Methods of divination
Encyclopedia
Innumerable 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
-mantia when the art seemed more mystical (ultimately from Greek mantis, prophet) and the suffix -scopia when the art seemed more scientific (ultimately from Greek skopein, to observe). Names like drimimantia, nigromantia, and horoscopia turned up, along with a slew of other esoteric (and distinctly Medieval) "sciences" such as phrenology
and physiognomy
.
Of course, some forms of divination are much older than the Middle Ages, like haruspication
, while others (such as megapolisomancy
or coffee-based tasseomancy) are born of the 20th and 21st century.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, scholars coined terms for many of these methods — some of which had hitherto been unnamed — in Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but also as a language of science, literature, law, and administration. Despite the clerical origin of many of its authors,...
, very often utilizing the suffix
Suffix
In linguistics, a suffix is an affix which is placed after the stem of a word. Common examples are case endings, which indicate the grammatical case of nouns or adjectives, and verb endings, which form the conjugation of verbs...
-mantia when the art seemed more mystical (ultimately from Greek mantis, prophet) and the suffix -scopia when the art seemed more scientific (ultimately from Greek skopein, to observe). Names like drimimantia, nigromantia, and horoscopia turned up, along with a slew of other esoteric (and distinctly Medieval) "sciences" such as phrenology
Phrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
and physiognomy
Physiognomy
Physiognomy is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face...
.
Of course, some forms of divination are much older than the Middle Ages, like haruspication
Haruspex
In Roman and Etruscan religious practice, a haruspex was a man trained to practice a form of divination called haruspicy, hepatoscopy or hepatomancy. Haruspicy is the inspection of the entrails of sacrificed animals, especially the livers of sacrificed sheep and poultry...
, while others (such as megapolisomancy
Megapolisomancy
Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber is a book containing a description of "Megapolisomancy", a fictional occult science. It was written in the United States and is a work of fantasy and science fiction.-The Occult Science:...
or coffee-based tasseomancy) are born of the 20th and 21st century.
A
- abacomancyAbacomancyAbacomancy, also known as Amathomancy a form of divination based on the interpretation of the patterns in dust, dirt, silt, sand, or the ashes of the recently deceased. Reading the patterns is believed to give some insight into the future...
/ˈæbəkɵmænsi/: by dust (HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
’ābāq, dust + GreekGreek languageGreek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
manteia, prophecy) - acultomancyAcultomancyAcultomancy is a form of divination that uses needles for readings....
/əˈkʌltɵmænsi/ (also acutomancy): by needles (from acutomancy below, influenced by LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
acūleus, needle) - acutomancy /əˈkjuːtɵmænsi/ → see above (Latin acus [acut-], needle + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- adromancy /ˈædrɵmænsi/ → see below (from idromancy below, influenced by alomancy)
- adryomancy→ see below (metathesis of hydromancy)
- aeromancyAeromancyAeromancy is divination conducted by interpreting atmospheric conditions. Alternate spellings include Arologie, Aeriology and Aërology.-Practice:...
/ˈɛərɵmænsi/: by atmospheric conditions (Greek āēr, air + manteia, prophecy) - agalmatomancy /əˈɡɔːlmətɵmænsi/: by statues (Greek agalma [agalmat-], statue + manteia, prophecy)
- aichmomancyAichmomancyAichmomancy is a form of divination somewhat similar to Acultomancy in that it uses sharp pointed objects to show patterns to read....
/ˈɛkmɵmænsi/: by sharp objects (Greek aikhmē, spearhead + manteia, prophecy) - ailuromancyAiluromancyAiluromancy or aeluromancy , also known as felidomancy, is a form of theriomancy. It is divination using cats' movements or jumps to predict future events, especially the weather....
/aeluromancy → see under below - alectormancy/alectromancy /əˈlɛktrɵmænsi/: by roosterRoosterA rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
sacrifice (Greek alektor, rooster + manteia, prophecy) - alectryomancyAlectryomancyAlectryomancy is a form of divination in which the diviner observes a bird, several birds pecking at grain that the diviner has scattered on the ground...
/alectoromancy → see under below - aleuromancy¹ /əˈljʊərɵmænsi/: by flour; see also under below (Greek aleuron, mealFlourFlour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
+ manteia, prophecy) - alomancyAlomancyAlomancy , also called Adromancy, ydromancie, idromancie, and halomancy, is an ancient form of divination. Similar to many other forms of divination, the diviner casts salt crystals into the air and interprets the patterns as it falls to the ground or travels through the air...
/Halomancy /ˈælɵmænsi/ (also adromancy): by salt (Greek hals, salt + manteia, prophecy) - alphitomancyAlphitomancyAlphitomancy is a form of divination involving barley cakes or loaves of barley bread....
/ˈælfɨtɵmænsi/: by barley (Greek alphis [alphit-], barley + manteia, prophecy) - alveromancy /ælˈvɪərɵmænsi/: by sounds
- amathomancy /ˈæməθɵmænsi/: by sand (Greek amathos, sandy soil + manteia, prophecy)
- ambulomancy /ˈæmbj
ʊlɵmænsi/: by walking (Latin ambulāre, to walk + Greek manteia, prophecy) - amniomancyAmniomancyAmniomancy is a method of divination whereby the future life of a child is predicted from the caul covering their head at birth. The colour and consistency of the caul are used to interpret the future. A vivid colour is supposed to reflect a vivid life whilst the opposite is also true.The word...
/ˈæmni.ɵmænsi/: by placentaPlacentaThe placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply. "True" placentas are a defining characteristic of eutherian or "placental" mammals, but are also found in some snakes and...
(Greek amniōn, amnionAmnionThe amnion is a membrane building the amniotic sac that surrounds and protects an embryo. It is developed in reptiles, birds, and mammals, which are hence called “Amniota”; but not in amphibians and fish , which are consequently termed “Anamniota”. The primary role of this is the protection of the...
+ manteia, prophecy) - anemoscopy/anemomancy /ˌænɨˈmɒskɵpi/: by wind (Greek anemos, wind + -skopiā, observation)
- anthomancy /ˈænθɵmænsi/: by flowers (Greek anthos, flower + manteia, prophecy)
- anthropomancy /ænˈθrɒpɵmænsi/: by human sacrifice (Greek anthrōpos, human being + manteia, prophecy)
- anthroposcopy /ænθrɵˈpɒskɵpi/: by physical appearance (Greek anthrōpos, human being + -skopiā, observation)
- anthracomancy /ˈænθrəkɵmænsi/: by burning coals (Greek anthrax [anthrak-], charcoal + manteia, prophecy)
- apantomancyApantomancyApantomancy is a form of divination using articles at hand or things that present themselves by chance. The diviner works him/herself into a state of trance until an object or event is perceived and a divination worked out. This form of divination was used in ancient Rome by the augers...
/əˈpæntɵmænsi/: by chance encounters with animals (Greek apantein, to encounter + manteia, prophecy) - arachnomancy /əˈræknɵmænsi/: by spiders (Greek arakhnēArachneIn Greco-Roman mythology, Arachne was a great mortal weaver who boasted that her skill was greater than that of Minerva, the Latin parallel of Pallas Athena, goddess of wisdom and crafts. Arachne refused to acknowledge that her knowledge came, in part at least, from the goddess. The offended...
, spider + manteia, prophecy) - archeomancy/archaeomancy /ˈɑrki.ɵmænsi/: by sacred relicRelicIn religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s (Greek arkhaios, ancient + manteia, prophecy) - ariolation /ˌæriɵˈleɪʃən/: by altars (Latin ariolus, hariolus, prophet)
- armomancy /ˈɑrmɵmænsi/: by one's own shoulders (Latin armus, shoulder + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- aruspicina: study of entrails
- aspidomancy /ˈæspɨdɵmænsi/: by sitting in a drawn circle (Greek aspis [aspid-], shield + manteia, prophecy)
- astragalomancyAstragalomancyAstragalomancy, also known as astragyromancy, is a form of divination that uses dice specially marked with letters and numbers.Originally, as with dice games, the "dice" were quadruped knucklebones or other small bones. Marked astragali of sheep and goats are common at Mediterranean and Near...
/astragalamancy → see under below - astragyromancy → see under below (from astragalomancy above, perhaps influenced by Greek guros, spiral, circle, and therefore vertebra)
- astrapomancy /ˈæstrəpɵmænsi/: by lightning (Greek astrapē, lightning flash + manteia, prophecy)
- astrologyAstrologyAstrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
/astromancyAstromancyAstromancy is divination and fortune-telling in astrology...
/astroscopy /əˈstrɒlɵdʒi/: by celestial bodies (Greek astron, star + -logiā, study) - augury /ˈɔːɡj
ʊri/ → see under below - auramancy /ˈɔːrəmænsi/: by auraAura (paranormal)In parapsychology and many forms of spiritual practice, an aura is a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object . The depiction of such an aura often connotes a person of particular power or holiness. Sometimes, however, it is said that all living things and all objects...
s (Greek aurā, breath + manteia, prophecy) - auspicyAuspiceAn auspice is literally "one who looks at birds", a diviner who reads omens from the observed flight of birds...
/auspication → see under below (Latin avis, bird + specere, to look at) - austromancy → see under below, /ˈɔːstrɵmænsi/: by wind (Latin auster, south wind + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- avimancy → see below (Latin avis, bird + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- axiomancy/axinomancyAxinomancyAxinomancy is one of several obscure methods of divination using an axe, hatchet, or a saw. Most of the methods involve throwing an axe into the ground, or swinging it into a tree, and interpreting the direction of the handle or the quivering of the blade...
/ˈæksi.ɵmænsi/: by axes (Latin axis, axis + manteia, prophecy)
B
- batraquomancy/batrachomancy /bəˈtrækɵmænsi/: by frogs (Greek batrakhos, frog + manteia, prophecy)
- belomancyBelomancyBelomancy, also bolomancy, is the ancient art of divination by use of arrows. Belomancy was anciently practised at least by Babylonians, Greeks, Arabs and Scythians....
/bolomancy /ˈbɛlɵmænsi/: by arrows (from bolomancy below, influenced by Greek belemnon, javelin, or belonē, needle) - bibliomancyBibliomancyBibliomancy is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world:-Terminology:...
→ see below - biorhythmBiorhythmBiorhythm is an attempt to predict various aspects of a person's life through simple mathematical cycles. Most scientists believe that the idea has no more predictive power than raw chance, and consider the concept an example of pseudoscience.-Beliefs:...
ic divination: by biorhythmBiorhythmBiorhythm is an attempt to predict various aspects of a person's life through simple mathematical cycles. Most scientists believe that the idea has no more predictive power than raw chance, and consider the concept an example of pseudoscience.-Beliefs:...
s - bletonism/bletonomancy /ˈblɛtənɪzm/: by water current (named for Monsieur Bleton, a French bletonist)
- bolomancy /ˈbɒlɵmænsi/ → see above (Greek bolē, arrow + manteia, prophecy)
- botanomancyBotanomancyBotanomancy is the art of divination by burning branches of trees or herbs. The most common branches used are Vervain and Briar. The fire and the smoke are both read to indicate which course of action should be taken. Botanomancy can be traced back to Druidic tree worship....
/bɵˈtænɵmænsi/: by burning sage or figs (Greek botanē, floraFloraFlora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
+ manteia, prophecy) - brizomancy → see below (Greek brizein, to be sleepy + manteia, prophecy)
- brontomancy/brontoscopy /ˈbrɒntɵmænsi/: by thunder (Greek brontē, thunder + manteia, prophecy)
- bumpology /bʌmˈpɒlɵdʒi/: by bumps on the skin (EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
bump + Greek -logiā, study)
C
- cabala → see below
- canomancy /ˈkænɵmænsi/ or /ˈkeɪnɵmænsi/: by dogs (Latin canis, dog + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- capnomancyCapnomancyCapnomancy signifies a method of divination using smoke. This is done by looking at the movements of the smoke after a fire has been made. A thin, straight plume of smoke is thought to indicate a good omen whereas the opposite is thought of large plumes of smoke...
/ˈkæpnɵmænsi/: by smoke (Greek kapnos, smoke + manteia, prophecy)- libanomancyLibanomancyLibanomancy is a divination primarily through observing and interpreting burning incense smoke, but which may include the way incense ash falls as well. Like most other methods of divination, during libanomancy a specific question must be asked...
/laɪˈbænɵmænsi/: by smoke or ash from incense (Greek libanos, frankincenseFrankincenseFrankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana...
+ manteia, prophecy)
- libanomancy
- carromancyCarromancyCarromancy , otherwise known as ceromancy, is a form of divination involving wax. One of the most common methods of carromancy is to heat wax until molten, then to pour it directly into cold water. The shapes and movements of the wax as it cools and solidifies can then allegedly be read to forecast...
/ˈkærɵmænsi/: by melting wax (Greek karrō, of wax + manteia, prophecy) - cartopedy → see under below (Latin carta, papyrus paper + pēs [pēd-], foot)
- cartomancyCartomancyCartomancy is fortune-telling or divination using a deck of cards. Forms of cartomancy appeared soon after playing cards were first introduced into Europe in the 14th century...
→ see under below - catoptromancyCatoptromancyCatoptromancy , also known as captromancy or enoptromancy, is divination using a mirror.Pausanias, an ancient Greek traveler, described as follows:...
/captromancy → see under below - causimancy/causimomancy /ˈkɔːzɨmænsi/: by burning (Greek kaiein [kaus-], to burn + manteia, prophecy)
- cephalomancyCephalomancyCephalomancy is a form of divination using a goat or donkey's head. Cephalomancy technically means "head divination" and therefore applies to any sort of divination using a skull or head. it covers two different methods: one was concerned with the shape of the skull, somewhat like extispicy or...
→ see under below - cephaleonomancyCephalonomancyCephalonomancy is an ancient form of divination which involved heating the skull of an ass or goat while reciting various phrases, often the names of criminal suspects. If the skull crackled or the jaw moved while a name was spoken, this was taken to identify the guilty party....
/cephalonomancyCephalonomancyCephalonomancy is an ancient form of divination which involved heating the skull of an ass or goat while reciting various phrases, often the names of criminal suspects. If the skull crackled or the jaw moved while a name was spoken, this was taken to identify the guilty party....
/ˌsɛfəliˈɒnɵmænsi/: by boiling a donkey's head (Greek kephalaion, head [with meaning influenced by Greek onos, donkey] + manteia, prophecy) - ceraunoscopy /ˌsɛrəˈnɒskɵpi/: by thunder and lightning (Greek keraunos, thunderbolt + -skopiā, observation)
- ceromancyCeromancy-Method:Traditionally a brass bowl is used in the ritual. Water is added to the bowl and then a candle is lit. The melted wax is then poured into the bowl and the subsequent shapes are intepreted by the reader. However, some practicioners also use the shapes wax forms as it drips down the candle to...
/ceroscopy /ˈsɛrɵmænsi/: by dripping wax in water (Greek kēros, wax + manteia, prophecy) - chalcomancy: by striking gongs or copper bowls (Greek khalkos, copper + manteia, prophecy)
- chaomancy /ˈkeɪ.ɵmænsi/: by aerial visions (Greek khaos, primordial spaceBig BangThe Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model that explains the early development of the Universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the Universe was once in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion caused the young Universe to cool and resulted in...
+ manteia, prophecy) - chartomancy /ˈkɑrtɵmænsi/: by things on paper (Greek khartēs, papyrus paper + manteia, prophecy)
- cartomancyCartomancyCartomancy is fortune-telling or divination using a deck of cards. Forms of cartomancy appeared soon after playing cards were first introduced into Europe in the 14th century...
/ˈkɑrtɵmænsi/: by cards (Latin carta, papyrus paper + Greek manteia, prophecy)- taromancy/tarotmancy /ˈtærɵmænsi/: by tarotTarotThe tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...
(English tarot + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- taromancy/tarotmancy /ˈtærɵmænsi/: by tarot
- stichomancyBibliomancyBibliomancy is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world:-Terminology:...
/ˈstɪkɵmænsi/: by books or lines (Greek stikhos, line of verse + manteia, prophecy)- aleuromancy² /əˈljʊərɵmænsi/: by fortune cookieFortune cookieA fortune cookie is a crisp cookie usually made from flour, sugar, vanilla, and oil with a "fortune" wrapped inside. A "fortune" is a piece of paper with words of faux wisdom or a vague prophecy...
s (of the same origin as ¹ above) - bibliomancyBibliomancyBibliomancy is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world:-Terminology:...
/ˈbɪbliɵmænsi/: by the BibleBibleThe Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
(Greek biblion, book + manteia, prophecy) - I Ching divinationI Ching divinationAmong the many forms of divination is a bibliomancy method using the I Ching or Book of Changes. The book is structured as 32 pairs of hexagrams, divided in half after the first 30. The text was a subject for civil service exams in Imperial China...
: by the I ChingI ChingThe I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
or the accompanying I Ching manual - stoicheomancy/stoichomancy: by the IliadIliadThe Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
and the OdysseyOdysseyThe Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
or the AeneidAeneidThe Aeneid is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. It is composed of roughly 10,000 lines in dactylic hexameter...
(Greek stoikheion, element + manteia, prophecy; to the Greeks, HomerHomerIn the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's writings were held in similar esteem to the Christian BibleBibleThe Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
or the Muslim QuranQur'anThe Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
, as were VirgilVirgilPublius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
's writings to the Romans, making them the basic — or elementary — reading material in each culture)
- aleuromancy² /əˈljʊərɵmænsi/: by fortune cookie
- cartomancy
- cheiromancy/chiromancy→ see under below
- cheirognomy/chirognomy → see under below
- chien tung → see below
- choriomancy /ˈkɒri.ɵmænsi/: by pig bladders (Greek khorion, placentaPlacentaThe placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply. "True" placentas are a defining characteristic of eutherian or "placental" mammals, but are also found in some snakes and...
+ mantiea, prophecy) - chresmomancy /ˈkrɛsmɵmænsi/: by the ravings of lunatics (Greek khrēsmos, oracular utterance, chresmOracleIn Classical Antiquity, an oracle was a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic predictions or precognition of the future, inspired by the gods. As such it is a form of divination....
+ manteia, prophecy) - chronomancyChronomancyChronomancy is divination of the best time to do something, the determination of lucky and unlucky days, especially popular in ancient China.The term "chronomancy", stemming from the Greek word chronos , and the word manteia is also used in fiction to refer to a school of magic involving...
/ˈkrɒnɵmænsi/: by apt occasion (Greek khronos, time + manteia, prophecy) - cineromancy/ceneromancy → see under below /ˈsɪnərɵmænsi/ (Latin cinis [ciner-], ashes + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- clamancy (see also Fāl-gūshFāl-gūshFāl-gūsh or fāl-gōsh is the act of standing in a dark corner spot or behind a fence and listening to the conversations of passersby and trying to interpret their statements or the subject of their dialogue as an answer to one's questions. Iranians believe that certain days are especially good for...
): by random shouts and cries heard in crowds, at night, etc. (Latin clāmāre, to cry out + Greek manteia, prophecy) - cledonismCledonismIn the occult of classical antiquity, cledonism, or cledonomancy, was a kind of divination based on chance events or encounters, such as words occasionally uttered...
/cledonomancy /ˈklɛdɵnɪzm/: by chance events or overheard words (Greek klēdon, rumor) - cleidomancy/clidomancy /ˈklaɪdɵmænsi/: by keys (Greek kleis [kleid-], key + manteia, prophecy)
- cleromancyCleromancyCleromancy is a form of divination using sortition, casting of lots, or casting bones or stones, in which an outcome is determined by means that normally would be considered random, such as the rolling of dice, but are sometimes believed to reveal the will of God, or other supernatural entities.-In...
/ˈklɛrɵmænsi/: by casting (Greek klēros, lotSortitionIn politics, sortition is the selection of decision makers by lottery. The decision-makers are chosen as a random sample from a larger pool of candidates....
+ manteia, prophecy)- astragalomancyAstragalomancyAstragalomancy, also known as astragyromancy, is a form of divination that uses dice specially marked with letters and numbers.Originally, as with dice games, the "dice" were quadruped knucklebones or other small bones. Marked astragali of sheep and goats are common at Mediterranean and Near...
/astragalamancy /əˈstræɡəlɵmænsi/ (also cubomancy): by diceDiceA die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
(Greek astragalos, vertebra + manteia, prophecy) - dominoDominoesDominoes generally refers to the collective gaming pieces making up a domino set or to the subcategory of tile games played with domino pieces. In the area of mathematical tilings and polyominoes, the word domino often refers to any rectangle formed from joining two congruent squares edge to edge...
divination: by dominoes - favomancyFavomancyFavomancy is a form of divination that used to be practised by seers in Russia, in particular, among the Ubykh. The practice involves throwing beans on the ground and interpreting the patterns in which the beans fall; it is therefore a type of cleromancy...
/ˈfævɵmænsi/: by beans (Latin faba, bean + Greek manteia, prophecy) - OghamOghamOgham is an Early Medieval alphabet used primarily to write the Old Irish language, and occasionally the Brythonic language. Ogham is sometimes called the "Celtic Tree Alphabet", based on a High Medieval Bríatharogam tradition ascribing names of trees to the individual letters.There are roughly...
casting: by Ogham letters - runecasting/Runic divination: by runes
- astragalomancy
- cometomancy /kɵˈmɛtɵmænsi/: by cometCometA comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
tails (Greek komētēs, comet + manteia, prophecy) - colormancy/coloromancy: by colors (English color + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- conchomancy /ˈkɒŋkɵmænsi/: by shells (Greek konkhē, musselMusselThe common name mussel is used for members of several families of clams or bivalvia mollusca, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.The...
+ manteia, prophecy) - cosquinomancyCoscinomancyCoscinomancy is a form of divination utilising a sieve and shears, used in ancient Greece, medieval and early modern Europe and 17th century New England, to determine the guilty party in a criminal offense, find answers to questions, etc....
/coscinomancy /kɵˈsɪnɵmænsi/: by hanging sieves (Greek koskinōn, sieve + manteia, prophecy) - cottabomancy/cottobomancy /ˈkɒtəbɵmænsi/: by wine in a brass bowl (Greek kottabos, cottabusKottabosKottabos was a game of skill popular for a long time at ancient Greek and Etruscan symposia , especially in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. The game is played by flinging wine lees at targets...
+ manteia, prophecy) - craniognomy /ˌkreɪniˈɒɡnɵmi/ or /ˌkreɪniˈɒnəmi/ → see under below (Greek krānion, skull + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
- the crawling baby: by a baby's crawling
- crithomancyCrithomancyCrithomancy is a form of divination by the study of barley cakes in hope of drawing omens from them. The paste of cakes which are offered in sacrifice is closely examined, and the sought for answers are drawn from the flour which is spread upon them.The term crithomancy is also used for divination...
/critomancy /ˈkrɪθɵmænsi/: by barley cakes (Greek krithē, barley + manteia, prophecy) - cromnyomancyCromniomancyCromniomancy is divination by onions. It is usually done by interpreting their sprouting behaviour, after some kind of ritual to state the topic of the divination. This often involves inscribing the onions, dedicating them on an altar or something similar...
/cromniomancy /ˈkrɒmni.ɵmænsi/: by onion sprouts (alteration of Greek krommuon, onion + manteia, prophecy) - cryptomancy /ˈkrɪptɵmænsi/: by omenOmenAn omen is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change...
s (Greek kruptos, hidden + manteia, prophecy) - cryomancy /ˈkraɪ.ɵmænsi/: by ice (Greek kryo, ice )
- crystal ball gazing → see under below
- crystal gazingCrystal gazingCrystal-gazing is a form of divination or scrying achieved through trance induction by means of gazing at a crystal....
→ see under below - crystallomancy /ˈkrɪstəlɵmænsi/ → see under below (Greek krustallos, crystal + manteia, prophecy)
- cubomancy /ˈkjuːbɵmænsi/ → see under above (Greek kubos, cube + manteia, prophecy)
- cyathomancy /ˈsaɪ.əθɵmænsi/: by cups (Greek kuathos, cup + manteia, prophecy)
- cybermancy /ˈsaɪbərmænsi/: by computer oracles (English cyber(netics) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- cyclicomancy /ˈsɪklɨkɵmænsi/: by swirling water in a cup (Greek kuklikos, cyclical, circular + manteia, prophecy)
- cyclomancyCyclomancyCyclomancy is a form of divination based on spinning an object and deriving predictions or conclusions from the object's final resting direction. In some traditions, a wheel or top is spun on a surface marked with letters or symbols, and those that fall closest to the device's pointer are consulted...
/ˈsɪklɵmænsi/ or /ˈsaɪklɵmænsi/: by wheels (Greek kuklos, circle + manteia, prophecy)
D
- dactyliomancy /dækˈtɪliɵmænsi/: by finger rings (Greek daktulios, finger ring + manteia, prophecy)
- dactylomancyDactylomancyDactylomancy, from the Greek word for finger, is a term used by proponents to define a form of divination using rings.- Modern dactylomancy :...
/ˈdæktɨlɵmænsi/ : by means of finger movements (Greek daktulos, finger + manteia, prophecy) - daphnomancyDaphnomancyDaphnomancy is a form of Pyromancy whereby the future is predicted by burning laurel tree leaves. A loud crackling from the fire is a positive omen, whereas silence is a negative one.-History and Etymology:...
/ˈdæfnɵmænsi/: by burning laurel wreaths (Greek daphnē, laurel + manteia, prophecy) - demonomancy /dɨˈmɒnɵmænsi/: by demons (Greek daimōn, divine power + manteia, prophecy)
- dendromancy /ˈdɛndrɵmænsi/: by trees, especially oakOakAn oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s, yewTaxusTaxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m...
s, or mistletoeMistletoeMistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
(Greek dendron, tree + manteia, prophecy) - deuteroscopy /ˌdjuːtəˈrɒskɵpi/: by second glance or double take (Greek deuteros, secondary + -skopiā, observation)
- dictiomancy /ˈdɪkʃɵmænsi/: by randomly opening a dictionary (English dictio(nary)DictionaryA dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
+ Greek manteia, prophecy) - divining → see below
- djubed → see under below
- dōbutsu uranaiDobutsu uranaiDōbutsu uranai or zoological fortune-telling is a recent Japanese divination trend based on an animal horoscope. Each person is categorized into an animal-type based on their birthdate, and based on their animal-type they are supposed to have certain personality traits...
: by animal horoscope (JapaneseJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
dōbutsu, animal + uranai, prognostication) - dominoDominoesDominoes generally refers to the collective gaming pieces making up a domino set or to the subcategory of tile games played with domino pieces. In the area of mathematical tilings and polyominoes, the word domino often refers to any rectangle formed from joining two congruent squares edge to edge...
divination → see under above - dowsingDowsingDowsing is a type of divination employed in attempts to locate ground water, buried metals or ores, gemstones, oil, gravesites, and many other objects and materials, as well as so-called currents of earth radiation , without the use of scientific apparatus...
(also divining, water witching): by a divining rod (of unknown origin) - dracomancy /ˈdrækɵmænsi/: by dragonDragonA dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
s (Greek drakōn, dragon + manteia, prophecy) - dream questionDream questionA dream question is a practice of divination whereby a person attains a prophetic state while dreaming, receiving a divine answer to a question meditated on before sleep....
s: by dreaming - dririmancy/driromancy /ˈdrɪərɨmænsi/: by dripping blood (alteration of drimimancy, influenced by Middle English drir, blood)
- drimimancy/drymimancy /ˈdrɪmɨmænsi/: by bodily fluids (Greek drimus, pungent + manteia, prophecy)
E
- eleomancy/elaeomancy: by oil (Greek elaion, olive oil + manteia, prophecy)
- emonomancy → see above
- empirimancy: by experiment/experience
- empyromancy /ɛmˈpaɪrɵmænsi/: by burning (Greek empurios, fiery + manteia, prophecy)
- enochian chessEnochian chessEnochian chess is a four-player chess variant, similar to Chaturaji, associated with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The name comes from the Enochian system of magic of Dr...
: by playing a four·handed variant of the game - enoptromancy /ɛˈnɒptrɵmænsi/ → see under below (Greek enoptron, looking glassMirrorA mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...
+ manteia, prophecy) - enthusiasm: speeches by those supposed to be possessed by a divine spirit
- entomomancy/entomancy: by insectInsectInsects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s (Greek entomon, insect + manteia, prophecy) - eromancy /ˈɛrɵmænsi/: by water vessels exposed to air (Greek āēr, air + manteia, prophecy) — cf. aeromancy
- extispicyExtispicyExtispicy is the practice of using anomalies in animal entrails to predict or divine future events. Organs inspected include the liver, intestines, and lungs. The animal used for extispicy must often be ritually pure and slaughtered in a special ceremony.The practice was first common in ancient...
/extispication /ɛkˈstɪspɨsi/: by the remains of sacrificed animals (Latin exta, entrails + specere, to look at)
F
- favomancyFavomancyFavomancy is a form of divination that used to be practised by seers in Russia, in particular, among the Ubykh. The practice involves throwing beans on the ground and interpreting the patterns in which the beans fall; it is therefore a type of cleromancy...
→ see under above - felidomancy → see under below (Latin fēlēs [fēlid-], cat + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- feng shuiFeng shuiFeng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
→ see under below - floriography/floromancy /ˌflɔriˈɒɡrəfi/: by flowers' feelings (Latin flōs [flōr-], flower + Greek -graphiā, representation)
- fractomancy /ˈfræktɵmænsi/: by fractalFractalA fractal has been defined as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is a reduced-size copy of the whole," a property called self-similarity...
s (English fract(al)FractalA fractal has been defined as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is a reduced-size copy of the whole," a property called self-similarity...
+ Greek manteia, prophecy) - fructomancy/fructimancy: by fruit (Latin frūctus, fruit + Greek manteia, prophecy)
G
- galvanoscopy /ˌɡælvəˈnɒskɵpi/: by galvanismGalvanismIn biology, galvanism is the contraction of a muscle that is stimulated by an electric current. In physics and chemistry, it is the induction of electrical current from a chemical reaction, typically between two chemicals with differing electronegativities....
(English galvan(ism)GalvanismIn biology, galvanism is the contraction of a muscle that is stimulated by an electric current. In physics and chemistry, it is the induction of electrical current from a chemical reaction, typically between two chemicals with differing electronegativities....
+ Greek -skopiā, observation) - gastromancyCrystal gazingCrystal-gazing is a form of divination or scrying achieved through trance induction by means of gazing at a crystal....
¹ → see under below - gastromancyGastromancyGastromancy is from Greek gastēr and manteia . It can refer to:* Crystal ball gazing: i.e., gazing into round objects....
² /ˈɡæstrɵmænsi/: by guttural sounds (Greek gastēr, belly + manteia, prophecy) - geomancyGeomancyGeomancy is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed by tossed handfuls of soil, rocks, or sand...
/ˈdʒiːɵmænsi/: by earth (Greek Gaia|gē, earth + manteia, prophecy)- feng ShuiFeng shuiFeng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
divination: by Feng Shui
- feng Shui
- geloscopy /dʒɨˈlɒskɵpi/: by laughter (Greek gelōs, laughter + -skopiā, observation)
- gematriaGematriaGematria or gimatria is a system of assigning numerical value to a word or phrase, in the belief that words or phrases with identical numerical values bear some relation to each other, or bear some relation to the number itself as it may apply to a person's age, the calendar year, or the like...
: by the Hebrew alphabetHebrew alphabetThe Hebrew alphabet , known variously by scholars as the Jewish script, square script, block script, or more historically, the Assyrian script, is used in the writing of the Hebrew language, as well as other Jewish languages, most notably Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic. There have been two...
(Greek gē, earth + -metriā, measurement) - genethlialogy: by birth dates (Greek genethlios, birthdayBirthdayA birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
+ -logiā, study) - grammomancy /ˈɡræmɵmænsi/: by writing individual letters (Greek gramma, letter + manteia, prophecy)
- graphologyGraphologyGraphology is the pseudoscientific study and analysis of handwriting, especially in relation to human psychology. In the medical field, it can be used to refer to the study of handwriting as an aid in diagnosis and tracking of diseases of the brain and nervous system...
/ɡræˈfɒlɵdʒi/ (also graptomancy): by studying handwriting (Greek graphē, writing + -logiā, study) - graptomancy /ˈɡræptɵmænsi/ → see above (Greek graptos, written + manteia, prophecy)
- gyromancyGyromancyGyromancy is a method of divination in which a person spins around inside or walks the circumference of a circle drawn on the ground, the perimeter of which is marked with the letters of an alphabet. The divination is inferred from the letter at the position where the person either stumbles or...
/ˈdʒaɪrɵmænsi/: by dizziness (Greek gūros, spiral + manteia, prophecy)
H
- hagiomancy: by saints (Greek hagios, holy + manteia, prophecy)
- halomancy /ˈhælɵmænsi/ → see above.
- hakata: by bones or dice
- haruspicyHaruspexIn Roman and Etruscan religious practice, a haruspex was a man trained to practice a form of divination called haruspicy, hepatoscopy or hepatomancy. Haruspicy is the inspection of the entrails of sacrificed animals, especially the livers of sacrificed sheep and poultry...
/haruspication /həˈrʌspɨsi/ → see below (Latin haru-, entrails + specere, to look at) - hematomancy/haematomancy /ˈhɛmətɵmænsi/ or /ˈhiːmətɵmænsi/: by blood (Greek haima [haimat-], blood + manteia, prophecy)
- hepatoscopy/hepatomancy /ˈhɛpətɵmænsi/ (also haruspicy, haruspication): by liver (Greek hēpar [hēpat-], liver + -skopiā, observation)
- hieromancy/hieroscopy /ˈhaɪrɵmænsi/ or /ˈhaɪərɵmænsi/: by studying sacrifices' entrails (Greek hieros, holy + manteia, prophecy)
- hippomancy → see under below.
- horoscopyHoroscopeIn astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, the astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's birth. The word horoscope is derived from Greek words meaning "a look at the hours" In...
/hɵˈrɒskɵpi/: aspect of the Stars at nativity (Greek hōrā, season + -skopiā, observation) - hydatomancy: by rainwater (Greek hudatis, raindrop + manteia, prophecy)
- hydromancy/hydroscopy → see under below
- hyomancy: by wild hogs (Greek hūs, swine + manteia, prophecy)
- hypnomancy /ˈhɪpnɵmænsi/: by sleep (Greek hupnos, sleep + manteia, prophecy)
I
- I Ching divinationI Ching divinationAmong the many forms of divination is a bibliomancy method using the I Ching or Book of Changes. The book is structured as 32 pairs of hexagrams, divided in half after the first 30. The text was a subject for civil service exams in Imperial China...
→ see under above. - ichnomancyIchnomancyIchnomancy Ichnomancy Ichnomancy (derived from the Greek "ixnos" - "track, footstep" and "manteia" - "mode of divination" is a divination of the characteristics and the analysis of the personality by examining the person's footprints, posture, and position....
/ˈɪknɵmænsi/: by footprints (Greek ikhnos, track + manteia, prophecy) - ichthyomancy → see under below
- iconomancy /aɪˈkɒnɵmænsi/: by iconIconAn icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
s (Greek eikōn, image + manteia, prophecy) - idolomancy /aɪˈdɒlɵmænsi/: by idolCult imageIn the practice of religion, a cult image is a human-made object that is venerated for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents...
s (Greek eidōlon, phantom + manteia, prophecy) - idromancy → see above (Greek idrōs, sweat + manteia, prophecy)
- ifáIfáIfá refers to the system of divination and the verses of the literary corpus known as the Odú Ifá. Yoruba religion identifies Orunmila as the Grand Priest; as that which revealed Oracle divinity to the world...
: by palm nuts - iridology: by eye color (Greek īris [īrid-], irisIris (anatomy)The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
+ -logiā, study) - isopsephyIsopsephyIsopsephy is the Greek word for the practice of adding up the number values of the letters in a word to form a single number. The early Greeks used pebbles arranged in patterns to learn arithmetic and geometry....
: by numbers and letters (Greek īsos, equal + psephos, pebble)
K
- kabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
/qabalah/cabala: by the KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
(Hebrew qabbālâ, tradition) - kau cim: by bamboo
- kephalonomancy /kəˈfælənɵmænsi/ → see above
- keraunomancy /kɨˈrɒnɵmænsi/ → see above
- knissomancy /ˈnɪsɵmænsi/: by incense (Greek knisa [kniss-], vapor + manteia, prophecy)
- kypomancy → see under below (akin to Greek kupellon, goblet + manteia, prophecy)
L
- labiomancy /ˈleɪbi.ɵmænsi/: by lips (Latin labium, lip + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- lampadomancyLampadomancyLampadomancy is a form of divination using a single oil lamp or a torch flame.As with Lychnoscopy, the diviner reads presages from the movements of the flame. An alternate method is also practiced, consisting of reading the spots of carbon deposited on paper sheets held over the flame...
/ˈlæmpədɵmænsi/: by flame (Greek lampas [lampad-], light + manteia, prophecy) - lecanomancy/lecanoscopy /lɨˈkænɵmænsi/: by a basin of water (Greek lekanē, basin + manteia, prophecy)
- letnomancy: by secrets (English let no (one see) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- libanomancyLibanomancyLibanomancy is a divination primarily through observing and interpreting burning incense smoke, but which may include the way incense ash falls as well. Like most other methods of divination, during libanomancy a specific question must be asked...
/laɪˈbænɵmænsi/ → see under and (Greek libanos, frankincenseFrankincenseFrankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana...
+ manteia, prophecy) - literomancyLiteromancyLiteromancy, from the Latin litero, "letter", mancy, "prophecy", is a form of fortune-telling based on written words, or, in the case of Chinese, characters. A fortune-teller of this type is known as a literomancer....
/ˈlɪtərɵmænsi/: by a letter in a written language (Latin lītera, letter + Greek manteia, prophecy) - lithomancyLithomancyLithomancy is a form of divination by which the future is told using stones or the reflected light from said stones. The practice is most popular in the British Isles.-History:...
/ˈlɪθɵmænsi/: by gems or stones (Greek lithos, stone + manteia, prophecy) - logarithmancy /ˌlɒɡəˈrɪθmənsi/: by logarithmLogarithmThe logarithm of a number is the exponent by which another fixed value, the base, has to be raised to produce that number. For example, the logarithm of 1000 to base 10 is 3, because 1000 is 10 to the power 3: More generally, if x = by, then y is the logarithm of x to base b, and is written...
s (English logarith(m)LogarithmThe logarithm of a number is the exponent by which another fixed value, the base, has to be raised to produce that number. For example, the logarithm of 1000 to base 10 is 3, because 1000 is 10 to the power 3: More generally, if x = by, then y is the logarithm of x to base b, and is written...
+ Greek manteia, prophecy) - logomancy /ˈlɒɡɵmænsi/: by words (Greek logosLogos' is an important term in philosophy, psychology, rhetoric and religion. Originally a word meaning "a ground", "a plea", "an opinion", "an expectation", "word," "speech," "account," "reason," it became a technical term in philosophy, beginning with Heraclitus ' is an important term in...
, word + manteia, prophecy) - lots: divination through chance, or the drawing or tossing of lots
- lunamancy → see below (Latin lūna, moon + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- lychnomancy /ˈlɪknɵmænsi/: by candles (Greek lukhnos, lamp + manteia, prophecy)
M
- macharomancyMacharomancyMacharomancy is a form of divination by interpreting knives, daggers or swords, one of many methods of divination based on the use of weapons .There are different methods of macharomancy...
: by swords or knives (Greek makhaira, dirkDirkA dirk is a short thrusting dagger, sometimes a cut-down sword blade mounted on a dagger hilt rather than a knife blade. It was historically used as a personal weapon for officers engaged in naval hand-to-hand combat during the Age of Sail.-Etymology:...
+ manteia, prophecy) - macromancy /ˈmækrɵmænsi/: by large objects (Greek makros, large + manteia, prophecy)
- maculomancy /ˈmækj
ʊlɵmænsi/: by spots on the skin (Latin macula, spot + manteia, prophecy) - mahjongMahjongMahjong, sometimes spelled Mah Jongg, is a game that originated in China, commonly played by four players...
divination: by Mahjong tiles - margaritomancyMargaritomancyMargaritomancy is divination with pearls, usually by either casting pearls or studying pearls in oysters. The word is derived from the Latin margarita, meaning pearl....
/ˌmɑrɡəˈrɪtɵmænsi/: by bouncing pearls (Greek margarītēs, pearl + manteia, prophecy) - mathemancy /ˈmæθɨmænsi/: by mathematicsMathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
(English mathe(matics)MathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
+ Greek manteia, prophecy) - mazomancy /ˈmæzɵmænsi/: by nursing (Greek mazos, breast + manteia, prophecy)
- meconomancy /mɨˈkoʊnɵmænsi/: by sleeping (Greek mēkōn, poppy [i.e., an opiateOpiateIn medicine, the term opiate describes any of the narcotic opioid alkaloids found as natural products in the opium poppy plant.-Overview:Opiates are so named because they are constituents or derivatives of constituents found in opium, which is processed from the latex sap of the opium poppy,...
] + manteia, prophecy) - megapolisomancyMegapolisomancyOur Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber is a book containing a description of "Megapolisomancy", a fictional occult science. It was written in the United States and is a work of fantasy and science fiction.-The Occult Science:...
: by large cities (English megalopolisMegalopolis (city type)A megalopolis is typically defined as a chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas. The term was used by Oswald Spengler in his 1918 book, The Decline of the West, and Lewis Mumford in his 1938 book, The Culture of Cities, which described it as the first stage in urban overdevelopment and...
+ Greek manteia, prophecy) - meilomancy: by moleMole (skin marking)A melanocytic nevus is a type of lesion that contains nevus cells .Some sources equate the term mole with "melanocytic nevus". Other sources reserve the term "mole" for other purposes....
s - metagnomy /mɨˈtæɡnɵmi/ or /mɨˈtænɵmi/: by magic (Greek meta-, beside + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
- meteormancy /ˈmiːti.ɵrmænsi/: by meteorMETEORMETEOR is a metric for the evaluation of machine translation output. The metric is based on the harmonic mean of unigram precision and recall, with recall weighted higher than precision...
s (English meteor + Greek manteia, prophecy) - meteoromancy /ˌmiːtiˈɒrɵmænsi/: by thunder and lightning (Greek meteōron, heavenly phenomenon + manteia, prophecy)
- metoposcopyMetoposcopyMetoposcopy is a form of divination in which the diviner predicts personality, character, and destiny, based on the pattern of lines on the subject's forehead. It was developed by the 16th century astrologer and physician Jerome Cardan...
/metopomancy /ˌmɛtɵˈpɒskɵpi/: by the lines of the forehead (Greek metōpon, forehead + -skopiā, observation) - micromancy /ˈmaɪkrɵmænsi/: by small objects (Greek mikros, small + manteia, prophecy)
- moleosophyMoleosophyMoleosophy or moleomancy is a technique of divination and fortune telling based upon the observation and interpretation of bodily marks —- primarily those of the melanocytic nevus condition Moleosophy or moleomancy is a technique of divination and fortune telling based upon the observation and...
/moʊˈlɒsɵfi/ or /ˌmoʊliˈɒsɵfi/: by blemishes (English moleMole (skin marking)A melanocytic nevus is a type of lesion that contains nevus cells .Some sources equate the term mole with "melanocytic nevus". Other sources reserve the term "mole" for other purposes....
+ Greek sophiā, knowledge) - molybdomancyMolybdomancyMolybdomancy is a technique of divination using molten metal. Typically molten lead or tin is dropped into water.The method was invented in ancient Greece, and today it is a common New Year tradition in the Nordic countries and Germany. Classically, tin is melted on a stove and poured into a bucket...
/mɵˈlɪbdɵmænsi/: by molten metal (Greek molubdos, lead + manteia, prophecy) - moromancy /ˈmɒrɵmænsi/: by foolishness (Greek mōros, dull + manteia, prophecy)
- myomancyMyomancyMyomancy was a method of theriomantic divination by rats or mice, which may be alluded to in Isaiah 66:17. Their particular cries or some marked devastation committed by them was taken for a prognostication of evil....
→ see under below - myrmomancyMyrmomancyMyrmomancy is a form of entomomancy. Myrmomancy is a divination by the observation of ants behavior, and especially their eating habits....
→ see under below
N
- narcomancy /ˈnɑrkɵmænsi/: by sleep (Greek narkē, numbness + manteia, prophecy)
- natimancy → see under below (Latin natis, buttock + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- necromancyNecromancyNecromancy is a claimed form of magic that involves communication with the deceased, either by summoning their spirit in the form of an apparition or raising them bodily, for the purpose of divination, imparting the ability to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge...
¹ /ˈnɛkrɵmænsi/: by speaking to the dead, by corpses (Greek nekros, corpse + manteia, prophecy) - necyomancy /ˈniːsi.ɵmænsi/: by summoning damned souls (Greek nekuiā, invocation + manteia, prophecy)
- nephomancy /ˈnɛfɵmænsi/: by clouds (Greek nephos, cloud + manteia, prophecy)
- nigromancy /ˈnaɪɡrɵmænsi/: by black magicBlack magicBlack magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
(Latin niger, black + Greek manteia, prophecy) - nomancyOnomancyOnomancy is divination based on a subject's given name, popular in the Late Middle Ages, usually following practices of Gematria....
/ˈnɒmənsi/ or /ˈnoʊmənsi/ → see below (variant of onomancy, influenced by Latin nōmen, name) - notarikonNotarikonNotarikon is a method of deriving a word, akin to the creation of an acronym, by using each of its initial or final letters to stand for another word, forming a sentence or idea out of the words. Another variation entails using the first and last letters, or the two middle letters of a word,...
/netrikon: by initials (Latin notāricus, in shorthandShorthandShorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed or brevity of writing as compared to a normal method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Greek stenos and graphē or graphie...
) - nggàmNggàmNggàm is a type of divination that originated among the Mambila people of Cameroon and Niger, in which the actions of spiders or crabs are interpreted by the diviner....
→ see under below - numerologyNumerologyNumerology is any study of the purported mystical relationship between a count or measurement and life. It has many systems and traditions and beliefs...
/ˌnjuːməˈrɒlɵdʒi/: by numbers (Latin numerus, number + Greek manteia, prophecy) - numismatomancy: by coins (Greek nomisma [nomismat-], coin + manteia, prophecy)
O
- oculomancyOculomancyOculomancy is a form of scrying where the diviner gazes into the questioners' eyes and reads the reflections....
/ˈɒkjʊlɵmænsi/: by eyes (Latin oculus, eye + Greek manteia, prophecy) - odontomancy /oʊˈdɒntɵmænsi/: by teeth (Greek odous [odont-], tooth + manteia, prophecy)
- oenomancyOinomancyOinomancy is a form of divination conducted by examining patterns in wine. An ancient technique, oinomancy was performed by a priestess known as a Bacchante, and protected by Bacchus, the Roman god of wine...
/oinomancy /ˈiːnɵmænsi/: by wine (Greek oinos, wine + manteia, prophecy) - ololygmancy /ɵˈlɒlɨɡmænsi/: by the howling of dogs (Greek ololuzō [ololug-], howl + manteia, prophecy)
- omoplatoscopy → see below (Greek ōmoplatē, shoulder blade + -skopiā, observation)
- omphalomancyOmphalomancyOmphalomancy is a method of divination meant to determine how many children a mother may have during her lifetime, based on the belief that the shape of the navel can reveal this information.Alternatively known as Omphilomancy...
/ˈɒmfəlɵmænsi/: by navels (Greek omphalos, navel + manteia, prophecy) - oneiromancyOneiromancyOneiromancy is a form of divination based upon dreams; it is a system of dream interpretation that uses dreams to predict the future.-Ancient Egyptian:...
/oneiroscopy /ɵˈnɪərɵmænsi/: by dreamsDreamDreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, philosophical intrigue and religious...
(Greek oneiros, dream + manteia, prophecy) - onimancy /ˈɒnɨmænsi/ → see below
- onomancyOnomancyOnomancy is divination based on a subject's given name, popular in the Late Middle Ages, usually following practices of Gematria....
/onomomancy/nomancy /ˈɒnɵmænsi/: by letters in a name (Greek onoma, name + manteia, prophecy) - onomomancy /ɵˈnoʊmɵmænsi/ → see above
- onychomancyOnychomancyOnychomancy or variously onuchomancy, onychomantia, onycomancy, onymancy is an ancient form of divination using fingernails...
/onymancy/onimancy /ɵˈnɪkɵmænsi/: by finger· and toenails (Greek onux [onukh-], nail + manteia, prophecy) - onymancy /ˈɒnɨmænsi/ → see above
- oomancyOomancyOomancy employs eggs for the purpose of divination. The most common method uses separated egg whites which are dropped into hot water. Divination is performed based on the shapes assumed by the rapidly-cooked egg whites. Traditionally, oomancy is performed on Ostara....
/ooscopy ˈoʊ.ɵmænsi/ (also ovomancy): by eggs (Greek ōion, egg + manteia, prophecy) - ophidiomancy/ophiomancy → see below
- opthalmomancy → see above (Greek ophthalmos, eye + manteia, prophecy)
- organoscopy → see below (Greek organon, organOrgan (anatomy)In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues . The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ. For example, main tissue in the heart is the myocardium, while sporadic are...
+ -skopiā, observation) - orniscopy/ornithomancy → see below
- oromancy: by mountains (Greek oros, mountain + manteia, prophecy)
- oryctomancy: by minerals (Greek oruktos, dug + manteia, prophecy)
- ossomancy → see below (Latin os [oss-], bone + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- osteomancy: by bones (Greek osteon, bone + manteia, prophecy)
- OuijaOuijaThe Ouija board also known as a spirit/fire key board or talking board, is a flat board marked with the letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0-9, the words "yes", "no", "hello" and "goodbye", and other symbols and words are sometimes also added to help personalize the board...
/Ouije: by ouija boardOuija BoardOuija Board is a Thoroughbred mare racehorse owned by Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby and trained by Ed Dunlop. In a career spanning four seasons, she won 10 of her 22 races, 7 of them Group 1s, including the Epsom Oaks in 2004 and the Hong Kong Vase in 2005...
(FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
oui, yes + GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
ja, yes) - ouranomancy → see below.
- ovomancy → see above (Latin ōvum, egg + manteia, prophecy)
P
- pallomancy: by pendulumPendulumA pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced from its resting equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position...
s (Greek pallein, to sway + manteia, prophecy) - palmistry/palm reading → see under below (Latin palma, palm)
- papyromancy: by folding paper, especially paper moneyBanknoteA banknote is a kind of negotiable instrument, a promissory note made by a bank payable to the bearer on demand, used as money, and in many jurisdictions is legal tender. In addition to coins, banknotes make up the cash or bearer forms of all modern fiat money...
(Greek papūros, papyrus paper + manteia, prophecy) - pedomancy → see under below (from podomancy, influenced by Latin pēs [pēd-], foot)
- pegomancy: by fountains (Greek pēgē, spring + manteia, prophecy)
- pessomancy: by pebbles (Greek pessos, oval pebble + manteia, prophecy)
- pecthimancy/petchimancy: by brushed cloth (possibly akin to Greek pekein, to card woolRaising cardA raising card is used to raise cloth. Raising is the technique used to produce the nap of cloth. Originally, only woolen cloth was raised, but now flannelette and other cotton fabrics are also raised. Raising is one of the last steps in the finishing process for cloth...
, or pēktē, netting + manteia, prophecy) - phobomancy: by feelings of fear (Greek phobos, fear + manteia, prophecy)
- photomancy: by fields of light (Greek phōs [phōt-], light + manteia, prophecy)
- phrenologyPhrenologyPhrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
(also organoscopy): by the configuration of one's brain (Greek phrēn, mind + -logiā, study) - phyllomancy: by leaves (Greek phullon, leaf + manteia, prophecy)
- sycomancy: by fig leaves (Greek sūkon, fig + manteia, prophecy)
- tasseographyTasseographyTasseography is a divination or fortune-telling method that interprets patterns in tea leaves, coffee grounds, or wine sediments....
/tasseomancy (also kypomancy): by tea leaves or coffee grounds (French tasseTazzaA tazza is a shallow saucer-like dish either mounted on a stem and foot or on a foot alone. The word has been generally adopted by archaeologists and connoisseurs for this type of vessel, used either for drinking, serving small items of food, or just for display.The Farnese Tazza is a 2nd century...
, cup + Greek -graphiā, representation)
- phyllorhodomancy: by rose petals (Greek phullon, leaf + rhodon, rose + manteia, prophecy)
- physiognomyPhysiognomyPhysiognomy is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face...
/physiognomancy: by faces (Greek phusis, nature + -gnōmoniā, interpretation) - phytognomy: by the appearance of plants (Greek phuton, plant + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
- plastromancy: by cracks formed by heat on a turtle's plastron (English plastron + manteia, prophecy)
- plumbomancy: by observing shapes molten lead makes when poured in water (Latin plumbum, lead + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- pneumancy: by blowing (Greek pneuma, breath + manteia, prophecy)
- podomancyPodomancyPodomancy is a divination by examining the lines of soles. Similar to palmistry, where the divination is based on the person's palm shape and lines, podomancy is based on the belief that a person's feet represent the symbol of that person's soul...
/pedomancy → see under below - portenta (also ostenta): study of natural phenomena
- psephomancy: by lots or ballots (Greek psephos, pebble + manteia, prophecy)
- pseudomancy: by false means, such as Peter Answers (Greek pseudēs, false + manteia, prophecy)
- psychognomyPsychognomyPsychognomy is a theory to describe human character defined by the twentieth-century teacher Belgian Paul Bouts.It is based on phrenology and incorporates elements of typology and graphology....
: by phrenologicalPhrenologyPhrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
notations (Greek psūkhē, soul + -gnōmoniā, observation) - psychomancy → see ¹ above (Greek psūkhē, soul + manteia, prophecy)
- pyromancyPyromancyPyromancy is the art of divination by means of fire.-History of pyromancy:Due to the importance of fire in society from the earliest of times, it is quite likely that pyromancy was one of the earlier forms of divination...
/pyroscopy: by fire (Greek pūr, fire + manteia, prophecy)
R
- radiesthesia: by rods, pendulumPendulumA pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced from its resting equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position...
s, or other cylindrical tools (Latin radius, spokeSpokeA spoke is one of some number of rods radiating from the center of a wheel , connecting the hub with the round traction surface....
+ Greek -aisthēsiā, sensing) - retromancy: by looking over one's shoulder (Latin retrō, behind + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- rhabdomancyRhabdomancyRhabdomancy is a type of divination by means of any rod, wand, staff, stick, arrow, or the like.One method of rhabdomancy was setting a number of staffs on end and observing where they fall, to divine the direction one should travel, or to find answers to certain questions. It has also been used...
/rabdomancy: by rods, sticks, or wands (Greek rhabdos, rod + manteia, prophecy) - rhapsodomancyRhapsodomancyRhapsodomancy is an ancient form of divination performed by choosing through some method a specific passage or poem from which to ascertain information....
: by poetry (Greek rhapsōidiā, verse + manteia, prophecy) - roadomancy: by constellationConstellationIn modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
s (apparently from Old English rodor, firmamentFirmamentThe firmament is the vault or expanse of the sky. According to Genesis, God created the firmament to separate the oceans from other waters above.-Etymology:...
+ Greek manteia, prophecy) - rumpologyRumpologyRumpology or "Bottom Reading" is a neologism referring to a pseudoscience akin to physiognomy, performed by examining crevices, dimples, warts, moles and folds of a person's buttocks in much the same way a chirologist would read the palm of the hand.-History:...
→ see under below - runecasting → see under above
S
- scapulimancyScapulimancyScapulimancy is the practice of divination by use of scapulae...
/scapulomancy (also spatulamancy, omoplatoscopy): by bovine or caprid shoulder blades (Latin scapula, shoulder blade + Greek manteia, prophecy) - scarpomancy: by old shoes (ItalianItalian languageItalian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
scarpa, shoe + Greek manteia, prophecy) - scatomancyScatomancyScatomancy is the reading of a person's fortune by examining their bodily excrement. It is also known as Spatalomancy, Spatilomancy, Cropomancy, and Spatalamancy- Definition :...
: by excrement (Greek skōr [skat-], excrement + manteia, prophecy) - schematomancy → see under below
- sciomancy¹ (also shadowmancy): by shadows (Greek skiā, shadow + manteia, prophecy)
- sciomancy²: by spirits (of the same origin as sciomancy¹)
- scryingScryingScrying is a magic practice that involves seeing things psychically in a medium, usually for purposes of obtaining spiritual visions and less often for purposes of divination or fortune-telling. The most common media used are reflective, translucent, or luminescent substances such as crystals,...
: by gazing (shortened from descrying)- crystal gazingCrystal gazingCrystal-gazing is a form of divination or scrying achieved through trance induction by means of gazing at a crystal....
: by reflective objects- catoptromancyCatoptromancyCatoptromancy , also known as captromancy or enoptromancy, is divination using a mirror.Pausanias, an ancient Greek traveler, described as follows:...
/captromancy (also enoptromancy, djubed): by mirrors (Greek katoptron, mirror + manteia, prophecy) - gastromancyCrystal gazingCrystal-gazing is a form of divination or scrying achieved through trance induction by means of gazing at a crystal....
¹ (also crystallomancy, spheromancy, crystal ball gazing): by crystal ball (Greek gastēr, belly [i.e., round object] + manteia, prophecy) - hydromancyHydromancyHydromancy is a method of divination by means of water, including the color, ebb and flow, or ripples produced by pebbles dropped in a pool....
(also ydromancy): by water (Greek hudōr, water + manteia, prophecy)
- catoptromancy
- crystal gazing
- selenomancy: by the moon (Greek selēnē, moon + manteia, prophecy)
- shadowmancy → see ¹ above (English shadow + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- sideromancy: by burning straw with an iron (Greek sidēros, ironIroningIroning is the use of a heated tool to remove wrinkles from fabric. The heating is commonly done to a temperature of 180-220 °Celsius, depending on the fabric. Ironing works by loosening the bonds between the long-chain polymer molecules in the fibers of the material...
+ manteia, prophecy) - sikidy: by drawing sixteen lines in sand (perhaps a MalagasyMalagasy languageMalagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
transliteration of English sixteen) - skatharomancy: by beetle tracks (Greek skatharōn, spot + manteia, prophecy)
- slinneanachdSlinneanachdSlinneanachd is a kind of divination formerly practiced in Scotland.The practice is now extinct in Scotland.It involved inspecting the shoulderblades of an animal , and according to one version, one had to eat the flesh of the animal without touching the bone with tooth or nail....
/slinnanacht: by animal shoulder blades (Scottish Gaelic slinnean, shoulder blade) - solaromancy: by the sun (Latin sōl [sōlār-], sun + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- somatomancy: by the human form (Greek sōma [sōmat-], body + manteia, prophecy)
- cephalomancyCephalomancyCephalomancy is a form of divination using a goat or donkey's head. Cephalomancy technically means "head divination" and therefore applies to any sort of divination using a skull or head. it covers two different methods: one was concerned with the shape of the skull, somewhat like extispicy or...
(also craniognomy): by skulls (Greek kephalē, head + manteia, prophecy) - cheiromancy/chiromancy (kī'rə·măn·sē; also palmistry, palm reading): by palms (Greek kheir, hand + manteia, prophecy)
- cheirognomy/chirognomy /kaɪˈrɒɡnɵmi/ or /kaɪˈrɒnɵmi/: by hands (Greek kheir, hand + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
- podomancyPodomancyPodomancy is a divination by examining the lines of soles. Similar to palmistry, where the divination is based on the person's palm shape and lines, podomancy is based on the belief that a person's feet represent the symbol of that person's soul...
/pedomancy (also cartopedy): by the soles of one's feet (Greek pous [pod-], foot + manteia, prophecy) - rumpologyRumpologyRumpology or "Bottom Reading" is a neologism referring to a pseudoscience akin to physiognomy, performed by examining crevices, dimples, warts, moles and folds of a person's buttocks in much the same way a chirologist would read the palm of the hand.-History:...
(also natimancy): by buttocks (English rump + Greek -logiā, study) - schematomancy: by the face (Greek skhēma [skhēmat-], figure + manteia, prophecy)
- cephalomancy
- sortilege: by the casting of lots, or sortesSortes (ancient Rome)Sortes were a frequent method of divination among the ancient Romans. The method involved the drawing of lots to obtain knowledge of future events: in many of the ancient Italian temples the will of the gods was consulted in this way, as at Praeneste and Caere.These sortes or lots were usually...
- sortes virgilianae: by Vergil's AeneidAeneidThe Aeneid is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. It is composed of roughly 10,000 lines in dactylic hexameter...
- sortes virgilianae: by Vergil's Aeneid
- spasmatomancy: by convulsions (alteration of *spasmodomancy, from Greek spasmos [spasmōd-], spasm + manteia, prophecy)
- spatilomancy: by animal excrement (Greek spatilē, excrement + manteia, prophecy)
- spatulamancy → see above (from scapulimancy, influenced by Latin spatula, splintSplintSplint may refer to:* Splint , a medical device for the immobilization of limbs or spine* Splint , a device for checking computer programs...
) - spheromancy → see under above (Greek sphaira, sphereSphereA sphere is a perfectly round geometrical object in three-dimensional space, such as the shape of a round ball. Like a circle in two dimensions, a perfect sphere is completely symmetrical around its center, with all points on the surface lying the same distance r from the center point...
+ manteia, prophecy) - sphondulomancy: by spindleSpindle (textiles)A spindle is a wooden spike used for spinning wool, flax, hemp, cotton, and other fibres into thread. It is commonly weighted at either the bottom middle or top, most commonly by a circular or spherical object called a whorl, and may also have a hook, groove or notch, though spindles without...
s (Greek sphondulos, spindle + manteia, prophecy) - splanchnomancy → see above (Greek splankhna, innards + manteia, prophecy)
- spodomancySpodomancySpodomancy is a form of divination by examining cinders, soot, or ashes , particularly although not exclusively from a ritual sacrifice. Spodomancy has been practiced by numerous cultures, ancient and modern, across the globe...
: by soot (Greek spodos, wood ashes + manteia, prophecy)- cineromancy/ceneromancy: by the ashes of a specifically sacrificial or ritual fire
- libanomancyLibanomancyLibanomancy is a divination primarily through observing and interpreting burning incense smoke, but which may include the way incense ash falls as well. Like most other methods of divination, during libanomancy a specific question must be asked...
/laɪˈbænɵmænsi/: by smoke or ash from incense (Greek libanos, frankincenseFrankincenseFrankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana...
+ manteia, prophecy) - tephramancy/tephromancy: by tree barkBarkBark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
ashes, by sacrificial or ritual fire ashes, or human sacrificial victim ashes (Greek tephrā, ash + manteia, prophecy)
- stareomancy: by the four elementsClassical elementMany philosophies and worldviews have a set of classical elements believed to reflect the simplest essential parts and principles of which anything consists or upon which the constitution and fundamental powers of anything are based. Most frequently, classical elements refer to ancient beliefs...
(Greek stais [stair-], dough + manteia, prophecy) - stercomancy: by seeds in bird excrement (Latin stercus, excrement + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- sternomancySternomancySternomancy, from the Greek sternon is a divination practice involving reading the markings or bumps on the chest or breast bone . Sternomancy may have been commonly practiced on victims of sacrifice...
: by ridges on the breastbone (Greek sternon, breastbone + manteia, prophecy) - stichomancy → see above
- stigonomancy: by burning writing onto bark (Greek stizein [stigōn-], to brand + manteia, prophecy)
- stoicheomancy/stoichomancy → see under above
- stolisomancy: by fashionFashionFashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
(Greek stolis, garment + manteia, prophecy) - sycomancy → see above
- symbolomancy: by things found on the road (Greek sumbolon, sign + manteia, prophecy)
T
- taromancy → see under above
- tasseographyTasseographyTasseography is a divination or fortune-telling method that interprets patterns in tea leaves, coffee grounds, or wine sediments....
/tasseomancy → see under above - technomancy: by technologyTechnologyTechnology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
(English techno(logy) + Greek manteia, prophecy) - technical analysisTechnical analysisIn finance, technical analysis is security analysis discipline for forecasting the direction of prices through the study of past market data, primarily price and volume. Behavioral economics and quantitative analysis incorporate technical analysis, which being an aspect of active management stands...
: by patterns in the chart of a financial instrument - temurahTemurah (Kabbalah)Temurah is one of the three ancient methods used by Kabbalists to rearrange words and sentences in the Bible, in the belief that by this method they can derive the esoteric substratum and deeper spiritual meaning of the words. Temurah may be used to change letters in certain words to create a new...
: by anagrams - tephramancy/tephromancy: → see (Greek tephrā, ash + manteia, prophecy)
- theomancy: foretelling events, prophecy (Greek theos, god + manteia, prophecy)
- theriomancy /ˈθɪəri.ɵmænsi/: (also zoomancy): by animal behavior (Greek thēr, wild animal + manteia, prophecy)
- ailuromancyAiluromancyAiluromancy or aeluromancy , also known as felidomancy, is a form of theriomancy. It is divination using cats' movements or jumps to predict future events, especially the weather....
/aeluromancy /aɪˈlʊərɵmænsi/ (also felidomancy): by cats (Greek ailouros, cat + manteia, prophecy) - alectryomancyAlectryomancyAlectryomancy is a form of divination in which the diviner observes a bird, several birds pecking at grain that the diviner has scattered on the ground...
/alectoromancy /əˈlɛktri.ɵmænsi/, /əˈlɛktərɵmænsi/: by rooster behavior (Greek alektruōn, cockerel + manteia, prophecy) - augurAugurThe augur was a priest and official in the classical world, especially ancient Rome and Etruria. His main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying the flight of birds: whether they are flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of...
y: by bird formations (Latin augur, diviner) - hippomancy /ˈhɪpɵmænsi/: by horse behavior (Greek hippos, horse + manteia, prophecy)
- ichthyomancy /ˈɪkθi.ɵmænsi/: by fish behavior (Greek ikhthūs, fish + manteia, prophecy)
- myomancyMyomancyMyomancy was a method of theriomantic divination by rats or mice, which may be alluded to in Isaiah 66:17. Their particular cries or some marked devastation committed by them was taken for a prognostication of evil....
/ˈmaɪ.ɵmænsi/: by rodent behavior (Greek mūs, mouse + manteia, prophecy) - myrmomancyMyrmomancyMyrmomancy is a form of entomomancy. Myrmomancy is a divination by the observation of ants behavior, and especially their eating habits....
/ˈmɜrmɵmænsi/: by ant behavior (Greek murmēx, ant + manteia, prophecy) - nggàmNggàmNggàm is a type of divination that originated among the Mambila people of Cameroon and Niger, in which the actions of spiders or crabs are interpreted by the diviner....
: by spider or crab behavior (MambilaMambilaThe Mambila or Mambilla people of Nigeria and Cameroon live on the Mambilla plateau and on the Tikar Plain in Cameroon as well as in several small villages further north towards the town of Banyo. The preferred ethnonym is Mambila in Cameroon and Mambilla in Nigeria...
nggàm, divination) - ophidiomancy/ophiomancy: by snakes behavior (Greek ophis [ophid-], snake + manteia, prophecy)
- orniscopy/ornithomancy (also auspicy/auspication, avimancy): by bird migration (Greek ornīs [ornīth-], bird + -skopiā, observation)
- ailuromancy
- thumomancy /ˈθjuːmɵmænsi/: by one's own soul, presage (Greek thūmos, soul + manteia, prophecy)
- topomancy /ˈtɒpɵmænsi/: by geography and geological formations (Greek topos, place + manteia, prophecy)
- transataumancy: by things accidentally seen or heard
- trochomancy /ˈtrɒkɵmænsi/: by wheel rutRut (roads)A rut is a depression or groove worn into a road or path by the travel of wheels or skis. Ruts can be formed by wear, as from studded snow tires common in cold climate areas, or they can form through the deformation of the asphalt concrete pavement or subbase material...
s (Greek trokhos, wheel + manteia, prophecy) - turifumy: by shapes in smoke (Latin tūs [tūr-], incense + fūmus, vapor)
- tyromancy/tiromancy /ˈtaɪrɵmænsi/: by cheese (Greek tūros, cheese + manteia, prophecy)
U
- umbilicomancy: by umbilical cordUmbilical cordIn placental mammals, the umbilical cord is the connecting cord from the developing embryo or fetus to the placenta...
s (English umbilic(al cord)Umbilical cordIn placental mammals, the umbilical cord is the connecting cord from the developing embryo or fetus to the placenta...
+ Greek manteia, prophecy) - umbromancy: by shade (Latin umbra, shadow + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- uranomancy/ouranomancy: by the sky (Greek ouranos, firmament + manteia, prophecy)
- uromancyUromancyUromancy is a form of divination, by reading the bubbles in urine that form when urinating in a pot.Its origin can be found in medicine, where uroscopy, the examination of urine, is used as a diagnostic tool...
/urimancy: by urineUrineUrine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
(Greek ouron, urine + manteia, prophecy) - urticariaomancy: by itches (New LatinNew LatinThe term New Latin, or Neo-Latin, is used to describe the Latin language used in original works created between c. 1500 and c. 1900. Among other uses, Latin during this period was employed in scholarly and scientific publications...
urticāria, hivesUrticariaUrticaria is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives is frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes...
+ Greek manteia, prophecy)
X
- xenomancy: by strangers (Greek xenos, stranger + manteia, prophecy)
- xylomancy: by the shape or texture of wood, or the appearance of burning wood (Greek xulon, wood + manteia, prophecy)
Z
- zoomancy → see above (Greek zōion, being + manteia, prophecy)
- zygomancy: by weights (Greek zugon, yoke, balance + manteia, prophecy)