Methods of divination

Methods of divination can be found around the world, and many cultures practice the same methods under different names. During the Middle Ages, scholars coined terms for many of these methods—some of which had hitherto been unnamed—in Medieval Latin, very often utilizing the suffix -mantia when the art seemed more mystical (ultimately from Ancient Greek μαντεία, manteía, 'prophecy' or 'the power to prophesy') and the suffix -scopia when the art seemed more scientific (ultimately from Greek σκοπεῖν, skopeîn, 'to observe'). Names like drimimantia, nigromantia, and horoscopia arose, along with other pseudosciences such as phrenology and physiognomy.[1]

Some forms of divination are much older than the Middle Ages, like haruspication, while others such as coffee-based tasseomancy originated in the 20th and 21st centuries.

The chapter "How Panurge consulteth with Herr Trippa" of Gargantua and Pantagruel, a parody on occult treatises of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, contains a list of over two dozen "mancies", described as "common knowledge".[2]

A

  • abacomancy /ˈæbəkmænsi/ (also amathomancy): by dust (Hebrew ’ābāq, dust + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • acultomancy /əˈkʌltmænsi/ (also acutomancy): by needles (from acutomancy below, influenced by Latin acus, needle, or acūleus, prickle or thorn)
  • acutomancy /əˈkjuːtmænsi/ → see acultomancy (Latin acus [acut-], needle + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • adromancy /ˈædrmænsi/ → see alomancy (from idromancy below, influenced by alomancy)
  • adryomancy→ see hydromancy (metathesis of hydromancy)
  • aeromancy /ˈɛərmænsi/: by atmospheric conditions (Greek āēr, air + manteía, prophecy)
  • agalmatomancy /əˈɡɔːlmətmænsi/: by statues (Greek ágalma [agálmatos], statue + manteía, prophecy)
  • aichmomancy /ˈɛkmmænsi/: by sharp objects (Greek aikhmē, spearhead + manteía, prophecy)
  • ailuromancy/aeluromancy → see theriomancy
  • alectormancy/alectromancy /əˈlɛktrmænsi/: by rooster sacrifice (Greek alektor, rooster + manteía, prophecy)
  • alectryomancy/alectoromancy: by rooster divination → see theriomancy
  • aleuromancy¹ /əˈljʊərmænsi/: by flour; see also chartomancy (Greek áleuron, meal + manteía, prophecy)
  • alomancy/Halomancy /ˈælmænsi/ (also adromancy): by salt (Greek háls, salt + manteía, prophecy)
  • alphitomancy/ˈælfɪtmænsi/: by barley (Greek alphis [alphit-], barley + manteía, prophecy)
  • alveromancy /ælˈvɪərmænsi/: by sounds
  • amathomancy /ˈæməθmænsi/ → see abacomancy by sand (Greek amathos, sandy soil + manteía, prophecy)
  • ambulomancy /ˈæmbjʊlmænsi/: by walking (Latin ambulāre, to walk + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • amniomancy /ˈæmnimænsi/: by placenta (Greek amniōn, amnion + manteía, prophecy)
  • anemoscopy/anemomancy /ˌænɪˈmɒskpi/: by wind (Greek anemos, wind + -skopiā, observation)
  • anthomancy /ˈænθmænsi/: by flowers (Greek anthos, flower + manteía, prophecy)
  • anthracomancy /ˈænθrəkmænsi/: by burning coals (Greek anthrax [anthrak-], charcoal + manteía, prophecy)
  • anthropomancy /ænˈθrɒpmænsi/: by human sacrifice (Greek anthrōpos, human being + manteía, prophecy)
  • anthroposcopy /ænθrˈpɒskpi/: by physical appearance (Greek anthrōpos, human being + -skopiā, observation)
  • apantomancy /əˈpæntmænsi/: by chance encounters with animals (Greek apantein, to encounter + manteía, prophecy)
  • arachnomancy /əˈræknmænsi/: by spiders (Greek arakhnē, spider + manteía, prophecy)
  • archeomancy/archaeomancy /ˈɑːrkimænsi/: by sacred relics (Greek arkhaios, ancient + manteía, prophecy)
  • ariolation /ˌæriˈlʃən/: by altars (Latin ariolus, hariolus, prophet)
  • arithmancy: assigning numerical value to a word or phrase
  • armomancy /ˈɑːrmmænsi/: by one's own shoulders (Latin armus, shoulder + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • Årsgång, archaic form of Swedish divination
  • aruspicina: study of entrails[3]
  • aspidomancy /ˈæspɪdmænsi/: by sitting in a drawn circle or on a shield (Greek aspis [{{transl|grc|aspid-], shield + manteía, prophecy)
  • astragalomancy/astragalamancy → see cleromancy
  • astragyromancy → see cleromancy (from astragalomancy above, perhaps influenced by Greek guros, spiral, circle, and therefore vertebra)
  • astrapomancy /ˈæstrəpmænsi/: by lightning (Greek astrapē, lightning flash + manteía, prophecy)
  • astrology/astromancy/ /əˈstrɒli/: by celestial bodies (Greek astron, star + -logiā, study). This method was widespread in medieval period, particularly in Mesopotamia. [4]
  • augury /ˈɔːɡjʊəri/ → see theriomancy
  • auramancy /ˈɔːrəmænsi/: by auras (Greek aurā, breath + manteía, prophecy)
  • auspicy/auspication → see theriomancy (Latin avis, bird + specere, to look at)
  • austromancy → see theriomancy /ˈɔːstrmænsi/: by wind (Latin auster, south wind + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • avimancy → see orniscopy (Latin avis, bird + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • axiomancy/axinomancy /ˈæksimænsi/: by axes (Latin axis, axis + manteía, prophecy)

B

  • batraquomancy/batrachomancy /bəˈtrækmænsi/: by frogs (Greek batrakhos, frog + manteía, prophecy)
  • belomancy/bolomancy /ˈbɛlmænsi/: by arrows (from bolomancy below, influenced by Greek belemnon, javelin, or belonē, needle)
  • bibliomancy → see chartomancy
  • biorhythmic divination: by biorhythms
  • bletonism/bletonomancy /ˈblɛtənɪzəm/: by water current (named for Monsieur Bleton, a French bletonist)
  • bolomancy /ˈbɒlmænsi/ → see belomancy (Greek bolē, arrow + manteía, prophecy)
  • bone-throwing the tossing of pieces of bone or wood practiced by various cultures[5][6]
  • botanomancy /bˈtænmænsi/: by burning sage or figs (Greek botanē, flora + manteía, prophecy)
  • brizomancy → see oneiromancy (Greek brizein, to be sleepy + manteía, prophecy)
  • brontomancy/brontoscopy /ˈbrɒntmænsi/: by thunder (Greek brontē, thunder + manteía, prophecy)
  • bumpology /bʌmˈpɒli/: by bumps on the skin (English bump + Greek -logiā, study)

C

  • cabala → see kabbalah
  • canomancy /ˈkænmænsi/ or /ˈknmænsi/: by dogs (Latin canis, dog + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • capnomancy /ˈkæpnmænsi/: by smoke (Greek kapnos, smoke + manteía, prophecy)
  • carromancy /ˈkærmænsi/: by melting wax (Greek karrō, of wax + manteía, prophecy)
  • cartopedy → see somatomancy (Latin carta, papyrus paper + pēs [pēd-], foot)
  • cartomancy → see chartomancy
  • catoptromancy/captromancy → see scrying
  • causimancy/causimomancy /ˈkɔːzɪmænsi/: by burning (Greek kaiein [kaus-], to burn + manteía, prophecy)
  • cephalomancy → see somatomancy
  • cephaleonomancy/cephalonomancy/ˌsɛfəliˈɒnmænsi/: by boiling a donkey's head (Greek kephalaion, head [with meaning influenced by Greek onos, donkey] + manteía, prophecy)
  • ceraunoscopy /ˌsɛrəˈnɒskpi/: by thunder and lightning (Greek keraunos, thunderbolt + -skopiā, observation)
  • ceromancy/ceroscopy /ˈsɛrmænsi/: by dripping wax in water (Greek kēros, wax + manteía, prophecy)
  • chalcomancy: by striking gongs or copper bowls (Greek khalkos, copper + manteía, prophecy)
  • chaomancy /ˈkmænsi/: by aerial visions (Greek khaos, primordial space + manteía, prophecy)
  • chartomancy /ˈkɑːrtmænsi/: by things on paper (Greek khartēs, papyrus paper + manteía, prophecy)
    • cartomancy /ˈkɑːrtmænsi/: by cards (Latin carta, papyrus paper + Greek manteía, prophecy)
    • stichomancy /ˈstɪkmænsi/: by books or lines (Greek stikhos, line of verse + manteía, prophecy)
      • aleuromancy² /əˈljʊərmænsi/: by fortune cookies (of the same origin as aleuromancy¹)
      • bibliomancy /ˈbɪblimænsi/: by the Bible (Greek biblion, book + manteía, prophecy)
      • I Ching divination: by the I Ching or the accompanying I Ching manual
      • stoicheomancy/stoichomancy: by the Iliad and the Odyssey or the Aeneid (Greek stoikheion, element + manteía, prophecy; to the Greeks, Homer's writings were held in similar esteem to the Christian Bible or the Muslim Quran, as were Virgil's writings to the Romans, making them the basic — or elementary — reading material in each culture)
  • cheiromancy/chiromancy→ see somatomancy
  • cheirognomy/chirognomy → see somatomancy
  • chien tung → see kau cim
  • choriomancy /ˈkɒrimænsi/: by pig bladders (Greek khorion, placenta + mantiea, prophecy)
  • chresmomancy /ˈkrɛsmmænsi/: by the ravings of lunatics (Greek khrēsmos, oracular utterance, chresm + manteía, prophecy)
  • chronomancy /ˈkrɒnmænsi/: by apt occasion (Greek khronos, time + manteía, prophecy)
  • cineromancy/ceneromancy → see spodomancy /ˈsɪnərmænsi/ (Latin cinis [ciner-], ashes + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • clamancy (see also Fāl-gūsh): by random shouts and cries heard in crowds, at night, etc. (Latin clāmāre, to cry out + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • cledonism/cledonomancy /ˈklɛdnɪzəm/: by chance events or overheard words (Greek klēdon, rumor)
  • cleidomancy/clidomancy /ˈkldmænsi/: by keys (Greek kleis [kleid-], key + manteía, prophecy)
  • cleromancy /ˈklɛrmænsi/: by casting (Greek klēros, lot + manteía, prophecy)
  • cometomancy /kˈmɛtmænsi/: by comet tails (Greek komētēs, comet + manteía, prophecy)
  • colormancy/coloromancy: by colors (English color + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • conchomancy /ˈkɒŋkmænsi/: by shells (Greek konkhē, mussel + manteía, prophecy)
  • cosquinomancy/coscinomancy /kˈsɪnmænsi/: by hanging sieves (Greek koskinōn, sieve + manteía, prophecy)
  • cottabomancy/cottobomancy /ˈkɒtəbmænsi/: by wine in a brass bowl (Greek kottabos, cottabus + manteía, prophecy)
  • craniognomy /ˌkrniˈɒɡnmi/ or /ˌkrniˈɒnəmi/ → see somatomancy (Greek krānion, skull + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
  • the crawling baby: by a baby's crawling
  • crithomancy/critomancy /ˈkrɪθmænsi/: by barley cakes (Greek krithē, barley + manteía, prophecy)
  • cromnyomancy/cromniomancy /ˈkrɒmnimænsi/: by onion sprouts (alteration of Greek krommuon, onion + manteía, prophecy)
  • cryptomancy /ˈkrɪptmænsi/: by omens (Greek kruptos, hidden + manteía, prophecy)
  • cryomancy /ˈkrmænsi/: by ice (Greek kryo, ice )
  • crystal ball gazing → see scrying
  • crystal gazing → see scrying
  • crystallomancy /ˈkrɪstəlmænsi/ → see scrying (Greek krustallos, crystal + manteía, prophecy)
  • cubomancy /ˈkjuːbmænsi/ → see cleromancy (Greek kubos, cube + manteía, prophecy)
  • cyathomancy /ˈsəθmænsi/: by cups (Greek kuathos, cup + manteía, prophecy)
  • cybermancy /ˈsbərmænsi/: by computer oracles (English cyber(netics) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • cyclicomancy /ˈsɪklɪkmænsi/: by swirling water in a cup (Greek kuklikos, cyclical, circular + manteía, prophecy)
  • cyclomancy /ˈsɪklmænsi/ or /ˈsklmænsi/: by wheels (Greek kuklos, circle + manteía, prophecy)

D

  • dactyliomancy /dækˈtɪlimænsi/: by finger rings (Greek daktulios, finger ring + manteía, prophecy)
  • dactylomancy /ˈdæktɪlmænsi/: by means of finger movements (Greek daktulos, finger + manteía, prophecy)
  • daphnomancy /ˈdæfnmænsi/: by burning laurel wreaths (Greek daphnē, laurel + manteía, prophecy)
  • demonomancy /dɪˈmɒnmænsi/: by demons (Greek daimōn, divine power + manteía, prophecy)
  • dendromancy /ˈdɛndrmænsi/: by trees, especially oaks, yews, or mistletoe (Greek dendron, tree + manteía, prophecy)
  • deuteroscopy /ˌdjtəˈrɒskpi/: by second glance or double take (Greek deuteros, secondary + -skopiā, observation)
  • dianomancy /dənmænsi/: by delivery, esp. by the randomly-generated words found on Whole Foods grocery bags to identify orders (Greek dianomí, delivery + manteía, prophecy)
  • dictiomancy /ˈdɪkʃmænsi/: by randomly opening a dictionary (English dictio(nary) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • divining → see dowsing
  • djubed→ see scrying
  • dōbutsu uranai: by animal horoscope (Japanese dōbutsu, animal + uranai, prognostication)
  • domino divination → see cleromancy
  • dowsing (also divining, water witching): by a divining rod (of unknown origin)
  • dracomancy /ˈdrækmænsi/: by dragons (Greek drakōn, dragon + manteía, prophecy)
  • Dream interpretation
  • dream questions: by dreaming
  • dririmancy/driromancy /ˈdrɪərɪmænsi/: by dripping blood (alteration of drimimancy, influenced by Middle English drir, blood)
  • drimimancy/drymimancy /ˈdrɪmɪmænsi/: by bodily fluids (Greek drimus, pungent + manteía, prophecy)

E

  • electromancy: by lightning and electricity (Greek ilektros electric + manteía prophecy)
  • eleomancy/elaeomancy: by oil (Greek elaion, olive oil + manteía, prophecy)
  • emonomancy → see demonomancy
  • empirimancy: by experiment/experience
  • empyromancy /ɛmˈpaɪərmænsi/: by burning (Greek empurios, fiery + manteía, prophecy)
  • encromancy: by oil ink stains (Greek elaion oil ink + manteía prophecy)
  • enochian chess: by playing a four·handed variant of the game
  • enoptromancy /ɛˈnɒptrmænsi/ → see scrying (Greek enoptron, looking glass + manteía, prophecy)
  • enthusiasm: speeches by those supposed to be possessed by a divine spirit[9]
  • entomomancy/entomancy: by insects (Greek entomon, insect + manteía, prophecy)
  • eromancy /ˈɛrmænsi/: by water vessels exposed to air (Greek āēr, air + manteía, prophecy) — cf. aeromancy
  • extispicy/extispication /ɛkˈstɪspɪsi/: by the remains of sacrificed animals (Latin exta, entrails + specere, to look at)

F

  • favomancy → see cleromancy
  • felidomancy → see theriomancy (Latin fēlēs [fēlid-], cat + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • feng shui → see geomancy
  • floriography/floromancy /ˌflɔːriˈɒɡrəfi/: by flowers' feelings (Latin flōs [flōr-], flower + Greek -graphiā, representation)
  • fractomancy /ˈfræktmænsi/: by fractals (English fract(al) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • fructomancy/fructimancy: by fruit (Latin frūctus, fruit + Greek manteía, prophecy)

G

  • galvanoscopy /ˌɡælvəˈnɒskpi/: by galvanism (English galvan(ism) + Greek -skopiā, observation)
  • gastromancy¹ → see scrying
  • gastromancy² /ˈɡæstrmænsi/: by guttural sounds (Greek gastēr, belly + manteía, prophecy)
  • geomancy /ˈmænsi/: by earth (Greek gaîa|, earth + manteía, prophecy)
  • geloscopy /ɪˈlɒskpi/: by laughter (Greek gelōs, laughter + -skopiā, observation)
  • gematria: by the Hebrew alphabet (Greek , earth + -metriā, measurement)
  • genethlialogy: by birth dates (Greek genethlios, birthday + -logiā, study)
  • grammomancy /ˈɡræmmænsi/: by writing individual letters (Greek gramma, letter + manteía, prophecy)
  • graphology /ɡræˈfɒli/ (also graptomancy): by studying handwriting (Greek graphē, writing + -logiā, study)
  • graptomancy /ˈɡræptmænsi/ → see graphology (Greek graptos, written + manteía, prophecy)
  • gyromancy /ˈaɪərmænsi/: by dizziness (Greek gūros, spiral + manteía, prophecy)

H

  • hagiomancy: by saints (Greek hagios, holy + manteía, prophecy)
  • halomancy /ˈhælmænsi/ → see alomancy
  • hakata: by bones or dice
  • haruspicy/haruspication /həˈrʌspɪsi/ → see hepatoscopy (Latin haru-, entrails + specere, to look at)
  • hematomancy/haematomancy /ˈhɛmətmænsi, ˈh-/: by blood (Greek haima [haimat-], blood + manteía, prophecy)
  • hepatoscopy/hepatomancy /ˈhɛpətmænsi/ (also haruspicy, haruspication): by liver (Greek hēpar [hēpat-], liver + -skopiā, observation)
  • hieromancy/hieroscopy /ˈhaɪərmænsi/: by studying sacrifices' entrails (Greek hieros, holy + manteía, prophecy)
  • hippomancy → see theriomancy
  • horoscopy /hˈrɒskpi/: aspect of the Stars at nativity[10] (Greek hōrā, season + -skopiā, observation)
  • hydatomancy: by rainwater (Greek hudatis, raindrop + manteía, prophecy)
  • hydromancy/hydroscopy → see scrying
  • hyomancy: by wild hogs (Greek hūs, swine + manteía, prophecy)
  • hypnomancy /ˈhɪpnmænsi/: by sleep (Greek hupnos, sleep + manteía, prophecy)

I

  • I Ching divination → see chartomancy
  • ichnomancy /ˈɪknmænsi/: by footprints (Greek ikhnos, track + manteía, prophecy)
  • ichthyomancy → see theriomancy
  • iconomancy /ˈkɒnmænsi/: by icons (Greek eikōn, image + manteía, prophecy)
  • idolomancy /ˈdɒlmænsi/: by idols (Greek eidōlon, phantom + manteía, prophecy)
  • idromancy → see alomancy (Greek idrōs, sweat + manteía, prophecy)
  • ifá: geomancy patterns generated with palm nuts, opele, cowrie shells, etc... that refer to Ifa divination texts; a collection of Odu Ifa verses
  • iridology: by eye color (Greek īris [īrid-], iris + -logiā, study)
  • isopsephy: by numbers and letters (Greek īsos, equal + psephos, pebble)

J

K

  • kabbalah/qabalah/cabala: by the Kabbalah (Hebrew qabbālâ, tradition)
  • kau cim: by bamboo
  • kayu ura: by rice gruel
  • kephalonomancy /kəˈfælənmænsi/ → see cephaleonomancy
  • keraunomancy /kɪˈrɒnmænsi/ → see ceraunoscopy
  • knissomancy /ˈnɪsmænsi/: by incense (Greek knisa [kniss-], vapor + manteía, prophecy)
  • kypomancy → see phyllomancy (akin to Greek kupellon, goblet + manteía, prophecy)

L

  • labiomancy /ˈlbimænsi/: by lips (Latin labium, lip + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • lampadomancy /ˈlæmpədmænsi/: by flame (Greek lampas [lampad-], light + manteía, prophecy)
  • lecanomancy/lecanoscopy /lɪˈkænmænsi/: by a basin of water (Greek lekanē, basin + manteía, prophecy)
  • letnomancy: by secrets (English let no (man see) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • libanomancy /lˈbænmænsi/ → see capnomancy and spodomancy (Greek libanos, frankincense + manteía, prophecy)
  • literomancy /ˈlɪtərmænsi/: by a letter in a written language (Latin lītera, letter + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • lithomancy /ˈlɪθmænsi/: by gems or stones (Greek lithos, stone + manteía, prophecy)
  • logarithmancy /ˌlɒɡəˈrɪθmənsi/: by logarithms (English logarithm + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • logomancy /ˈlɒɡmænsi/: by words (Greek logos, word + manteía, prophecy)
  • lots: divination through chance, or the drawing or tossing of lots[11]
  • lunamancy → see selenomancy (Latin lūna, moon + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • lychnomancy /ˈlɪknmænsi/: by candles (Greek lukhnos, lamp + manteía, prophecy)

M

  • macharomancy: by swords or knives (Greek makhaira, dirk + manteía, prophecy)
  • macromancy /ˈmækrmænsi/: by large objects (Greek makros, large + manteía, prophecy)
  • maculomancy /ˈmækjʊlmænsi/: by spots on the skin (Latin macula, spot + manteía, prophecy)
  • mahjong divination: by Mahjong tiles
  • margaritomancy /ˌmɑːrɡəˈrɪtmænsi/: by bouncing pearls (Greek margarītēs, pearl + manteía, prophecy)
  • mathemancy /ˈmæθɪmænsi/: by mathematics (English mathe(matics) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • mazomancy /ˈmæzmænsi/: by nursing (Greek mazos, breast + manteía, prophecy)
  • meconomancy /mɪˈknmænsi/: by sleeping (Greek mēkōn, poppy [i.e., an opiate] + manteía, prophecy)
  • megapolisomancy: by large cities (English megalopolis + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • meilomancy: by moles
  • metagnomy /mɪˈtæɡnmi/ or /mɪˈtænmi/: by magic (Greek meta-, beside + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
  • meteormancy /ˈmtirmænsi/: by meteors (English meteor + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • meteoromancy /ˌmtiˈɒrmænsi/: by thunder and lightning (Greek meteōron, heavenly phenomenon + manteía, prophecy)
  • metoposcopy/metopomancy /ˌmɛtˈpɒskpi/: by the lines of the forehead[12] (Greek metōpon, forehead + -skopiā, observation)
  • micromancy /ˈmkrmænsi/: by small objects (Greek mikros, small + manteía, prophecy)
  • moleosophy /mˈlɒsfi/ or /ˌmliˈɒsfi/: by blemishes (English mole + Greek sophiā, knowledge)
  • molybdomancy /mˈlɪbdmænsi/: by molten metal (Greek molubdos, lead + manteía, prophecy)
  • moromancy /ˈmɒrmænsi/: by foolishness (Greek mōros, dull + manteía, prophecy)
  • myomancy → see theriomancy
  • myrmomancy → see theriomancy

N

  • narcomancy /ˈnɑːrkmænsi/: by sleep (Greek narkē, numbness + manteía, prophecy)
  • natimancy → see somatomancy (Latin natis, buttock + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • necromancy¹ /ˈnɛkrmænsi/: by speaking to the dead, by corpses[13] (Greek nekros, corpse + manteía, prophecy)
  • necyomancy /ˈnsimænsi/: by summoning damned souls (Greek nekuiā, invocation + manteía, prophecy)
  • nephomancy /ˈnɛfmænsi/: by clouds (Greek nephos, cloud + manteía, prophecy)
  • nigromancy /ˈnɡrmænsi/: by black magic (Latin niger, black + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • nomancy /ˈnɒmənsi/ or /ˈnmənsi/ → see onomancy (variant of onomancy, influenced by Latin nōmen, name)
  • notarikon/netrikon: by initials (Latin notāricus, in shorthand)
  • nggàm → see theriomancy
  • numerology /ˌnjməˈrɒli/: by numbers (Latin numerus, number + Greek -logia, branch of study)
  • numismatomancy: by coins (Greek nomisma [nomismat-], coin + manteía, prophecy)

O

  • oculomancy /ˈɒkjʊlmænsi/: by eyes (Latin oculus, eye + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • odontomancy /ˈdɒntmænsi/: by teeth (Greek odous [odont-], tooth + manteía, prophecy)
  • oenomancy/oinomancy /ˈnmænsi/: by wine (Greek oinos, wine + manteía, prophecy)
  • ololygmancy /ˈlɒlɪɡmænsi/: by the howling of dogs (Greek ololuzō [ololug-], howl + manteía, prophecy)
  • omoplatoscopy → see scapulimancy (Greek ōmoplatē, shoulder blade + -skopiā, observation)
  • omphalomancy /ˈɒmfəlmænsi/: by navels (Greek omphalos, navel + manteía, prophecy)
  • oneiromancy/oneiroscopy /ˈnɪərmænsi/: by dreams (Greek oneiros, dream + manteía, prophecy)
  • onimancy /ˈɒnɪmænsi/ → see onychomancy
  • onomancy/onomomancy/nomancy /ˈɒnmænsi/: by letters in a name (Greek onoma, name + manteía, prophecy)
  • onomomancy /ˈnmmænsi/ → see onomancy
  • onychomancy/onymancy/onimancy /ˈnɪkmænsi/: by finger· and toenails (Greek onux [onukh-], nail + manteía, prophecy)
  • onymancy /ˈɒnɪmænsi/ → see onychomancy
  • oomancy/ooscopy /ˈmænsi/ (also ovomancy): by eggs (Greek ōion, egg + manteía, prophecy)
  • ophidiomancy/ophiomancy → see theriomancy
  • ophthalmomancy → see oculomancy (Greek ophthalmos, eye + manteía, prophecy)
  • organoscopy → see phrenology (Greek organon, organ + -skopiā, observation)
  • orniscopy/ornithomancy → see theriomancy
  • oromancy: by mountains (Greek oros, mountain + manteía, prophecy)
  • oryctomancy: by minerals (Greek oruktos, dug + manteía, prophecy)
  • ossomancy → see osteomancy (Latin os [oss-], bone + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • osteomancy: by bones (Greek osteon, bone + manteía, prophecy)
  • Ouija/Ouije: by ouija board (French oui, yes + German ja, yes)
  • ouranomancy → see uranomancy
  • ovomancy → see oomancy (Latin ōvum, egg + Greek manteía, prophecy)

P

  • Pagtatawas by reading melted alum
  • pallomancy: by pendulums (Greek pallein, to sway + manteía, prophecy)
  • palmistry/palm reading → see somatomancy (Latin palma, palm)
  • papyromancy: by folding paper, especially paper money (Greek papūros, papyrus paper + manteía, prophecy)
  • pedomancy → see somatomancy (from podomancy, influenced by Latin pēs [pēd-], foot)
  • pegomancy: by fountains (Greek pēgē, spring + manteía, prophecy)
  • pessomancy: by pebbles (Greek pessos, oval pebble + manteía, prophecy)
  • pecthimancy/petchimancy: by brushed cloth (possibly akin to Greek pekein, to card wool, or pēktē, netting + manteía, prophecy)
  • phallomancy: by swing of the phallus (Greek phallus, phallus + manteía, prophecy)
  • phobomancy: by feelings of fear (Greek phobos, fear + manteía, prophecy)
  • photomancy: by fields of light (Greek phōs [phōt-], light + manteía, prophecy)
  • phrenology (also organoscopy): by the configuration of one's brain (Greek phrēn, mind + -logiā, study)
  • phyllomancy: by leaves (Greek phullon, leaf + manteía, prophecy)
    • sycomancy: by fig leaves (Greek sūkon, fig + manteía, prophecy)
    • tasseography/tasseomancy (also kypomancy): by tea leaves or coffee grounds (French tasse, cup + Greek -graphiā, representation)
  • phyllorhodomancy: by rose petals (Greek phullon, leaf + rhodon, rose + manteía, prophecy)
  • physiognomy/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 + manteía, prophecy)
  • pilimancy: by observing the patterns produced by a collection of human hair
  • plumbomancy: by observing shapes molten lead makes when poured in water (Latin plumbum, lead + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • pneumancy: by blowing (Greek pneuma, breath + manteía, prophecy)
  • podomancy/pedomancy → see somatomancy
  • poe divination: by throwing stones on the floor, practised at Taoist temples
  • portenta (also ostenta): study of natural phenomena[14]
  • psephomancy: by lots or ballots (Greek psephos, pebble + manteía, prophecy)
  • pseudomancy: by false means, such as Peter Answers (Greek pseudēs, false + manteía, prophecy)
  • psychognomy: by phrenological notations (Greek psūkhē, soul + -gnōmoniā, observation)
  • psychomancy → see necromancy¹ (Greek psūkhē, soul + manteía, prophecy)
  • ptarmoscopy/ptarmoscopie: from ancient Greek the interpretation of sneezes[15]
  • pyromancy/pyroscopy: by fire (Greek pūr, fire + manteía, prophecy)

Q

R

S

  • scapulimancy/scapulomancy (also spatulamancy, omoplatoscopy): by bovine or caprid shoulder blades (Latin scapula, shoulder blade + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • scarpomancy: by old shoes (Italian scarpa, shoe + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • scatomancy: by excrement (Greek skōr [skat-], excrement + manteía, prophecy)
  • schematomancy → see somatomancy
  • sciomancy¹ (also shadowmancy): by shadows (Greek skiā, shadow + manteía, prophecy)
  • sciomancy²: by spirits (of the same origin as sciomancy¹)
  • scrying: by gazing (shortened from descrying)
    • crystal gazing: by reflective objects
      • catoptromancy/captromancy (also enoptromancy, djubed): by mirrors (Greek katoptron, mirror + manteía, prophecy)
      • gastromancy¹ (also crystallomancy, spheromancy, crystal ball gazing): by crystal ball (Greek gastēr, belly [i.e., round object] + manteía, prophecy)
      • hydromancy (also ydromancy): by water (Greek hudōr, water + manteía, prophecy)
  • selenomancy: by the moon (Greek selēnē, moon + manteía, prophecy)
  • shadowmancy → see sciomancy¹ (English shadow + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • Shufflemancy: by the use of an electronic media player such as an electronic playlist, iPod, or other medium wherein one skips a certain number of songs and the lyrics and/or tune of the song is the answer to the divinatory question
  • sideromancy: by burning straw with an iron (Greek sidēros, iron + manteía, prophecy)
  • sikidy: by drawing sixteen lines in sand (perhaps a Malagasy transliteration of English sixteen)
  • skatharomancy: by beetle tracks (Greek skatharōn, spot + manteía, prophecy)
  • slinneanachd/slinnanacht: by animal shoulder blades (Scottish Gaelic slinnean, shoulder blade)
  • solaromancy: by the sun (Latin sōl [{{wikt-lang|la|sōlāris|sōlār-], sun + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • somatomancy: by the human form (Greek sōma [sōmat-], body + manteía, prophecy)
    • cephalomancy (also craniognomy): by skulls (Greek kephalē, head + manteía, prophecy)
    • cheiromancy/chiromancy /kˈrɒmænsi/ (also palmistry, palm reading): by palms[16] (Greek kheir, hand + manteía, prophecy)
    • cheirognomy/chirognomy /kˈrɒ(ɡ)nmi/: by hands (Greek kheir, hand + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
    • podomancy/pedomancy (also cartopedy): by the soles of one's feet (Greek pous [pod-], foot + manteía, prophecy)
    • rumpology (also natimancy): by buttocks (English rump + Greek -logiā, study)
    • schematomancy: by the face (Greek skhēma [skhēmat-], figure + manteía, prophecy)
  • sortilege: by the casting of lots, or sortes
  • spasmatomancy: by convulsions (alteration of spasmodomancy, from Greek spasmos [spasmōd-], spasm + manteía, prophecy)
  • spatilomancy: by animal excrement (Greek spatilē, excrement + manteía, prophecy)
  • spatulamancy → see scapulimancy (from scapulimancy, influenced by Latin spatula, splint)
  • spheromancy → see scrying (Greek sphaira, sphere + manteía, prophecy)
  • sphondulomancy: by spindles (Greek sphondulos, spindle + manteía, prophecy)
  • splanchnomancy → see anthropomancy (Greek splankhna, innards + manteía, prophecy)
  • spodomancy: by soot (Greek spodos, wood ashes + manteía, prophecy)
    • cineromancy/ceneromancy: by the ashes of a specifically sacrificial or ritual fire[17]
    • libanomancy /lˈbænmænsi/: by smoke or ash from incense (Greek libanos, frankincense + manteía, prophecy)[7][8]
    • tephramancy/tephromancy: by tree bark ashes, by sacrificial or ritual fire ashes, or human sacrificial victim ashes (Greek tephrā, ash + manteía, prophecy)[18]
  • stareomancy: by the four elements (Greek stais [stair-], dough + manteía, prophecy)
  • stercomancy: by seeds in bird excrement (Latin stercus, excrement + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • sternomancy: by ridges on the breastbone (Greek sternon, breastbone + manteía, prophecy)
  • stichomancy → see chartomancy
  • stigonomancy: by burning writing onto bark (Greek stizein [stigōn-], to brand + manteía, prophecy)
  • stoicheomancy/stoichomancy → see chartomancy
  • stolisomancy: by fashion (Greek stolis, garment + manteía, prophecy)
  • styramancy: by observing patterns produced by chewing gum, gum wax, or products produced by the L. styraciflua tree
  • sycomancy → see phyllomancy
  • symbolomancy: by things found on the road (Greek sumbolon, sign + manteía, prophecy)

T

  • taromancy → see chartomancy
  • tasseography/tasseomancy → see phyllomancy
  • technomancy: by technology (English techno(logy) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • temurah: → see kabbalah
  • tephramancy/tephromancy: → see spodomancy (Greek tephrā, ash + manteía, prophecy)
  • theomancy: foretelling events, prophecy[19] (Greek theos, god + manteía, prophecy)
  • theriomancy /ˈθɪərimænsi/: (also zoomancy): by animal behavior (Greek thēr, wild animal + manteía, prophecy)
    Russian peasant girls using chicken for divination. A 19th·century lubok.
    • ailuromancy/aeluromancy /ˈlʊərmænsi/ (also felidomancy): by cats (Greek ailouros, cat + manteía, prophecy)
    • alectryomancy/alectoromancy /əˈlɛktərimænsi/: by rooster behavior (Greek alektruōn, cockerel + manteía, prophecy)
    • augury: by bird formations[20] (Latin augur, diviner)
    • hippomancy /ˈhɪpmænsi/: by horse behavior (Greek hippos, horse + manteía, prophecy)
    • ichthyomancy /ˈɪkθimænsi/: by fish behavior (Greek ikhthūs, fish + manteía, prophecy)
    • myomancy /ˈmmænsi/: by rodent behavior (Greek mūs, mouse + manteía, prophecy)
    • myrmomancy /ˈmɜːrmmænsi/: by ant behavior (Greek murmēx, ant + manteía, prophecy)
    • nggàm: by spider or crab behavior (Mambila nggàm, divination)
    • ophidiomancy/ophiomancy: by snakes behavior (Greek ophis [ophid-], snake + manteía, prophecy)
    • orniscopy/ornithomancy (also auspicy/auspication, avimancy): by bird migration (Greek ornīs [ornīth-], bird + -skopiā, observation)
  • thumomancy /ˈθjmmænsi/: by one's own soul, presage[21] (Greek thūmos, soul + manteía, prophecy)
  • topomancy /ˈtɒpmænsi/: by geography and geological formations (Greek topos, place + manteía, prophecy)
  • transataumancy: by things accidentally seen or heard
  • trochomancy /ˈtrɒkmænsi/: by wheel ruts (Greek trokhos, wheel + manteía, prophecy)
  • turifumy: by shapes in smoke (Latin tūs [tūr-], incense + fūmus, vapor)
  • tyromancy/tiromancy /ˈtaɪərmænsi/: by cheese (Greek tūros, cheese + manteía, prophecy)

U

  • umbilicomancy: by umbilical cords (English umbilic(al cord) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • umbromancy: by shade (Latin umbra, shadow + Greek manteía, prophecy)
  • uranomancy/ouranomancy: by the sky (Greek ouranos, firmament + manteía, prophecy)
  • uromancy/urimancy: by urine (Greek ouron, urine + manteía, prophecy)
  • urticariaomancy: by itches (Neo-Latin urticāria, hives + Greek manteía, prophecy)

V

  • Vastu shastra East Indian version of feng shui geomancy
  • videomancy: by films (English video + Greek manteía, prophecy)

W

X

  • xenomancy: by strangers (Greek xenos, stranger + manteía, prophecy)
  • xylomancy: by the shape or texture of wood, or the appearance of burning wood (Greek xulon, wood + manteía, prophecy)[22]

Y

  • ydromancy¹ → see scrying
  • ydromancy² → see alomancy (from idromancy above, influenced by alomancy)
  • Yes No Oracle
  • Answering Oracle: Full responses to more detailed questions

Z

  • zoomancy → see theriomancy (Greek zōion, being + manteía, prophecy)
  • zygomancy: by weights (Greek zugon, yoke, balance + manteía, prophecy)

See also

References

  1. Anthony Grafton; Glenn W Most; Salvatore Settis (2010). The Classical Tradition. Harvard University Press. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-674-03572-0.
  2. s:The Third Book/Chapter XXV
  3. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the Entrails of a sacrificed beast; which was Aruspicina..."
  4. Driediger-Murphy, Lindsay G.; Eidinow, Esther (2019). Ancient Divination and Experience. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-258290-4.
  5. "Definition of BONE-THROWING". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. "Definition of Bone-Throwing by Oxford Dictionary". Lexico Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  7. Del Rio, Martín Anton. Investigations Into Magic. P.G. Maxwell-Stuart, trans. Reprint ed. Manchester, U.K.: Manchester University Press, 2000, p. 160 (originally published 1599-1600)
  8. Dunwich, Gerina. Candlelight Spells: The Modern Witch's Book of Spellcasting, Feasting, and Healing. Secaucus, N.J.: Citadel Press, 1988, p. 51.
  9. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the insignificant Speeches of Madmen, supposed to be possessed with a divine Spirit; which Possession they called Enthusiasm..."
  10. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the aspect of the Stars at their Nativity; which was called Horoscopy, and esteemed a part of judiciary Astrology..."
  11. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes, in mere Lottery, as Cross and Pile; counting holes in a sieve; dipping of Verses in Homer, and Virgil; and innumerable other such vain conceipts..."
  12. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the Lineaments of the face; which was called Metoposcopy..."
  13. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the Prediction of Witches, that pretended conference with the dead; which is called Necromancy, Conjuring, and Witchcraft; and is but juggling and confederate knavery..."
  14. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in Monsters, or unusual accidents; as Eclipses, Comets, rare Meteors, Earthquakes, Inundations, uncouth Births, and the like, which they called Portenta and Ostenta, because they thought them to portend, or foreshow some great Calamity to come..."
  15. Sciences et Voyages No24 Juin 1937 "Divination, magie et tatouages en Bosnie
  16. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in...Palmistry in the lines of the hand; in casual words, called Omina..."
  17. Buckland, Raymond. The Fortune-Telling Book: The Encyclopedia of Divination and Soothsaying. Detroit, Mich.: Visible Ink, 2004, p. 102.
  18. Not all sources agree that tephramancy and tephromancy are synonyms. Some sources claim that tephramancy uses only the ash of tree bark, while tephromancy may use the ashes of any sacrifice. See: Buckland, The Fortune-Telling Book: The Encyclopedia of Divination and Soothsaying, 2004, p. 479; Pickover, Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction, 2001, p. 183; Dunwich, Gerina. Candlelight Spells: The Modern Witch's Book of Spellcasting, Feasting, and Healing, 1988, p. 153. Other sources claim that tephramancy utilizes only the ashes of human sacrificial victims. See: Spence, Lewis. An Encyclopaedia of Occultism. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1920, p. 408; Ellison, Robert Lee. The Solitary Druid: Walking the Path of Wisdom and Spirit. New York: Kensington Publishing Corp., 2005, p. 58; Waite, Arthur Edward. A Manual of Cartomancy and Occult Divination. Reprint ed. Whitefish, Mont.: Kessinger, 1995, p. 236; Robertson, John G. Robertson's Words for a Modern Age: A Cross Reference of Latin and Greek Combining Elements. Eugene, Ore.: Senior Scribe Publications, 1991, p. 193.
  19. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...and these kinds of foretelling events, were accounted Theomancy or Prophecy..."
  20. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the Casual flight, or feeding of birds; called Augury..."
  21. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in their own hopes and fears, called Thumomancy, or Presage..."
  22. Pickover, Clifford A. Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 2001, p. 137.
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