Divination

DIVINATION TECHNIQUES
• Techniques for obtaining
information about things
unknown, including
events that will occur in
the future; things that have
happened in the past that
are shrouded in mystery as
well as events happening
in the present that are
hidden.
DIVINATION ORIGIN
• The word divination
comes from the same root
as the word divinity.
• Divination has to do with
the supernatural.
• The nature of many forms
of divination is magical.
• Magic rituals are used to
manipulate the
supernatural world to
provide information.
DIVINATION CONNECTIONS
• Supernatural beings including
ancestors, spirits and gods may
have access to unknown
information.
• Many divination techniques
involve contact with such
supernatural beings.
• Examples: Medium contacting
spirit of a deceased individual
or when a shaman falls into a
trance
DIVINATION & MAGIC
• Other forms of divination
are based on the idea that
the world consists of
things and events that are
interconnected with one
another.
• Magic is the perceived
connections between
things.
• Divination is based on
observing these
connections.
DIVINATION CATEGORIES
• Stein and Stein divide
divination up into a
variety of categories.
You will not need to
know these catgories
but you will need to
know different types
of divination
including:
DIVINATION LIST
• Necromancy
• Possession
• Presentiments
• Prophecy
• Omens
• Medium
• Astrology
• Dowsing
• Flipping a coin
DIVINATION LIST CONT.
• Magic Eight Ball
• Ordeals
• Ouija Board
• Palmistry
• Phrenology
• Scapulamancy
• Tarot Cards
• Tasseography
• Dreams
DIVINATION DREAMS
• Dreams are a common
form of divination.
• Dreams are thought of as
visits from spirits or
visions of journeys taken
by the soul during sleep.
• Dream interpretation is key
to understanding the
symbols within the dream
state.
• The interpretation of
dreams is called
oneiromancy.
DIVINATION LINKS
• Websites for dream
interpretation:
• http://www.findyourfate.c
om/dreams/dreams.htm
• Magic Eight Ball
• http://web.ics.purdue.edu/
~ssanty/cgi-
bin/eightball.cgi
 DIVINATION
PRESENTIMENTS
• Presentiments are feelings
that a person experiences
that suggest that
something is about to
happen, such as a feeling
of dread or impending
disaster.
• Example: Nose itching-
you will be kissed.
• Sneezing 6 times-you will
go on a journey.
• Ears burning- someone is
talking about you.
DIVINATION NECROMANCY
• Necromancy refers to
divination through contact
with the dead or ancestors.
• It was believed that the
body would show signs of
how a person died, which
was a way the spirit could
communicate with the
living- CSI Forensic
Units?
DIVINATION OMENS
• Omens- fortuitous
happenings or conditions
that provide information.
• Includes:
– Ornithomancy - reading the
path and form of a flight of
birds.
– Apantomancy- a chance
meeting with an animal- ex:
black cat
 DIVINATION
SCAPULAMANCY
• Scapulamancy- using
the scapula or dried
shoulder blade from
an animal skeleton or
human to answer
questions.
DIVINATION ASTROLOGY
• Astrology is based on the
belief that all of the stars
and planets, the sun and
moon influence the
destiny of people.
• Websites:
• http://www.findyourfate.c
om/astrology/astrology.ht
m
• http://horoscope.findyourf
ate.com/
• www.yahoo.com
DIVINATION, DOUSING & MORE
• Dousing- using a forked
stick to locate water
underground.
• Graphology- using
handwriting analysis.
• Palmistry- reading lines in
the palm of the hand.
• Phrenology- study the
shape and structure of the
head.
DIVINATION, TEA LEAVES &
MORE
• Tasseography- the
reading of tea leaves.
• Tarot Cards- a
mechanical divination
device.
– Website-
– http://www.tarot.com/t
arot/
DIVINATION I-CHING
• I-Ching- The Book of
Changes-
– Chinese divination text
thousands of years old.
– Provide more than yes/no
answers.
– Reveals what the person
needs to do to live in
harmony with the forces of
the universe.
– Websites:
– http://www.tarot.com/oracle
/
DIVINATION NUMEROLOGY
• Numerology- based on
Pythagoras and how
numbers can be divine
:)
• Websites:
– http://www.tarot.com/n
umerology/
– http://www.findyourfat
e.com/numerology/nu
merology.html
DIVINATION PROPHECY
• Prophecy and
Possession
• Prophecy- The prophet
received the
information through a
vision unexpectedly
without overt action.
• Possession- altered
state of consciousness.
 DIVINATION SUMMARY
• Why is it that humans want to find out
information about the unknown?
– To be better prepared for what is unexpected?
– To be better prepared for what is to come?
– To ultimately alleviate our anxiety about the
unknown?
• Could divination provide us as humans with
an opportunity to adjust our behavior prior to
an extenuating event in order to prolong our
survival? Something to think about.