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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Altamont Ravenard" data-source="post: 1242209" data-attributes="member: 14700">usually, any word that ends with "-mancy" is probably a method of predicting the future (since "-mancy" means "prophecy")...Oneiromancy (dreams)Hydromancy (water currents?)and... <a href="http://gothlupin.tripod.com/d.html#dactylomancy" target="_blank">http://gothlupin.tripod.com/d.html#dactylomancy</a>Divination - the art of predicting the future, looking into the past, and even finding lost objects, has existed in some variation in every culture since the dawn of recorded history -- and before.Aeromancy - a system of divination where the weather is the forecaster. Anything to do with weather, such as halos around the sun or moon, thunder and/or lightning, wind direction and strength, cloud shapes, etc, were interpreted as omens to reveal the future. This is one of the oldest forms of divination, practiced by the priests of Babylonia, for instance. Alectromancy - a rooster was the active agent in alectromancy (alektor is rooster in Greek). The letters of the alphabet were written in a large circle, and grains of wheat were placed on the letters. Then the rooster was freed to peck at the food. The literal "pecking order" of the rooster spelled out the message, but if the words made no sense, a diviner had to interpret the message. The grains were replaced as soon as they were eaten so that any letter could be repeated, if necessary. Alomancy - salt might be considered common now, but in many parts of the world, it was once held to have magical properties. This form of divination required a handful of salt to be tossed onto a surface. The resulting pattern would be interpreted. Apantomancy - a chance encounter with an animal was once considered an omen. Interpretations of similar encounters vary; a famous example is that of the black cat crossing one's path: Americans generally consider it an ill omen while the British can think it's a lucky happening. Arithmancy - also called numerology, arithmancy (from the Greek arithmo, meaning "number," and mancy, meaning "prophecy"), is based on foretelling the future by using names and numbers. This practice is over two thousand years old, and its rules are specific, employing mathematical calculations as part of the formula of this practice. Astragalomancy - from astragalos, a Greek word refering to the knucklebone or vertebra of an animal, from which dice were originally made. This is divination by throwing dice, dating back to ancient Egypt. Astrology: see Astrology Augury - a promising portent of the future, and the general art of divination, applying to several kinds of it, but relating mostly to fortune-casting based on signs and omens related to the appearance and behavior of animals (known as Zoomancy). Belomancy - interpreting the flight of arrows Bibliomancy - a question is asked, a book opened randomly, and with eyes closed, the diviner points out a spot on the page. The sentence or paragraph were the finger rests is the answer, or a comment about the question. Catoptromancy - divining the future by looking into a mirror Ceromancy - an ancient practice of slowly pouring wax melted in a brass bowl into another bowl filled with cold water. The congealed shapes were then interpreted by the seer. Chiromancy - reading the lines of the hand, or Palmistry A form of Christmas divination originated in Russia, performed at the time of the winter solstice. In a dark room, two lit candles and a pair of mirrors are positioned so that one reflects candlelight into another. The seeker, typically a girl, would look at the seventh reflection in order to catch sight of her future. Crystal Ball - gazing into a polished crystal ball in an attempt to see the future, a method originating in the Middle Ages. Crystalomancy - gazing into natural or polished crystal in an attempt to see the future. Dactylomancy - the swinging of a suspended ring Daphnomancy - the crackling sounds of burning laurel Fire Omens - interpreting what one sees in fire Geloscopy - divining futures from laughter Geomancy - a handful of loose dirt is cupped between the hands and tossed to the ground. Its patterns are then interpreted. A later form, called paper geomancy, has the diviner ask a question and, with eyes closed, tap the point of a pencil onto a sheet of paper, making several random marks until he feels like stopping. The resulting patterns are interpreted. Haruspication - the inspection of animal entrails Hepatoscopy - examining the entrails of sacrificed animals, especially the liver Horoscope: see Horoscope Hydromancy - water was important in many forms of divination. In one method, practiced in ancient Greece, three stones were dropped one at a time into a pool of still water. The first was round, the second triangular, and the third stone square. The patterns of concentric ripples were studied for images or reflections to interpret. Lampadomancy - a lamp flame was the tool for this type of divination Libranomancy - the study of incense smoke Lithomancy - gemstones could predict the future Margaritomancy - pearls Metoposcopy - forehead wrinkles Myomancy - divination using the appearance, color and sounds of mice. Oinomancy - practiced by ancient Romans, this was the interpretation of sediment left in the bottom of a wine cup. Oneiromancy - divination by dreams. The Greek word oneiros means "dream" plus mancy means "prophecy". See Dreams Ornithomancy - the study of the activity of birds Ouija - a board with the alphabet on it, used with a planchette to spell out supernatural messages Padomancy - a system widely used in ancient China, reading the soles of the feet rather than the palms of the hands. Palmistry - reading the palms, also called Chiromancy (from the Greek cheiro, meaning "hand" and mancy, meaning "prophecy"). This form of divination probably originated in India at least 5000 years ago. Not only is it fortune-telling, but character analysis as well, based on the lines of the palms, and also the size, shape and texture of the hands. Most palm readers study both hands: the left reveals inherited characteristics; the right, choices laying ahead, along with possible victories and defeats in the future. Phrenology - shape of the skull, with all its boney bumps and depressions, is used in this type of forecasting Scrying - staring at a clear or reflective surface until images begin to form, either within the object or within the mind of the scryer Tarot: see Tarot Tasseomancy - reading tea leaves (Arabic tas, meaning "cup" and Greek mancy, meaning "prophecy"). This practice began in China, probably during the sixth century. Tea was unknown in the West until 1609, when Dutch traders imported it from the Orient. Xylomancy - patterns made by fallen tree limbs, branches, twigs, or other pieces of wood on the ground were interpreted during biblical times. Zoomancy - divination based on the appearance and/or behavior of animals. You'll probably find many many more things with a little Google searchAR</blockquote>

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