Classical & Symbolic Divination

Types Of Divination

Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge of the unknown or future through supernatural or symbolic means. There are hundreds of divination methods used across cultures and time periods, each utilizing different tools, elements, or techniques. Below is a categorized and comprehensive list of various divination practices.

Classical & Symbolic Divination

These methods use symbols, numbers, and abstract concepts to gain insight.

A. Alphabet & Writing-Based Divination

• Abecedarian Divination – Using letters of the alphabet in random patterns for messages.

• Onomancy – Divination through names.

• Graphomancy – Analyzing handwriting for hidden meanings.

• Lexomancy – Opening a book randomly and interpreting the first word or passage seen.

• Spirit Boards(Ouija) - Spirit divination using an alaphet board and planchette to spell out messages.

B. Number-Based Divination

• Numerology – The study of numbers and their mystical meanings.

• Arithmancy – Using numbers associated with names or events to predict outcomes.

• Geomancy – Casting marks on the ground or sand to form patterns for interpretation.

C. Sound & Speech-Based Divination

• Echomancy – Interpreting random or accidental sounds.

• Oinomancy – Using the sounds and bubbles of poured wine for divination.

• Geloscopy - Divination using the sound of someone's laugh.

• Cantiumancy - Drawing messages and predictions through music.

• Phonomancy - Divination through people's voices and speech.

Elemental & Nature-Based Divination

This category includes divination methods that rely on natural elements like fire, water, earth, and air.

A. Fire Divination

• Pyromancy – Divination using flames.

• Capnomancy – Studying smoke patterns.

• Causimomancy – Burning objects and interpreting how they react.

• Spodomancy - Divination using ashes.

• Ceromancy - Interpreting the patterns/shapes in melted candle wax.

B. Water Divination

• Hydromancy – Scrying or divining using water.

• Pegomancy – Studying the movement of sacred wells or springs.

• Aspidomancy – Scrying with whirlpools or moving water.

C. Air & Wind Divination

• Aeromancy – Divination through atmospheric conditions.

• Anemoscopy – Studying wind direction and patterns.

• Chaomancy – Observing air currents and swirling dust or leaves.

D. Earth Divination

• Lithomancy – Casting and reading stones or crystals.

• Geomancy – Reading marks or patterns in soil, sand, or earth.

• Spatalamancy – Divination through cave formations.

• Halomancy - Divination using salts.

• Abocomancy - Divination based on interpretation of the patterns in dirt, silt, sand, or dust.

Animal & Plant-Based Divination

These methods rely on interactions with living things and biological matter.

A. Animal-Based Divination

• Ornithomancy(Augury) – Observing bird flight patterns.

• Ailuromancy – Watching the behavior of cats.

• Myomancy – Interpreting mouse or rodent behavior.

• Ophiomancy – Observing snakes.

• Ichthyomancy - Divination using fish.

• Zoomancy - Divination through the actions of wildlife.

• Alectromancy - Using roosters or hens to make predictions.

• Apantomancy - Interpreting chance meetings with animals, such as the familiar black cat crossing your path.

• Myrmonancy - Discerning the future through observing ants eating food.

B. Plant-Based Divination

• Dendromancy – Divination using tree bark or branches.

• Botanomancy – Burning plants and interpreting the smoke.

• Xylomancy – Interpreting patterns in fallen branches or wood.

• Tasseomancy - Gaining wisdom by reading tea leaves

Object-Based Divination

Using objects, artifacts, and physical tools to gain insight.

• Bibliomancy – Interpreting messages from the open page of a fallen book.

• Rhabdomancy – Divining with rods, wands, or sticks.

• Belomancy – Throwing arrows and interpreting where they land.

• Oomancy - Divination using eggs.

• Crystallomancy – Scrying into crystals (e.g., crystal ball gazing).

• Curiomancy - Divination by casting random or obscure objects.

• Catoptromancy - The art of scrying with a mirror.

• Psychometry - Scrying of a held or touched object.

• Astagyromancy - Divination performed by tossing dice.

• Dactylomancy - Using a ring suspended on a cord/chain or a pendulum to divinate.

• Papyromancy - Folding paper into shapes, then interpreting the forms and shadows created.

Death & Spirit-Based Divination

Methods focused on communicating with spirits, ancestors, or the dead.

• Necromancy – Summoning or consulting spirits of the dead.

• Oneiromancy – Interpreting dreams.

• Psychomancy – Communicating with spirits and being able to hear their voices.

• Osteomancy – Reading bones or skeletal remains.

Energy & Psychic Divination

These methods rely on intuitive abilities or the reader's energy field.

• Morphic Resonance - Using the concept of collective memory and patterns from the past to predict future patterns.

• Aurascopy – Reading auras and energy fields.

• Cryptomancy - Supernatural insights through secret signs and omens.

• Intuitive Counseling - Offering guidance based on intuitive feelings.

• Remote Viewing - Psychically perceiving a distant or unseen target.

• Energy Scrying - Divining information about a person’s physical or emotional state through their energy.

• Channeling - Mediums communicate with spirits to convey messages or predict future events.

Popular & Modern Divination Systems

These systems have structured methods and are widely practiced.

• Cartomancy/Tarot – Using cards to interpret the past, present, and future or speak to spirits.

• Runecasting (Runology) – Reading ancient runes for insight (Futhark, Ogham, Witch Runes, etc).

• I Ching (Yi Jing) – Using hexagrams derived from coin or stick throws.

• Astrology – Studying celestial bodies and their influence on human affairs.

• Palmistry - Reading the lines on a person's hand.