Methods of divination explained

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 Latin: -mantia when the art seemed more mystical (ultimately from Ancient Greek,, 'prophecy' or 'the power to prophesy') and the suffix Latin: -scopia when the art seemed more scientific (ultimately from Greek,, '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]

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See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Anthony Grafton. Glenn W Most. Salvatore Settis. The Classical Tradition. 2010. Harvard University Press. 978-0-674-03572-0. 277.
  2. [s:The Third Book/Chapter XXV]
  3. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  4. Book: Driediger-Murphy. Lindsay G.. Ancient Divination and Experience. Eidinow. Esther. 2019. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-258290-4. en.
  5. Web site: Definition of BONE-THROWING . www.merriam-webster.com . 29 November 2020 . en.
  6. Web site: Definition of Bone-Throwing by Oxford Dictionary . Lexico Dictionaries English . 29 November 2020 . en.
  7. [Martin Delrio|Del Rio, Martín Anton]
  8. Dunwich, Gerina. Candlelight Spells: The Modern Witch's Book of Spellcasting, Feasting, and Healing. Secaucus, N.J.: Citadel Press, 1988, p. 51.
  9. Book: Buckland . Raymond . Raymond Buckland . 2003 . The Fortune-telling Book: The Encyclopedia of Divination and Soothsaying . Popular Reference . Visible Ink Press . 191 . 9780780807204 . 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..
  10. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  11. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  12. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  13. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  14. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  15. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  16. Sciences et Voyages No24 Juin 1937 "Divination, magie et tatouages en Bosnie
  17. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  18. Buckland, Raymond. The Fortune-Telling Book: The Encyclopedia of Divination and Soothsaying. Detroit, Mich.: Visible Ink, 2004, p. 102.
  19. 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.
  20. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  21. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  22. [Thomas Hobbes|Hobbes, Thomas]
  23. Pickover, Clifford A. Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 2001, p. 137.