatoscopy → see (Greek , + , )
omphalomancy : by navels (Greek , + , )
oneiromancy/oneiroscopy : by dreams (Greek , + , )
onimancy → see
onomancy/onomomancy/nomancy : by letters in a name (Greek , + , )
onomomancy → see
onychomancy/onymancy/onimancy : by finger· and toenails (Greek [], + , )
onymancy → see
oomancy/ooscopy (also ovomancy): by eggs (Greek , + , )
ophidiomancy/ophiomancy → see
ophthalmomancy → see (Greek , + , )
organoscopy → see (Greek , 'organ' + , )
orniscopy/ornithomancy → see
oromancy: by mountains (Greek , + , )
oryctomancy: by minerals (Greek , + , )
ossomancy → see (Latin [], + Greek , )
osteomancy: by bones (Greek , + , )
Ouija/Ouije: by ouija board (French , + German , )
ouranomancy → see
ovomancy → see (Latin , + Greek , )
P
Pagtatawas by reading melted alum
pallomancy: by pendulums (Greek , + , )
palmistry/palm reading → see (Latin , )
papyromancy: by folding paper, especially paper money (Greek , + , )
pedomancy → see (from podomancy, influenced by Latin [], )
pegomancy: by fountains (Greek , + , )
pessomancy: by pebbles (Greek , + , )
pecthimancy/petchimancy: by brushed cloth (possibly akin to Greek , to card wool, or , + , )
phallomancy: by swing of the phallus (Greek , + , )
phobomancy: by feelings of fear (Greek , + , )
photomancy: by fields of light (Greek [], + , )
phrenology (also organoscopy): by the configuration of one's brain (Greek , + , )
phyllomancy: by leaves (Greek , + , )
sycomancy: by fig leaves (Greek , + , )
tasseography/tasseomancy (also kypomancy): by tea leaves or coffee grounds (French , + Greek , )
phyllorhodomancy: by rose petals (Greek , + , + , )
physiognomy/physiognomancy: by faces (Greek , + , )
phytognomy: by the appearance of plants (Greek , + , )
plastromancy: by cracks formed by heat on a turtle's plastron (English plastron + , )
pilimancy: by observing the patterns produced by a collection of human hair
plumbomancy: by observing shapes molten lead makes when poured in water (Latin , + Greek , )
pneumancy: by blowing (Greek , + , )
podomancy/pedomancy → see
poe divination: by throwing stones on the floor, practised at Taoist temples
launsetportentano (also launsetostentano): study of natural phenomena
psephomancy: by lots or ballots (Greek , + , )
pseudomancy: by false means (Greek , + , )
psychognomy: by phrenological (Greek , + , )
psychomancy → see ¹ (Greek , + , )
ptarmoscopy/ptarmoscopie: the interpretation of sneezes (from Ancient Greek)
pyromancy/pyroscopy: by fire (Greek , + , )
Q
→ see
R
radiesthesia: by rods, pendulums, or other cylindrical tools (Latin , 'spoke' + Greek , )
retromancy: by looking over one's shoulder (Latin , + Greek , )
rhabdomancy/rabdomancy: by rods, sticks, or wands (Greek , + , )
rhapsodomancy: by poetry (Greek , + , )
roadomancy: by constellations (apparently from Old English , 'firmament' + Greek , )
runecasting → see
S
scapulimancy/scapulomancy (also spatulamancy, omoplatoscopy): by bovine or caprid shoulder blades (Latin , + Greek , )
scarpomancy: by old shoes (Italian , + Greek , )
scatomancy: by excrement (Greek [], + , )
schematomancy → see
sciomancy¹ (also shadowmancy): by shadows (Greek , + , )
sciomancy²: by spirits (of the same origin as sciomancy¹)
scrying: by gazing (shortened from descrying)
crystal gazing: by reflective objects
catoptromancy/captromancy (also enoptromancy, djubed): by mirrors (Greek , + , )
gastromancy¹ (also crystallomancy, spheromancy, crystal ball gazing): by crystal ball (Greek , [i.e., round object] + , )
hydromancy (also ydromancy): by water (Greek , + , )
selenomancy: by the moon (Greek , + , )
shadowmancy → see ¹ (English shadow + Greek , )
shufflemancy: by the use of an electronic media player such as an electronic playlist, iPod, or other medium wherein one skips a certain number of songs and the lyrics and/or tune of the song is the answer to the divinatory question
sideromancy: by burning straw with an iron (Greek , 'iron' + , )
: by drawing sixteen lines in sand (perhaps a Malagasy transliteration of English sixteen)
skatharomancy: by beetle tracks (Greek , + , )
/: by animal shoulder blades (Scottish Gaelic , )
solaromancy: by the sun (Latin [], + Greek , )
somatomancy: by the human form (Greek [], + , )
cephalomancy (also craniognomy): by skulls (Greek , + , )
cheiromancy/chiromancy (also palmistry, palm reading): by palms (Greek , + , )
cheirognomy/chirognomy : by hands (Greek , + , )
podomancy/pedomancy (also cartopedy): by the soles of one's feet (Greek [], + , )
schematomancy: by the face (Greek [], + , )
sortilege: by the casting of lots, or sortes
spasmatomancy: by convulsions (alteration of spasmodomancy, from Greek [], + , )
spatilomancy: by animal excrement (Greek , + , )
spatulamancy → see (from scapulimancy, influenced by Latin , 'splint')
spheromancy → see (Greek , 'sphere' + , )
sphondulomancy: by spindless (Greek , + , )
splanchnomancy → see (Greek , + , )
spodomancy: by soot (Greek , + , )
cineromancy/ceneromancy: by the ashes of a specifically sacrificial or ritual fire
libanomancy : by smoke or ash from incense (Greek , 'frankincense' + , )
tephramancy/tephromancy: by tree bark ashes, by sacrificial or ritual fire ashes, or human sacrificial victim ashes (Greek , + , )
stareomancy: by the four elements (Greek [], + , )
stercomancy: by seeds in bird excrement (Latin , + Greek , )
sternomancy: by ridges on the breastbone (Greek , + , )
stichomancy → see
stigonomancy: by burning writing onto bark (Greek [], + , )
stoicheomancy/stoichomancy → see
stolisomancy: by fashion (Greek , + , )
styramancy: by observing patterns produced by chewing gum, gum wax, or products produced by the L. styraciflua tree
sycomancy → see
symbolomancy: by things found on the road (Greek , + , )
T
taromancy → see
tasseography/tasseomancy → see
technomancy: by technology (English + Greek , )
temurah: → see
tephramancy/tephromancy: → see (Greek , + , )
theomancy: foretelling events, prophecy (Greek , + , )
theriomancy : (also zoomancy): by animal behavior (Greek , + , )
ailuromancy/aeluromancy (also felidomancy): by cats (Greek , + , )
alectryomancy/alectoromancy : by rooster behavior (Greek , + , )
augury: by bird formations (Latin , )
hippomancy : by horse behavior (Greek , + , )
ichthyomancy : by fish behavior (Greek , + , )
myomancy : by rodent behavior (Greek , + , )
myrmomancy : by ant behavior (Greek , + , )
ophidiomancy/ophiomancy: by snake behavior (Greek [], + , )
orniscopy/ornithomancy (also auspicy/auspication, avimancy): by bird migration (Greek [], + , )
thumomancy : by one's own soul, presage (Greek , + , )
topomancy : by geography and geological formations (Greek , + , )
transataumancy: by things accidentally seen or heard
trochomancy : by wheel rutss (Greek , + , )
turifumy: by shapes in smoke (Latin [], + , )
tyromancy/tiromancy : by cheese (Greek , + , )
U
umbilicomancy: by umbilical cords (English + Greek , )
umbromancy: by shade (Latin , + Greek , )
uranomancy/ouranomancy: by the sky (Greek , + , )
V
W
water witching → see
wishbone → see
X
xenomancy: by strangers (Greek , + , )
xylomancy: by the shape or texture of wood, or the appearance of burning wood (Greek , + , )
Y
ydromancy¹ → see
ydromancy² → see (from idromancy above, influenced by alomancy)
Z
zoomancy → see (Greek , + , )
zygomancy: by weights (Greek , + , )
zeteomancy: by seeking out knowledge
See also
References