Divination Practices and History

Definition and Types of Divination

• Divination: the practice of seeking guidance or insight into the future through supernatural or mystical means
• Types of divination:
  • Augury: interpreting omens and signs from nature (e.g., bird flight patterns)
  • Astrology: studying the positions of celestial bodies to predict future events
  • Cartomancy: using cards to gain insight (e.g., tarot, oracle cards)
  • Cleromancy: using random events or chance occurrences to guide decisions
  • Necromancy: communicating with the dead to gain knowledge
  • Numerology: using numbers and their meanings to understand life events
  • Palmistry: reading the lines and markings on the hands to predict the future
  • Scrying: using reflective surfaces (e.g., water, mirrors, crystal balls) to see visions

History of Divination

• Divination practices date back to ancient civilizations, including:
  • Ancient Mesopotamia (e.g., reading entrails of animals)
  • Ancient Greece (e.g., using oracles and omens)
  • Ancient China (e.g., using the I Ching and astrology)
• Divination was often used for making important decisions, predicting the future, and understanding the will of the gods

Modern Divination

• Modern forms of divination include:
  • Using technology (e.g., apps, online fortune-telling)
  • Incorporating divination into spiritual practices (e.g., Wicca, witchcraft)
  • Using divination as a form of self-reflection and personal growth
• Divination remains a popular practice worldwide, with many people using various forms of divination for guidance and insight