We’re almost at the end of this series. I've had a lot of fun researching the various methods of fortune telling, and I've saved the best – or maybe I should say the strangest - ones for last. And there turned out to be so many weird and unusual ways people used to, and in some cases still do, try to predict the future that I’m having to post this in two parts – alphabetically of course.
What you will not find in my list are Runes, Palmistry, Tarot, or I Ching. While I’m familiar with all four of these – I’ve written my own book about Runes and I once read Tarot cards – they’re all way too complicated to be limited to a single blog post.
Acutomancy is a form of divination using sharp or pointed objects, such as needles. A number of these objects (usually seven) are allowed to fall onto a table or some other flat surface. Then the pattern they make is read. Closely related to this is Acutomanzia, which uses thirteen pins, ten straight and three bent. They are shaken in the hand and dropped onto a surface sprinkled with powder. The patterns the pins make in the powder, as well as their position, are then read.
Ailuromancy is the art of foretelling future events by observing the movements of cats, especially the way they jump and where they land. It’s also a way to predict the weather. If a cat turns its tail towards the fire, it means a change of weather, particularly rain or hard frost is coming. If a cat curls up with its forehead touching the ground it means that stormy weather is on its way.
Alectryomancy uses one or more birds, most preferably a white rooster or cockerel) pecking at grain (such as wheat) that has been scattered on the ground. When the birds have finished, the diviner will then interpret the patterns left on the ground. In another version, a circle is made, marked with the alphabet around its edges and a piece of grain is placed at each letter. A bird is tethered to the center of the circle and the letters under the grain it pecks are written down. As the grain is eaten, it’s replaced so that letters can be repeated. The series of letters written down will contain a message.
Aleuromancy is very similar to fortune cookies. The ancient Greeks would write out sentences on slips of paper and then bake them inside balls of flour. They’d mix the balls nine times and pass them out to anyone wishing their fortune to be told. Another way of doing this was to slosh out a mixture of flour and water from a bowl, interpreting the patterns of the residue. Sometimes flour was simply poured out in small piles and the shapes and orientation were interpreted.
Axinomancy is just what it sounds like, divination using an axe. One way of doing this involved throwing an axe into the ground or swinging it into a tree and interpreting the direction of the handle or the quivering of the blade. You could also place an agate on a red-hot axe – this will determine if someone is guilty of a crime. Or you could simply interpret the shapes and colours on the axe-head after it’s been heated up.
Belomancy was used by the Babylonians, Greeks, Arabs, and Scythians. Fletched arrows were used for this form of divination. In one method, three arrows are used. A question is asked and two possible answers are tied to two of the arrows, but the third arrow is left blank. The arrow that flies the furthest holds the answer. If the blank one goes the furthest the question cannot be resolved at this time. If you’re a lost traveler you might simply toss and arrow into the air and let the direction it points upon landing show the way.
Bibliomancy is divination by using a book, often a bible. It’s best to choose a book you believe to hold the truth. Rest it on its spine and let if fall open. Close your eyes and point to a random passage. This will hold the answer you seek. Some believers prefer to choose a random book from a library for this, while others believe that you should only use a book that has fallen down from a shelf.
Catoptromancy is form of divination that uses a mirror which is turned to the moon to catch the lunar rays. Supposedly, the answers looked for will appear as characters of blood on the face of the moon, reflected in the mirror. It could also be used to predict the prognosis of someone who was ill. A mirror was hung by a thread over a pool or fountain. As incense was burnt and prayers recited, the mirror was slowly lowered until the base barely touched the water. If the person’s reflection in the mirror was healthy looking, they’d make a full recovery. If the image was unhealthy looking then death was sure to follow.
Cattabomancy is similar to scrying in that in involves gazing into an object to divine the future. In this case it’s a vessel made of metal, usually brass because brass is believed to repel demons or evil spirits. Ink, oil, perfumed water, or some other liquid is poured into the vessel. Prayers or incantations are recited as the diviner stares without blinking into the liquid until they enter a trancelike state where they will receive the answers they seek. Or you could simply place a brass plate on a consecrated altar at midnight. The diviner asks the question needing to be answered and at dawn the answer will be written in dew upon the plate.
Cephalomancy means “head divination” so technically it could apply to any kind of divination using a head or skull. In this case it was used to determine the innocence or guilt of a criminal. An ass’s head was boiled or baked, then lighted carbon was poured over it. The names of the accused were called out and if the skull crackled or the jaw moved, it meant the accused was guilty as charged.
Ceraunomancy is the observation of lightning as a form of divination. If the bolt came from the east it was considered favorable, from the west it was considered discouraging, and from the north the omens were ominous. Bolts from the northwest meant that extremely bad news was on its way. In the Middle Ages it was believed thunder and lightning in winter could be a portent of war, the sign of an impending flood, or the death of someone of importance.
Chalcomancy is a form of divination that was used by Tibetan monks to divine the past, present, and future. They do this by listening to the sounds and tones made by striking a bowl or chalice with a mallet designed for this purpose. Usually the bowl is made of brass or copper, but other metals have been used as well.
Cleidomancy uses keys to divine the future. To determine a person’s guilt, the key is inserted into the bible which is then sealed shut and suspended. The names of the accused were spoken out loud and if the bible turned at the mention of a name, that person was guilty. The key could also be used like a pendulum. In this case the key is suspended over a circle inscribed with letters and numbers and the question asked. The message is then spelled out by the movement of the key. It could also be suspended from a thread held between the thumb and forefinger and lowered into a glass jar. A question is asked and the key is supposed to knock against the glass – one knock for yes, two for no. And if you’re looking to learn the sex of a baby, hold a key in one of your two clenched fists behind your back. Bring them forward and allow the pregnant woman to touch one of the fists. If she chooses the one holding the key, the child will be a girl.
Come back next week to see the rest of my list.
No comments:
Post a Comment