"Babylonians. Something like it is also mentioned in Hosea 4:12, although a staff or rod is used instead of arrows, which is rather rhabdomancy than belomancy. Grotius, as well as Jerome, confounds the two together, and shows that it prevailed much among the Magi, Chaldean, and Scythians, from which it passed to the Slavonians, and then to the Germans, whom Tacitus observes to make use of it. A lost traveller might also use belomancy to find his way, by tossing the arrow into the air, and letting its angle show him the way. The Book of Mormon describes an oracle"
"Lithomancy Lithomancy 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. The earliest verified account of lithomancy comes from Photius, the patriarch of Constantinople, who describes a physician named Eusebius using a stone called a baetulum to perform the ritual. However, some writers also claim that Helenus predicted the destruction of Troy using the ritual. In modern lithomancy, 13 stones are tossed onto a board and a prediction made based on the pattern in which they fall. The stones are"
"representative of various concepts: fortune, magic, love, news, home life and the astrological planets of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the sun, and the moon. Lithomancy Lithomancy 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. The earliest verified account of lithomancy comes from Photius, the patriarch of Constantinople, who describes a physician named Eusebius using a stone called a baetulum to perform the ritual. However, some writers also claim that Helenus predicted the destruction of Troy using the ritual."
"painter, was famous for his series of paintings on abacomancy, which focused on the patterns in the paintings he made to foretell the future. Abacomancy Abacomancy, also known as ""Amathomancy"" (from the Greek word ""amathos"" meaning sand) 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. Readers drop the dirt, sand, or ashes on a flat surface and start looking for a pattern that may represent symbols or pictures. They interpret these symbols and"
"ground, it indicates that storms will happen in the near future. Ailuromancy Ailuromancy or aeluromancy (from Greek αἴλουρος ""aílouros"" meaning ""cat""), also known as felidomancy, is a form of theriomancy. It is divination using cats' movements or jumps to predict future events, especially the weather. One of the most common methods of ailuromancy utilizes the movements and behaviours of a cat to predict upcoming weather patterns. For example, if the cat turns its tail to a fire or any substituting heat source, it foretells a possible change in weather, particularly the coming of heavy rain or hard frost. Another example"
"word Lithomancy comes from the Greek word Lithos, meaning stone, and manteia, meaning prophecy. The gemstones used had different properties based on what kind of stone they were. Some could be for temporal discoveries, while others could be medicinal remedies. In the reflection method of Divination, the stones were cast on a black sheet and looked at by candle light. The different colors of the reflections determined if the reading was good or bad, or even what it was about. Another method determined the future by where the stones landed in relation to a central candle. In this case, each"
"Ailuromancy Ailuromancy or aeluromancy (from Greek αἴλουρος ""aílouros"" meaning ""cat""), also known as felidomancy, is a form of theriomancy. It is divination using cats' movements or jumps to predict future events, especially the weather. One of the most common methods of ailuromancy utilizes the movements and behaviours of a cat to predict upcoming weather patterns. For example, if the cat turns its tail to a fire or any substituting heat source, it foretells a possible change in weather, particularly the coming of heavy rain or hard frost. Another example is if a cat curls up with its forehead touching the"
"the bone. A clear scapula was a good omen. Shadowy bits had their interpretation and by this they used to predict the outcome of a battle on the morrow, death or survival. In Renaissance magic, scapulimancy (known as ""spatulamancy"") was classified as one of the seven ""forbidden arts,"" along with necromancy, geomancy, aeromancy, pyromancy, chiromancy (palmistry), and hydromancy. Scapulimancy Scapulimancy (also spelled ""scapulomancy"" and ""scapulamancy"", also termed ""omoplatoscopy"" or ""speal bone reading"") is the practice of divination by use of scapulae or speal bones (shoulder blades). In the context of the oracle bones of ancient China, which chiefly utilized both"
"Carromancy Carromancy (from Greek ""carro"", 'waxen', and ""manteia"", 'divination'), 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 auguries of the future. Another method more commonly practiced in the contemporary era is studying the burning of an ordinary candle. The movements and erratic actions of the flame are then said to predict the future. Carromancy also has"
"Abacomancy Abacomancy, also known as ""Amathomancy"" (from the Greek word ""amathos"" meaning sand) 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. Readers drop the dirt, sand, or ashes on a flat surface and start looking for a pattern that may represent symbols or pictures. They interpret these symbols and pictures to what is going to happen in the future. Some look for certain symbols that are seen over and over. Jackson Pollock, renowned"
"Onychomancy Onychomancy or variously onuchomancy, onychomantia, onycomancy, onymancy (from Greek ""onychos"", 'fingernail', and ""manteia"", 'fortune-telling') is an ancient form of divination using fingernails. It consists of watching the reflection of sunlight on the oiled fingernails of an unpolluted boy, then interpreting the symbols that appear. The fingers where symbols appear allegedly indicate the nature of the coming events, while the location of the symbols on the nail allow to date them. The higher the symbol is situated on the nail, the nearer the events are in the future. The term is also used for a method of chiromancy, consisting of"
"alum crystals is known as a ""magtatawas"", while a diviner that prefers to conduct a ritual known as ""luop"" is known as a ""mangluluop"". Diviners are also able to foretell the future and perform geomancy rituals. A key mythological creature used in ""babaylan"" geomancy in the Visayas is the ""bakunawa"" (or ""naga""), usually depicted as a gigantic serpent or dragon with a looped tail. The movements of the ""bakunawa"" affected the physical world, from the phases of the moon, to eclipses, the weather, floods, and earthquakes. The ""bakunawa"" was central to a sixteen-point compass rose. It faces a different cardinal"
"Necromancy Necromancy () is a practice of magic involving communication with the deceased – either by summoning their spirit as an apparition or raising them bodily – for the purpose of divination, imparting the means to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge, to bring someone back from the dead, or to use the deceased as a weapon, as the term may sometimes be used in a more general sense to refer to black magic or witchcraft. The word ""necromancy"" is adapted from Late Latin ""necromantia"", itself borrowed from post-Classical Greek νεκρομαντεία (""nekromanteía""), a compound of Ancient Greek νεκρός (""nekrós""),"
"reading health & character from fingernails. Onychomancy Onychomancy or variously onuchomancy, onychomantia, onycomancy, onymancy (from Greek ""onychos"", 'fingernail', and ""manteia"", 'fortune-telling') is an ancient form of divination using fingernails. It consists of watching the reflection of sunlight on the oiled fingernails of an unpolluted boy, then interpreting the symbols that appear. The fingers where symbols appear allegedly indicate the nature of the coming events, while the location of the symbols on the nail allow to date them. The higher the symbol is situated on the nail, the nearer the events are in the future. The term is also used for"
"Chronomancy Chronomancy 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"" (meaning ""time""), and the word ""manteia"" (meaning ""divination"") is also used in fiction to refer to a school of magic involving supernatural manipulation of time. The best known historical figure that has been attributed the power of chronomancy is the Count of St. Germain, the eighteenth century philosopher, alchemist, and spiritualist. He has been believed to transcend time by reincarnation and eternal youth. In modern fantasy role-playing games,"
"Aspidomancy Aspidomancy (from the Greek word ""aspis"" meaning shield) is a form of divination based on the interpretation of patterns on a shield. Reading the patterns is believed to give some insight into the future. Readers study the shield, looking for a pattern that may represent symbols or pictures. They interpret these symbols and pictures as clues as to what is going to happen in the future. Aspidomancy can also refer to the method of divination of sitting on a shield and reciting incantations to summon an entity or enter a trance, in order to gain knowledge. This method was"
"Scapulimancy Scapulimancy (also spelled ""scapulomancy"" and ""scapulamancy"", also termed ""omoplatoscopy"" or ""speal bone reading"") is the practice of divination by use of scapulae or speal bones (shoulder blades). In the context of the oracle bones of ancient China, which chiefly utilized both scapulae and the plastrons of turtle, ""scapulimancy"" is sometimes used in a very broad sense to jointly refer to both scapulimancy and plastromancy (similar divination using plastrons). However, the term ""osteomancy"" might be more appropriate, referring to divination using bones. Many archaeological sites along the south coast and offlying islands of the Korean peninsula show that deer and"
"Lecanomancy Lecanomancy (Gr. λεκάνη, ""dish, pan"" + μαντεία, ""divination"") is a form of divination using a dish, usually of water, which, like many ancient forms of divination, has multiple forms. The earliest form of lecanomancy appears to have come from Ancient Babylonia, though it is only mentioned in one text. Even there, there were two types of the divination used. Some court magicians would use inductive lecanomancy; 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"
"his eyes fell on the following sentence: 'if we love in the other world as we do in this, I shall love thee to eternity' (which was a translation exercise). Bibliomancy Bibliomancy is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books (especially specific words and verses) for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world. According to the ""Oxford English Dictionary"", the word ""bibliomancy"" (etymologically from βιβλίον ""biblio-"" ""book"" and μαντεία ""-mancy"" ""divination by means of"") ""divination by books, or by verses of the Bible"" was first"
"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. Lecanomancy Lecanomancy (Gr. λεκάνη, ""dish, pan"" + μαντεία, ""divination"") is a form of divination using a dish, usually of water,"
"left and right. A later Turkish translation of the Ps-Melampus text, ascribed to ""Leo the Wise,"" was translated into French by Jean Nicolaides (""Les Livres de Divination Traduits sur un Manuscrit Turc Inédit"", 1889). Moleosophy Moleosophy 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 (i.e. moles). Although divination by moles, birthmarks and blemishes has been practiced in many societies throughout history, it has never achieved the status of dream divination, astrology, or even palmistry. As such, it has generally been classed"
"Palmistry Palmistry, or chiromancy (also spelled cheiromancy; from Greek ""kheir"" (χεῖρ, ός; ""hand"") and ""manteia"" (μαντεία, ας; ""divination""), is the claim of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as chirology, or in popular culture as palm reading. The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations. Those who practice chiromancy are generally called ""palmists"", ""hand readers"", ""hand analysts"", or ""chirologists"". There are many—often conflicting—interpretations of various lines and palmar features across various schools of palmistry. These contradictions between different interpretations, as well as the lack of evidence for palmistry's predictions,"
"Bibliomancy Bibliomancy is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books (especially specific words and verses) for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world. According to the ""Oxford English Dictionary"", the word ""bibliomancy"" (etymologically from βιβλίον ""biblio-"" ""book"" and μαντεία ""-mancy"" ""divination by means of"") ""divination by books, or by verses of the Bible"" was first recorded in 1753 (""Chambers' Cyclopædia""). Sometimes this term is used synonymously with ""stichomancy"" (from στίχος ""sticho-"" ""row, line, verse"") ""divination by lines of verse in books taken at hazard"", which"
"Daphnomancy Daphnomancy is a form of pyromancy whereby the future is predicted by burning bay laurel leaves. A loud crackling from the fire is a positive omen, whereas silence is a negative one. ""Daphno"" is thought to be a tribute to Daphne, an ancient Greek nymph turned into the first laurel tree by Apollo. Originally, the leaves were selected from the Sacred Grove of Apollo, but as time moved on the practice of daphnomancy spread to pre-Christian era Rome and Greece and was thought to be commonly practiced by augurs of both empires. The original grove from which the Romans"
"places including Dodona, and by ""the Pythia"" at Delphi. Astragalomancy is a type of cleromancy performed by throwing the knuckle-bones of sheep or other ruminants (astragaloi) to be able to tell the future. As each face of the astragalos is assigned a numerical value, astragaloi can be rolled like dice and the resultant roll matched to a table of possible outcomes. A number of these tables were engraved on public monuments in southern Anatolia. Divination by way of the making of a sacrifice took the form of examination of entrails, by which is meant the bowels and viscera. Enthusiastic prophecy"
"in a number of books, films and television shows, including: Palmistry Palmistry, or chiromancy (also spelled cheiromancy; from Greek ""kheir"" (χεῖρ, ός; ""hand"") and ""manteia"" (μαντεία, ας; ""divination""), is the claim of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as chirology, or in popular culture as palm reading. The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations. Those who practice chiromancy are generally called ""palmists"", ""hand readers"", ""hand analysts"", or ""chirologists"". There are many—often conflicting—interpretations of various lines and palmar features across various schools of palmistry. These contradictions between different interpretations,"
"Moleosophy Moleosophy 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 (i.e. moles). Although divination by moles, birthmarks and blemishes has been practiced in many societies throughout history, it has never achieved the status of dream divination, astrology, or even palmistry. As such, it has generally been classed a species of superstition or folklore, rather than a pseudo-science. Despite a cultural predeliction for physiognomy, which developed in a considerable literature, mole divination was not a major feature of Greco-Roman culture, and references"
"Alomancy Alomancy (from Greek ""halo"", 'salt', and ""manteia"", divination), 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. The diviner can also interpret patterns formed from the residue of a salt solution as it evaporates in the bowl. The exact interpretations are unknown, but it probably follows a similar method to aleuromancy. Salt itself is often intertwined with luck and some of this ancient tradition can"
"Aeromancy Aeromancy (from Greek ἀήρ ""aḗr"", ""air"", and ""manteia"", ""divination"") is divination conducted by interpreting atmospheric conditions. Alternate spellings include arologie, aeriology and aërology. Aeromancy uses cloud formations, wind currents and cosmological events such as comets to attempt to divine the future. There are sub-types of this practice which are as follows: austromancy (wind divination), ceraunoscopy (observing thunder and lightning), chaomancy (aerial vision), meteormancy (meteors and shooting stars), and nephomancy (cloud divination). The first recorded instance of the word ""aeromancy"" being used was found in Chambers, Cycl. Supp, 1753. It was defined as ""That department of science which treats of"
"(1618: II. iii. ll. 89-146 (G2v)). Coscinomancy Coscinomancy 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. The term comes into English via both New Latin and Medieval Latin ""coscinomantia"", and is ultimately derived from the Ancient Greek ""koskinomantis"" () a diviner using a sieve, from ""koskinon"" () a sieve. The word is mentioned by a number of Ancient Greek writers, including Philippides, Julius Pollux, Lucianus and, most famously, Theocritus. One"
"were chosen. Though the interpretation of various cards varies by region, the common significators for the future are as follows: Cartomancy Cartomancy 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. Practitioners of cartomancy are generally known as ""cartomancers"", ""card readers"", or simply ""readers"". Cartomancy using standard playing cards was the most popular form of providing fortune-telling card readings in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The standard 52-card deck is often augmented with jokers or even with the blank card found in"
"Myomancy Myomancy (from ""myo-"" ""mouse"" + ""-mancy"" ""divination by means of"") is the practice of reading omens from the behavior of rats or mice, a ""theriomantic"" method of divination which might be implied in the Bible verse Isaiah 66:17. In the context of Western history, certain mouse or rat vocalizations (""their particular cries"") and other phenomena, including severe cases of damage wreaked by the rodents, was taken to be a sign predictive of evil. For example, Ælain relates that Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus resigned the dictatorship in consequence of a ""warning"" from these creatures; according to Varro, Cassius Flaminius retired"
"first described in the 17th century by French writer Pierre de Lancre. Aspidomancy Aspidomancy (from the Greek word ""aspis"" meaning shield) is a form of divination based on the interpretation of patterns on a shield. Reading the patterns is believed to give some insight into the future. Readers study the shield, looking for a pattern that may represent symbols or pictures. They interpret these symbols and pictures as clues as to what is going to happen in the future. Aspidomancy can also refer to the method of divination of sitting on a shield and reciting incantations to summon an entity"