Lecanomancy
Encyclopedia
Lecanomancy is a form of divination
which, like many ancient forms of divination, has multiple interpretations.
The earliest form of Lecanomany appears to have come from Ancient Babylonia
, though it is only mentioned in one lecanomantic text. Even there, there were two types of the divination used. Some court magicians would use inductive lecanomany; whereby the magician or priest would observe patterns of oil within water to predict the future. However, intuitive lecanomany is thought to have developed out of this, which merely required the magician to interpret ripples on the water through meditation.
There are also reports of inductive lecanomany being used by the Mesopotamians, though they sometimes substituted flour for oil.
In the Old Testament
the form of lecanomancy was used by Joseph utilised gold and silver slivers with what are called mysterious markings written on them. Their movement within the water was then interpreted to determine the future.
The Catawba
people used an entirely different system of divination, which is still classified as lecanomany, whereby a bowl of water was placed by a deceased person's head. On the third day of the bowl being present, the deceased's family would watch the bowl for ripples and these would be interpreted to determine the whereabouts of the deceased's soul.
In medieval Europe, lecanomancy was described as clear bowls being filled with water to determine the future. This is in stark contrast with earlier forms of the divination which used clay bowls or basins.
Other forms of lecanomancy throughout history involved dropping a rock in water and interpreting the ripples in the water. In yet another form, demons were thought to enter the water whose ripples were being interpreted, and were forced to answer questions by the scryer.
Divination
Divination is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic standardized process or ritual...
which, like many ancient forms of divination, has multiple interpretations.
The earliest form of Lecanomany appears to have come from Ancient Babylonia
Babylonia
Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia , with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as a major power when Hammurabi Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as...
, though it is only mentioned in one lecanomantic text. Even there, there were two types of the divination used. Some court magicians would use inductive lecanomany; whereby the magician or priest would observe patterns of oil within water to predict the future. However, intuitive lecanomany is thought to have developed out of this, which merely required the magician to interpret ripples on the water through meditation.
There are also reports of inductive lecanomany being used by the Mesopotamians, though they sometimes substituted flour for oil.
In the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
the form of lecanomancy was used by Joseph utilised gold and silver slivers with what are called mysterious markings written on them. Their movement within the water was then interpreted to determine the future.
The Catawba
Catawba
Catawba may refer to several things:*Catawba , a Native American tribe*Catawban languages-Botany:*Catalpa, a genus of trees, based on the name used by the Catawba and other Native American tribes*Catawba , a variety of grape...
people used an entirely different system of divination, which is still classified as lecanomany, whereby a bowl of water was placed by a deceased person's head. On the third day of the bowl being present, the deceased's family would watch the bowl for ripples and these would be interpreted to determine the whereabouts of the deceased's soul.
In medieval Europe, lecanomancy was described as clear bowls being filled with water to determine the future. This is in stark contrast with earlier forms of the divination which used clay bowls or basins.
Other forms of lecanomancy throughout history involved dropping a rock in water and interpreting the ripples in the water. In yet another form, demons were thought to enter the water whose ripples were being interpreted, and were forced to answer questions by the scryer.