Methods of divination  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

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Innumerable 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 Greek mantis, prophet) and the suffix -scopia when the art seemed more scientific (ultimately from Greek skopein, to observe). Names like drimimantia, nigromantia, and horoscopia turned up, along with a slew of other esoteric (and distinctly Medieval) "sciences" such as phrenology and physiognomy.

Of course, some forms of divination are much older than the Middle Ages, like haruspication, while others (such as megapolisomancy or coffee-based tasseomancy) are born of the 20th and 21st century.

A

• abacomancy Template:IPA: by dust (Hebrew ’ābāq, dust + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• acultomancy Template:IPA (also acutomancy): by needles (from acutomancy below, influenced by Latin acūleus, needle)
• acutomancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm above (Latin acus [acut-], needle + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• adromancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm below (from idromancy below, influenced by alomancy)
• adryomancy→ see Template:Sm below (metathesis of hydromancy)
• aeromancy Template:IPA: by atmospheric conditions (Greek āēr, air + manteia, prophecy)
• agalmatomancy Template:IPA:Template:Citation needed by statues (Greek agalma [agalmat-], statue + manteia, prophecy)
• aichmomancy Template:IPA: by sharp objects (Greek aikhmē, spearhead + manteia, prophecy)
• ailuromancy/aeluromancy → see under Template:Sm below
• alectormancy/alectromancy Template:IPA: by rooster sacrifice (Greek alektor, rooster + manteia, prophecy)
• alectryomancy/alectoromancy → see under Template:Sm below
• aleuromancy¹ Template:IPA: by flour; see also under Template:Sm below (Greek aleuron, meal + manteia, prophecy)
• alomancy/Halomancy Template:IPA (also adromancy): by salt (Greek hals, salt + manteia, prophecy)
• alphitomancyTemplate:IPA: by barley (Greek alphis [alphit-], barley + manteia, prophecy)
• alveromancy Template:IPA:Template:Citation needed by sounds
• amathomancy Template:IPA: by sand (Greek amathos, sandy soil + manteia, prophecy)
• ambulomancy Template:IPA: by walking (Latin ambulāre, to walk + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• amniomancy Template:IPA: by placenta (Greek amniōn, amnion + manteia, prophecy)
• anemoscopy/anemomancy Template:IPA: by wind (Greek anemos, wind + -skopiā, observation)
• anthomancy Template:IPA: by flowers (Greek anthos, flower + manteia, prophecy)
• anthropomancy Template:IPA: by human sacrifice (Greek anthrōpos, human being + manteia, prophecy)
• anthroposcopy Template:IPA: by physical appearance (Greek anthrōpos, human being + -skopiā, observation)
• anthracomancy Template:IPA: by burning coals (Greek anthrax [anthrak-], charcoal + manteia, prophecy)
• apantomancy Template:IPA: by chance encounters with animals (Greek apantein, to encounter + manteia, prophecy)
• arachnomancy Template:IPA: by spiders (Greek arakhnē, spider + manteia, prophecy)
• archeomancy/archaeomancy Template:IPA: by sacred relics (Greek arkhaios, ancient + manteia, prophecy)
• ariolation Template:IPA: by altars (Latin ariolus, hariolus, prophet)
• armomancy Template:IPA: by one's own shoulders (Latin armus, shoulder + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• aruspicina: study of entrails <ref>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..."</ref>
• aspidomancy Template:IPA: by sitting in a drawn circle (Greek aspis [aspid-], shield + manteia, prophecy)
• astragalomancy/astragalamancy → see under Template:Sm below
• astragyromancy → see under Template:Sm below (from astragalomancy above, perhaps influenced by Greek guros, spiral, circle, and therefore vertebra)
• astrapomancy Template:IPA: by lightning (Greek astrapē, lightning flash + manteia, prophecy)
• astrology/astromancy/astroscopy Template:IPA: by celestial bodies (Greek astron, star + -logiā, study)
• augury Template:IPA → see under Template:Sm below
• auramancy Template:IPA: by auras (Greek aurā, breath + manteia, prophecy)
• auspicy/auspication → see under Template:Sm below (Latin avis, bird + specere, to look at)
• austromancy → see under Template:Sm below, Template:IPA: by wind (Latin auster, south wind + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• avimancy → see Template:Sm below (Latin avis, bird + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• axiomancy/axinomancy Template:IPA: by axes (Latin axis, axis + manteia, prophecy)

B

• batraquomancy/batrachomancy Template:IPA: by frogs (Greek batrakhos, frog + manteia, prophecy)
• belomancy/bolomancy Template:IPA: by arrows (from bolomancy below, influenced by Greek belemnon, javelin, or belonē, needle)
• bibliomancy → see Template:Sm below
• biorhythmic divination: by biorhythms
• bletonism/bletonomancy Template:IPA: by water current (named for Monsieur Bleton, a French bletonist)
• bolomancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm above (Greek bolē, arrow + manteia, prophecy)
• botanomancy Template:IPA: by burning sage or figs (Greek botanē, flora + manteia, prophecy)
• brizomancy → see Template:Sm below (Greek brizein, to be sleepy + manteia, prophecy)
• brontomancy/brontoscopy Template:IPA: by thunder (Greek brontē, thunder + manteia, prophecy)
• bumpology Template:IPA: by bumps on the skin (English bump + Greek -logiā, study)

C

• cabala → see Template:Sm below
• canomancy Template:IPA or Template:IPA: by dogs (Latin canis, dog + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• capnomancy Template:IPA: by smoke (Greek kapnos, smoke + manteia, prophecy)
• carromancy Template:IPA: by melting wax (Greek karrō, of wax + manteia, prophecy)
• cartopedy → see under Template:Sm below (Latin carta, papyrus paper + pēs [pēd-], foot)
• cartomancy → see under Template:Sm below
• catoptromancy/captromancy → see under Template:Sm below
• causimancy/causimomancy Template:IPA: by burning (Greek kaiein [kaus-], to burn + manteia, prophecy)
• cineromancy/ceneromancy Template:IPA: by ashes (Latin cinis [ciner-], ashes + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• cephalomancy → see under Template:Sm below
• cephaleonomancy/cephalonomancyTemplate:IPA: by boiling a donkey's head (Greek kephalaion, head [with meaning influenced by Greek onos, donkey] + manteia, prophecy)
• ceraunoscopy Template:IPA: by thunder and lightning (Greek keraunos, thunderbolt + -skopiā, observation)
• ceromancy/ceroscopy Template:IPA: by dripping wax in water (Greek kēros, wax + manteia, prophecy)
• chalcomancy: by striking gongs or copper bowls (Greek khalkos, copper + manteia, prophecy)
• chaomancy Template:IPA: by aerial visions (Greek khaos, primordial space + manteia, prophecy)
• chartomancy Template:IPA: by things on paper (Greek khartēs, papyrus paper + manteia, prophecy)
  • cartomancy Template:IPA: by cards (Latin carta, papyrus paper + Greek manteia, prophecy)
    • taromancy/tarotmancy Template:IPA: by tarot (English tarot + Greek manteia, prophecy)
  • stichomancy Template:IPA: by books or lines (Greek stikhos, line of verse + manteia, prophecy)
    • aleuromancy² Template:IPA: by fortune cookies (of the same origin as Template:Sm¹ above)
    • bibliomancy Template:IPA: by the Bible (Greek biblion, book + manteia, 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 + manteia, 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 under Template:Sm below
• cheirognomy/chirognomy → see under Template:Sm below
• chien tung → see Template:Sm below
• choriomancy Template:IPA: by pig bladders (Greek khorion, placenta + mantiea, prophecy)
• chresmomancy Template:IPA: by the ravings of lunatics (Greek khrēsmos, oracular utterance, chresm + manteia, prophecy)
• chronomancy Template:IPA: by apt occasion (Greek khronos, time + manteia, prophecy)
• clamancy (see also Fāl-gūsh): by random shouts and cries heard in crowds, at night, etc. (Latin clāmāre, to cry out + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• cledonism/cledonomancy Template:IPA: by chance events or overheard words (Greek klēdon, rumor)
• cleidomancy/clidomancy Template:IPA: by keys (Greek kleis [kleid-], key + manteia, prophecy)
• cleromancy Template:IPA: by casting (Greek klēros, lot + manteia, prophecy)
  • astragalomancy/astragalamancy Template:IPA (also cubomancy): by dice (Greek astragalos, vertebra + manteia, prophecy)
  • domino divination: by dominoes
  • favomancy Template:IPA: by beans (Latin faba, bean + Greek manteia, prophecy)
  • Ogham casting: by Ogham letters
  • runecasting/Runic divination: by runes
• cometomancy Template:IPA: by comet tails (Greek komētēs, comet + manteia, prophecy)
• colormancy/coloromancy: by colors (English color + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• conchomancy Template:IPA: by shells (Greek konkhē, mussel + manteia, prophecy)
• cosquinomancy/coscinomancy Template:IPA: by hanging sieves (Greek koskinōn, sieve + manteia, prophecy)
• cottabomancy/cottobomancy Template:IPA: by wine in a brass bowl (Greek kottabos, cottabus + manteia, prophecy)
• craniognomy Template:IPA or Template:IPA → see under Template:Sm below (Greek krānion, skull + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
• the crawling baby: by a baby's crawling
• crithomancy/critomancy Template:IPA: by barley cakes (Greek krithē, barley + manteia, prophecy)
• cromnyomancy/cromniomancy Template:IPA: by onion sprouts (alteration of Greek krommuon, onion + manteia, prophecy)
• cryptomancy Template:IPA: by omens (Greek kruptos, hidden + manteia, prophecy)
• crystal ball gazing → see under Template:Sm below
• crystal gazing → see under Template:Sm below
• crystallomancy Template:IPA → see under Template:Sm below (Greek krustallos, crystal + manteia, prophecy)
• cubomancy Template:IPA → see under Template:Sm above (Greek kubos, cube + manteia, prophecy)
• cyathomancy Template:IPA: by cups (Greek kuathos, cup + manteia, prophecy)
• cybermancy Template:IPA: by computer oracles (English cyber(netics) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• cyclicomancy Template:IPA: by swirling water in a cup (Greek kuklikos, cyclical, circular + manteia, prophecy)
• cyclomancy Template:IPA or Template:IPA: by wheels (Greek kuklos, circle + manteia, prophecy)

D

• dactyliomancy Template:IPA: by finger rings (Greek daktulios, finger ring + manteia, prophecy)
• dactylomancy Template:IPA : by means of finger movements (Greek daktulos, finger + manteia, prophecy)
• daphnomancy Template:IPA: by burning laurel wreaths (Greek daphnē, laurel + manteia, prophecy)
• demonomancy Template:IPA: by demons (Greek daimōn, divine power + manteia, prophecy)
• dendromancy Template:IPA: by trees, especially oaks, yews, or mistletoe (Greek dendron, tree + manteia, prophecy)
• deuteroscopy Template:IPA: by second glance or double take (Greek deuteros, secondary + -skopiā, observation)
• dictiomancy Template:IPA: by randomly opening a dictionary (English dictio(nary) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• divining → see Template:Sm below
• djubed → see under Template:Sm below
• dōbutsu uranai: by animal horoscope (Japanese dōbutsu, animal + uranai, prognostication)
• domino divination → see under Template:Sm above
• dowsing (also divining, water witching): by a divining rod (of unknown origin)
• dracomancy Template:IPA: by dragons (Greek drakōn, dragon + manteia, prophecy)
• dream questions: by dreaming
• dririmancy/driromancy Template:IPA: by dripping blood (alteration of drimimancy, influenced by Middle English drir, blood)
• drimimancy/drymimancy Template:IPA: by bodily fluids (Greek drimus, pungent + manteia, prophecy)

E

• eleomancy/elaeomancy: by oil (Greek elaion, olive oil + manteia, prophecy)
• emonomancy → see Template:Sm aboveTemplate:Citation needed
• empirimancy: by experiment/experience
• empyromancy Template:IPA: by burning (Greek empurios, fiery + manteia, prophecy)
• enochian chess: by playing a four·handed variant of the game
• enoptromancy Template:IPA → see under Template:Sm below (Greek enoptron, looking glass + manteia, prophecy)
• enthusiasm: speeches by those supposed to be possessed by a divine spirit <ref>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..."</ref>
• entomomancy/entomancy: by insects (Greek entomon, insect + manteia, prophecy)
• eromancy Template:IPA: by water vessels exposed to air (Greek āēr, air + manteia, prophecy) — cf. aeromancy
• extispicy/extispication Template:IPA: by the remains of sacrificed animals (Latin exta, entrails + specere, to look at)

F

• favomancy → see under Template:Sm above
• felidomancy → see under Template:Sm below (Latin fēlēs [fēlid-], cat + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• feng shui → see under Template:Sm below
• floriography/floromancy Template:IPA: by flowers' feelings (Latin flōs [flōr-], flower + Greek -graphiā, representation)
• fractomancy Template:IPA: by fractals (English fract(al) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• fructomancy/fructimancy: by fruit (Latin frūctus, fruit + Greek manteia, prophecy)

G

• galvanoscopy Template:IPA: by galvanism (English galvan(ism) + Greek -skopiā, observation)
• gastromancy¹ → see under Template:Sm below
• gastromancy² Template:IPA: by guttural sounds (Greek gastēr, belly + manteia, prophecy)
• geomancy Template:IPA: by earth (Greek Gaia|gē, earth + manteia, prophecy)
  • feng Shui divination: by Feng Shui
• geloscopy Template:IPA: by laughter (Greek gelōs, laughter + -skopiā, observation)
• gematria: by the Hebrew alphabet (Greek gē, earth + -metriā, measurement)
• genethlialogy: by birth dates (Greek genethlios, birthday + -logiā, study)
• grammomancy Template:IPA: by writing individual letters (Greek gramma, letter + manteia, prophecy)
• graphology Template:IPA (also graptomancy): by studying handwriting (Greek graphē, writing + -logiā, study)
• graptomancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm above (Greek graptos, written + manteia, prophecy)
• gyromancy Template:IPA: by dizziness (Greek gūros, spiral + manteia, prophecy)

H

• hagiomancy: by saints (Greek hagios, holy + manteia, prophecy)
• halomancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm above.
• hakata: by bones or dice
• haruspicy/haruspication Template:IPA → see Template:Sm below (Latin haru-, entrails + specere, to look at)
• hematomancy/haematomancy Template:IPA: by blood (Greek haima [haimat-], blood + manteia, prophecy)
• hepatoscopy/hepatomancy Template:IPA (also haruspicy, haruspication): by liver (Greek hēpar [hēpat-], liver + -skopiā, observation)
• hieromancy/hieroscopy Template:IPA: by studying sacrifices' entrails (Greek hieros, holy + manteia, prophecy)
• hippomancy → see under Template:Sm below.
• horoscopy Template:IPA: aspect of the Stars at nativity <ref>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..."</ref> (Greek hōrā, season + -skopiā, observation)
• hydatomancy: by rainwater (Greek hudatis, raindrop + manteia, prophecy)
• hydromancy/hydroscopy → see under Template:Sm below
• hyomancy: by wild hogs (Greek hūs, swine + manteia, prophecy)
• hypnomancy Template:IPA: by sleep (Greek hupnos, sleep + manteia, prophecy)

I

• I Ching divination → see under Template:Sm above.
• ichnomancy Template:IPA: by footprints (Greek ikhnos, track + manteia, prophecy)
• ichthyomancy → see under Template:Sm below
• iconomancy Template:IPA: by icons (Greek eikōn, image + manteia, prophecy)
• idolomancy Template:IPA: by idols (Greek eidōlon, phantom + manteia, prophecy)
• idromancy → see Template:Sm above (Greek idrōs, sweat + manteia, prophecy)
• ifá: by palm nuts
• iridology: by eye color (Greek īris [īrid-], iris + -logiā, study)
• isopsephy: by numbers and letters (Greek īsos, equal + psephos, pebble)

J

• Jyotish Vedic system of astrology

K

• kabbalah/qabalah/cabala: by the Kabbalah (Hebrew qabbālâ, tradition)
• kau cim: by bamboo
• kephalonomancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm above
• keraunomancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm above
• knissomancy Template:IPA: by incense (Greek knisa [kniss-], vapor + manteia, prophecy)
• kypomancy → see under Template:Sm below (akin to Greek kupellon, goblet + manteia, prophecy)

L

• labiomancy Template:IPA: by lips (Latin labium, lip + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• lampadomancy Template:IPA: by flame (Greek lampas [lampad-], light + manteia, prophecy)
• lecanomancy/lecanoscopy Template:IPA: by a basin of water (Greek lekanē, basin + manteia, prophecy)
• letnomancy: by secrets (English let no (one see) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• libanomancy Template:IPA: by smoke from incense (Greek libanos, frankincense + manteia, prophecy)
• literomancy Template:IPA: by a letter in a written language (Latin lītera, letter + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• lithomancy Template:IPA: by gems or stones (Greek lithos, stone + manteia, prophecy)
• logarithmancy Template:IPA: by logarithms (English logarith(m) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• logomancy Template:IPA: by words (Greek logos, word + manteia, prophecy)
• lots: divination through chance, or the drawing or tossing of lots<ref>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..."</ref>
• lunamancy → see Template:Sm below (Latin lūna, moon + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• lychnomancy Template:IPA: by candles (Greek lukhnos, lamp + manteia, prophecy)

M

• macharomancy: by swords or knives (Greek makhaira, dirk + manteia, prophecy)
• macromancy Template:IPA: by large objects (Greek makros, large + manteia, prophecy)
• maculomancy Template:IPA: by spots on the skin (Latin macula, spot + manteia, prophecy)
• mahjong divination: by Mahjong tiles
• margaritomancy Template:IPA: by bouncing pearls (Greek margarītēs, pearl + manteia, prophecy)
• mathemancy Template:IPA: by mathematics (English mathe(matics) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• mazomancy Template:IPA: by nursing (Greek mazos, breast + manteia, prophecy)
• meconomancy Template:IPA: by sleeping (Greek mēkōn, poppy [i.e., an opiate] + manteia, prophecy)
• megapolisomancy: by large cities (English megalopolis + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• meilomancy: by moles
• metagnomy Template:IPA or Template:IPA: by magic (Greek meta-, beside + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
• meteormancy Template:IPA: by meteors (English meteor + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• meteoromancy Template:IPA: by thunder and lightning (Greek meteōron, heavenly phenomenon + manteia, prophecy)
• metoposcopy/metopomancy Template:IPA: by the lines of the forehead<ref>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..."</ref> (Greek metōpon, forehead + -skopiā, observation)
• micromancy Template:IPA: by small objects (Greek mikros, small + manteia, prophecy)
• moleosophy Template:IPA or Template:IPA: by blemishes (English mole + Greek sophiā, knowledge)
• molybdomancy Template:IPA: by molten metal (Greek molubdos, lead + manteia, prophecy)
• moromancy Template:IPA: by foolishness (Greek mōros, dull + manteia, prophecy)
• myomancy → see under Template:Sm below
• myrmomancy → see under Template:Sm below

N

• narcomancy Template:IPA: by sleep (Greek narkē, numbness + manteia, prophecy)
• natimancy → see under Template:Sm below (Latin natis, buttock + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• necromancy¹ Template:IPA: by speaking to the dead, by corpses<ref>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..."</ref> (Greek nekros, corpse + manteia, prophecy)
• necyomancy Template:IPA: by summoning damned souls (Greek nekuiā, invocation + manteia, prophecy)
• nephomancy Template:IPA: by clouds (Greek nephos, cloud + manteia, prophecy)
• nigromancy Template:IPA: by black magic (Latin niger, black + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• nomancy Template:IPA or Template:IPA → see Template:Sm below (variant of onomancy, influenced by Latin nōmen, name)
• notarikon/netrikon: by initials (Latin notāricus, in shorthand)
• nggàm → see under Template:Sm below
• numerology Template:IPA: by numbers (Latin numerus, number + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• numismatomancy: by coins (Greek nomisma [nomismat-], coin + manteia, prophecy)

O

• oculomancy Template:IPA: by eyes (Latin oculus, eye + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• odontomancy Template:IPA: by teeth (Greek odous [odont-], tooth + manteia, prophecy)
• oenomancy/oinomancy Template:IPA: by wine (Greek oinos, wine + manteia, prophecy)
• ololygmancy Template:IPA: by the howling of dogs (Greek ololuzō [ololug-], howl + manteia, prophecy)
• omoplatoscopy → see Template:Sm below (Greek ōmoplatē, shoulder blade + -skopiā, observation)
• omphalomancy Template:IPA: by navels (Greek omphalos, navel + manteia, prophecy)
• oneiromancy/oneiroscopy Template:IPA: by dreams (Greek oneiros, dream + manteia, prophecy)
• onimancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm below
• onomancy/onomomancy/nomancy Template:IPA: by letters in a name (Greek onoma, name + manteia, prophecy)
• onomomancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm above
• onychomancy/onymancy/onimancy Template:IPA: by finger· and toenails (Greek onux [onukh-], nail + manteia, prophecy)
• onymancy Template:IPA → see Template:Sm above
• oomancy/ooscopy Template:IPA (also ovomancy): by eggs (Greek ōion, egg + manteia, prophecy)
• ophidiomancy/ophiomancy → see Template:Sm below
• opthalmomancy → see Template:Sm above (Greek ophthalmos, eye + manteia, prophecy)
• organoscopy → see Template:Sm below (Greek organon, organ + -skopiā, observation)
• orniscopy/ornithomancy → see Template:Sm below
• oromancy: by mountains (Greek oros, mountain + manteia, prophecy)
• oryctomancy: by minerals (Greek oruktos, dug + manteia, prophecy)
• ossomancy → see Template:Sm below (Latin os [oss-], bone + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• osteomancy: by bones (Greek osteon, bone + manteia, prophecy)
• Ouija/Ouije: by ouija board (French oui, yes + German ja, yes)
• ouranomancy → see Template:Sm below.
• ovomancy → see Template:Sm above (Latin ōvum, egg + manteia, prophecy)

P

• pallomancy: by pendulums (Greek pallein, to sway + manteia, prophecy)
• palmistry/palm reading → see under Template:Sm below (Latin palma, palm)
• papyromancy: by folding paper, especially paper money (Greek papūros, papyrus paper + manteia, prophecy)
• pedomancy → see under Template:Sm below (from podomancy, influenced by Latin pēs [pēd-], foot)
• pegomancy: by fountains (Greek pēgē, spring + manteia, prophecy)
• pessomancy: by pebbles (Greek pessos, oval pebble + manteia, prophecy)
• pecthimancy/petchimancy: by brushed cloth (possibly akin to Greek pekein, to card wool, or pēktē, netting + manteia, prophecy)
• phobomancy: by feelings of fear (Greek phobos, fear + manteia, prophecy)
• photomancy: by fields of light (Greek phōs [phōt-], light + manteia, prophecy)
• phrenology (also organoscopy): by the configuration of one's brain (Greek phrēn, mind + -logiā, study)
• phyllomancy: by leaves (Greek phullon, leaf + manteia, prophecy)
  • sycomancy: by fig leaves (Greek sūkon, fig + manteia, 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 + manteia, 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 + manteia, prophecy)
• pneumancy: by blowing (Greek pneuma, breath + manteia, prophecy)
• podomancy/pedomancy → see under Template:Sm below
• portenta (also, ostenta): study of natural phenomena<ref>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..."</ref>
• psephomancy: by lots or ballots (Greek psephos, pebble + manteia, prophecy)
• pseudomancy: by false means, such as Peter Answers (Greek pseudēs, false + manteia, prophecy)
• psychognomy: by phrenological notations (Greek psūkhē, soul + -gnōmoniā, observation)
• psychomancy → see Template:Sm¹ above (Greek psūkhē, soul + manteia, prophecy)
• pyromancy/pyroscopy: by fire (Greek pūr, fire + manteia, prophecy)

Q

• qabalah → see Template:Sm above

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

S

• scapulimancy/scapulomancy (also spatulamancy, omoplatoscopy): by bovine or caprid shoulder blades (Latin scapula, shoulder blade + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• scarpomancy: by old shoes (Italian scarpa, shoe + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• scatomancy: by excrement (Greek skōr [skat-], excrement + manteia, prophecy)
• schematomancy → see under Template:Sm below
• sciomancy¹ (also shadowmancy): by shadows (Greek skiā, shadow + manteia, 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 + manteia, prophecy)
    • gastromancy¹ (also crystallomancy, spheromancy, crystal ball gazing): by crystal ball (Greek gastēr, belly [i.e., round object] + manteia, prophecy)
    • hydromancy (also ydromancy): by water (Greek hudōr, water + manteia, prophecy)
• selenomancy: by the moon (Greek selēnē, moon + manteia, prophecy)
• shadowmancy → see Template:Sm¹ above (English shadow + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• sideromancy: by burning straw with an iron (Greek sidēros, iron + manteia, prophecy)
• sikidy: by drawing sixteen lines in sand (perhaps a Malagasy transliteration of English sixteen)
• skatharomancy: by beetle tracks (Greek skatharōn, spot + manteia, prophecy)
• slinneanachd/slinnanacht: by animal shoulder blades (Scottish Gaelic slinnean, shoulder blade)
• solaromancy: by the sun (Latin sōl [sōlār-], sun + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• somatomancy: by the human form (Greek sōma [sōmat-], body + manteia, prophecy)
  • cephalomancy (also craniognomy): by skulls (Greek kephalē, head + manteia, prophecy)
  • cheiromancy/chiromancy (kī'rə·măn·sē; also palmistry, palm reading): by palms<ref>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..."</ref> (Greek kheir, hand + manteia, prophecy)
  • cheirognomy/chirognomy Template:IPA: by hands (Greek kheir, hand + -gnōmoniā, interpretation)
  • podomancy/pedomancy (also cartopedy): by the soles of one's feet (Greek pous [pod-], foot + manteia, prophecy)
  • rumpology (also natimancy): by buttocks (English rump + Greek -logiā, study)
  • schematomancy: by the face (Greek skhēma [skhēmat-], figure + manteia, 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 + manteia, prophecy)
• spatilomancy: by animal excrement (Greek spatilē, excrement + manteia, prophecy)
• spatulamancy → see Template:Sm above (from scapulimancy, influenced by Latin spatula, splint)
• spheromancy → see under Template:Sm above (Greek sphaira, sphere + manteia, prophecy)
• sphondulomancy: by spindles (Greek sphondulos, spindle + manteia, prophecy)
• splanchnomancy → see Template:Sm above (Greek splankhna, innards + manteia, prophecy)
• spodomancy: by soot (Greek spodos, wood ashes + manteia, prophecy)
• stareomancy: by the four elements (Greek stais [stair-], dough + manteia, prophecy)
• stercomancy: by seeds in bird excrement (Latin stercus, excrement + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• sternomancy: by ridges on the breastbone (Greek sternon, breastbone + manteia, prophecy)
• stichomancy → see Template:Sm above
• stigonomancy: by burning writing onto bark (Greek stizein [stigōn-], to brand + manteia, prophecy)
• stoicheomancy/stoichomancy → see under Template:Sm above
• stolisomancy: by fashion (Greek stolis, garment + manteia, prophecy)
• sycomancy → see Template:Sm above
• symbolomancy: by things found on the road (Greek sumbolon, sign + manteia, prophecy)

T

• taromancy → see under Template:Sm above
• tasseography/tasseomancy → see under Template:Sm above
• technomancy: by technology (English techno(logy) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• technical analysis: by patterns in the chart of a financial instrument
• temurah: by anagrams
• tephramancy/tephromancy (also tuphromancy): by cremation ashes (Greek tephrā, ash + manteia, prophecy)
• theomancy: foretelling events, prophecy<ref>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..."</ref> (Greek theos, god + manteia, prophecy)
• theriomancy Template:IPA: (also zoomancy): by animal behavior (Greek thēr, wild animal + manteia, prophecy)
  • ailuromancy/aeluromancy Template:IPA (also felidomancy): by cats (Greek ailouros, cat + manteia, prophecy)
  • alectryomancy/alectoromancy Template:IPA: by rooster behavior (Greek alektruōn, cockerel + manteia, prophecy)
  • augury: by bird formations<ref>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..."</ref> (Latin augur, diviner)
  • hippomancy Template:IPA: by horse behavior (Greek hippos, horse + manteia, prophecy)
  • ichthyomancy Template:IPA: by fish behavior (Greek ikhthūs, fish + manteia, prophecy)
  • myomancy Template:IPA: by rodent behavior (Greek mūs, mouse + manteia, prophecy)
  • myrmomancy Template:IPA: by ant behavior (Greek murmēx, ant + manteia, prophecy)
  • nggàm: by spider or crab behavior (Mambila nggàm, divination)
  • ophidiomancy/ophiomancy: by snakes behavior (Greek ophis [ophid-], snake + manteia, prophecy)
  • orniscopy/ornithomancy (also auspicy/auspication, avimancy): by bird migration (Greek ornīs [ornīth-], bird + -skopiā, observation)
• thumomancy: by one's own soul, presage<ref>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..."</ref> (Greek thūmos, soul + manteia, prophecy)
• topomancy: by geography and geological formations (Greek topos, place + manteia, prophecy)
• transataumancy: by things accidentally seen or heard
• trochomancy: by wheel ruts (Greek trokhos, wheel + manteia, prophecy)
• tuphromancy → see Template:Sm above (from tephramancy, influenced by Greek tuphos, smoke)
• turifumy: by shapes in smoke (Latin tūs [tūr-], incense + fūmus, vapor)
• typomancy¹: by typographical errors (English typo + Greek manteia, prophecy)
• typomancy²: by curds (from tyromancy, influenced by Greek tupōma, something which has been molded)
• tyromancy/tiromancy: by cheese (Greek tūros, cheese + manteia, prophecy)

U

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

V

• videomancy: by films (English video + Greek manteia, prophecy)

W

• water witching → see Template:Sm above

X

• xenomancy: by strangers (Greek xenos, stranger + manteia, prophecy)
• xylomancy: by burning wood (Greek xulon, wood + manteia, prophecy)
• xylomancy (also): by analyzing the texture of wooden boards

Y

• ydromancy → see under Template:Sm above

Z

• zoomancy → see Template:Sm above (Greek zōion, being + manteia, prophecy)
• zygomancy: by weights (Greek zugon, yoke, balance + manteia, prophecy)

See also

• divination
• list of astrological traditions