From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the numerous varieties of divination. For divination as a whole, see
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 (also amathomancy ): by dust (
Hebrew ’ābāq , dust +
Greek manteía , prophecy)
acultomancy (also acutomancy ): by needles (from acutomancy below, influenced by
Latin acus , needle, or
acūleus , prickle or thorn)
acutomancy → see
acultomancy (Latin acus [acut- ], needle + Greek manteía , prophecy)
adromancy → see
alomancy (from idromancy below, influenced by alomancy )
adryomancy → see
hydromancy (metathesis of hydromancy )
aeromancy : by atmospheric conditions (Greek āēr , air + manteía , prophecy)
agalmatomancy :[
citation needed ] by statues (Greek ágalma [agálmatos ], statue + manteía , prophecy)
aichmomancy : by sharp objects (Greek aikhmē , spearhead + manteía , prophecy)
ailuromancy /aeluromancy → see
theriomancy
alectormancy /
alectromancy : by
rooster sacrifice (Greek alektor , rooster + manteía , prophecy)
alectryomancy /alectoromancy : by rooster divination → see
theriomancy
aleuromancy ¹ : by flour; see also
chartomancy (Greek áleuron ,
meal + manteía , prophecy)
alomancy /Halomancy (also adromancy ): by salt (Greek háls , salt + manteía , prophecy)
alphitomancy : by barley (Greek alphis [alphit- ], barley + manteía , prophecy)
alveromancy :[
citation needed ] by sounds
amathomancy → see
abacomancy by sand (Greek amathos , sandy soil + manteía , prophecy)
ambulomancy : by walking (Latin
ambulāre , to walk + Greek manteía , prophecy)
amniomancy : by
placenta (Greek amniōn ,
amnion + manteía , prophecy)
anemoscopy /anemomancy : by wind (Greek anemos , wind + -skopiā , observation)
anthomancy : by flowers (Greek anthos , flower + manteía , prophecy)
anthracomancy : by burning coals (Greek anthrax [anthrak- ], charcoal + manteía , prophecy)
anthropomancy : by human sacrifice (Greek anthrōpos , human being + manteía , prophecy)
anthroposcopy : by physical appearance (Greek anthrōpos , human being + -skopiā , observation)
apantomancy : by chance encounters with animals (Greek apantein , to encounter + manteía , prophecy)
arachnomancy : by spiders (Greek
arakhnē , spider + manteía , prophecy)
archeomancy /archaeomancy : by
sacred relics (Greek arkhaios , ancient + manteía , prophecy)
ariolation : by altars (Latin
ariolus ,
hariolus , prophet)
arithmancy : assigning numerical value to a word or phrase
armomancy : by one's own shoulders (Latin
armus , shoulder + Greek manteía , prophecy)
Årsgång , archaic form of Swedish divination
aruspicina : study of entrails
[3]
aspidomancy : 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 : by lightning (Greek astrapē , lightning flash + manteía , prophecy)
astrology /
astromancy / : by celestial bodies (Greek astron , star + -logiā , study). This method was widespread in medieval period, particularly in Mesopotamia.
[4]
augury → see
theriomancy
auramancy : by
auras (Greek aurā , breath + manteía , prophecy)
auspicy /auspication → see
theriomancy (Latin
avis , bird +
specere , to look at)
austromancy → see
theriomancy : by wind (Latin
auster , south wind + Greek manteía , prophecy)
avimancy → see
orniscopy (Latin
avis , bird + Greek manteía , prophecy)
axiomancy /
axinomancy : by
axes (Latin
axis , axis + manteía , prophecy)
B
batraquomancy /batrachomancy : by frogs (Greek batrakhos , frog + manteía , prophecy)
belomancy /bolomancy : by arrows (from bolomancy below, influenced by Greek belemnon , javelin, or belonē , needle)
bibliomancy → see
chartomancy
biorhythmic divination : by biorhythms
bletonism /bletonomancy : by water current (named for Monsieur Bleton , a French bletonist)
bolomancy → see
belomancy (Greek bolē , arrow + manteía , prophecy)
bone-throwing the tossing of pieces of bone or wood practiced by various cultures
[5]
[6]
botanomancy : by burning sage or figs (Greek botanē ,
flora + manteía , prophecy)
brizomancy → see
oneiromancy (Greek brizein , to be sleepy + manteía , prophecy)
brontomancy /brontoscopy : by thunder (Greek brontē , thunder + manteía , prophecy)
bumpology : by bumps on the skin (
English bump + Greek -logiā , study)
C
cabala → see
kabbalah
canomancy or : by dogs (Latin
canis , dog + Greek manteía , prophecy)
capnomancy : by smoke (Greek kapnos , smoke + manteía , prophecy)
carromancy : 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 : by burning (Greek kaiein [kaus- ], to burn + manteía , prophecy)
cephalomancy → see
somatomancy
cephaleonomancy /
cephalonomancy : by boiling a donkey's head (Greek kephalaion , head [with meaning influenced by Greek onos , donkey] + manteía , prophecy)
ceraunoscopy : by thunder and lightning (Greek keraunos , thunderbolt + -skopiā , observation)
ceromancy /ceroscopy : by dripping wax in water (Greek kēros , wax + manteía , prophecy)
chalcomancy : by striking gongs or copper bowls (Greek khalkos , copper + manteía , prophecy)
chaomancy : by aerial visions (Greek khaos ,
primordial space + manteía , prophecy)
chartomancy : by things on paper (Greek khartēs , papyrus paper + manteía , prophecy)
cartomancy : by cards (Latin carta , papyrus paper + Greek manteía , prophecy)
stichomancy : by books or lines (Greek stikhos , line of verse + manteía , prophecy)
cheiromancy /chiromancy → see
somatomancy
cheirognomy /chirognomy → see
somatomancy
chien tung → see
kau cim
choriomancy : by
pig bladders (Greek khorion ,
placenta + mantiea , prophecy)
chresmomancy : by the ravings of lunatics (Greek khrēsmos , oracular utterance,
chresm + manteía , prophecy)
chronomancy : by apt occasion (Greek khronos , time + manteía , prophecy)
cineromancy /ceneromancy → see
spodomancy (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 : by chance events or overheard words (Greek klēdon , rumor)
cleidomancy /clidomancy : by keys (Greek kleis [kleid- ], key + manteía , prophecy)
cleromancy : by casting (Greek klēros ,
lot + manteía , prophecy)
cometomancy : by
comet tails (Greek komētēs , comet + manteía , prophecy)
colormancy /coloromancy : by colors (English color + Greek manteía , prophecy)
conchomancy : by shells (Greek konkhē ,
mussel + manteía , prophecy)
cosquinomancy /coscinomancy : by hanging sieves (Greek koskinōn , sieve + manteía , prophecy)
cottabomancy /cottobomancy : by wine in a brass bowl (Greek kottabos ,
cottabus + manteía , prophecy)
craniognomy or → see
somatomancy (Greek krānion , skull + -gnōmoniā , interpretation)
the crawling baby : by a baby's crawling
crithomancy /critomancy : by barley cakes (Greek krithē , barley + manteía , prophecy)
cromnyomancy /cromniomancy : by onion sprouts (alteration of Greek krommuon , onion + manteía , prophecy)
cryptomancy : by
omens (Greek kruptos , hidden + manteía , prophecy)
cryomancy : by ice (Greek kryo , ice )
crystal ball gazing → see
scrying
crystal gazing → see
scrying
crystallomancy → see
scrying (Greek krustallos , crystal + manteía , prophecy)
cubomancy → see
cleromancy (Greek kubos , cube + manteía , prophecy)
cyathomancy : by cups (Greek kuathos , cup + manteía , prophecy)
cybermancy : by computer oracles (English cyber(netics) + Greek manteía , prophecy)
cyclicomancy : by swirling water in a cup (Greek kuklikos , cyclical, circular + manteía , prophecy)
cyclomancy or : by wheels (Greek kuklos , circle + manteía , prophecy)
D
dactyliomancy : by finger rings (Greek daktulios , finger ring + manteía , prophecy)
dactylomancy : by means of finger movements (Greek daktulos , finger + manteía , prophecy)
daphnomancy : by burning laurel wreaths (Greek daphnē , laurel + manteía , prophecy)
demonomancy : by demons (Greek daimōn , divine power + manteía , prophecy)
dendromancy : by trees, especially
oaks ,
yews , or
mistletoe (Greek dendron , tree + manteía , prophecy)
deuteroscopy : by second glance or double take (Greek deuteros , secondary + -skopiā , observation)
dianomancy : by delivery, esp. by the randomly-generated words found on Whole Foods grocery bags to identify orders (Greek dianomí , delivery + manteía , prophecy)
dictiomancy : by randomly opening a dictionary (English
dictio(nary) + Greek manteía , prophecy)
divining → see
dowsing
djubed [
citation needed ] → 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 : by
dragons (Greek drakōn , dragon + manteía , prophecy)
Dream interpretation
dream questions : by dreaming
dririmancy /driromancy : by dripping blood
[9] (alteration of drimimancy , influenced by Middle English drir , blood). Compare hemotomancy.
drimimancy /drymimancy : 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 [
citation needed ]
empirimancy : by experiment/experience
empyromancy : 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 → see
scrying (Greek enoptron ,
looking glass + manteía , prophecy)
enthusiasm : speeches by those supposed to be possessed by a divine spirit
[10]
entomomancy /entomancy : by
insects (Greek entomon , insect + manteía , prophecy)
eromancy : by water vessels exposed to air (Greek āēr , air + manteía , prophecy) — cf. aeromancy
extispicy /extispication : 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 : by flowers' feelings (Latin flōs [flōr- ], flower + Greek -graphiā , representation)
fractomancy : by
fractals (English
fract(al) + Greek manteía , prophecy)
fructomancy /fructimancy : by fruit (Latin
frūctus , fruit + Greek manteía , prophecy)
G
galvanoscopy : by
galvanism (English
galvan(ism) + Greek -skopiā , observation)
gastromancy ¹ → see
scrying
gastromancy² : by guttural sounds (Greek gastēr , belly + manteía , prophecy)
geomancy : by earth (Greek
gaîa |
gê , earth + manteía , prophecy)
geloscopy : by laughter (Greek gelōs , laughter + -skopiā , observation)
gematria : by the
Hebrew alphabet (Greek gē , earth + -metriā , measurement)
genethlialogy : by birth dates (Greek genethlios ,
birthday + -logiā , study)
grammomancy : by writing individual letters (Greek gramma , letter + manteía , prophecy)
graphology (also graptomancy ): by studying handwriting (Greek graphē , writing + -logiā , study)
graptomancy → see
graphology (Greek graptos , written + manteía , prophecy)
gyromancy : by dizziness (Greek gūros , spiral + manteía , prophecy)
H
hagiomancy : by saints (Greek hagios , holy + manteía , prophecy)
halomancy → see
alomancy
hakata : by bones or dice
haruspicy /haruspication → see
hepatoscopy (Latin
haru- , entrails +
specere , to look at)
hematomancy /haematomancy : by blood (Greek haima [haimat- ], blood + manteía , prophecy)
hepatoscopy /hepatomancy (also haruspicy , haruspication ): by liver (Greek hēpar [hēpat- ], liver + -skopiā , observation)
hieromancy /hieroscopy : by studying sacrifices' entrails (Greek hieros , holy + manteía , prophecy)
hippomancy → see
theriomancy
horoscopy : aspect of the Stars at nativity
[11] (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 : by sleep (Greek hupnos , sleep + manteía , prophecy)
I
I Ching divination → see
chartomancy
ichnomancy : by footprints (Greek ikhnos , track + manteía , prophecy)
ichthyomancy → see
theriomancy
iconomancy : by
icons (Greek eikōn , image + manteía , prophecy)
idolomancy : 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
L
labiomancy : by lips (Latin
labium , lip + Greek manteía , prophecy)
lampadomancy : by flame (Greek lampas [lampad- ], light + manteía , prophecy)
lecanomancy /lecanoscopy : by a basin of water (Greek lekanē , basin + manteía , prophecy)
letnomancy : by secrets (English let no (man see) + Greek manteía , prophecy)
libanomancy → see
capnomancy and
spodomancy (Greek libanos ,
frankincense + manteía , prophecy)
literomancy : by a letter in a written language (Latin
lītera , letter + Greek manteía , prophecy)
lithomancy : by gems or stones (Greek lithos , stone + manteía , prophecy)
logarithmancy : by
logarithms (English logarithm + Greek manteía , prophecy)
logomancy : by words (Greek
logos , word + manteía , prophecy)
lots : divination through chance, or the drawing or tossing of lots
[12]
lunamancy → see
selenomancy (Latin
lūna , moon + Greek manteía , prophecy)
lychnomancy : by candles (Greek lukhnos , lamp + manteía , prophecy)
M
macharomancy : by swords or knives (Greek makhaira ,
dirk + manteía , prophecy)
macromancy : by large objects (Greek makros , large + manteía , prophecy)
maculomancy : by spots on the skin (Latin
macula , spot + manteía , prophecy)
mahjong divination : by Mahjong tiles
margaritomancy : by bouncing pearls (Greek margarītēs , pearl + manteía , prophecy)
mathemancy : by
mathematics (English mathe(matics) + Greek manteía , prophecy)
mazomancy : by nursing (Greek mazos , breast + manteía , prophecy)
meconomancy : by sleeping (Greek mēkōn , poppy [i.e., an
opiate ] + manteía , prophecy)
megapolisomancy : by large cities (English
megalopolis + Greek manteía , prophecy)
meilomancy : by
moles
metagnomy or : by magic (Greek meta- , beside + -gnōmoniā , interpretation)
meteormancy : by
meteors (English meteor + Greek manteía , prophecy)
meteoromancy : by thunder and lightning (Greek meteōron , heavenly phenomenon + manteía , prophecy)
metoposcopy /metopomancy : by the lines of the forehead
[13] (Greek metōpon , forehead + -skopiā , observation)
micromancy : by small objects (Greek mikros , small + manteía , prophecy)
moleosophy or : by blemishes (English
mole + Greek sophiā , knowledge)
molybdomancy : by molten metal (Greek molubdos , lead + manteía , prophecy)
moromancy : by foolishness (Greek mōros , dull + manteía , prophecy)
myomancy → see
theriomancy
myrmomancy → see
theriomancy
N
narcomancy : by sleep (Greek narkē , numbness + manteía , prophecy)
natimancy → see
somatomancy (Latin
natis , buttock + Greek manteía , prophecy)
necromancy ¹ : by speaking to the dead, by corpses
[14] (Greek nekros , corpse + manteía , prophecy)
necyomancy : by summoning damned souls (Greek nekuiā ,
invocation + manteía , prophecy)
nephomancy : by clouds (Greek nephos , cloud + manteía , prophecy)
nigromancy : by
black magic (Latin
niger , black + Greek manteía , prophecy)
nomancy or → see
onomancy (variant of onomancy , influenced by Latin
nōmen , name)
notarikon /netrikon : by
initials (Latin
notāricus , in
shorthand )
nggàm → see
theriomancy
numerology : by numbers (Latin
numerus , number + Greek -logia , branch of study)
numismatomancy : by coins (Greek nomisma [nomismat- ], coin + manteía , prophecy)
O
oculomancy : by eyes (Latin
oculus , eye + Greek manteía , prophecy)
odontomancy : by teeth (Greek odous [odont- ], tooth + manteía , prophecy)
oenomancy /oinomancy : by wine (Greek oinos , wine + manteía , prophecy)
ololygmancy : by the howling of dogs (Greek ololuzō [ololug- ], howl + manteía , prophecy)
omoplatoscopy → see
scapulimancy (Greek ōmoplatē , shoulder blade + -skopiā , observation)
omphalomancy : by navels (Greek omphalos , navel + manteía , prophecy)
oneiromancy /oneiroscopy : by
dreams (Greek oneiros , dream + manteía , prophecy)
onimancy → see
onychomancy
onomancy /onomomancy /nomancy : by letters in a name (Greek onoma , name + manteía , prophecy)
onomomancy → see
onomancy
onychomancy /onymancy /onimancy : by finger· and toenails (Greek onux [onukh- ], nail + manteía , prophecy)
onymancy → see
onychomancy
oomancy /ooscopy (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
[15]
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
necromancy ¹ (Greek psūkhē , soul + manteía , prophecy)
ptarmoscopy /ptarmoscopie : from ancient Greek the interpretation of sneezes
[16]
pyromancy /pyroscopy : by fire (Greek pūr , fire + manteía , prophecy)
Q
R
radiesthesia : by rods,
pendulums , or other cylindrical tools (Latin
radius ,
spoke + Greek -aisthēsiā , sensing)
retromancy : by looking over one's shoulder (Latin
retrō , behind + Greek manteía , prophecy)
rhabdomancy /rabdomancy : by rods, sticks, or wands (Greek rhabdos , rod + manteía , prophecy)
rhapsodomancy : by poetry (Greek rhapsōidiā , verse + manteía , prophecy)
roadomancy : by
constellations (apparently from
Old English rodor ,
firmament + Greek manteía , prophecy)
rumpology → see
somatomancy
runecasting → see
cleromancy
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
sciomancy ¹ (also shadowmancy ): by shadows (Greek skiā , shadow + manteía , prophecy)
sciomancy ² : by spirits (of the same origin as sciomancy¹ )
scrying : by gazing (shortened from
descrying )
crystal gazing : by reflective objects
catoptromancy /captromancy (also enoptromancy , djubed [
citation needed ] ): by mirrors (Greek katoptron , mirror + manteía , prophecy)
gastromancy ¹ (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
sciomancy ¹ (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 (also palmistry , palm reading ): by palms
[17] (Greek kheir , hand + manteía , prophecy)
cheirognomy /chirognomy : 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
[18]
libanomancy : 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)
[19]
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
[20] (Greek theos , god + manteía , prophecy)
theriomancy : (also zoomancy ): by animal behavior (Greek thēr , wild animal + manteía , prophecy)
Russian peasant girls using chicken for divination. A 19th·century
lubok .
ailuromancy /aeluromancy (also felidomancy ): by cats (Greek ailouros , cat + manteía , prophecy)
alectryomancy /alectoromancy : by rooster behavior (Greek alektruōn , cockerel + manteía , prophecy)
augury : by bird formations
[21] (Latin
augur , diviner)
hippomancy : by horse behavior (Greek hippos , horse + manteía , prophecy)
ichthyomancy : by fish behavior (Greek ikhthūs , fish + manteía , prophecy)
myomancy : by rodent behavior (Greek mūs , mouse + manteía , prophecy)
myrmomancy : 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 : by one's own soul, presage
[22] (Greek thūmos , soul + manteía , prophecy)
topomancy : by geography and geological formations (Greek topos , place + manteía , prophecy)
transataumancy : by things accidentally seen or heard
trochomancy : by
wheel ruts (Greek trokhos , wheel + manteía , prophecy)
turifumy : by shapes in smoke (Latin
tūs [tūr- ], incense +
fūmus , vapor)
tyromancy /tiromancy : 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)
[23]
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
^ Anthony Grafton; Glenn W Most; Salvatore Settis (2010).
The Classical Tradition . Harvard University Press. p. 277.
ISBN
978-0-674-03572-0 .
^
s:The Third Book/Chapter XXV
^
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..."
^ Driediger-Murphy, Lindsay G.; Eidinow, Esther (2019).
Ancient Divination and Experience . Oxford University Press.
ISBN
978-0-19-258290-4 .
^
"Definition of BONE-THROWING" . www.merriam-webster.com . Retrieved 29 November 2020 .
^
"Definition of Bone-Throwing by Oxford Dictionary" . Lexico Dictionaries | English . Retrieved 29 November 2020 . [
dead link ]
^
a
b
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)
^
a
b Dunwich, Gerina. Candlelight Spells: The Modern Witch's Book of Spellcasting, Feasting, and Healing. Secaucus, N.J.: Citadel Press, 1988, p. 51.
^
Buckland, Raymond (2003).
The Fortune-telling Book: The Encyclopedia of Divination and Soothsaying . Popular Reference. Visible Ink Press. p. 191.
ISBN
9780780807204 . Retrieved 13 February 2024 . When there was a ritual sacrifice of an animal (or of a human), the way in which the blood dripped from the altar was often considered by the priest/soothsayer. Divining in this way was known as dririmancy. This form of divination might also be employed on the battle field. Dririmancy was a form of haemotomancy.
^
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..."
^
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..."
^
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..."
^
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..."
^
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..."
^
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..."
^ Sciences et Voyages No24 Juin 1937 "Divination, magie et tatouages en Bosnie
^
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..."
^ Buckland, Raymond. The Fortune-Telling Book: The Encyclopedia of Divination and Soothsaying. Detroit, Mich.: Visible Ink, 2004, p. 102.
^ 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.
^
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..."
^
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..."
^
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..."
^ Pickover, Clifford A. Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 2001, p. 137.