Methods of divination - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Methods_of_divination

Methods of divination
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 Ancient Greek μαντεία, manteía,
'prophecy' or 'the power to prophesy') and the suffix -scopia when the art seemed more scientific
(ultimately from Greek σκοπεῖν, skopeîn, 'to observe'). Names like drimimantia, nigromantia, and
horoscopia arose, along with other pseudosciences such as phrenology and physiognomy.[1]

Some forms of divination are much older than the Middle Ages, like haruspication, while others (such
as megapolisomancy or coffee-based tasseomancy) originated in the 20th and 21st centuries.

The chapter "How Panurge consulteth with Herr Trippa" of Gargantua and Pantagruel, a parody on
occult treatises of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, contains a list of over two dozen "mancies", described
as "common knowledge".[2]

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

A
abacomancy /ˈæbəkoʊmænsi/ (also amathomancy): by dust (Hebrew ’ābāq, dust + Greek
manteía, prophecy)
acultomancy /əˈkʌltoʊmænsi/ (also acutomancy): by needles (from acutomancy below,
influenced by Latin acus, needle, or acūleus, prickle or thorn)
acutomancy /əˈkjuːtoʊmænsi/ → see (Latin acus [acut-], needle + Greek manteía,
prophecy)
adromancy /ˈædroʊmænsi/ → see (from idromancy below, influenced by alomancy)
adryomancy→ see (metathesis of hydromancy)
aeromancy /ˈɛəroʊmænsi/: by atmospheric conditions (Greek āēr, air + manteía, prophecy)
agalmatomancy /əˈɡɔːlmətoʊmænsi/: by statues (Greek ágalma [agálmatos], statue + manteía,
prophecy)
aichmomancy /ˈɛkmoʊmænsi/: by sharp objects (Greek aikhmē, spearhead + manteía,
prophecy)
ailuromancy/aeluromancy → see
alectormancy/alectromancy /əˈlɛktroʊmænsi/: by rooster sacrifice (Greek alektor, rooster +
manteía, prophecy)
alectryomancy/alectoromancy: by rooster divination → see
aleuromancy¹ /əˈljʊəroʊmænsi/: by flour; see also (Greek áleuron, meal +
manteía, prophecy)

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alomancy/Halomancy /ˈæloʊmænsi/ (also adromancy): by salt (Greek háls, salt + manteía,

prophecy)
alphitomancy/ˈælfɪtoʊmænsi/: by barley (Greek alphis [alphit-], barley + manteía, prophecy)
alveromancy /ælˈvɪəroʊmænsi/: by sounds
amathomancy /ˈæməθoʊmænsi/ → see by sand (Greek amathos, sandy soil +
manteía, prophecy)
ambulomancy /ˈæmbjʊloʊmænsi/: by walking (Latin ambulāre, to walk + Greek manteía,
prophecy)
amniomancy /ˈæmnioʊmænsi/: by placenta (Greek amniōn, amnion + manteía, prophecy)
anemoscopy/anemomancy /ˌænɪˈmɒskoʊpi/: by wind (Greek anemos, wind + -skopiā,
observation)
anthomancy /ˈænθoʊmænsi/: by flowers (Greek anthos, flower + manteía, prophecy)
anthracomancy /ˈænθrəkoʊmænsi/: by burning coals (Greek anthrax [anthrak-], charcoal +
manteía, prophecy)
anthropomancy /ænˈθrɒpoʊmænsi/: by human sacrifice (Greek anthrōpos, human being +
manteía, prophecy)
anthroposcopy /ænθroʊˈpɒskoʊpi/: by physical appearance (Greek anthrōpos, human being +
-skopiā, observation)
apantomancy /əˈpæntoʊmænsi/: by chance encounters with animals (Greek apantein, to
encounter + manteía, prophecy)
arachnomancy /əˈræknoʊmænsi/: by spiders (Greek arakhnē, spider + manteía, prophecy)
archeomancy/archaeomancy /ˈɑːrkioʊmænsi/: by sacred relics (Greek arkhaios, ancient +
manteía, prophecy)
ariolation /ˌærioʊˈleɪʃən/: by altars (Latin ariolus, hariolus, prophet)
arithmancy: assigning numerical value to a word or phrase
armomancy /ˈɑːrmoʊmænsi/: by one's own shoulders (Latin armus, shoulder + Greek manteía,
prophecy)
aruspicina: study of entrails[3]
aspidomancy /ˈæspɪdoʊmænsi/: by sitting in a drawn circle or on a shield (Greek aspis
[{{transl|grc|aspid-], shield + manteía, prophecy)
astragalomancy/astragalamancy → see
astragyromancy → see (from astragalomancy above, perhaps influenced by Greek
guros, spiral, circle, and therefore vertebra)
astrapomancy /ˈæstrəpoʊmænsi/: by lightning (Greek astrapē, lightning flash + manteía,
prophecy)
astrology/astromancy/ /əˈstrɒloʊdʒi/: by celestial bodies (Greek astron, star + -logiā, study). This
method was widespread in medieval period, particularly in Mesopotamia. [4]
augury /ˈɔːɡjʊəri/ → see
auramancy /ˈɔːrəmænsi/: by auras (Greek aurā, breath + manteía, prophecy)
auspicy/auspication → see (Latin avis, bird + specere, to look at)
austromancy → see /ˈɔːstroʊmænsi/: by wind (Latin auster, south wind + Greek
manteía, prophecy)
avimancy → see (Latin avis, bird + Greek manteía, prophecy)
axiomancy/axinomancy /ˈæksioʊmænsi/: by axes (Latin axis, axis + manteía, prophecy)

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B
batraquomancy/batrachomancy /bəˈtrækoʊmænsi/: by frogs (Greek batrakhos, frog + manteía,
prophecy)
belomancy/bolomancy /ˈbɛloʊmænsi/: by arrows (from bolomancy below, influenced by Greek
belemnon, javelin, or belonē, needle)
bibliomancy → see
biorhythmic divination: by biorhythms
bletonism/bletonomancy /ˈblɛtənɪzəm/: by water current (named for Monsieur Bleton, a French
bletonist)
bolomancy /ˈbɒloʊmænsi/ → see (Greek bolē, arrow + manteía, prophecy)
bone-throwing the tossing of pieces of bone or wood practiced by various cultures[5][6]
botanomancy /boʊˈtænoʊmænsi/: by burning sage or figs (Greek botanē, flora + manteía,
prophecy)
brizomancy → see (Greek brizein, to be sleepy + manteía, prophecy)
brontomancy/brontoscopy /ˈbrɒntoʊmænsi/: by thunder (Greek brontē, thunder + manteía,
prophecy)
bumpology /bʌmˈpɒloʊdʒi/: by bumps on the skin (English bump + Greek -logiā, study)

C
cabala → see
canomancy /ˈkænoʊmænsi/ or /ˈkeɪnoʊmænsi/: by dogs (Latin canis, dog + Greek manteía,
prophecy)
capnomancy /ˈkæpnoʊmænsi/: by smoke (Greek kapnos, smoke + manteía, prophecy)
libanomancy /laɪˈbænoʊmænsi/: by smoke or ash from incense (Greek libanos, frankincense
+ manteía, prophecy)[7][8]
carromancy /ˈkæroʊmænsi/: by melting wax (Greek karrō, of wax + manteía, prophecy)
cartopedy → see (Latin carta, papyrus paper + pēs [pēd-], foot)
cartomancy → see
catoptromancy/captromancy → see
causimancy/causimomancy /ˈkɔːzɪmænsi/: by burning (Greek kaiein [kaus-], to burn + manteía,
prophecy)
cephalomancy → see
cephaleonomancy/cephalonomancy/ˌsɛfəliˈɒnoʊmænsi/: by boiling a donkey's head (Greek
kephalaion, head [with meaning influenced by Greek onos, donkey] + manteía, prophecy)
ceraunoscopy /ˌsɛrəˈnɒskoʊpi/: by thunder and lightning (Greek keraunos, thunderbolt + -skopiā,
observation)
ceromancy/ceroscopy /ˈsɛroʊmænsi/: by dripping wax in water (Greek kēros, wax + manteía,
prophecy)
chalcomancy: by striking gongs or copper bowls (Greek khalkos, copper + manteía, prophecy)
chaomancy /ˈkeɪoʊmænsi/: by aerial visions (Greek khaos, primordial space + manteía,
prophecy)
chartomancy /ˈkɑːrtoʊmænsi/: by things on paper (Greek khartēs, papyrus paper + manteía,

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prophecy)
cartomancy /ˈkɑːrtoʊmænsi/: by cards (Latin carta, papyrus paper + Greek manteía,
prophecy)
taromancy/tarotmancy /ˈtæroʊmænsi/: by tarot (English tarot + Greek manteía,
prophecy)
stichomancy /ˈstɪkoʊmænsi/: by books or lines (Greek stikhos, line of verse + manteía,
prophecy)
aleuromancy² /əˈljʊəroʊmænsi/: by fortune cookies (of the same origin as
¹)
bibliomancy /ˈbɪblioʊmænsi/: by the Bible (Greek biblion, book + manteía, 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 + manteía, 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
cheirognomy/chirognomy → see
chien tung → see
choriomancy /ˈkɒrioʊmænsi/: by pig bladders (Greek khorion, placenta + mantiea, prophecy)
chresmomancy /ˈkrɛsmoʊmænsi/: by the ravings of lunatics (Greek khrēsmos, oracular
utterance, chresm + manteía, prophecy)
chronomancy /ˈkrɒnoʊmænsi/: by apt occasion (Greek khronos, time + manteía, prophecy)
cineromancy/ceneromancy → see /ˈsɪnəroʊmænsi/ (Latin cinis [ciner-], ashes +
Greek manteía, prophecy)
clamancy (see also Fāl-gūsh): by random shouts and cries heard in crowds, at night, etc. (Latin
clāmāre, to cry out + Greek manteía, prophecy)
cledonism/cledonomancy /ˈklɛdoʊnɪzəm/: by chance events or overheard words (Greek klēdon,
rumor)
cleidomancy/clidomancy /ˈklaɪdoʊmænsi/: by keys (Greek kleis [kleid-], key + manteía,
prophecy)
cleromancy /ˈklɛroʊmænsi/: by casting (Greek klēros, lot + manteía, prophecy)
astragalomancy/astragalamancy /əˈstræɡəloʊmænsi/ (also cubomancy): by dice (Greek
astragalos, vertebra + manteía, prophecy)
domino divination: by dominoes
favomancy /ˈfævoʊmænsi/: by beans (Latin faba, bean + Greek manteía, prophecy)
Ogham casting: by Ogham letters
runecasting/runic divination
cometomancy /koʊˈmɛtoʊmænsi/: by comet tails (Greek komētēs, comet + manteía, prophecy)
colormancy/coloromancy: by colors (English color + Greek manteía, prophecy)
conchomancy /ˈkɒŋkoʊmænsi/: by shells (Greek konkhē, mussel + manteía, prophecy)
cosquinomancy/coscinomancy /koʊˈsɪnoʊmænsi/: by hanging sieves (Greek koskinōn, sieve +
manteía, prophecy)
cottabomancy/cottobomancy /ˈkɒtəboʊmænsi/: by wine in a brass bowl (Greek kottabos,

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cottabus + manteía, prophecy)

craniognomy /ˌkreɪniˈɒɡnoʊmi/ or /ˌkreɪniˈɒnəmi/ → see (Greek krānion, skull +
-gnōmoniā, interpretation)
the crawling baby: by a baby's crawling
crithomancy/critomancy /ˈkrɪθoʊmænsi/: by barley cakes (Greek krithē, barley + manteía,
prophecy)
cromnyomancy/cromniomancy /ˈkrɒmnioʊmænsi/: by onion sprouts (alteration of Greek
krommuon, onion + manteía, prophecy)
cryptomancy /ˈkrɪptoʊmænsi/: by omens (Greek kruptos, hidden + manteía, prophecy)
cryomancy /ˈkraɪoʊmænsi/: by ice (Greek kryo, ice )
crystal ball gazing → see
crystal gazing → see
crystallomancy /ˈkrɪstəloʊmænsi/ → see (Greek krustallos, crystal + manteía,
prophecy)
cubomancy /ˈkjuːboʊmænsi/ → see (Greek kubos, cube + manteía, prophecy)
cyathomancy /ˈsaɪəθoʊmænsi/: by cups (Greek kuathos, cup + manteía, prophecy)
cybermancy /ˈsaɪbərmænsi/: by computer oracles (English cyber(netics) + Greek manteía,
prophecy)
cyclicomancy /ˈsɪklɪkoʊmænsi/: by swirling water in a cup (Greek kuklikos, cyclical, circular +
manteía, prophecy)
cyclomancy /ˈsɪkloʊmænsi/ or /ˈsaɪkloʊmænsi/: by wheels (Greek kuklos, circle + manteía,
prophecy)

D
dactyliomancy /dækˈtɪlioʊmænsi/: by finger rings (Greek daktulios, finger ring + manteía,
prophecy)
dactylomancy /ˈdæktɪloʊmænsi/: by means of finger movements (Greek daktulos, finger +
manteía, prophecy)
daphnomancy /ˈdæfnoʊmænsi/: by burning laurel wreaths (Greek daphnē, laurel + manteía,
prophecy)
demonomancy /dɪˈmɒnoʊmænsi/: by demons (Greek daimōn, divine power + manteía,
prophecy)
dendromancy /ˈdɛndroʊmænsi/: by trees, especially oaks, yews, or mistletoe (Greek dendron,
tree + manteía, prophecy)
deuteroscopy /ˌdjuːtəˈrɒskoʊpi/: by second glance or double take (Greek deuteros, secondary +
-skopiā, observation)
dictiomancy /ˈdɪkʃoʊmænsi/: by randomly opening a dictionary (English dictio(nary) + Greek
manteía, prophecy)
divining → see
djubed→ see
dōbutsu uranai: by animal horoscope (Japanese dōbutsu, animal + uranai, prognostication)
domino divination → see
dowsing (also divining, water witching): by a divining rod (of unknown origin)
dracomancy /ˈdrækoʊmænsi/: by dragons (Greek drakōn, dragon + manteía, prophecy)

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dream questions: by dreaming

dririmancy/driromancy /ˈdrɪərɪmænsi/: by dripping blood (alteration of drimimancy, influenced by
Middle English drir, blood)
drimimancy/drymimancy /ˈdrɪmɪmænsi/: by bodily fluids (Greek drimus, pungent + manteía,
prophecy)

E
electromancy: by lightning and electricity (Greek ilektros electric + manteía prophecy)
eleomancy/elaeomancy: by oil (Greek elaion, olive oil + manteía, prophecy)
emonomancy → see
empirimancy: by experiment/experience
empyromancy /ɛmˈpaɪəroʊmænsi/: by burning (Greek empurios, fiery + manteía, prophecy)
encromancy: by oil ink stains (Greek elaion oil ink + manteía prophecy)
enochian chess: by playing a four·handed variant of the game
enoptromancy /ɛˈnɒptroʊmænsi/ → see (Greek enoptron, looking glass + manteía,
prophecy)
enthusiasm: speeches by those supposed to be possessed by a divine spirit[9]
entomomancy/entomancy: by insects (Greek entomon, insect + manteía, prophecy)
eromancy /ˈɛroʊmænsi/: by water vessels exposed to air (Greek āēr, air + manteía, prophecy) —
cf. aeromancy
extispicy/extispication /ɛkˈstɪspɪsi/: by the remains of sacrificed animals (Latin exta, entrails +
specere, to look at)

F
favomancy → see
felidomancy → see (Latin fēlēs [fēlid-], cat + Greek manteía, prophecy)
feng shui → see
floriography/floromancy /ˌflɔːriˈɒɡrəfi/: by flowers' feelings (Latin flōs [flōr-], flower + Greek
-graphiā, representation)
fractomancy /ˈfræktoʊmænsi/: by fractals (English fract(al) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
fructomancy/fructimancy: by fruit (Latin frūctus, fruit + Greek manteía, prophecy)

G
galvanoscopy /ˌɡælvəˈnɒskoʊpi/: by galvanism (English galvan(ism) + Greek -skopiā,
observation)
gastromancy¹ → see
gastromancy² /ˈɡæstroʊmænsi/: by guttural sounds (Greek gastēr, belly + manteía, prophecy)
geomancy /ˈdʒiːoʊmænsi/: by earth (Greek gaîa|gê, earth + manteía, prophecy)
feng Shui divination: by Feng Shui
geloscopy /dʒɪˈlɒskoʊpi/: by laughter (Greek gelōs, laughter + -skopiā, observation)

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gematria: by the Hebrew alphabet (Greek gē, earth + -metriā, measurement)

genethlialogy: by birth dates (Greek genethlios, birthday + -logiā, study)
grammomancy /ˈɡræmoʊmænsi/: by writing individual letters (Greek gramma, letter + manteía,
prophecy)
graphology /ɡræˈfɒloʊdʒi/ (also graptomancy): by studying handwriting (Greek graphē, writing +
-logiā, study)
graptomancy /ˈɡræptoʊmænsi/ → see (Greek graptos, written + manteía,
prophecy)
gyromancy /ˈdʒaɪəroʊmænsi/: by dizziness (Greek gūros, spiral + manteía, prophecy)

H
hagiomancy: by saints (Greek hagios, holy + manteía, prophecy)
halomancy /ˈhæloʊmænsi/ → see
hakata: by bones or dice
haruspicy/haruspication /həˈrʌspɪsi/ → see (Latin haru-, entrails + specere, to
look at)
hematomancy/haematomancy /ˈhɛmətoʊmænsi, ˈhiː-/: by blood (Greek haima [haimat-], blood +
manteía, prophecy)
hepatoscopy/hepatomancy /ˈhɛpətoʊmænsi/ (also haruspicy, haruspication): by liver (Greek
hēpar [hēpat-], liver + -skopiā, observation)
hieromancy/hieroscopy /ˈhaɪəroʊmænsi/: by studying sacrifices' entrails (Greek hieros, holy +
manteía, prophecy)
hippomancy → see
horoscopy /hoʊˈrɒskoʊpi/: aspect of the Stars at nativity[10] (Greek hōrā, season + -skopiā,
observation)
hydatomancy: by rainwater (Greek hudatis, raindrop + manteía, prophecy)
hydromancy/hydroscopy → see
hyomancy: by wild hogs (Greek hūs, swine + manteía, prophecy)
hypnomancy /ˈhɪpnoʊmænsi/: by sleep (Greek hupnos, sleep + manteía, prophecy)

I
I Ching divination → see
ichnomancy /ˈɪknoʊmænsi/: by footprints (Greek ikhnos, track + manteía, prophecy)
ichthyomancy → see
iconomancy /aɪˈkɒnoʊmænsi/: by icons (Greek eikōn, image + manteía, prophecy)
idolomancy /aɪˈdɒloʊmænsi/: by idols (Greek eidōlon, phantom + manteía, prophecy)
idromancy → see (Greek idrōs, sweat + manteía, prophecy)
ifá: geomancy patterns generated with palm nuts, opele, cowrie shells, etc... that refer to Ifa
divination texts; a collection of Odu Ifa verses
iridology: by eye color (Greek īris [īrid-], iris + -logiā, study)
isopsephy: by numbers and letters (Greek īsos, equal + psephos, pebble)

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J
Jyotish Vedic system of astrology

K
kabbalah/qabalah/cabala: by the Kabbalah (Hebrew qabbālâ, tradition)
kau cim: by bamboo
kayu ura: by rice gruel
kephalonomancy /kəˈfælənoʊmænsi/ → see
keraunomancy /kɪˈrɒnoʊmænsi/ → see
knissomancy /ˈnɪsoʊmænsi/: by incense (Greek knisa [kniss-], vapor + manteía, prophecy)
kypomancy → see (akin to Greek kupellon, goblet + manteía, prophecy)

L
labiomancy /ˈleɪbioʊmænsi/: by lips (Latin labium, lip + Greek manteía, prophecy)
lampadomancy /ˈlæmpədoʊmænsi/: by flame (Greek lampas [lampad-], light + manteía,
prophecy)
lecanomancy/lecanoscopy /lɪˈkænoʊmænsi/: by a basin of water (Greek lekanē, basin +
manteía, prophecy)
letnomancy: by secrets (English let no (man see) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
libanomancy /laɪˈbænoʊmænsi/ → see and (Greek libanos,
frankincense + manteía, prophecy)
literomancy /ˈlɪtəroʊmænsi/: by a letter in a written language (Latin lītera, letter + Greek manteía,
prophecy)
lithomancy /ˈlɪθoʊmænsi/: by gems or stones (Greek lithos, stone + manteía, prophecy)
logarithmancy /ˌlɒɡəˈrɪθmənsi/: by logarithms (English logarithm + Greek manteía, prophecy)
logomancy /ˈlɒɡoʊmænsi/: by words (Greek logos, word + manteía, prophecy)
lots: divination through chance, or the drawing or tossing of lots[11]
lunamancy → see (Latin lūna, moon + Greek manteía, prophecy)
lychnomancy /ˈlɪknoʊmænsi/: by candles (Greek lukhnos, lamp + manteía, prophecy)

M
macharomancy: by swords or knives (Greek makhaira, dirk + manteía, prophecy)
macromancy /ˈmækroʊmænsi/: by large objects (Greek makros, large + manteía, prophecy)
maculomancy /ˈmækjʊloʊmænsi/: by spots on the skin (Latin macula, spot + manteía, prophecy)
mahjong divination: by Mahjong tiles
margaritomancy /ˌmɑːrɡəˈrɪtoʊmænsi/: by bouncing pearls (Greek margarītēs, pearl + manteía,
prophecy)
mathemancy /ˈmæθɪmænsi/: by mathematics (English mathe(matics) + Greek manteía,
prophecy)

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mazomancy /ˈmæzoʊmænsi/: by nursing (Greek mazos, breast + manteía, prophecy)

meconomancy /mɪˈkoʊnoʊmænsi/: by sleeping (Greek mēkōn, poppy [i.e., an opiate] + manteía,
prophecy)
megapolisomancy: by large cities (English megalopolis + Greek manteía, prophecy)
meilomancy: by moles
metagnomy /mɪˈtæɡnoʊmi/ or /mɪˈtænoʊmi/: by magic (Greek meta-, beside + -gnōmoniā,
interpretation)
meteormancy /ˈmiːtioʊrmænsi/: by meteors (English meteor + Greek manteía, prophecy)
meteoromancy /ˌmiːtiˈɒroʊmænsi/: by thunder and lightning (Greek meteōron, heavenly
phenomenon + manteía, prophecy)
metoposcopy/metopomancy /ˌmɛtoʊˈpɒskoʊpi/: by the lines of the forehead[12] (Greek
metōpon, forehead + -skopiā, observation)
micromancy /ˈmaɪkroʊmænsi/: by small objects (Greek mikros, small + manteía, prophecy)
moleosophy /moʊˈlɒsoʊfi/ or /ˌmoʊliˈɒsoʊfi/: by blemishes (English mole + Greek sophiā,
knowledge)
molybdomancy /moʊˈlɪbdoʊmænsi/: by molten metal (Greek molubdos, lead + manteía,
prophecy)
moromancy /ˈmɒroʊmænsi/: by foolishness (Greek mōros, dull + manteía, prophecy)
myomancy → see
myrmomancy → see

N
narcomancy /ˈnɑːrkoʊmænsi/: by sleep (Greek narkē, numbness + manteía, prophecy)
natimancy → see (Latin natis, buttock + Greek manteía, prophecy)
necromancy¹ /ˈnɛkroʊmænsi/: by speaking to the dead, by corpses[13] (Greek nekros, corpse +
manteía, prophecy)
necyomancy /ˈniːsioʊmænsi/: by summoning damned souls (Greek nekuiā, invocation + manteía,
prophecy)
nephomancy /ˈnɛfoʊmænsi/: by clouds (Greek nephos, cloud + manteía, prophecy)
nigromancy /ˈnaɪɡroʊmænsi/: by black magic (Latin niger, black + Greek manteía, prophecy)
nomancy /ˈnɒmənsi/ or /ˈnoʊmənsi/ → see (variant of onomancy, influenced by Latin
nōmen, name)
notarikon/netrikon: by initials (Latin notāricus, in shorthand)
nggàm → see
numerology /ˌnjuːməˈrɒloʊdʒi/: by numbers (Latin numerus, number + Greek -logia, branch of
study)
numismatomancy: by coins (Greek nomisma [nomismat-], coin + manteía, prophecy)

O
oculomancy /ˈɒkjʊloʊmænsi/: by eyes (Latin oculus, eye + Greek manteía, prophecy)
odontomancy /oʊˈdɒntoʊmænsi/: by teeth (Greek odous [odont-], tooth + manteía, prophecy)
oenomancy/oinomancy /ˈiːnoʊmænsi/: by wine (Greek oinos, wine + manteía, prophecy)

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ololygmancy /oʊˈlɒlɪɡmænsi/: by the howling of dogs (Greek ololuzō [ololug-], howl + manteía,
prophecy)
omoplatoscopy → see (Greek ōmoplatē, shoulder blade + -skopiā, observation)
omphalomancy /ˈɒmfəloʊmænsi/: by navels (Greek omphalos, navel + manteía, prophecy)
oneiromancy/oneiroscopy /oʊˈnɪəroʊmænsi/: by dreams (Greek oneiros, dream + manteía,
prophecy)
onimancy /ˈɒnɪmænsi/ → see
onomancy/onomomancy/nomancy /ˈɒnoʊmænsi/: by letters in a name (Greek onoma, name +
manteía, prophecy)
onomomancy /oʊˈnoʊmoʊmænsi/ → see
onychomancy/onymancy/onimancy /oʊˈnɪkoʊmænsi/: by finger· and toenails (Greek onux
[onukh-], nail + manteía, prophecy)
onymancy /ˈɒnɪmænsi/ → see
oomancy/ooscopy /ˈoʊoʊmænsi/ (also ovomancy): by eggs (Greek ōion, egg + manteía,
prophecy)
ophidiomancy/ophiomancy → see
ophthalmomancy → see (Greek ophthalmos, eye + manteía, prophecy)
organoscopy → see (Greek organon, organ + -skopiā, observation)
orniscopy/ornithomancy → see
oromancy: by mountains (Greek oros, mountain + manteía, prophecy)
oryctomancy: by minerals (Greek oruktos, dug + manteía, prophecy)
ossomancy → see (Latin os [oss-], bone + Greek manteía, prophecy)
osteomancy: by bones (Greek osteon, bone + manteía, prophecy)
Ouija/Ouije: by ouija board (French oui, yes + German ja, yes)
ouranomancy → see
ovomancy → see (Latin ōvum, egg + Greek manteía, prophecy)

P
pallomancy: by pendulums (Greek pallein, to sway + manteía, prophecy)
palmistry/palm reading → see (Latin palma, palm)
papyromancy: by folding paper, especially paper money (Greek papūros, papyrus paper +
manteía, prophecy)
pedomancy → see (from podomancy, influenced by Latin pēs [pēd-], foot)
pegomancy: by fountains (Greek pēgē, spring + manteía, prophecy)
pessomancy: by pebbles (Greek pessos, oval pebble + manteía, prophecy)
pecthimancy/petchimancy: by brushed cloth (possibly akin to Greek pekein, to card wool, or
pēktē, netting + manteía, prophecy)
phobomancy: by feelings of fear (Greek phobos, fear + manteía, prophecy)
photomancy: by fields of light (Greek phōs [phōt-], light + manteía, prophecy)
phrenology (also organoscopy): by the configuration of one's brain (Greek phrēn, mind + -logiā,
study)
phyllomancy: by leaves (Greek phullon, leaf + manteía, prophecy)

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sycomancy: by fig leaves (Greek sūkon, fig + manteía, 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 + manteía, 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 + manteía,
prophecy)
pilimancy: by observing the patterns produced by a collection of human hair
plumbomancy: by observing shapes molten lead makes when poured in water (Latin plumbum,
lead + Greek manteía, prophecy)
pneumancy: by blowing (Greek pneuma, breath + manteía, prophecy)
podomancy/pedomancy → see
poe divination: by throwing stones on the floor, practised at Taoist temples
portenta (also ostenta): study of natural phenomena[14]
psephomancy: by lots or ballots (Greek psephos, pebble + manteía, prophecy)
pseudomancy: by false means, such as Peter Answers (https://www.peteranswers.com/) (Greek
pseudēs, false + manteía, prophecy)
psychognomy: by phrenological notations (Greek psūkhē, soul + -gnōmoniā, observation)
psychomancy → see ¹ (Greek psūkhē, soul + manteía, prophecy)
ptarmoscopy/ptarmoscopie: from ancient Greek the interpretation of sneezes[15]
pyromancy/pyroscopy: by fire (Greek pūr, fire + manteía, prophecy)

Q
qabalah → see

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 manteía, prophecy)
rhabdomancy/rabdomancy: by rods, sticks, or wands (Greek rhabdos, rod + manteía, prophecy)
rhapsodomancy: by poetry (Greek rhapsōidiā, verse + manteía, prophecy)
roadomancy: by constellations (apparently from Old English rodor, firmament + Greek manteía,
prophecy)
rumpology → see
runecasting → see

S
scapulimancy/scapulomancy (also spatulamancy, omoplatoscopy): by bovine or caprid
shoulder blades (Latin scapula, shoulder blade + Greek manteía, prophecy)

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scarpomancy: by old shoes (Italian scarpa, shoe + Greek manteía, prophecy)

scatomancy: by excrement (Greek skōr [skat-], excrement + manteía, prophecy)
schematomancy → see
sciomancy¹ (also shadowmancy): by shadows (Greek skiā, shadow + manteía, 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 + manteía, prophecy)
gastromancy¹ (also crystallomancy, spheromancy, crystal ball gazing): by crystal ball
(Greek gastēr, belly [i.e., round object] + manteía, prophecy)
hydromancy (also ydromancy): by water (Greek hudōr, water + manteía, prophecy)
selenomancy: by the moon (Greek selēnē, moon + manteía, prophecy)
shadowmancy → see ¹ (English shadow + Greek manteía, prophecy)
Shufflemancy: by the use of an electronic media player such as an electronic playlist, iPod, or
other medium wherein one skips a certain number of songs and the lyrics and/or tune of the song
is the answer to the divinatory question
sideromancy: by burning straw with an iron (Greek sidēros, iron + manteía, prophecy)
sikidy: by drawing sixteen lines in sand (perhaps a Malagasy transliteration of English sixteen)
skatharomancy: by beetle tracks (Greek skatharōn, spot + manteía, prophecy)
slinneanachd/slinnanacht: by animal shoulder blades (Scottish Gaelic slinnean, shoulder blade)
solaromancy: by the sun (Latin sōl [{{wikt-lang|la|sōlāris|sōlār-], sun + Greek manteía, prophecy)
somatomancy: by the human form (Greek sōma [sōmat-], body + manteía, prophecy)
cephalomancy (also craniognomy): by skulls (Greek kephalē, head + manteía, prophecy)
cheiromancy/chiromancy /kaɪˈrɒmænsi/ (also palmistry, palm reading): by palms[16]
(Greek kheir, hand + manteía, prophecy)
cheirognomy/chirognomy /kaɪˈrɒ(ɡ)noʊmi/: by hands (Greek kheir, hand + -gnōmoniā,
interpretation)
podomancy/pedomancy (also cartopedy): by the soles of one's feet (Greek pous [pod-], foot
+ manteía, prophecy)
rumpology (also natimancy): by buttocks (English rump + Greek -logiā, study)
schematomancy: by the face (Greek skhēma [skhēmat-], figure + manteía, prophecy)
sortilege: by the casting of lots, or sortes
sortes virgilianae: by Vergil's Aeneid
spasmatomancy: by convulsions (alteration of spasmodomancy, from Greek spasmos
[spasmōd-], spasm + manteía, prophecy)
spatilomancy: by animal excrement (Greek spatilē, excrement + manteía, prophecy)
spatulamancy → see (from scapulimancy, influenced by Latin spatula, splint)
spheromancy → see (Greek sphaira, sphere + manteía, prophecy)
sphondulomancy: by spindles (Greek sphondulos, spindle + manteía, prophecy)
splanchnomancy → see (Greek splankhna, innards + manteía, prophecy)
spodomancy: by soot (Greek spodos, wood ashes + manteía, prophecy)

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cineromancy/ceneromancy: by the ashes of a specifically sacrificial or ritual fire[17]

libanomancy /laɪˈbænoʊmænsi/: by smoke or ash from incense (Greek libanos, frankincense
+ manteía, prophecy)[7][8]
tephramancy/tephromancy: by tree bark ashes, by sacrificial or ritual fire ashes, or human
sacrificial victim ashes (Greek tephrā, ash + manteía, prophecy)[18]
stareomancy: by the four elements (Greek stais [stair-], dough + manteía, prophecy)
stercomancy: by seeds in bird excrement (Latin stercus, excrement + Greek manteía, prophecy)
sternomancy: by ridges on the breastbone (Greek sternon, breastbone + manteía, prophecy)
stichomancy → see
stigonomancy: by burning writing onto bark (Greek stizein [stigōn-], to brand + manteía,
prophecy)
stoicheomancy/stoichomancy → see
stolisomancy: by fashion (Greek stolis, garment + manteía, prophecy)
styramancy: by observing patterns produced by chewing gum, gum wax, or products produced
by the L. styraciflua tree
sycomancy → see
symbolomancy: by things found on the road (Greek sumbolon, sign + manteía, prophecy)

T
taromancy → see
tasseography/tasseomancy → see
technomancy: by technology (English techno(logy) + Greek manteía, prophecy)
temurah: → see
tephramancy/tephromancy: → see (Greek tephrā, ash + manteía, prophecy)
theomancy: foretelling events, prophecy [19] (Greek theos, god + manteía, prophecy)
theriomancy /ˈθɪərioʊmænsi/: (also zoomancy): by animal behavior (Greek thēr, wild animal +
manteía, prophecy)
ailuromancy/aeluromancy /aɪˈlʊəroʊmænsi/ (also
felidomancy): by cats (Greek ailouros, cat +
manteía, prophecy)
alectryomancy/alectoromancy
/əˈlɛktərioʊmænsi/: by rooster behavior (Greek
alektruōn, cockerel + manteía, prophecy)
augury: by bird formations[20] (Latin augur, diviner)
hippomancy /ˈhɪpoʊmænsi/: by horse behavior
(Greek hippos, horse + manteía, prophecy)
ichthyomancy /ˈɪkθioʊmænsi/: by fish behavior
(Greek ikhthūs, fish + manteía, prophecy) Russian peasant girls using chicken for
myomancy /ˈmaɪoʊmænsi/: by rodent behavior divination. A 19th·century lubok.
(Greek mūs, mouse + manteía, prophecy)
myrmomancy /ˈmɜːrmoʊmænsi/: by ant behavior
(Greek murmēx, ant + manteía, prophecy)
nggàm: by spider or crab behavior (Mambila nggàm, divination)

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ophidiomancy/ophiomancy: by snakes behavior (Greek ophis [ophid-], snake + manteía,

prophecy)
orniscopy/ornithomancy (also auspicy/auspication, avimancy): by bird migration (Greek
ornīs [ornīth-], bird + -skopiā, observation)
thumomancy /ˈθjuːmoʊmænsi/: by one's own soul, presage[21] (Greek thūmos, soul + manteía,
prophecy)
topomancy /ˈtɒpoʊmænsi/: by geography and geological formations (Greek topos, place +
manteía, prophecy)
transataumancy: by things accidentally seen or heard
trochomancy /ˈtrɒkoʊmænsi/: by wheel ruts (Greek trokhos, wheel + manteía, prophecy)
turifumy: by shapes in smoke (Latin tūs [tūr-], incense + fūmus, vapor)
tyromancy/tiromancy /ˈtaɪəroʊmænsi/: by cheese (Greek tūros, cheese + manteía, prophecy)

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

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

W
water witching → see
wishbone → see

X
xenomancy: by strangers (Greek xenos, stranger + manteía, prophecy)
xylomancy: by the shape or texture of wood, or the appearance of burning wood (Greek xulon,
wood + manteía, prophecy)[22]

Y
ydromancy¹ → see
ydromancy² → see (from idromancy above, influenced by alomancy)

Z
zoomancy → see (Greek zōion, being + manteía, prophecy)

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zygomancy: by weights (Greek zugon, yoke, balance + manteía, prophecy)

See also
Divination
List of astrological traditions
Wiktionary category:English words suffixed with -mancy

References
1. Anthony Grafton; Glenn W Most; Salvatore Settis (25 October 2010). The Classical Tradition (http
s://books.google.com/books?id=LbqF8z2bq3sC&pg=PA277). Harvard University Press. p. 277.
ISBN 978-0-674-03572-0.
2. wikisource:The Third Book/Chapter XXV
3. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the Entrails of a sacrificed beast; which
was Aruspicina..."
4. Driediger-Murphy, Lindsay G.; Eidinow, Esther (2019-10-02). Ancient Divination and Experience
(https://books.google.com/books?id=Nx6yDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA18). Oxford University Press.
ISBN 978-0-19-258290-4.
5. "Definition of BONE-THROWING" (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bone-throwing).
www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
6. "Definition of Bone-Throwing by Oxford Dictionary" (https://www.lexico.com/definition/bone-throwi
ng). Lexico Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
7. Del Rio, Martín Anton. Investigations Into Magic. (https://books.google.com/books?id=I2iCYDHYb
ycC&lpg=PA160&dq=tephramancy&pg=PA160#v=onepage&q=tephramancy&f=false) P.G.
Maxwell-Stuart, trans. Reprint ed. Manchester, U.K.: Manchester University Press, 2000, p. 160
(originally published 1599-1600)
8. Dunwich, Gerina. Candlelight Spells: The Modern Witch's Book of Spellcasting, Feasting, and
Healing. Secaucus, N.J.: Citadel Press, 1988, p. 51.
9. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the insignificant Speeches of Madmen,
supposed to be possessed with a divine Spirit; which Possession they called Enthusiasm..."
10. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the aspect of the Stars at their Nativity;
which was called Horoscopy, and esteemed a part of judiciary Astrology..."
11. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes, in mere Lottery, as Cross and Pile; counting
holes in a sieve; dipping of Verses in Homer, and Virgil; and innumerable other such vain
conceipts..."
12. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the Lineaments of the face; which was
called Metoposcopy..."

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13. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the Prediction of Witches, that pretended
conference with the dead; which is called Necromancy, Conjuring, and Witchcraft; and is but
juggling and confederate knavery..."
14. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in Monsters, or unusual accidents; as
Eclipses, Comets, rare Meteors, Earthquakes, Inundations, uncouth Births, and the like, which
they called Portenta and Ostenta, because they thought them to portend, or foreshow some great
Calamity to come..."
15. Sciences et Voyages No24 Juin 1937 "Divination, magie et tatouages en Bosnie
16. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in...Palmistry in the lines of the hand; in
casual words, called Omina..."
17. Buckland, Raymond. The Fortune-Telling Book: The Encyclopedia of Divination and Soothsaying.
Detroit, Mich.: Visible Ink, 2004, p. 102.
18. Not all sources agree that tephramancy and tephromancy are synonyms. Some sources claim
that tephramancy uses only the ash of tree bark, while tephromancy may use the ashes of any
sacrifice. See: Buckland, The Fortune-Telling Book: The Encyclopedia of Divination and
Soothsaying, 2004, p. 479; Pickover, Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction,
2001, p. 183; Dunwich, Gerina. Candlelight Spells: The Modern Witch's Book of Spellcasting,
Feasting, and Healing, 1988, p. 153. Other sources claim that tephramancy utilizes only the ashes
of human sacrificial victims. See: Spence, Lewis. An Encyclopaedia of Occultism. New York:
Dodd, Mead, 1920, p. 408 (https://books.google.com/books?id=e8BZAAAAMAAJ&dq=tephraman
cy&pg=PA408#v=onepage&q=tephramancy&f=false); Ellison, Robert Lee. The Solitary Druid:
Walking the Path of Wisdom and Spirit. New York: Kensington Publishing Corp., 2005, p. 58 (http
s://books.google.com/books?id=89sXRiQ5_E4C&lpg=PA58&dq=tephramancy&pg=PA58#v=onep
age&q=tephramancy&f=false); Waite, Arthur Edward. A Manual of Cartomancy and Occult
Divination. Reprint ed. Whitefish, Mont.: Kessinger, 1995, p. 236 (https://books.google.com/book
s?id=gvFetCKKfBYC&lpg=PA236&dq=tephramancy&pg=PA236#v=onepage&q=tephramancy&f=f
alse); Robertson, John G. Robertson's Words for a Modern Age: A Cross Reference of Latin and
Greek Combining Elements. Eugene, Ore.: Senior Scribe Publications, 1991, p. 193.
19. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...and these kinds of foretelling events, were accounted
Theomancy or Prophecy..."
20. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in the Casual flight, or feeding of birds;
called Augury..."
21. Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan (1651). "Lastly, to the Prognostics [who] have added innumerable
other superstitious ways of Divination[:]...Sometimes in their own hopes and fears, called
Thumomancy, or Presage..."
22. Pickover, Clifford A. Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction. Amherst, N.Y.:
Prometheus Books, 2001, p. 137.

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