This man in Rhumsiki, Cameroon, tells the future by interpreting the changes in position of various objects as caused by a fresh-water crab through nggàm[1]. Rhumsiki, also spelt Rumsiki and Roumsiki, is a Village in the Far North Province of Cameroon. The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central and western Africa.

Divination (from Latin divinare "to be inspired by a god", related to divine, diva and deus) is the attempt of ascertaining information by interpretation of omens or an alleged supernatural agency^[1], either by or on behalf of a querent. A diva is a celebrated female singer The Italian term is used to describe a woman of rare outstanding talent in the world of Opera, and by extension in theatre and DeuS (Brut Des Flandres is a premium Belgian beer manufactured in Buggenhout, Belgium. An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the Future, often signifying the advent of change The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events Querent as "one who queries" is obviously derived from the conjugation of "query" and the suffix "-ant" denoting a person

If a distinction is to be made between divination and fortune-telling, divination has a formal or ritual and often social character, usually in a religious context; while fortune-telling is a more everyday practice for personal purposes. Fortune-telling is the practice of predicting the future usually of an individual through mystical or supernatural means and often for commercial gain A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Divination is often dismissed by skeptics, including the scientific community, as being mere superstition: in the 2nd century, Lucian devoted a witty essay to the career of a charlatan, Alexander the false prophet, trained by "one of those who advertise enchantments, miraculous incantations, charms for your love-affairs, visitations for your enemies, disclosures of buried treasure, and successions to estates" [2], though most Romans believed in dreams and charms. In ordinary usage skepticism or scepticism ( Greek 'σκέπτομαι' skeptomai, to look about to consider see also spelling differences The scientific community consists of the total body of Scientists its relationships and interactions Superstition ( Latin superstitio, literally "standing over" derived perhaps from standing in awe used in Latin as a unreasonable or excessive belief The 2nd century is the period from 101 to 200 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Lucian of Samosata (Λουκιανός ὁ Σαμοσατεύς Lucianus c

Categories of divination

Psychologist Julian Jaynes categorized divination according to the following four types:

• Omens and omen texts. Julian Jaynes ( February 27 1920 &ndash November 21 1997) was an American Psychologist, best known for his book The Origin "The most primitive, clumsy, but enduring method. . . is the simple recording of sequences of unusual or important events. " (1976:236) Chinese history offers scrupulously documented occurrences of strange births, the tracking of natural phenomena, and other data. Chinese governmental planning relied on this method of forecasting for long-range strategy. It is not unreasonable to assume that modern scientific inquiry began with this kind of divination; Joseph Needham's work considered this very idea. Noel Joseph Terence Montgomery Needham, CH, FRS, FBA ( December 9, 1900 – March 24 1995) was a British

• Sortilege (cleromancy). Cleromancy is a form of Divination using Sortition, casting of lots or casting bones in which an outcome is determined by means that normally would be considered This consists of the casting of lots whether with sticks, stones, bones, beans, coins, or some other item. Modern playing cards and board games developed from this type of divination.

• Augury. Divination that ranks a set of given possibilities. It can be qualitative (such as shapes, proximities, etc. ): for example, dowsing (a form of rhabdomancy) developed from this type of divination. Dowsing, sometimes called doodlebugging, divining or water witching, is a practice whereby dowsers attempt to locate hidden Water wells Rhabdomancy is a type of Divination by means of any rod wand staff stick arrow or the like The Romans in classical times used Etruscan methods of augury such as hepatoscopy (actually a form of extispicy). The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient Italy In Roman practice inherited from the Etruscans, a haruspex (plural haruspices) was a man trained to practice a form of Divination called haruspicy Extispicy (from Latin extispicium) is the practice of using anomalies in Animal Entrails to predict divine future events Haruspices examined the livers of sacrificed animals. In Roman practice inherited from the Etruscans, a haruspex (plural haruspices) was a man trained to practice a form of Divination called haruspicy

• Spontaneous. An unconstrained form of divination, free from any particular medium, and actually a generalization of all types of divination. The answer comes from whatever object the diviner happens to see or hear. Some religions use a form of bibliomancy: they ask a question, riffle the pages of their holy book, and take as their answer the first passage their eyes light upon. Bibliomancy is the use of books in Divination. The method of employing sacred books (especially specific words and verses for 'magical medicine' for removing negative entities SACRED was a Cubesat built by the Student Satellite Program of the University of Arizona. Other forms of spontaneous divination include reading auras and New Age methods of Feng Shui such as "intuitive" and Fuzion. In Parapsychology and many forms of spiritual practice an aura is a field of subtle luminous radiation surrounding a person or object like the Halo or New Age ( New Age Movement and New Age Spirituality) is a Social Collective Phenomenon and a Spiritual Nature Feng shui ( ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ fehng-shway in English is an ancient Chinese system of Aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy and earth (geography

Common methods of divination

Main article: Methods of divination

• astrology: by celestial bodies. Innumerable methods of divination can be found around the world and many cultures practice the same methods under different names Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems
• augury: by the flight of birds. The Augur was a priest and official in the classical world especially Ancient Rome and Etruria.
• bibliomancy: by books (frequently, but not always, religious texts). Bibliomancy is the use of books in Divination. The method of employing sacred books (especially specific words and verses for 'magical medicine' for removing negative entities
• cartomancy: by cards. Cartomancy is Fortune-telling or Divination using a deck of cards
• cheiromancy/palmistry: by palms. Chiromancy or cheiromancy, (Greek cheir (χειρ “hand” manteia (μαντεία “ Divination ” is the art of characterization Chiromancy or cheiromancy, (Greek cheir (χειρ “hand” manteia (μαντεία “ Divination ” is the art of characterization
• chronomancy:about time, lucky/unlucky days. Chronomancy is Divination of the best time to do something the determination of lucky and unlucky days especially popular in ancient China.
• cybermancy: by computers. Cybermancy refers to the act of using Computer -driven divination systems
• gastromancy: by crystal ball. A crystal ball is a Crystal or Glass Ball believed by some people to aid Clairvoyance.
• extispicy: by the entrails of animals. Extispicy (from Latin extispicium) is the practice of using anomalies in Animal Entrails to predict divine future events
• feng shui: by earthen harmony. Feng shui ( ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ fehng-shway in English is an ancient Chinese system of Aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy and earth (geography
• I Ching divination: by the I Ching; a form of bibliomancy. Among the many forms of Divination is a method using the I Ching (易經 or Book of Changes. The I Ching ( Wade-Giles) or “Yì Jīng” ( Pinyin) also called “Classic of Changes” or “Book of Changes” is one of the oldest of the
• numerology: by numbers. Numerology is any of many Systems Traditions or Beliefs in a mystical or Esoteric relationship between Numbers and physical
• oneiromancy: by dreams. Oneiromancy (from the Greek Oneiroi) is a form of Divination based upon Dreams it is a system of Dream interpretation that uses dreams to Dreams are the images sounds thoughts and feelings experienced while Sleeping, particularly strongly associated with Rapid eye movement sleep.
• onomancy: by names. Onomancy (haplological for Onomamancy or Onomatomancy) is Divination based on a subject's Given name, popular in the Late Middle Ages
• Ouija: board divination. A ouija board (correctly pronounced "wee-jah" /wiʤə/ although often pronounced "wee-gee" /wiʤi/ and commonly known as a 'Spirit Board') is any flat board
• rhabdomancy: divination by rods
• runecasting/Runic divination: by runes. Rhabdomancy is a type of Divination by means of any rod wand staff stick arrow or the like
• scrying: by reflective objects. "Seer stone" redirects here For the usage in Mormonism see Seer stone (Latter Day Saints.
• taromancy: a form of cartomancy using tarot cards. The tarot (also known as tarocchi, tarock or similar names is typically a set of seventy-eight cards comprised of twenty-one trump cards, one
• necromancy: by the dead, or spirits/souls of the dead/recently dead

See also

• Methods of divination
• Anthropology of religion
• Apollo
• Astrology
• Axinomancy
• Bone divination
• Divination in Harry Potter
• Dowsing
• Dream interpretation
• Esotericism
• Futurology
• Geomancy
• Guru
• I Ching
• Ifá
• New Age
• Nostradamus
• Occultism
• Oracle
• Omen (or portent)
• Postdiction
• Pueblo
• Prophet
• Runic divination
• Scrying
• Tarot reading
• Western mystery tradition
• List of magical terms and traditions

References and notes

Popular

• Robert Todd Carroll (2003). Necromancy ( Greek νεκρομαντία nekromantía) is a form of Divination in which the practitioner seeks to summon "operative spirits" Innumerable methods of divination can be found around the world and many cultures practice the same methods under different names The anthropology of religion involves the study of religious institutions in relation to other social institutions and the comparison of religious beliefs and practices across Cultures Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Axinomancy is one of several obscure methods of Divination using an Axe, Hatchet, or (rarely a Saw. Oracle bones ( Chinese: 甲骨 Pinyin: jiǎgǔpiàn are pieces of Bone or turtle shell that were heated and cracked during divination Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a setting in J K Dowsing, sometimes called doodlebugging, divining or water witching, is a practice whereby dowsers attempt to locate hidden Water wells For the John Cale minimalist album see Dream Interpretation (Album Dream interpretation is the process of assigning meaning to Dreams In many of the Futures Studies, Foresight, or Futurology is the science art and practice of postulating possible probable and preferable futures and the worldviews A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others The I Ching ( Wade-Giles) or “Yì Jīng” ( Pinyin) also called “Classic of Changes” or “Book of Changes” is one of the oldest of the Divination process Special instruments are used to assist in the Divination to transcribe Orunmila 's wisdom through the diviner New Age ( New Age Movement and New Age Spirituality) is a Social Collective Phenomenon and a Spiritual Nature Michel de Nostredame (14 December 1503 or 21 December 1503 &ndash 2 July 1566 usually Latinized to Nostradamus, was a French Apothecary The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine hidden secret referring to "knowledge of the hidden" An oracle is a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinion an Infallible authority usually spiritual in nature An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the Future, often signifying the advent of change This article is about postdiction in the criticism of parapsychology not about the scientific technique also called Retrodiction. Pueblos are traditional communities of Native Americans in the southwestern United States of America. In Religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has encountered the Supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary "Seer stone" redirects here For the usage in Mormonism see Seer stone (Latter Day Saints. Western esotericism (also Western mysticism, Western occult tradition, and Western mystery tradition) is a broad spectrum of spiritual This is a list of magical terms and traditions dealing with various occult practices traditions and components of Magic. The Skeptic's Dictionary. Wiley.
• Lon Milo Duquette (2005). Lon Milo DuQuette (born July 11, 1948) AKA Rabbi Lamed Ben Clifford, American writer lecturer and Occultist The Book of Ordinary Oracles. Weiser Books.
• Clifford A. Pickover (2001). Clifford A Pickover is an American author editor and columnist in the fields of Science, Mathematics, and Science fiction, and is employed at the Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction. Prometheus.
• Eva Shaw (1995). Divining the Future. Facts on File.
• The Diagram Group (1999). The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Fortune Telling. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.

Academic

• D. Engels, Das römische Vorzeichenwesen (753-27 v. Chr. ). Quellen, Terminologie, Kommentar, historische Entwicklung, Stuttgart 2007 (Franz Steiner-Verlag)
• E. E. Evans-Pritchard, Witchcraft, oracles, and magic among the Azande (1976)
• Toufic Fahd, La divination arabe; études religieuses, sociologiques et folkloriques sur le milieu natif d’Islam (1966)
• Michael Loewe and Carmen Blacke, eds. Oracles and divination (Shambhala/Random House, 1981) ISBN 0-87773-214-0
• J. P. Vernant, Divination et rationalité (1974)

2. Jean-Pierre Vernant ( January 4, 1914 &ndash January 9, 2007) was a French historian and anthropologist Philip K. Hitti. Makers of Arab History. Princeton, New Jersey. St. Martin’s Press. 1968. Pg 61.

3. Ahmed ibn Muhammad al-Makkari. The History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain; extracted from the NAFHU-T-TIB MIN GHOSNI-L-ANDALUSI-R-RATTIB WA TARIKH LISANU-D-DIN IBNI-L-KHATTIB. Translated by Pascual de Gayangos, member of the Oriental Translation Committee, and late professor of Arabic in the Athenæum of Madrid. Pascual de Gayangos y Arce ( June 21, 1809 &ndash October 4, 1897) was a Spanish scholar and Orientalist. In Two Volumes. VOL. II Johnson Reprint Corporation, New York, NY. 1964. Pages 96 (Book VI, chapters 1 & 2).

4. W. Montgomery Watt. William Montgomery Watt ( 14 March 1909 – 24 October 2006) was an Emeritus Professor in Arabic and Islamic Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman. Edinburgh, Scotland. Oxford Press, 1961. Pgs 1-2.

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