Post by KittyLane on Feb 26, 2007 21:03:09 GMT -5
Webster's Dictionary lists two meanings for the word "Divination." The first, "the attempt to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means," is the most accepted and stereotypical definition in today's society. It is also the most controversial and divisive definition.
The second definition, "perception by intuition," is actually nearer to the truth for most serious practitioners, especially to those of us in the Pagan religions. We do not believe that the tools, themselves, have power except to aid us in focusing our perceptive abilities. In this regard, we do not view divination as "supernatural." Rather, by using the tools to focus our perception, we are using our "supranatural" abilities of perception, awareness, and intuition.
I believe everyone has supranatural cabilities. The ability to use these successfully depends mainly on practice and the willingness to let go of the objective in favor of subjective reasoning. This doesn't mean you must completely give up objective reasoning. Each form has it's good and bad points. The trick is knowing when to use one over the other, and this is where practice becomes so important.
There are so many "handbooks" of various divination methods available today, and each lists more-or-less precise meanings for each of the aspects of that tool. For example, each Tarot card is given a precise meaning and that meaning often changes, depending upon whether the card falls upright or reversed. Dream symbolism has been with us since the days of Freud, Jung, and even far prior to them. However, each of these symbol definitions should be viewed in light of the petitioner and/or practitioner and what s/he believes the symbol to mean. In this regard, it is my assertion that there is NO one true meaning for any given symbol. The meanings you find in books should only be viewed as guidelines, amended to fit your own personal belief, reality, and intuition.
www.tryskelion.com/divintro.htm
The second definition, "perception by intuition," is actually nearer to the truth for most serious practitioners, especially to those of us in the Pagan religions. We do not believe that the tools, themselves, have power except to aid us in focusing our perceptive abilities. In this regard, we do not view divination as "supernatural." Rather, by using the tools to focus our perception, we are using our "supranatural" abilities of perception, awareness, and intuition.
I believe everyone has supranatural cabilities. The ability to use these successfully depends mainly on practice and the willingness to let go of the objective in favor of subjective reasoning. This doesn't mean you must completely give up objective reasoning. Each form has it's good and bad points. The trick is knowing when to use one over the other, and this is where practice becomes so important.
There are so many "handbooks" of various divination methods available today, and each lists more-or-less precise meanings for each of the aspects of that tool. For example, each Tarot card is given a precise meaning and that meaning often changes, depending upon whether the card falls upright or reversed. Dream symbolism has been with us since the days of Freud, Jung, and even far prior to them. However, each of these symbol definitions should be viewed in light of the petitioner and/or practitioner and what s/he believes the symbol to mean. In this regard, it is my assertion that there is NO one true meaning for any given symbol. The meanings you find in books should only be viewed as guidelines, amended to fit your own personal belief, reality, and intuition.
Types of Divination
Aeromancy is divination by atmospheric phenomena.
Alectromancy is divination by a rooster pecking grain.
Amniomancy is divination by using the caul.
Anthroposcopy is divination by observing facial features.
Arithmancy is divination by numbers (also Numerology).
Astrology is divination by planets and stars.
Augury is divination from the behaviour of birds.
Austromancy is divination by the winds.
Axinomancy is divination by a balanced axe or by a stone
on a red hot axe head.
Belomancy is divination by arrows.
Bibliomancy is divination by random passages in books. See Stichomancy.
Biorhythm
Bletonism is divination by currents of water.
Botanomancy is divination by herbs.
Capnomancy is divination by smoke.
Cartomancy is divination by using playing cards.
Catoptromancy is divination by using a mirror.
Ceromancy is divination by molten wax dropped into water.
Cheiromancy is divination by the hands.
Clacking is divination by 'clacking' two stones together.
Clairaudience is divination by hearing things inaudible normally.
Clairvoyance is divination by "second sight".
Cledonomancy is divination by chance remarks or events.
Coscinomancy is divination by sieve and shears.
Crystallomancy is divination by a crystal.
Dactyliomancy is divination by using a finger ring. (Or Pendulum)
Dowsing is divination by using a forked stick or wires. AKA water-witching.
Geloscopy is divination by a person's way of laughing.
Genethlialogy is divination by the stars placement at one's birth.
Geomancy is divination by examining dots on paper, dirt particles or marks on the earth.
Gyromancy is divination by whirling around until dizzy and falling.
Halomancy is divination by salt.
Haruspicy is divination by examining the entrails of animals.
Hepatoscopy is divination by examining the liver of an animal.
Hieromancy is divination by observing sacrificed things.
Horoscopy is divination by means of a horoscope.
Hydromancy is divination by water.
Ichthyomancy is divination by fish.
Lampadomancy is divination by observing the flame of a candle.
Leconomancy is divination by observing the shape that oil poured on water makes.
Lithomancy is divination by stones.
Margaritomancy is divination by pearls.
Moleosophy is divination by moles on the body.
Myomancy is divination by observing the movements of mice.
Necromancy is divination by communication with the dead.
Numerology is divination by numbers and names.
Oenomancy is divination by the appearance of wine poured in libation.
Ogham Sticks
Oneiromancy is divination by dreams.
Onomancy is divination by the letters of a name.
Onychomancy is divination by the fingernails.
Ophiomancy is divination by observing the behaviour of snakes.
Ornithomancy is divination by the flight of birds.
Palmistry is divination by reading the lines and aspects of the hand.
Pegomancy is divination by fountains.
Pessomancy is divination by pebbles.
Phrenology is divination by the bumps on the head.
Physiognomy is divination by the face.
Psychometry is divination by handling an object.
Pyromancy is divination by looking into a fire.
Rhabdomancy is divination by a wand or divining rod.
Runes
Scapulomancy is divination by the shoulder blades of animals.
Scatoscopy is divination by the examination of excrement.
Sciomancy is divination by shadows or ghosts.
Scrying is divination by looking into a crystal ball.
Sideromancy is divination by observing the movement of straws placed on a red hot iron.
Sortilege is divination by drawing lots.
Spodomancy is divination by looking at ashes.
Stichomancy is divination by random passages in books, see Bibliomancy.
Tephromancy is divination by looking at ashes from sacrifices.
Theomancy is divination by oracles.
Uromancy is divination by urine.
Xylomancy is divination by dry sticks.
Zoomancy is divination by observing the behaviour of animals.
www.tryskelion.com/divintro.htm