It seems everything has been used for prognostication
and communication. From natural phenomenon to manipulated
events, from planets to pebbles, from gods to animals
and plants, all have been used at one time or another.
Though many of these divination methods have been
lost in history, many still remain either in ancient
documents, in superstitions or in actual practice.
Divination
Forms are often classified by asking three simple
questions --what, how and why.
Means
The 'what' is the element or subject matter
that is used in the process of the divination. In
most cases these items are categorized either as:
Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Man or Spirit.[1] However,
classifying a divination's element is not always
clear and then only in the diviner's perception.
For
example: what is the element in bibliomancy?
Is it -- "earth" because the Bible is
constructed from plants and animals; "man"
because the bible is written and read by man;
or is it "spirit" because the words
are said to be God's.
Method
The 'how' is the manner in which the prophecy
is determined or formulated by the diviner's interaction
with the divination element. The diviner is not
limited to just one. He or she may use all of them
during their prognostication and communication.
- Intuitive:
In intuitive divination, it is the diviner that
is both the element and the process. The diviner
will either react to stimuli or received a sensory
phenomenon without reason or cause. Many refer
to this (including myself) as the sixth sense
or intuition. Intuitive divination does not
rely on artificial trappings except perhaps
as a meditative device or for dramatics. Intuition
is the underlying factor in most forms of divination.
Examples: scrying, trance, oracles, clairvoyance,
and necromancy to name a few.
- Interpretive:
In this process, information is perceived through
natural means and then manipulated (read) to
form an explanation. It works on the premise
that no event is without cause. In manipulated
events, such as casting stones, it is still
consider natural because of its inherently random
underlying principle. Examples: Runes, tarot,
I Ching, and so forth.
- Inductive:
This is the process by which conclusions are
inferred from facts and events. Within divination
these facts and events, although may be arbitrary,
are still predetermined and not controlled through
mundane means. Astrology and aeromancy are good
examples.
Motive
The 'why' classification, in an honest
practice, seems to be the provision of useful information
about the unknown; however other reasons might be
found. For instance, the reason might be to support
an ailing spirit, arbitration between incompatible
points of view, and therapeutic purposes. Then there
is the business category which many circus and carnival
soothsayers fall into. It serves as paid entertainment.
Personally,
I put no great importance to classifying divination
other than that it is interesting information. However,
I could see where it could come in handy for those
who adhere to Elemental Magick.
Besides the way I see it, the diviner is the common
factor throughout all divination; for without him
or her there would be no divination. Humans are the
method, the means and the motive.
Notes
1. There are those who classify "humans"
under the Earth element and not as separate category.
The key point being whether or not the individual
believes mankind is separate and unique from nature.
This separation concept is found in "The Great
Chain of Being".
Encyclopedia
Britannica
Who are You? 101 Ways of seeing Yourself
—Malcolm Godwin
An Encyclopedia of Occultism Volumes I &
II — edited by Melton J Gorden
The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft
—Rosemary Ellen Guiley
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