Methods of divination

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This article is about the numerous varieties of divination. For divination as a whole, see Divination.

Innumerable 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 Greek mantis, prophet) and the suffix -scopia when the art seemed more scientific (ultimately from Greek skopein, to observe). Names like drimimantia, nigromantia, and horoscopia turned up, along with a slew of other esoteric (and distinctly Medieval) "sciences" such as phrenology and physiognomy.

Of course, some forms of divination are much older than the Middle Ages, like haruspication, while others (such as megapolisomancy or coffee-based tasseomancy) are born of the 20th and 21st century.

Pronunciations have been given using English Phonemic Representation.

Contents
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z See also References

[edit] A

An arithmancer from Atalanta Fugiens (1618), by Michael Maier

abacomancy (ă'bə-kə-măn'sē): by dust (Hebrew ’ābāq, dust + Greek manteia, prophecy)
acultomancy (ə-kŭlt'ə-măn'sē; also acutomancy): by needles (from acutomancy below, influenced by Latin acūleus, needle)
acutomancy (ə-kyoo'tə-măn'sē) → see acultomancy above (Latin acus [acut-], needle + Greek manteia, prophecy)
adromancy (ā'drə-măn'sē) → see alomancy below (from idromancy below, influenced by alomancy)
adryomancy→ see hydromancy below (metathesis of hydromancy)
aeromancy (âr'ə-măn'sē): by atmospheric conditions (Greek āēr, air + manteia, prophecy)
agalmatomancy (ə-gälm'ə-tə-măn'sē): by statues (Greek agalma [agalmat-], statue + manteia, prophecy)
aichmomancy (īk'mə-măn'sē): by sharp objects (Greek aikhmē, spearhead + manteia, prophecy)
ailuromancy/aeluromancy → see under theriomancy below
alectormancy/alectromancy (ə-lĕk'tər-măn'sē): by rooster sacrifice (Greek alektor, rooster + manteia, prophecy)
alectryomancy/alectoromancy → see under theriomancy below
aleuromancy¹ (ăl-yoo'rə-măn'sē): by flour; see also under chartomancy below (Greek aleuron, meal + manteia, prophecy)
alomancy/Halomancy (ăl'ə-măn'sē; also adromancy): by salt (Greek hals, salt + manteia, prophecy)
alphitomancy (ăl-fī'tə-măn'sē): by barley (Greek alphis [alphit-], barley + manteia, prophecy)
alveromancy (ăl-vîr'ə-măn'sē): by sounds
amathomancy (ə-măth'ə-măn'sē): by sand (Greek amathos, sandy soil + manteia, prophecy)
ambulomancy (am'byə-lə-măn'sē): by walking (Latin ambulāre, to walk + Greek manteia, prophecy)
amniomancy (ăm'nē-ə-măn'sē): by placenta (Greek amniōn, amnion + manteia, prophecy)
anemoscopy/anemomancy (ă'nə-mŏs'kə-pē): by wind (Greek anemos, wind + -skopiā, observation)
anthomancy (ăn'thə-măn'sē): by flowers (Greek anthos, flower + manteia, prophecy)
anthropomancy (ăn-thrŏ'pə-măn'sē): by human sacrifice (Greek anthrōpos, human being + manteia, prophecy)
anthroposcopy (ăn'thrə-pŏs'kə-pē): by physical appearance (Greek anthrōpos, human being + -skopiā, observation)
anthracomancy (ăn-thrā'kə-măn'sē): by burning coals (Greek anthrax [anthrak-], charcoal + manteia, prophecy)
apantomancy (ə-pănt'ə-măn'sē): by chance encounters with animals (Greek apantein, to encounter + manteia, prophecy)
arachnomancy (ə-răk'nə-măn'sē): by spiders (Greek arakhnē, spider + manteia, prophecy)
archeomancy/archaeomancy (är'kē-ə-măn'sē): by sacred relics (Greek arkhaios, ancient + manteia, prophecy)
arithmancy/arithmomancy/arithmosophy (ăr'ĭth-măn'sē, ə-rĭth'mən-sē^[1]): by numbers (Greek arithmos, number + manteia, prophecy)
ariolation (âr'ē-ə-lā'shən): by alters (Latin ariolus, hariolus, prophet)
armomancy (är'mə-măn'sē): by one's own shoulders (Latin armus, shoulder + Greek manteia, prophecy)
aspidomancy (ăs'pə-də-măn'sē): by sitting in a drawn circle (Greek aspis [aspid-], shield + manteia, prophecy)
astragalomancy/astragalamancy → see under cleromancy below
astragyromancy → see under cleromancy below (from astragalomancy above, perhaps influenced by Greek guros, spiral, circle, and therefore vertebra)
astrapomancy (ə-strā'pə-măn'sē): by lightning (Greek astrapē, lightning flash + manteia, prophecy)
astrology/astromancy/astroscopy (ə-strŏl'ə-jē): by celestial bodies (Greek astron, star + -logiā, study)
augury (ô'gyə-rē) → see under theriomancy below
auramancy (ôr'ə-măn'sē): by auras (Greek aurā, breath + manteia, prophecy)
auspicy/auspication → see under theriomancy below (Latin avis, bird + specere, to look at)
austromancy → see under theriomancy below (ô'strə-măn'sē): by wind (Latin auster, south wind + Greek manteia, prophecy)
avimancy → see orniscopy below (Latin avis, bird + Greek manteia, prophecy)
axiomancy/axinomancy (ăks'ē-ə-măn'sē): by axes (Latin axis, axis + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] B

batraquomancy/batrachomancy (bə-trā'kə-măn'sē): by frogs (Greek batrakhos, frog + manteia, prophecy)
belomancy/bolomancy (bĕl'ə-măn'sē): by arrows (from bolomancy below, influenced by Greek belemnon, javelin, or belonē, needle)
bibliomancy → see chartomancy below
biorhythmic divination: by biorhythms
bletonism/bletonomancy (blĕt'ən-ĭz'əm): by water current (named for Monsieur Bleton, a French bletonist)
bolomancy (bō'lə-măn'sē) → see belomancy above (Greek bolē, arrow + manteia, prophecy)
botanomancy (bə-tăn'ə-măn'sē): by burning sage or figs (Greek botanē, flora + manteia, prophecy)
brizomancy → see oneiromancy below (Greek brizein, to be sleepy + manteia, prophecy)
brontomancy/Brontoscopy (brŏn'tə-măn'sē): by thunder (Greek brontē, thunder + manteia, prophecy)
bumpology (bŭm-pŏl'ə-jē): by bumps on the skin (English bump + Greek -logiā, study)

[edit] C

cabala → see kabbalah below
canomancy (kăn'ə-măn'sē, kā'nə-măn'sē): by dogs (Latin canis, dog + Greek manteia, prophecy)
capnomancy (kăp'nə-măn'sē): by smoke (Greek kapnos, smoke + manteia, prophecy)
carromancy (kăr'ə-măn'sē): by melting wax (Greek karrō, of wax + manteia, prophecy)
cartopedy → see under somatomancy below (Latin carta, papyrus paper + pēs [pēd-], foot)
cartomancy → see under chartomancy below
catoptromancy/captromancy → see under scrying below
cattabomancy/cattobomancy: by wine in a brass bowl (Greek kottabos, cottabus + manteia, prophecy)
causimancy/causimomancy (kô'zə-măn'sē): by burning (Greek kaiein [kaus-], to burn + manteia, prophecy)
cineromancy/ceneromancy (sĭ-nîr'ə-măn'sē): by ashes (Latin cinis [ciner-], ashes + Greek manteia, prophecy)
cephalomancy → see under somatomancy below
cephaleonomancy/cephalonomancy (sĕf'ə-lē-ŏn'ə-măn'sē): by boiling a donkey's head (Greek kephalaion, head [with meaning influenced by Greek onos, donkey] + manteia, prophecy)
ceraunoscopy (sĕr'ə-nŏs'kə-pē): by thunder and lightning (Greek keraunos, thunderbolt + -skopiā, observation)
ceromancy/ceroscopy (sîr'ə-măn'sē): by dripping wax in water (Greek kēros, wax + manteia, prophecy)
chalcomancy: by striking gongs or copper bowls (Greek khalkos, copper + manteia, prophecy)
chaomancy (kā'ə-măn'sē): by aerial visions (Greek khaos, primordial space + manteia, prophecy)
chartomancy (kärt'ə-măn'sē): by things on paper (Greek khartēs, papyrus paper + manteia, prophecy)
- cartomancy (kärt'ə-măn'sē): by cards (Latin carta, papyrus paper + Greek manteia, prophecy)
  - taromancy (tăr'ə-măn'sē): by tarot (English tarot + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- stichomancy (stĭk'ə-măn'sē): by books or lines (Greek stikhos, line of verse + manteia, prophecy)
  - aleuromancy² (ăl-yoo'rə-măn'sē): by fortune cookies (of the same origin as aleuromancy¹ above)
  - bibliomancy (bĭb'lē-ə-măn'sē): by the Bible (Greek biblion, book + manteia, 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 + manteia, 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 under somatomancy below
cheirognomy/chirognomy → see under somatomancy below
chien tung → see kau cim below
choriomancy: by pig bladders (Greek khorion, placenta + mantiea, prophecy)
chresmomancy: by the ravings of lunatics (Greek khrēsmos, oracular utterance, chresm + manteia, prophecy)
chronomancy (krŏ'nə-măn'sē): by apt occasion (Greek khronos, time + manteia, prophecy)
clamancy: by random shouts and cries heard in crowds, at night, etc. (Latin clāmāre, to cry out + Greek manteia, prophecy)
cledonism/cledonomancy (klĕd'n-ĭz'əm): by chance events or overheard words (Greek klēdon, rumor)
cleidomancy/clidomancy (klī'də-măn'sē): by keys (Greek kleis [kleid-], key + manteia, prophecy)
cleromancy (klĕr'ə-măn'sē): by casting (Greek klēros, lot + manteia, prophecy)
- astragalomancy/astragalamancy (ə-străg'ə-lə-măn'sē; also cubomancy): by dice (Greek astragalos, vertebra + manteia, prophecy)
- domino divination: by dominoes
- favomancy (făv'ə-măn'sē): by beans (Latin faba, bean + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- Ogham casting: by Ogham letters
- runecasting/Runic divination: by runes
cometomancy (kə-mĕt'ə-măn'sē): by comet tails (Greek komētēs, comet + manteia, prophecy)
colormancy/coloromancy: by colors (English color + Greek manteia, prophecy)
conchomancy (kŏngk'ə-măn'sē): by shells (Greek konkhē, mussel + manteia, prophecy)
cosquinomancy/coscinomancy (kə-skĭn'ə-măn'sē): by hanging sieves (Greek koskinōn, sieve + manteia, prophecy)
craniognomy (krā'nē-ŏg'nə-mē, krā'nē-ŏn'ə-mē) → see under somatomancy below (Greek krānion, skull + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
the crawling baby: by a baby's crawling
crithomancy/critomancy (krĭth'ə-măn'sē): by barley cakes (Greek krithē, barley + manteia, prophecy)
cromnyomancy/cromniomancy (krŏm'nē-ə-măn'sē): by onion sprouts (alteration of Greek krommuon, onion + manteia, prophecy)
cryptomancy: by omens (Greek kruptos, hidden + manteia, prophecy)
crystal ball gazing → see under scrying below
crystal gazing → see under scrying below
crystallomancy (krĭs'tə-lə-măn'sē) → see under scrying below (Greek krustallos, crystal + manteia, prophecy)
cubomancy (kyoo'bə-măn'sē) → see under cleromancy above (Greek kubos, cube + manteia, prophecy)
cyathomancy: by cups (Greek kuathos, cup + manteia, prophecy)
cybermancy (sī'bər-măn'sē): by computer oracles (English cyber(netics) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
cyclicomancy: by swirling wanter in a cup (Greek kuklikos, cyclical, circular + manteia, prophecy)
cyclomancy (sĭk'lə-măn'sē, sīk'lə-măn'sē): by wheels (Greek kuklos, circle + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] D

dactyliomancy (dăk-tĭl'ē-ə-măn'sē): by finger rings (Greek daktulios, finger ring + manteia, prophecy)
dactylomancy (dăk-tĭl'ə-măn'sē): by means of finger movements (Greek daktulos, finger + manteia, prophecy)
daphnomancy (dăf'nə-măn'sē): by burning laurel wreaths (Greek daphnē, laurel + manteia, prophecy)
demonomancy (də-mŏn'ə-măn'sē): by demons (Greek daimōn, divine power + manteia, prophecy)
dendromancy: by trees, especially oaks, yews, or mistletoe (Greek dendron, tree + manteia, prophecy)
deuteroscopy (doo'tə-rə-măn'sē): by second glance or double take (Greek deuteros, secondary + -skopiā, observation)
dictiomancy (dĭk'shə-măn'sē): by randomly opening a dictionary (English dictio(nary) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
divining → see dowsing below
djubed → see under scrying below
dōbutsu uranai: by animal horoscope (Japanese dōbutsu, animal + uranai, prognostication)
domino divination → see under cleromancy above
dowsing (also divining, water witching): by a divining rod (of unknown origin)
dracomancy: by dragons (Greek drakōn, dragon + manteia, prophecy)
dream questions: by dreaming
dririmancy/driromancy (drîr'ə-măn'sē): by dripping blood (alteration of drimimancy, influenced by Middle English drir, blood)
drimimancy/drymimancy (drĭm'ə-măn'sē): by bodily fluids (Greek drimus, pungent + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] E

eleomancy/elaeomancy: by oil (Greek elaion, olive oil + manteia, prophecy)
emonomancy → see demonomancy above^{[citation needed]}
empyromancy (ĕm'pī-rə-măn'sē): by burning (Greek empurios, fiery + manteia, prophecy)
enochian chess: by playing a four-handed variant of the game
enoptromancy (ĕn-ŏp'trə-măn'sē) → see under scrying below (Greek enoptron, looking glass + manteia, prophecy)
entomomancy/entomancy: by insects (Greek entomon, insect + manteia, prophecy)
eromancy (ĕr'ə-măn'sē): by water vessels exposed to air (Greek āēr, air + manteia, prophecy)
extispicy/extispication (ĕk-stĭs'pə-sē): by the remains of sacrificed animals (Latin exta, entrails + specere, to look at)

[edit] F

favomancy → see under cleromancy above
felidomancy → see under theriomancy below (Latin fēlēs [fēlid-], cat + Greek manteia, prophecy)
feng shui → see under geomancy below
floriography/floromancy (flôr'ē-ŏg'rə-fē): by flowers' feelings (Latin flōs [flōr-], flower + Greek -graphiā, representation)
fractomancy (frăk'tə-măn'sē): by fractals (English fract(al) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
fructomancy/fructimancy: by fruit (Latin frūctus, fruit + Greek manteia, prophecy)

[edit] G

galvanoscopy (găl'və-nŏs'kə-pē): by galvanism (English galvan(ism) + Greek -skopiā, observation)
gastromancy¹ → see under scrying below
gastromancy² (găs'trə-măn'sē): by gutteral sounds (Greek gastēr, belly + manteia, prophecy)
geomancy (jē'ə-măn'sē): by earth (Greek gē, earth + manteia, prophecy)
- feng Shui divination: by Feng Shui
geloscopy (jə-lŏs'kə-pē): 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 (grăm'ə-măn'sē): by writing individual letters (Greek gramma, letter + manteia, prophecy)
graphology (gră-fŏl'ə-jē; also graptomancy): by studying handwriting (Greek graphē, writing + -logiā, study)
graptomancy (grăp'tə-măn'sē) → see graphology above (Greek graptos, written + manteia, prophecy)
gyromancy (jī'rə-măn'sē): by dizziness (Greek gūros, spiral + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] H

hagiomancy: by saints (Greek hagios, holy + manteia, prophecy)
halomancy (hăl'ə-măn'sē) → see alomancy above.
hakata: by bones or dice
haruspicy/haruspication (hə-rŭs'pə-sē) → see hepatoscopy below (Latin haru-, entrails + specere, to look at)
hematomancy/haematomancy (hĕm'ə-tə-măn'sē, hē'mə-tə-măn'sē): by blood (Greek haima [haimat-], blood + manteia, prophecy)
hepatoscopy/hepatomancy (hĕp'ə-tə-măn'sē; also haruspicy, haruspication): by liver (Greek hēpar [hēpat-], liver + -skopiā, observation)
hieromancy/hieroscopy (hī'rə-măn'sē, hī'ə-rə-măn'sē): by studying sacrifices' entrails (Greek hieros, holy + manteia, prophecy)
hippomancy → see under theriomancy below.
horoscopy (hə-rŏs'kə-pē): by horoscope (Greek hōrā, season + -skopiā, observation)
hydatomancy: by rainwater (Greek hudatis, raindrop + manteia, prophecy)
hydromancy/hydroscopy → see under scrying below
hyomancy: by wild hogs (Greek hūs, swine + manteia, prophecy)
hypnomancy (hĭp'nə-măn'sē): by sleep (Greek hupnos, sleep + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] I

I Ching divination → see under chartomancy above.
ichnomancy (ĭk'nə-măn'sē): by footprints (Greek ikhnos, track + manteia, prophecy)
ichthyomancy → see under theriomancy below
iconomancy (ī-kŏn'ə-măn'sē): by icons (Greek eikōn, image + manteia, prophecy)
idolomancy (ī-dŏl'ə-măn'sē): by idols (Greek eidōlon, phantom + manteia, prophecy)
idromancy → see alomancy above (Greek idrōs, sweat + manteia, prophecy)
ifá: by palm nuts
iridology: by eye color (Greek īris [īrid-], iris + -logiā, study)
isopsephy: by numbers and letters (Greek īsos, equal + psephos, pebble)

[edit] K

kabbalah/qabalah/cabala: by the Kabbalah (Hebrew qabbālâ, tradition)
kau cim: by bamboo
kephalonomancy (kə-făl'ə-nə-măn'sē) → see cephaleonomancy above
keraunomancy (kə-rôn'ə-măn'sē) → see ceraunoscopy above
knissomancy (nĭs'ə-măn'sē): by incense (Greek knisa [kniss-], vapor + manteia, prophecy)
kypomancy → see under phyllomancy below (akin to Greek kupellon, goblet + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] L

labiomancy (lā'bē-ə-măn'sē): by lips (Latin labium, lip + Greek manteia, prophecy)
lampadomancy (lăm'pə-də-măn'sē): by flame (Greek lampas [lampad-], light + manteia, prophecy)
lecanomancy/lecanoscopy (lə-kăn'ə-măn'sē): by a basin of water (Greek lekanē, basin + manteia, prophecy)
letnomancy: by secrets (English let no (one see) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
libanomancy (lī-băn'ə-măn'sē): by smoke from incense (Greek libanos, frankincense + manteia, prophecy)
literomancy (lĭ'tər-ə-măn'sē): by a letter in a written language (Latin lītera, letter + Greek manteia, prophecy)
lithomancy (lĭth'ə-măn'sē): by precious stones (Greek lithos, stone + manteia, prophecy)
logarithmancy (lŏ'gə-rĭth'mən-sē, lô'gə-rĭth'mən-sē): by logarithms (English logarith(m) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
logomancy (lŏ'gə-măn'sē, lô'gə-măn'sē): by words (Greek logos, word + manteia, prophecy)
lunamancy → see selenomancy below (Latin lūna, moon + Greek manteia, prophecy)
lychnomancy: by candles (Greek lukhnos, lamp + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] M

macharomancy: by swords or knives (Greek makhaira, dirk + manteia, prophecy)
macromancy (măk'rə-măn'sē): by large objects (Greek makros, large + manteia, prophecy)
maculomancy (măk'yə-lə-măn'sē): by spots on the skin (Latin macula, spot + manteia, prophecy)
mahjong divination: by Mahjong tiles
margaritomancy (mär'gə-rĭt'ə-măn'sē): by bouncing pearls (Greek margarītēs, pearl + manteia, prophecy)
mathemancy (măth'ə-măn'sē): by mathematics (English mathe(matics) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
mazomancy (măz'ə-măn'sē): by nursing (Greek mazos, breast + manteia, prophecy)
meconomancy (mĭ-kō'nə-măn'sē): by sleeping (Greek mēkōn, poppy [i.e., an opiate] + manteia, prophecy)
megapolisomancy: by large cities (English megalopolis + Greek manteia, prophecy)
meilomancy: by moles
metagnomy (mĕ-tăg'nə-mē, mĕ-tăn'ə-mē): by magic (Greek meta-, beside + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
meteormancy (mē'tē-ər-măn'sē, mē'tē-ôr-măn'sē): by meteors (English meteor + Greek manteia, prophecy)
meteoromancy (mē'tē-ôr'ə-măn'sē, mē'tē-ŏr'ə-măn'sē): by thunder and lightning (Greek meteōron, heavenly phenomenon + manteia, prophecy)
metoposcopy/metopomancy (mĕt'ə-pŏs'kə-pē): by the lines of the forehead (Greek metōpon, forehead + -skopiā, observation)
micromancy (mī'krə-măn'sē): by small objects (Greek mikros, small + manteia, prophecy)
moleosophy (mōl-ŏs'ə-fē, mō'lē-ŏs'ə-fē): by blemishes (English mole + Greek sophiā, knowledge)
molybdomancy (mə-lĭb'də-măn'sē): by molten metal (Greek molubdos, lead + manteia, prophecy)
moromancy (môr'ə-măn'sē, mō'rə-măn'sē): by foolishness (Greek mōros, dull + manteia, prophecy)
myomancy → see under theriomancy below
myrmomancy → see under theriomancy below

[edit] N

narcomancy (när'kə-măn'sē): by sleep (Greek narkē, numbness + manteia, prophecy)
natimancy → see under somatomancy below (Latin natis, buttock + Greek manteia, prophecy)
necromancy¹ (nĕk'rə-măn'sē, nēk'rə-măn'sē): by speaking to the dead (from a confusion with the meaning of nigromancy and the spelling of necromancy²)
- necromancy² (nĕk'rə-măn'sē, nēk'rə-măn'sē): by corpses (Greek nekros, corpse + manteia, prophecy)
- nigromancy (nī'grə-măn'sē): by black magic (Latin niger, black + Greek manteia, prophecy)
necyomancy (nēs'ē-ə-măn'sē): by summoning Satan (Greek nekuiā, invocation + manteia, prophecy)
nephomancy (nĕf'ə-măn'sē): by clouds (Greek nephos, cloud + manteia, prophecy)
nigromancy → see under necromancy above
nomancy (nŏm'ən-sē, nō'mən-sē) → see onomancy below (variant of onomancy, influenced by Latin nōmen, name)
notarikon/netrikon: by initials (Latin notāricus, in shorthand)
nggàm → see under theriomancy below
numerology (noo'mə-rŏl'ə-jē, nyoo'mə-rŏl'ə-jē): by numbers (Latin numerus, number + Greek manteia, prophecy)
numismatomancy: by coins (Greek nomisma [nomismat-], coin + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] O

oculomancy (ŏk'yə-lə-măn'sē): by eyes (Latin oculus, eye + Greek manteia, prophecy)
odontomancy (ō-dŏn'tə-măn'sē): by teeth (Greek odous [odont-], tooth + manteia, prophecy)
oenomancy/oinomancy (ē'nə-măn'sē): by wine (Greek oinos, wine + manteia, prophecy)
ololygmancy (ō-lŏl'əg-măn'sē): by the howling of dogs (Greek ololuzō [ololug-], howl + manteia, prophecy)
omoplatoscopy → see scapulimancy below (Greek ōmoplatē, shoulder blade + -skopiā, observation)
omphalomancy (ŏm'fə-lə-măn'sē): by navels (Greek omphalos, navel + manteia, prophecy)
oneiromancy/oneiroscopy (ō-nī'rə-măn'sē): by dreams (Greek oneiros, dream + manteia, prophecy)
onimancy (ŏ'nə-măn'sē) → see onychomancy below
onomancy/onomomancy/nomancy (ŏn'ə-măn'sē): by letters in a name (Greek onoma, name + manteia, prophecy)
onomomancy (ō-nŏm'ə-măn'sē, ə-nō'mə-măn'sē) → see onomancy above
onychomancy/onymancy/onimancy (ə-nĭk'ə-măn'sē): by finger- and toenails (Greek onux [onukh-], nail + manteia, prophecy)
onymancy (ŏ'nə-măn'sē) → see onychomancy above
oomancy/ooscopy (ō'ə-măn'sē; also ovomancy): by eggs (Greek ōion, egg + manteia, prophecy)
ophidiomancy/ophiomancy → see theriomancy below
opthalmomancy → see oculomancy above (Greek ophthalmos, eye + manteia, prophecy)
organoscopy → see phrenology below (Greek organon, organ + -skopiā, observation)
orniscopy/ornithomancy → see theriomancy below
oromancy: by mountains (Greek oros, mountain + manteia, prophecy)
oryctomancy: by minerals (Greek oruktos, dug + manteia, prophecy)
ossomancy → see osteomancy below (Latin os [oss-], bone + Greek manteia, prophecy)
osteomancy: by bones (Greek osteon, bone + manteia, prophecy)
Ouija/Ouije: by ouija board (French oui, yes + German ja, yes)
ouranomancy → see uranomancy below.
ovomancy → see oomancy above (Latin ōvum, egg + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] P

pallomancy: by pendulums (Greek pallein, to sway + manteia, prophecy)
palmistry/palm reading → see under somatomancy below (Latin palma, palm)
papyromancy: by folding paper, especially paper money (Greek papūros, papyrus paper + manteia, prophecy)
pedomancy → see under somatomancy below (from podomancy, influenced by Latin pēs [pēd-], foot)
pegomancy: by fountains (Greek pēgē, spring + manteia, prophecy)
pessomancy: by pebbles (Greek pessos, oval pebble + manteia, prophecy)
pecthimancy/petchimancy: by brushed cloth (possibly akin to Greek pekein, to card wool, or pēktē, netting + manteia, prophecy)
phobomancy: by feelings of fear (Greek phobos, fear + manteia, prophecy)
photomancy: by fields of light (Greek phōs [phōt-], light + manteia, prophecy)
phrenology (also organoscopy): by the configuration of one's brain (Greek phrēn, mind + -logiā, study)
phyllomancy: by leaves (Greek phullon, leaf + manteia, prophecy)
- sycomancy: by fig leaves (Greek sūkon, fig + manteia, 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 + manteia, 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 + manteia, prophecy)
pneumancy: by blowing (Greek pneuma, breath + manteia, prophecy)
podomancy/pedomancy → see under somatomancy below
psephomancy: by lots or ballots (Greek psephos, pebble + manteia, prophecy)
pseudomancy: by false means, such as Peter Answers (Greek pseudēs, false + manteia, prophecy)
psychognomy: by phrenological notations (Greek psūkhē, soul + -gnōmoniā, observation)
psychomancy → see necromancy¹ above (Greek psūkhē, soul + manteia, prophecy)
pyromancy/pyroscopy: by fire (Greek pūr, fire + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] Q

qabalah → see kabbalah above

[edit] 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 manteia, prophecy)
rhabdomancy/rabdomancy: by rods, sticks, or wands (Greek rhabdos, rod + manteia, prophecy)
rhapsodomancy: by poetry (Greek rhapsōidiā, verse + manteia, prophecy)
roadomancy: by constellations (apparently from Old English rodor, firmament + Greek manteia, prophecy)
rumpology → see under somatomancy below
runecasting → see under cleromancy above

[edit] S

scapulimancy/scapulomancy (also spatulamancy, omoplatoscopy): by bovine or caprid shoulder blades (Latin scapula, shoulder blade + Greek manteia, prophecy)
scarpomancy: by old shoes (Italian scarpa, shoe + Greek manteia, prophecy)
scatomancy: by excrement (Greek skōr [skat-], excrement + manteia, prophecy)
schematomancy → see under somatomancy below
sciomancy¹ (also shadowmancy): by shadows (Greek skiā, shadow + manteia, 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 + manteia, prophecy)
  - gastromancy¹ (also crystallomancy, spheromancy, crystal ball gazing): by crystal ball (Greek gastēr, belly [i.e., round object] + manteia, prophecy)
  - hydromancy (also ydromancy): by water (Greek hudōr, water + manteia, prophecy)
selenomancy: by the moon (Greek selēnē, moon + manteia, prophecy)
shadowmancy → see sciomancy¹ above (English shadow + Greek manteia, prophecy)
sideromancy: by burning straw with an iron (Greek sidēros, iron + manteia, prophecy)
sikidy: by drawing sixteen lines in sand (perhaps a Malagasy transliteration of English sixteen)
skatharomancy: by beetle tracks (Greek skatharōn, spot + manteia, prophecy)
slinneanachd/slinnanacht: by animal shoulder blades (Scottish Gaelic slinnean, shoulder blade)
solaromancy: by the sun (Latin sōl [sōlār-], sun + Greek manteia, prophecy)
somatomancy: by the human form (Greek sōma [sōmat-], body + manteia, prophecy)
- cephalomancy (also craniognomy): by skulls (Greek kephalē, head + manteia, prophecy)
- cheiromancy/chiromancy (kī'rə-măn'sē; also palmistry, palm reading): by palms (Greek kheir, hand + manteia, prophecy)
- cheirognomy/chirognomy (kī-rŏg'nə-mē, kī-rŏn'ə-mē): by hands (Greek kheir, hand + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
- podomancy/pedomancy (also cartopedy): by the soles of one's feet (Greek pous [pod-], foot + manteia, prophecy)
- rumpology (also natimancy): by buttocks (English rump + Greek -logiā, study)
- schematomancy: by the face (Greek skhēma [skhēmat-], figure + manteia, prophecy)
sortes virgilianae: by Vergil's Aeneid
spasmatomancy: by convulsions (alteration of *spasmodomancy, from Greek spasmos [spasmōd-], spasm + manteia, prophecy)
spatilomancy: by animal excrement (Greek spatilē, excrement + manteia, prophecy)
spatulamancy → see scapulimancy above (from scapulimancy, influenced by Latin spatula, splint)
spheromancy → see under scrying above (Greek sphaira, sphere + manteia, prophecy)
sphondulomancy: by spindles (Greek sphondulos, spindle + manteia, prophecy)
splanchnomancy → see anthropomancy above (Greek splankhna, innards + manteia, prophecy)
spodomancy: by soot (Greek spodos, wood ashes + manteia, prophecy)
stareomancy: by the four elements (Greek stais [stair-], dough + manteia, prophecy)
stercomancy: by seeds in bird excrement (Latin stercus, excrement + Greek manteia, prophecy)
sternomancy: by ridges on the breastbone (Greek sternon, breastbone + manteia, prophecy)
stichomancy → see chartomancy above
stigonomancy: by burning writing onto bark (Greek stizein [stigōn-], to brand + manteia, prophecy)
stoicheomancy/stoichomancy → see under chartomancy above
stolisomancy: by fashion (Greek stolis, garment + manteia, prophecy)
sycomancy → see phyllomancy above
symbolomancy: by things found on the road (Greek sumbolon, sign + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] T

taromancy → see under chartomancy above
tasseography/tasseomancy → see under phyllomancy above
technomancy: by technology (English techno(logy) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
temurah: by anagrams
theomancy: by oracles (Greek theos, god + manteia, prophecy)
tephramancy/tephromancy (also tuphromancy): by cremation ashes (Greek tephrā, ash + manteia, prophecy)
theriomancy: (also zoomancy): by animal behavior (Greek thēr, wild animal + manteia, prophecy)

Russian peasant girls using chicken for divination. A XIXth-century lubok.

- ailuromancy/aeluromancy (ī-loor'ə-măn'sē; also felidomancy): by cats (Greek ailouros, cat + manteia, prophecy)
- alectryomancy/alectoromancy: by rooster behavior (Greek alektruōn, cockerel + manteia, prophecy)
- augury: by bird formations (Latin augur, diviner)
- hippomancy: by horse behavior (Greek hippos, horse + manteia, prophecy)
- ichthyomancy: by fish behavior (Greek ikhthūs, fish + manteia, prophecy)
- myomancy: by rodent behavior (Greek mūs, mouse + manteia, prophecy)
- myrmomancy: by ant behavior (Greek murmēx, ant + manteia, prophecy)
- nggàm: by spider or crab behavior (Mambila nggàm, divination)
- ophidiomancy/ophiomancy: by snakes behavior (Greek ophis [ophid-], snake + manteia, prophecy)
- orniscopy/ornithomancy (also auspicy/auspication, avimancy): by bird migration (Greek ornīs [ornīth-], bird + -skopiā, observation)
thumomancy: by one's own soul (Greek thūmos, soul + manteia, prophecy)
topomancy: by geography and geological formations (Greek topos, place + manteia, prophecy)
transataumancy: by things accidentally seen or heard
trochomancy: by wheel ruts (Greek trokhos, wheel + manteia, prophecy)
tuphromancy → see tephramancy above (from tephramancy, influenced by Greek tuphos, smoke)
turifumy: by shapes in smoke (Latin tūs [tūr-], incense + fūmus, vapor)
typomancy¹: by typographical errors (English typo + Greek manteia, prophecy)
typomancy²: by curds (from tyromancy, influenced by Greek tupōma, something which has been molded)
tyromancy/tiromancy: by cheese (Greek tūros, cheese + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] U

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

[edit] V

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

[edit] W

water witching → see dowsing above

[edit] X

xenomancy: by strangers (Greek xenos, stranger + manteia, prophecy)
xylomancy: by burning wood (Greek xulon, wood + manteia, prophecy)

[edit] Y

ydromancy → see under scrying above

[edit] Z

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

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ chiefly through the influence of Harry Potter

Categories: Divination