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]

A

• abacomancy (also amathomancy): by dust (Hebrew, dust + Greek, prophecy)
• acultomancy (also acutomancy): by needles (from acutomancy below, influenced by Latin Latin: acus, needle, or, prickle or thorn)
• acutomancy → see (Latin Latin: acus [{{lang|la|acut-}}], needle + Greek, prophecy)
• adromancy → see (from idromancy below, influenced by alomancy)
• adryomancy→ see (metathesis of hydromancy)
• aeromancy : by atmospheric conditions (Greek, air +, prophecy)
• agalmatomancy : by statues (Greek [{{grc-transl|ᾰ̓γᾰ́λμᾰτος}}], statue +, prophecy)
• aichmomancy : by sharp objects (Greek, spearhead +, prophecy)
• ailuromancy/aeluromancy → see
• aiomancy: By artificial intelligence
• alectormancy/alectromancy : by rooster sacrifice (Greek, rooster +, prophecy)
• alectryomancy/alectoromancy: by rooster divination → see
• aleuromancy¹ : by flour; see also (Greek, meal +, prophecy)
• alomancy/Halomancy (also adromancy): by salt (Greek, salt +, prophecy)
• alphitomancy: by barley (Greek [{{transl|grc|alphit-}}], barley +, prophecy)
• alveromancy : by sounds
• amathomancy → see by sand (Greek, sandy soil +, prophecy)
• ambulomancy : by walking (Latin, to walk + Greek, prophecy)
• amniomancy : by placenta (Greek, amnion +, prophecy)
• anemoscopy/anemomancy : by wind (Greek, wind +, observation)
• anthomancy : by flowers (Greek, flower +, prophecy)
• anthracomancy : by burning coals (Greek [{{transl|grc|anthrak-}}], charcoal +, prophecy)
• anthropomancy : by human sacrifice (Greek, human being +, prophecy)
• anthroposcopy : by physical appearance (Greek, human being +, observation)
• apantomancy : by chance encounters with animals (Greek, to encounter +, prophecy)
• arachnomancy : by spiders (Greek , spider +, prophecy)
• archeomancy/archaeomancy : by sacred relics (Greek, ancient +, prophecy)
• ariolation : by altars (Latin,, prophet)
• arithmancy: assigning numerical value to a word or phrase
• armomancy : by one's own shoulders (Latin, shoulder + Greek, prophecy)
• Årsgång, archaic form of Swedish divination
• aruspicina: study of entrails^[3]
• aspidomancy : by sitting in a drawn circle or on a shield (Greek [{{transl|grc|aspid-], shield +, prophecy)
• astragalomancy/astragalamancy → see
• astragyromancy → see (from astragalomancy above, perhaps influenced by Greek, spiral, circle, and therefore vertebra)
• astrapomancy : by lightning (Greek, lightning flash +, prophecy)
• astrology/astromancy/ : by celestial bodies (Greek, star +, study). This method was widespread in medieval period, particularly in Mesopotamia. ^[4]
• augury → see
• auramancy : by auras (Greek, breath +, prophecy)
• auspicy/auspication → see (Latin, bird +, to look at)
• austromancy → see : by wind (Latin, south wind + Greek, prophecy)
• avimancy → see (Latin, bird + Greek, prophecy)
• axiomancy/axinomancy : by axes (Latin, axis +, prophecy)

B

• batraquomancy/batrachomancy : by frogs (Greek, frog +, prophecy)
• belomancy/bolomancy : by arrows (from bolomancy below, influenced by Greek, javelin, or, needle)
• bibliomancy → see
• biorhythmic divination: by biorhythms
• bletonism/bletonomancy : by water current (named for Monsieur Bleton, a French bletonist)
• bolomancy → see (Greek, arrow +, prophecy)
• bone-throwing the tossing of pieces of bone or wood practiced by various cultures^{[5] [6]}
• botanomancy : by burning sage or figs (Greek, flora +, prophecy)
• brizomancy → see (Greek, to be sleepy +, prophecy)
• brontomancy/brontoscopy : by thunder (Greek, thunder +, prophecy)
• bumpology : by bumps on the skin (English bump + Greek, study)

C

• cabala → see
• canomancy or : by dogs (Latin, dog + Greek, prophecy)
• capnomancy : by smoke (Greek, smoke +, prophecy)
  • libanomancy : by smoke or ash from incense (Greek, frankincense +, prophecy)^{[7] [8]}
• carromancy : by melting wax (Greek, of wax +, prophecy)
• cartopedy → see (Latin, papyrus paper + Latin: pēs [{{lang|la|pēd-}}], foot)
• cartomancy → see
• catoptromancy/captromancy → see
• causimancy/causimomancy : by burning (Greek [{{transl|grc|kaus-}}], to burn +, prophecy)
• cephalomancy → see
• cephaleonomancy/cephalonomancy: by boiling a donkey's head (Greek, head [with meaning influenced by Greek {{transl|grc|onos}}, donkey] +, prophecy)
• ceraunoscopy : by thunder and lightning (Greek, thunderbolt +, observation)
• ceromancy/ceroscopy : by dripping wax in water (Greek, wax +, prophecy)
• chalcomancy: by striking gongs or copper bowls (Greek, copper +, prophecy)
• chaomancy : by aerial visions (Greek, primordial space +, prophecy)
• chartomancy : by things on paper (Greek, papyrus paper +, prophecy)
  • cartomancy : by cards (Latin Latin: carta, papyrus paper + Greek, prophecy)
    • taromancy/tarotmancy : by tarot (English tarot + Greek, prophecy)
    • Parrot astrology: by parrots picking cards
  • stichomancy : by books or lines (Greek, line of verse +, prophecy)
    • aleuromancy² : by fortune cookies (of the same origin as ¹)
    • bibliomancy : by the Bible (Greek, book +, prophecy)
    • stoicheomancy/stoichomancy: by the Iliad and the Odyssey or the Aeneid (Greek, element +, 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
• cheirognomy/chirognomy → see
• → see
• choriomancy : by pig bladders (Greek, placenta + mantiea, prophecy)
• chresmomancy : by the ravings of lunatics (Greek, oracular utterance, chresm +, prophecy)
• chronomancy : by apt occasion (Greek, time +, prophecy)
• cineromancy/ceneromancy → see (Latin [{{lang|la|ciner-}}], ashes + Greek, prophecy)
• clamancy (see also Fāl-gūsh): by random shouts and cries heard in crowds, at night, etc. (Latin, to cry out + Greek, prophecy)
• cledonism/cledonomancy : by chance events or overheard words (Greek, rumor)
• cleidomancy/clidomancy : by keys (Greek [{{transl|grc|kleid-}}], key +, prophecy)
• cleromancy : by casting (Greek, lot +, prophecy)
  • astragalomancy/astragalamancy (also cubomancy): by dice (Greek, vertebra +, prophecy)
  • domino divination: by dominoes
  • favomancy : by beans (Latin, bean + Greek, prophecy)
  • Ogham casting: by Ogham letters
  • runecasting/runic divination
• cometomancy : by comet tails (Greek, comet +, prophecy)
• colormancy/coloromancy: by colors (English color + Greek, prophecy)
• conchomancy : by shells (Greek, mussel +, prophecy)
• cosquinomancy/coscinomancy : by hanging sieves (Greek, sieve +, prophecy)
• cottabomancy/cottobomancy : by wine in a brass bowl (Greek, cottabus +, prophecy)
• craniognomy or → see (Greek, skull +, interpretation)
• the crawling baby: by a baby's crawling
• crithomancy/critomancy : by barley cakes (Greek, barley +, prophecy)
• cromnyomancy/cromniomancy : by onion sprouts (alteration of Greek, onion +, prophecy)
• cryptomancy : by omens (Greek, hidden +, prophecy)
• cryomancy : by ice (Greek, ice)
• crystal ball gazing → see
• crystal gazing → see
• crystallomancy → see (Greek, crystal +, prophecy)
• cubomancy → see (Greek, cube +, prophecy)
• cyathomancy : by cups (Greek, cup +, prophecy)
• cybermancy : by computer oracles (English + Greek, prophecy)
• cyclicomancy : by swirling water in a cup (Greek, cyclical, circular +, prophecy)
• cyclomancy or : by wheels (Greek, circle +, prophecy)

D

• dactyliomancy : by finger rings (Greek, finger ring +, prophecy)
• dactylomancy : by means of finger movements (Greek, finger +, prophecy)
• daphnomancy : by burning laurel wreaths (Greek, laurel +, prophecy)
• demonomancy : by demons (Greek, divine power +, prophecy)
• dendromancy : by trees, especially oaks, yews, or mistletoe (Greek, tree +, prophecy)
• deuteroscopy : by second glance or double take (Greek, secondary +, observation)
• dianomancy : by delivery, esp. by the randomly-generated words found on Whole Foods grocery bags to identify orders (Greek, delivery +, prophecy)
• dictiomancy : by randomly opening a dictionary (English + Greek, prophecy)
• divining → see
• djubed→ see
• : by animal horoscope (Japanese, animal +, prognostication)
• domino divination → see
• dowsing (also divining, water witching): by a divining rod (of unknown origin)
• dracomancy : by dragons (Greek, dragon +, prophecy)
• Dream interpretation
• dream questions: by dreaming
• dririmancy/driromancy : by dripping blood ^[9] (alteration of drimimancy, influenced by Middle English English, Middle (1100-1500);: drir, blood). Compare hemotomancy.
• drimimancy/drymimancy : by bodily fluids (Greek, pungent +, prophecy)

E

• electromancy: by lightning and electricity (Greek electric + prophecy)
• eleomancy/elaeomancy: by oil (Greek, olive oil +, prophecy)
• emonomancy → see
• empirimancy: by experiment/experience
• empyromancy : by burning (Greek, fiery +, prophecy)
• encromancy: by oil ink stains (Greek oil ink + prophecy)
• enochian chess: by playing a four·handed variant of the game
• enoptromancy → see (Greek, looking glass +, prophecy)
• enthusiasm: speeches by those supposed to be possessed by a divine spirit^[10]
• entomomancy/entomancy: by insects (Greek, insect +, prophecy)
• eromancy : by water vessels exposed to air (Greek, air +, prophecy) — cf. aeromancy
• extispicy/extispication : by the remains of sacrificed animals (Latin Latin: [[Glossary of ancient Roman religion#exta|exta]], entrails + Latin: specere, to look at)

F

• favomancy → see
• felidomancy → see (Latin [{{lang|la|fēlid-}}], cat + Greek, prophecy)
• floriography/floromancy : by flowers' feelings (Latin Latin: flōs [''flōr-''], flower + Greek, representation)
• fractomancy : by fractals (English + Greek, prophecy)
• fructomancy/fructimancy: by fruit (Latin, fruit + Greek, prophecy)

G

• galvanoscopy : by galvanism (English + Greek, observation)
• gastromancy¹ → see
• gastromancy² : by guttural sounds (Greek, belly +, prophecy)
• geomancy : by earth (Greek |, earth +, prophecy)
• geloscopy : by laughter (Greek, laughter +, observation)
• gematria: by the Hebrew alphabet (Greek, earth +, measurement)
• genethlialogy: by birth dates (Greek, birthday +, study)
• grammomancy : by writing individual letters (Greek, letter +, prophecy)
• graphology (also graptomancy): by studying handwriting (Greek, writing +, study)
• graptomancy → see (Greek, written +, prophecy)
• gyromancy : by dizziness (Greek, spiral +, prophecy)

H

• hagiomancy: by saints (Greek, holy +, prophecy)
• halomancy → see
• : by bones or dice
• haruspicy/haruspication → see (Latin, entrails +, to look at)
• hematomancy/haematomancy : by blood (Greek [{{transl|grc|haimat-}}], blood +, prophecy)
• hepatoscopy/hepatomancy (also haruspicy, haruspication): by liver (Greek [{{transl|grc|hēpat-}}], liver +, observation)
• hieromancy/hieroscopy : by studying sacrifices' entrails (Greek, holy +, prophecy)
• hippomancy → see
• horoscopy : aspect of the Stars at nativity^[11] (Greek, season +, observation)
• hydatomancy: by rainwater (Greek, raindrop +, prophecy)
• hydromancy/hydroscopy → see
• hyomancy: by wild hogs (Greek, swine +, prophecy)
• hypnomancy : by sleep (Greek, sleep +, prophecy)

I

• I Ching divination: by yarrow stalks or coins
• ichnomancy : by footprints (Greek, track +, prophecy)
• ichthyomancy → see
• iconomancy : by icons (Greek, image +, prophecy)
• idolomancy : by idols (Greek, phantom +, prophecy)
• idromancy → see (Greek, sweat +, prophecy)
• Yoruba: [[ifá]]|italic=unset: geomancy patterns generated with palm nuts, opele, cowrie shells, etc... that refer to Yoruba: Ifa divination texts; a collection of Yoruba: Odu Ifa verses
• iridology: by eye color (Greek [{{transl|grc|īrid-}}], iris +, study)
• isopsephy: by numbers and letters (Greek, equal +, pebble)

J

• Vedic system of astrology

K

• kabbalah/qabalah/cabala: by the Kabbalah (Hebrew, tradition)
• : by bamboo
• : by rice gruel
• kephalonomancy → see
• keraunomancy → see
• knissomancy : by incense (Greek [''kniss-''], vapor +, prophecy)
• kypomancy → see (akin to Greek, goblet +, prophecy)

L

• labiomancy : by lips (Latin, lip + Greek, prophecy)
• lampadomancy : by flame (Greek [{{transl|grc|lampad-}}], light +, prophecy)
• lecanomancy/lecanoscopy : by a basin of water (Greek, basin +, prophecy)
• letnomancy: by secrets (English let no (man see) + Greek, prophecy)
• libanomancy → see and (Greek, frankincense +, prophecy)
• literomancy : by a letter in a written language (Latin, letter + Greek, prophecy)
• lithomancy : by gems or stones (Greek, stone +, prophecy)
• logarithmancy : by logarithms (English logarithm + Greek, prophecy)
• logomancy : by words (Greek, word +, prophecy)
• lots: divination through chance, or the drawing or tossing of lots^[12]
• lunamancy → see (Latin, moon + Greek, prophecy)
• lychnomancy : by candles (Greek, lamp +, prophecy)

M

• macharomancy: by swords or knives (Greek, dirk +, prophecy)
• macromancy : by large objects (Greek, large +, prophecy)
• maculomancy : by spots on the skin (Latin, spot +, prophecy)
• mahjong divination: by Mahjong tiles
• margaritomancy : by bouncing pearls (Greek, pearl +, prophecy)
• mathemancy : by mathematics (English + Greek, prophecy)
• mazomancy : by nursing (Greek, breast +, prophecy)
• meconomancy : by sleeping (Greek, poppy [i.e., an [[opiate]]] +, prophecy)
• megapolisomancy: by large cities (English megalopolis + Greek, prophecy)
• meilomancy: by moles
• metagnomy or : by magic (Greek, beside +, interpretation)
• meteormancy : by meteors (English meteor + Greek, prophecy)
• meteoromancy : by thunder and lightning (Greek, heavenly phenomenon +, prophecy)
• metoposcopy/metopomancy : by the lines of the forehead^[13] (Greek, forehead +, observation)
• micromancy : by small objects (Greek, small +, prophecy)
• moleosophy or : by blemishes (English mole + Greek, knowledge)
• molybdomancy : by molten metal (Greek, lead +, prophecy)
• moromancy : by foolishness (Greek, dull +, prophecy)
• myomancy → see
• myrmomancy → see

N

• narcomancy : by sleep (Greek, numbness +, prophecy)
• natimancy → see (Latin, buttock + Greek, prophecy)
• necromancy¹ : by speaking to the dead, by corpses^[14] (Greek, corpse +, prophecy)
• necyomancy : by summoning damned souls (Greek, invocation +, prophecy)
• nephomancy : by clouds (Greek, cloud +, prophecy)
• nigromancy : by black magic (Latin, black + Greek, prophecy)
• nomancy or → see (variant of onomancy, influenced by Latin, name)
• notarikon/netrikon: by initials (Latin, in shorthand)
• nggàm → see
• numerology : by numbers (Latin, number + Greek, branch of study)
• numismatomancy: by coins (Greek [{{transl|grc|nomismat-}}], coin +, prophecy)

O

• oculomancy : by eyes (Latin, eye + Greek, prophecy)
• odontomancy : by teeth (Greek [{{transl|grc|odont-}}], tooth +, prophecy)
• oenomancy/oinomancy : by wine (Greek, wine +, prophecy)
• ololygmancy : by the howling of dogs (Greek [{{transl|grc|ololug-}}], howl +, prophecy)
• omoplatoscopy → see (Greek, shoulder blade +, observation)
• omphalomancy : by navels (Greek, navel +, prophecy)
• oneiromancy/oneiroscopy : by dreams (Greek, dream +, prophecy)
• onimancy → see
• onomancy/onomomancy/nomancy : by letters in a name (Greek, name +, prophecy)
• onomomancy → see
• onychomancy/onymancy/onimancy : by finger· and toenails (Greek [{{transl|grc|onukh-}}], nail +, prophecy)
• onymancy → see
• oomancy/ooscopy (also ovomancy): by eggs (Greek, egg +, prophecy)
• ophidiomancy/ophiomancy → see
• ophthalmomancy → see (Greek, eye +, prophecy)
• organoscopy → see (Greek, organ +, observation)
• orniscopy/ornithomancy → see
• oromancy: by mountains (Greek, mountain +, prophecy)
• oryctomancy: by minerals (Greek, dug +, prophecy)
• ossomancy → see (Latin [{{lang|la|oss-}}], bone + Greek, prophecy)
• osteomancy: by bones (Greek, bone +, prophecy)
• Ouija/Ouije: by ouija board (French, yes + German, yes)
• ouranomancy → see
• ovomancy → see (Latin, egg + Greek, prophecy)

P

• Pagtatawas by reading melted alum
• pallomancy: by pendulums (Greek, to sway +, prophecy)
• palmistry/palm reading → see (Latin, palm)
• papyromancy: by folding paper, especially paper money (Greek, papyrus paper +, prophecy)
• pedomancy → see (from podomancy, influenced by Latin [{{lang|la|pēd-}}], foot)
• pegomancy: by fountains (Greek, spring +, prophecy)
• pessomancy: by pebbles (Greek, oval pebble +, prophecy)
• pecthimancy/petchimancy: by brushed cloth (possibly akin to Greek, to card wool, or, netting +, prophecy)
• phallomancy: by swing of the phallus (Greek, phallus +, prophecy)
• phobomancy: by feelings of fear (Greek, fear +, prophecy)
• photomancy: by fields of light (Greek [''phōt-''], light +, prophecy)
• phrenology (also organoscopy): by the configuration of one's brain (Greek, mind +, study)
• phyllomancy: by leaves (Greek, leaf +, prophecy)
  • sycomancy: by fig leaves (Greek, fig +, prophecy)
  • tasseography/tasseomancy (also kypomancy): by tea leaves or coffee grounds (French French: [[tazza (cup)|tasse]], cup + Greek, representation)
• phyllorhodomancy: by rose petals (Greek, leaf +, rose +, prophecy)
• physiognomy/physiognomancy: by faces (Greek, nature +, interpretation)
• phytognomy: by the appearance of plants (Greek, plant +, interpretation)
• plastromancy: by cracks formed by heat on a turtle's plastron (English plastron +, 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, lead + Greek, prophecy)
• pneumancy: by blowing (Greek, breath +, prophecy)
• podomancy/pedomancy → see
• poe divination: by throwing stones on the floor, practised at Taoist temples
• Latin: italic=unset|portenta|cat=no (also Latin: italic=unset|ostenta|cat=no): study of natural phenomena^[15]
• psephomancy: by lots or ballots (Greek, pebble +, prophecy)
• pseudomancy: by false means, such as Peter Answers (Greek, false +, prophecy)
• psychognomy: by phrenological notations (Greek, soul +, observation)
• psychomancy → see ¹ (Greek, soul +, prophecy)
• ptarmoscopy/ptarmoscopie: from ancient Greek the interpretation of sneezes^[16]
• pyromancy/pyroscopy: by fire (Greek, fire +, prophecy)

Q

• → see

R

• radiesthesia: by rods, pendulums, or other cylindrical tools (Latin, spoke + Greek, sensing)
• retromancy: by looking over one's shoulder (Latin, behind + Greek, prophecy)
• rhabdomancy/rabdomancy: by rods, sticks, or wands (Greek, rod +, prophecy)
• rhapsodomancy: by poetry (Greek, verse +, prophecy)
• roadomancy: by constellations (apparently from Old English English, Old (ca.450-1100);: rodor, firmament + Greek, prophecy)
• rumpology → see
• runecasting → see

S

• scapulimancy/scapulomancy (also spatulamancy, omoplatoscopy): by bovine or caprid shoulder blades (Latin, shoulder blade + Greek, prophecy)
• scarpomancy: by old shoes (Italian Italian: scarpa, shoe + Greek, prophecy)
• scatomancy: by excrement (Greek [{{transl|grc|skat-}}], excrement +, prophecy)
• schematomancy → see
• sciomancy¹ (also shadowmancy): by shadows (Greek, shadow +, 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, mirror +, prophecy)
    • gastromancy¹ (also crystallomancy, spheromancy, crystal ball gazing): by crystal ball (Greek, belly [i.e., round object] +, prophecy)
    • hydromancy (also ydromancy): by water (Greek, water +, prophecy)
• selenomancy: by the moon (Greek, moon +, prophecy)
• shadowmancy → see ¹ (English shadow + Greek, 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, iron +, prophecy)
• : by drawing sixteen lines in sand (perhaps a Malagasy transliteration of English sixteen)
• skatharomancy: by beetle tracks (Greek, spot +, prophecy)
• Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[slinneanachd]]|italic=unset/Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: slinnanacht|italic=unset: by animal shoulder blades (Scottish Gaelic Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: slinnean, shoulder blade)
• solaromancy: by the sun (Latin [{{wikt-lang|la|sōlāris|sōlār-], sun + Greek, prophecy)
• somatomancy: by the human form (Greek [{{transl|grc|sōmat-}}], body +, prophecy)
  • cephalomancy (also craniognomy): by skulls (Greek, head +, prophecy)
  • cheiromancy/chiromancy (also palmistry, palm reading): by palms^[17] (Greek, hand +, prophecy)
  • cheirognomy/chirognomy : by hands (Greek, hand +, interpretation)
  • podomancy/pedomancy (also cartopedy): by the soles of one's feet (Greek [{{transl|grc|pod-}}], foot +, prophecy)
  • rumpology (also natimancy): by buttocks (English rump + Greek, study)
  • schematomancy: by the face (Greek [{{transl|grc|skhēmat-}}], figure +, prophecy)
• sortilege: by the casting of lots, or sortes
  • sortes virgilianae: by Vergil's Aeneid
• spasmatomancy: by convulsions (alteration of spasmodomancy, from Greek [{{transl|grc|spasmōd-}}], spasm +, prophecy)
• spatilomancy: by animal excrement (Greek, excrement +, prophecy)
• spatulamancy → see (from scapulimancy, influenced by Latin, splint)
• spheromancy → see (Greek, sphere +, prophecy)
• sphondulomancy: by spindles (Greek, spindle +, prophecy)
• splanchnomancy → see (Greek, innards +, prophecy)
• spodomancy: by soot (Greek, wood ashes +, prophecy)
  • cineromancy/ceneromancy: by the ashes of a specifically sacrificial or ritual fire^[18]
  • libanomancy : by smoke or ash from incense (Greek, frankincense +, prophecy)^{[7] [8]}
  • tephramancy/tephromancy: by tree bark ashes, by sacrificial or ritual fire ashes, or human sacrificial victim ashes (Greek, ash +, prophecy)^[19]
• stareomancy: by the four elements (Greek [{{transl|grc|stair-}}], dough +, prophecy)
• stercomancy: by seeds in bird excrement (Latin, excrement + Greek, prophecy)
• sternomancy: by ridges on the breastbone (Greek, breastbone +, prophecy)
• stichomancy → see
• stigonomancy: by burning writing onto bark (Greek [{{transl|grc|stigōn-}}], to brand +, prophecy)
• stoicheomancy/stoichomancy → see
• stolisomancy: by fashion (Greek, garment +, prophecy)
• styramancy: by observing patterns produced by chewing gum, gum wax, or products produced by the L. styraciflua tree
• sycomancy → see
• symbolomancy: by things found on the road (Greek, sign +, prophecy)

T

• taromancy → see
• tasseography/tasseomancy → see
• technomancy: by technology (English + Greek, prophecy)
• temurah: → see
• tephramancy/tephromancy: → see (Greek, ash +, prophecy)
• theomancy: foretelling events, prophecy^[20] (Greek, god +, prophecy)
• theriomancy : (also zoomancy): by animal behavior (Greek, wild animal +, prophecy)
  • ailuromancy/aeluromancy (also felidomancy): by cats (Greek, cat +, prophecy)
  • alectryomancy/alectoromancy : by rooster behavior (Greek, cockerel +, prophecy)
  • augury: by bird formations^[21] (Latin, diviner)
  • hippomancy : by horse behavior (Greek, horse +, prophecy)
  • ichthyomancy : by fish behavior (Greek, fish +, prophecy)
  • myomancy : by rodent behavior (Greek, mouse +, prophecy)
  • myrmomancy : by ant behavior (Greek, ant +, prophecy)
  • nggàm: by spider or crab behavior (Mambila nggàm, divination)
  • ophidiomancy/ophiomancy: by snakes behavior (Greek [{{transl|grc|ophid-}}], snake +, prophecy)
  • orniscopy/ornithomancy (also auspicy/auspication, avimancy): by bird migration (Greek [{{transl|grc|ornīth-}}], bird +, observation)
• thumomancy : by one's own soul, presage^[22] (Greek, soul +, prophecy)
• topomancy : by geography and geological formations (Greek, place +, prophecy)
• transataumancy: by things accidentally seen or heard
• trochomancy : by wheel ruts (Greek, wheel +, prophecy)
• turifumy: by shapes in smoke (Latin [{{lang|la|tūr-}}], incense +, vapor)
• tyromancy/tiromancy : by cheese (Greek, cheese +, prophecy)

U

• umbilicomancy: by umbilical cords (English + Greek, prophecy)
• umbromancy: by shade (Latin, shadow + Greek, prophecy)
• uranomancy/ouranomancy: by the sky (Greek, firmament +, prophecy)
• uromancy/urimancy: by urine (Greek, urine +, prophecy)
• urticariaomancy: by itches (Neo-Latin, hives + Greek, prophecy)

V

• videomancy: by films (English video + Greek, prophecy)

W

• water witching → see
• wishbone → see

X

• xenomancy: by strangers (Greek, stranger +, prophecy)
• xylomancy: by the shape or texture of wood, or the appearance of burning wood (Greek, wood +, prophecy)^[23]

Y

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

Z

• zoomancy → see (Greek, being +, prophecy)
• zygomancy: by weights (Greek, yoke, balance +, prophecy)
• Zeteomancy: By seeking out knowledge.

See also

• Divination
• List of astrological traditions
• Wiktionary category:English words suffixed with -mancy

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.