the library: divination


According to Merriam-Webster, Divination is "the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers."

Not all Pagans use divination, but some do. It can be helpful to gain insight into their own lives and/or the lives of others. It can help determine the possible outcomes to situations, be used to interpret signs, and/or to gain a higher understanding of issues or life in general. Some use divination to communicate with Spirits or the Divine.

There are many forms of divination and tools/skills used to do it. Here are several more commonly known types:

  • ASTROLOGY: divination using celestial bodies: the sun, moon, planets, and stars.

  • AUGURY: divination through omens or prophetic signs.

  • CARTOMANCY: divination using cards such as the Tarot.

  • GEOMANCY: divination by means of figures or lines or geographic features.

  • NUMEROLOGY: the interpretation of numbers, dates, and the number value of letters.

  • PALMISTRY: divination and interpretation of the lines and structure of the hand.

  • PSYCHOMETRY: gaining impressions from a physical object and its history.

  • SCIOMANCY: divination using a spirit guide, a method generally employed chanellers.

  • SCRYING: divination using a crystal, mirrors, bowls of water, ink, or flames.

  • TASSEOGRAPHY: is the reading of tea leaves that remain in the cup once it has been drunk.

There are many lesser known types. The following are some very interesting ones:

  • AEROMANCY: divination from the air and sky, particularly concentrating on cloud shapes.

  • ALECTRYOMANCY: divination where a bird picks corn grains from a circle of letters.

  • ASTRAGLOMANCY or ASTRAGYROMANCY: divination using dice with numbers and letters.

  • BOTANOMANCY: divination from burning tree branches and leaves.

  • CAPNOMANCY: divination studying smoke rising from a fire.

  • CLEROMANCY: divination by "casting lots", similar to dice using pebbles, bones, etc.

  • GRAPHOLOGY: divination through the analysis of handwriting.

  • HYDROMANCY: divination by pebbles dropped in a pool.

  • LIBANOMANCY: divination through incense and its smoke.

  • OCULOMANCY: is divination from a person's eye.

  • ONEIROMANCY: the interpretation of dreams and their prophetic nature.

  • PHRENOLOGY: the study of head formations and bumps.

  • PYROMANCY: divination by fire, often assisted by substances thrown onto the flames.

To educate further on divination, we are assembling articles written by experienced practitioners of different forms of divination. Currently, we have the following available:

  • A Brief History and Definition of Tarot by Olympias
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