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 â€" some of which had hitherto been unnamed â€" 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 (also amathomancy): by dust (Hebrew ’ÄbÄq, dust + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- acultomancy (also acutomancy): by needles (from acutomancy below, influenced by Latin acūleus, needle)
- acutomancy â†' see acultomancy (Latin acus [acut-], needle + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- adromancy â†' see alomancy (from idromancy below, influenced by alomancy)
- adryomancyâ†' see hydromancy (metathesis of hydromancy)
- aeromancy : by atmospheric conditions (Greek ÄÄ"r, air + manteia, prophecy)
- agalmatomancy : by statues (Greek agalma [agalmat-], statue + manteia, prophecy)
- aichmomancy : by sharp objects (Greek aikhmÄ", spearhead + manteia, prophecy)
- ailuromancy/aeluromancy â†' see theriomancy
- alectormancy/alectromancy : by rooster sacrifice (Greek alektor, rooster + manteia, prophecy)
- alectryomancy/alectoromancy: by rooster divination â†' see theriomancy
- aleuromancy¹ : by flour; see also chartomancy (Greek aleuron, meal + manteia, prophecy)
- alomancy/Halomancy (also adromancy): by salt (Greek hals, salt + manteia, prophecy)
- alphitomancy: by barley (Greek alphis [alphit-], barley + manteia, prophecy)
- alveromancy : by sounds
- amathomancy â†' see abacomancy by sand (Greek amathos, sandy soil + manteia, prophecy)
- ambulomancy : by walking (Latin ambulÄre, to walk + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- amniomancy : by placenta (Greek amniÅn, amnion + manteia, prophecy)
- anemoscopy/anemomancy : by wind (Greek anemos, wind + -skopiÄ, observation)
- anthomancy : by flowers (Greek anthos, flower + manteia, prophecy)
- anthracomancy : by burning coals (Greek anthrax [anthrak-], charcoal + manteia, prophecy)
- anthropomancy : by human sacrifice (Greek anthrÅpos, human being + manteia, prophecy)
- anthroposcopy : by physical appearance (Greek anthrÅpos, human being + -skopiÄ, observation)
- apantomancy : by chance encounters with animals (Greek apantein, to encounter + manteia, prophecy)
- arachnomancy : by spiders (Greek arakhnÄ", spider + manteia, prophecy)
- archeomancy/archaeomancy : by sacred relics (Greek arkhaios, ancient + manteia, prophecy)
- ariolation : by altars (Latin ariolus, hariolus, prophet)
- arithmancy: assigning numerical value to a word or phrase
- armomancy : by one's own shoulders (Latin armus, shoulder + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- aruspicina: study of entrails
- aspidomancy : by sitting in a drawn circle (Greek aspis [aspid-], shield + manteia, prophecy)
- astragalomancy/astragalamancy â†' see cleromancy
- astragyromancy â†' see cleromancy (from astragalomancy above, perhaps influenced by Greek guros, spiral, circle, and therefore vertebra)
- astrapomancy : by lightning (Greek astrapÄ", lightning flash + manteia, prophecy)
- astrology/astromancy/astroscopy : by celestial bodies (Greek astron, star + -logiÄ, study)
- augury â†' see theriomancy
- auramancy : by auras (Greek aurÄ, breath + manteia, prophecy)
- auspicy/auspication â†' see theriomancy (Latin avis, bird + specere, to look at)
- austromancy â†' see theriomancy : by wind (Latin auster, south wind + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- avimancy â†' see orniscopy (Latin avis, bird + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- axiomancy/axinomancy : by axes (Latin axis, axis + manteia, prophecy)
B
- batraquomancy/batrachomancy : by frogs (Greek batrakhos, frog + manteia, prophecy)
- belomancy/bolomancy : by arrows (from bolomancy below, influenced by Greek belemnon, javelin, or belonÄ", needle)
- bibliomancy â†' see chartomancy
- biorhythmic divination: by biorhythms
- bletonism/bletonomancy : by water current (named for Monsieur Bleton, a French bletonist)
- bolomancy â†' see belomancy (Greek bolÄ", arrow + manteia, prophecy)
- botanomancy : by burning sage or figs (Greek botanÄ", flora + manteia, prophecy)
- brizomancy â†' see oneiromancy (Greek brizein, to be sleepy + manteia, prophecy)
- brontomancy/brontoscopy : by thunder (Greek brontÄ", thunder + manteia, prophecy)
- bumpology : by bumps on the skin (English bump + Greek -logiÄ, study)
C
- cabala â†' see kabbalah
- canomancy or : by dogs (Latin canis, dog + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- capnomancy : by smoke (Greek kapnos, smoke + manteia, prophecy)
- libanomancy : by smoke or ash from incense (Greek libanos, frankincense + manteia, prophecy)
- carromancy : by melting wax (Greek karrÅ, of wax + manteia, prophecy)
- cartopedy â†' see somatomancy (Latin carta, papyrus paper + pÄ"s [pÄ"d-], foot)
- cartomancy â†' see chartomancy
- catoptromancy/captromancy â†' see scrying
- causimancy/causimomancy : by burning (Greek kaiein [kaus-], to burn + manteia, prophecy)
- cephalomancy â†' see somatomancy
- cephaleonomancy/cephalonomancy: by boiling a donkey's head (Greek kephalaion, head [with meaning influenced by Greek onos, donkey] + manteia, prophecy)
- ceraunoscopy : by thunder and lightning (Greek keraunos, thunderbolt + -skopiÄ, observation)
- ceromancy/ceroscopy : by dripping wax in water (Greek kÄ"ros, wax + manteia, prophecy)
- chalcomancy: by striking gongs or copper bowls (Greek khalkos, copper + manteia, prophecy)
- chaomancy : by aerial visions (Greek khaos, primordial space + manteia, prophecy)
- chartomancy : by things on paper (Greek khartÄ"s, papyrus paper + manteia, prophecy)
- cartomancy : by cards (Latin carta, papyrus paper + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- taromancy/tarotmancy : by tarot (English tarot + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- stichomancy : by books or lines (Greek stikhos, line of verse + manteia, prophecy)
- aleuromancy² : by fortune cookies (of the same origin as aleuromancy¹)
- bibliomancy : 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 â€" or elementary â€" reading material in each culture)
- cartomancy : by cards (Latin carta, papyrus paper + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- cheiromancy/chiromancyâ†' see somatomancy
- cheirognomy/chirognomy â†' see somatomancy
- chien tung â†' see kau cim
- choriomancy : by pig bladders (Greek khorion, placenta + mantiea, prophecy)
- chresmomancy : by the ravings of lunatics (Greek khrÄ"smos, oracular utterance, chresm + manteia, prophecy)
- chronomancy : by apt occasion (Greek khronos, time + manteia, prophecy)
- cineromancy/ceneromancy â†' see spodomancy (Latin cinis [ciner-], ashes + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- clamancy (see also FÄl-gÅ«sh): by random shouts and cries heard in crowds, at night, etc. (Latin clÄmÄre, to cry out + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- cledonism/cledonomancy : by chance events or overheard words (Greek klÄ"don, rumor)
- cleidomancy/clidomancy : by keys (Greek kleis [kleid-], key + manteia, prophecy)
- cleromancy : by casting (Greek klÄ"ros, lot + manteia, prophecy)
- astragalomancy/astragalamancy (also cubomancy): by dice (Greek astragalos, vertebra + manteia, prophecy)
- domino divination: by dominoes
- favomancy : by beans (Latin faba, bean + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- Ogham casting: by Ogham letters
- runecasting/Runic divination: by runes
- cometomancy : by comet tails (Greek komÄ"tÄ"s, comet + manteia, prophecy)
- colormancy/coloromancy: by colors (English color + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- conchomancy : by shells (Greek konkhÄ", mussel + manteia, prophecy)
- cosquinomancy/coscinomancy : by hanging sieves (Greek koskinÅn, sieve + manteia, prophecy)
- cottabomancy/cottobomancy : by wine in a brass bowl (Greek kottabos, cottabus + manteia, prophecy)
- craniognomy or â†' see somatomancy (Greek krÄnion, skull + -gnÅmoniÄ, interpretation)
- the crawling baby: by a baby's crawling
- crithomancy/critomancy : by barley cakes (Greek krithÄ", barley + manteia, prophecy)
- cromnyomancy/cromniomancy : by onion sprouts (alteration of Greek krommuon, onion + manteia, prophecy)
- cryptomancy : by omens (Greek kruptos, hidden + manteia, prophecy)
- cryomancy : by ice (Greek kryo, ice )
- crystal ball gazing â†' see scrying
- crystal gazing â†' see scrying
- crystallomancy â†' see scrying (Greek krustallos, crystal + manteia, prophecy)
- cubomancy â†' see cleromancy (Greek kubos, cube + manteia, prophecy)
- cyathomancy : by cups (Greek kuathos, cup + manteia, prophecy)
- cybermancy : by computer oracles (English cyber(netics) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- cyclicomancy : by swirling water in a cup (Greek kuklikos, cyclical, circular + manteia, prophecy)
- cyclomancy or : by wheels (Greek kuklos, circle + manteia, prophecy)
D
- dactyliomancy : by finger rings (Greek daktulios, finger ring + manteia, prophecy)
- dactylomancy  : by means of finger movements (Greek daktulos, finger + manteia, prophecy)
- daphnomancy : by burning laurel wreaths (Greek daphnÄ", laurel + manteia, prophecy)
- demonomancy : by demons (Greek daimÅn, divine power + manteia, prophecy)
- dendromancy : by trees, especially oaks, yews, or mistletoe (Greek dendron, tree + manteia, prophecy)
- deuteroscopy : by second glance or double take (Greek deuteros, secondary + -skopiÄ, observation)
- dictiomancy : by randomly opening a dictionary (English dictio(nary) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- divining â†' see dowsing
- djubed â†' see scrying
- dÅbutsu uranai: by animal horoscope (Japanese dÅbutsu, animal + uranai, prognostication)
- domino divination â†' see cleromancy
- dowsing (also divining, water witching): by a divining rod (of unknown origin)
- dracomancy : by dragons (Greek drakÅn, dragon + manteia, prophecy)
- dream questions: by dreaming
- dririmancy/driromancy : by dripping blood (alteration of drimimancy, influenced by Middle English drir, blood)
- drimimancy/drymimancy : by bodily fluids (Greek drimus, pungent + manteia, prophecy)
E
- electromancy: by lightning and electricity (Greek ilektros electric + manteia prophecy)
- eleomancy/elaeomancy: by oil (Greek elaion, olive oil + manteia, prophecy)
- emonomancy â†' see demonomancy
- empirimancy: by experiment/experience
- empyromancy : by burning (Greek empurios, fiery + manteia, prophecy)
- enochian chess: by playing a four·handed variant of the game
- enoptromancy â†' see scrying (Greek enoptron, looking glass + manteia, prophecy)
- enthusiasm: speeches by those supposed to be possessed by a divine spirit
- entomomancy/entomancy: by insects (Greek entomon, insect + manteia, prophecy)
- eromancy : by water vessels exposed to air (Greek ÄÄ"r, air + manteia, prophecy) â€" cf. aeromancy
- extispicy/extispication : by the remains of sacrificed animals (Latin exta, entrails + specere, to look at)
F
- favomancy â†' see cleromancy
- felidomancy â†' see theriomancy (Latin fÄ"lÄ"s [fÄ"lid-], cat + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- feng shui â†' see geomancy
- floriography/floromancy : by flowers' feelings (Latin flÅs [flÅr-], flower + Greek -graphiÄ, representation)
- fractomancy : by fractals (English fract(al) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- fructomancy/fructimancy: by fruit (Latin frūctus, fruit + Greek manteia, prophecy)
G
- galvanoscopy : by galvanism (English galvan(ism) + Greek -skopiÄ, observation)
- gastromancy¹ â†' see scrying
- gastromancy² : by guttural sounds (Greek gastÄ"r, belly + manteia, prophecy)
- geomancy : by earth (Greek Gaia|gÄ", earth + manteia, prophecy)
- feng Shui divination: by Feng Shui
- geloscopy : by laughter (Greek gelÅs, laughter + -skopiÄ, observation)
- gematria: by the Hebrew alphabet (Greek gÄ", earth + -metriÄ, measurement)
- genethlialogy: by birth dates (Greek genethlios, birthday + -logiÄ, study)
- grammomancy : by writing individual letters (Greek gramma, letter + manteia, prophecy)
- graphology (also graptomancy): by studying handwriting (Greek graphÄ", writing + -logiÄ, study)
- graptomancy â†' see graphology (Greek graptos, written + manteia, prophecy)
- gyromancy : by dizziness (Greek gūros, spiral + manteia, prophecy)
H
- hagiomancy: by saints (Greek hagios, holy + manteia, prophecy)
- halomancy â†' see alomancy
- hakata: by bones or dice
- haruspicy/haruspication â†' see hepatoscopy (Latin haru-, entrails + specere, to look at)
- hematomancy/haematomancy : by blood (Greek haima [haimat-], blood + manteia, prophecy)
- hepatoscopy/hepatomancy (also haruspicy, haruspication): by liver (Greek hÄ"par [hÄ"pat-], liver + -skopiÄ, observation)
- hieromancy/hieroscopy : by studying sacrifices' entrails (Greek hieros, holy + manteia, prophecy)
- hippomancy â†' see theriomancy
- horoscopy : aspect of the Stars at nativity (Greek hÅrÄ, season + -skopiÄ, observation)
- hydatomancy: by rainwater (Greek hudatis, raindrop + manteia, prophecy)
- hydromancy/hydroscopy â†' see scrying
- hyomancy: by wild hogs (Greek hūs, swine + manteia, prophecy)
- hypnomancy : by sleep (Greek hupnos, sleep + manteia, prophecy)
I
- I Ching divination â†' see chartomancy
- ichnomancy : by footprints (Greek ikhnos, track + manteia, prophecy)
- ichthyomancy â†' see theriomancy
- iconomancy : by icons (Greek eikÅn, image + manteia, prophecy)
- idolomancy : by idols (Greek eidÅlon, phantom + manteia, prophecy)
- idromancy â†' see alomancy (Greek idrÅs, sweat + manteia, prophecy)
- ifá: geomancy patterns generated with palm nuts, opele, cowrie shells, etc... that refer to Ifa Divination texts; a collection of odu Ifa verses.
- iridology: by eye color (Greek Ä«ris [Ä«rid-], iris + -logiÄ, study)
- isopsephy: by numbers and letters (Greek Ä«sos, equal + psephos, pebble)
J
- Jyotish Vedic system of astrology
K
- kabbalah/qabalah/cabala: by the Kabbalah (Hebrew qabbÄlâ, tradition)
- kau cim: by bamboo
- kayu ura: by rice gruel
- kephalonomancy â†' see cephaleonomancy
- keraunomancy â†' see ceraunoscopy
- knissomancy : by incense (Greek knisa [kniss-], vapor + manteia, prophecy)
- kypomancy â†' see phyllomancy (akin to Greek kupellon, goblet + manteia, prophecy)
L
- labiomancy : by lips (Latin labium, lip + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- lampadomancy : by flame (Greek lampas [lampad-], light + manteia, prophecy)
- lecanomancy/lecanoscopy : by a basin of water (Greek lekanÄ", basin + manteia, prophecy)
- letnomancy: by secrets (English let no (man see) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- libanomancy â†' see capnomancy and spodomancy (Greek libanos, frankincense + manteia, prophecy)
- literomancy : by a letter in a written language (Latin lītera, letter + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- lithomancy : by gems or stones (Greek lithos, stone + manteia, prophecy)
- logarithmancy : by logarithms (English logarith(m) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- logomancy : by words (Greek logos, word + manteia, prophecy)
- lots: divination through chance, or the drawing or tossing of lots
- lunamancy â†' see selenomancy (Latin lÅ«na, moon + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- lychnomancy : by candles (Greek lukhnos, lamp + manteia, prophecy)
M
- macharomancy: by swords or knives (Greek makhaira, dirk + manteia, prophecy)
- macromancy : by large objects (Greek makros, large + manteia, prophecy)
- maculomancy : by spots on the skin (Latin macula, spot + manteia, prophecy)
- mahjong divination: by Mahjong tiles
- margaritomancy : by bouncing pearls (Greek margarÄ«tÄ"s, pearl + manteia, prophecy)
- mathemancy : by mathematics (English mathe(matics) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- mazomancy : by nursing (Greek mazos, breast + manteia, prophecy)
- meconomancy : by sleeping (Greek mÄ"kÅn, poppy [i.e., an opiate] + manteia, prophecy)
- megapolisomancy: by large cities (English megalopolis + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- meilomancy: by moles
- metagnomy or : by magic (Greek meta-, beside + -gnÅmoniÄ, interpretation)
- meteormancy : by meteors (English meteor + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- meteoromancy : by thunder and lightning (Greek meteÅron, heavenly phenomenon + manteia, prophecy)
- metoposcopy/metopomancy : by the lines of the forehead (Greek metÅpon, forehead + -skopiÄ, observation)
- micromancy : by small objects (Greek mikros, small + manteia, prophecy)
- moleosophy or : by blemishes (English mole + Greek sophiÄ, knowledge)
- molybdomancy : by molten metal (Greek molubdos, lead + manteia, prophecy)
- moromancy : by foolishness (Greek mÅros, dull + manteia, prophecy)
- myomancy â†' see theriomancy
- myrmomancy â†' see theriomancy
N
- narcomancy : by sleep (Greek narkÄ", numbness + manteia, prophecy)
- natimancy â†' see somatomancy (Latin natis, buttock + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- necromancy¹ : by speaking to the dead, by corpses (Greek nekros, corpse + manteia, prophecy)
- necyomancy : by summoning damned souls (Greek nekuiÄ, invocation + manteia, prophecy)
- nephomancy : by clouds (Greek nephos, cloud + manteia, prophecy)
- nigromancy : by black magic (Latin niger, black + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- nomancy or â†' see onomancy (variant of onomancy, influenced by Latin nÅmen, name)
- notarikon/netrikon: by initials (Latin notÄricus, in shorthand)
- nggà m â†' see theriomancy
- numerology : by numbers (Latin numerus, number + Greek -logia, branch of study)
- numismatomancy: by coins (Greek nomisma [nomismat-], coin + manteia, prophecy)
O
- oculomancy : by eyes (Latin oculus, eye + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- odontomancy : by teeth (Greek odous [odont-], tooth + manteia, prophecy)
- oenomancy/oinomancy : by wine (Greek oinos, wine + manteia, prophecy)
- ololygmancy : by the howling of dogs (Greek ololuzÅ [ololug-], howl + manteia, prophecy)
- omoplatoscopy â†' see scapulimancy (Greek ÅmoplatÄ", shoulder blade + -skopiÄ, observation)
- omphalomancy : by navels (Greek omphalos, navel + manteia, prophecy)
- oneiromancy/oneiroscopy : by dreams (Greek oneiros, dream + manteia, prophecy)
- onimancy â†' see onychomancy
- onomancy/onomomancy/nomancy : by letters in a name (Greek onoma, name + manteia, prophecy)
- onomomancy â†' see onomancy
- onychomancy/onymancy/onimancy : by finger· and toenails (Greek onux [onukh-], nail + manteia, prophecy)
- onymancy â†' see onychomancy
- oomancy/ooscopy (also ovomancy): by eggs (Greek Åion, egg + manteia, prophecy)
- ophidiomancy/ophiomancy â†' see theriomancy
- ophthalmomancy â†' see oculomancy (Greek ophthalmos, eye + manteia, prophecy)
- organoscopy â†' see phrenology (Greek organon, organ + -skopiÄ, observation)
- orniscopy/ornithomancy â†' see theriomancy
- oromancy: by mountains (Greek oros, mountain + manteia, prophecy)
- oryctomancy: by minerals (Greek oruktos, dug + manteia, prophecy)
- ossomancy â†' see osteomancy (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 â†' see uranomancy
- ovomancy â†' see oomancy (Latin Åvum, egg + manteia, prophecy)
P
- pallomancy: by pendulums (Greek pallein, to sway + manteia, prophecy)
- palmistry/palm reading â†' see somatomancy (Latin palma, palm)
- papyromancy: by folding paper, especially paper money (Greek papūros, papyrus paper + manteia, prophecy)
- pedomancy â†' see somatomancy (from podomancy, influenced by Latin pÄ"s [pÄ"d-], foot)
- pegomancy: by fountains (Greek pÄ"gÄ", 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 pÄ"ktÄ", netting + manteia, prophecy)
- phobomancy: by feelings of fear (Greek phobos, fear + manteia, prophecy)
- photomancy: by fields of light (Greek phÅs [phÅt-], light + manteia, prophecy)
- phrenology (also organoscopy): by the configuration of one's brain (Greek phrÄ"n, mind + -logiÄ, 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 -graphiÄ, representation)
- phyllorhodomancy: by rose petals (Greek phullon, leaf + rhodon, rose + manteia, prophecy)
- physiognomy/physiognomancy: by faces (Greek phusis, nature + -gnÅmoniÄ, interpretation)
- phytognomy: by the appearance of plants (Greek phuton, plant + -gnÅmoniÄ, interpretation)
- plastromancy: by cracks formed by heat on a turtle's plastron (English plastron + manteia, prophecy)
- pilimancy: by observing the patterns produced by a collection of human hair.
- plumbomancy: by observing shapes molten lead makes when poured in water (Latin plumbum, lead + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- pneumancy: by blowing (Greek pneuma, breath + manteia, prophecy)
- podomancy/pedomancy â†' see somatomancy
- poe divination: by throwing stones on the floor, practised at Taoist temples
- portenta (also ostenta): study of natural phenomena
- psephomancy: by lots or ballots (Greek psephos, pebble + manteia, prophecy)
- pseudomancy: by false means, such as Peter Answers (Greek pseudÄ"s, false + manteia, prophecy)
- psychognomy: by phrenological notations (Greek psÅ«khÄ", soul + -gnÅmoniÄ, observation)
- psychomancy â†' see necromancy¹ (Greek psÅ«khÄ", soul + manteia, prophecy)
- ptarmoscopy/ptarmoscopie: from ancient Greek the interpretation of sneezes
- pyromancy/pyroscopy: by fire (Greek pūr, fire + manteia, prophecy)
Q
- qabalah â†' see kabbalah
R
- radiesthesia: by rods, pendulums, or other cylindrical tools (Latin radius, spoke + Greek -aisthÄ"siÄ, sensing)
- retromancy: by looking over one's shoulder (Latin retrÅ, behind + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- rhabdomancy/rabdomancy: by rods, sticks, or wands (Greek rhabdos, rod + manteia, prophecy)
- rhapsodomancy: by poetry (Greek rhapsÅidiÄ, verse + manteia, prophecy)
- roadomancy: by constellations (apparently from Old English rodor, firmament + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- rumpology â†' see somatomancy
- runecasting â†' see cleromancy
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 skÅr [skat-], excrement + manteia, prophecy)
- schematomancy â†' see somatomancy
- sciomancy¹ (also shadowmancy): by shadows (Greek skiÄ, 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 gastÄ"r, belly [i.e., round object] + manteia, prophecy)
- hydromancy (also ydromancy): by water (Greek hudÅr, water + manteia, prophecy)
- crystal gazing: by reflective objects
- selenomancy: by the moon (Greek selÄ"nÄ", moon + manteia, prophecy)
- shadowmancy â†' see sciomancy¹ (English shadow + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- Shufflemancy: by the use of an electronic media player such as an electronic playlist, iPod, or other medium wherein one skips a certain number of songs and the lyrics and/or tune of the song is the answer to the divinatory question.
- sideromancy: by burning straw with an iron (Greek sidÄ"ros, iron + manteia, prophecy)
- sikidy: by drawing sixteen lines in sand (perhaps a Malagasy transliteration of English sixteen)
- skatharomancy: by beetle tracks (Greek skatharÅn, spot + manteia, prophecy)
- slinneanachd/slinnanacht: by animal shoulder blades (Scottish Gaelic slinnean, shoulder blade)
- solaromancy: by the sun (Latin sÅl [sÅlÄr-], sun + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- somatomancy: by the human form (Greek sÅma [sÅmat-], body + manteia, prophecy)
- cephalomancy (also craniognomy): by skulls (Greek kephalÄ", head + manteia, prophecy)
- cheiromancy/chiromancy (kÄ«'rə·măn·sÄ"; also palmistry, palm reading): by palms (Greek kheir, hand + manteia, prophecy)
- cheirognomy/chirognomy : by hands (Greek kheir, hand + -gnÅmoniÄ, 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 -logiÄ, study)
- schematomancy: by the face (Greek skhÄ"ma [skhÄ"mat-], 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 [spasmÅd-], spasm + manteia, prophecy)
- spatilomancy: by animal excrement (Greek spatilÄ", excrement + manteia, prophecy)
- spatulamancy â†' see scapulimancy (from scapulimancy, influenced by Latin spatula, splint)
- spheromancy â†' see scrying (Greek sphaira, sphere + manteia, prophecy)
- sphondulomancy: by spindles (Greek sphondulos, spindle + manteia, prophecy)
- splanchnomancy â†' see anthropomancy (Greek splankhna, innards + manteia, prophecy)
- spodomancy: by soot (Greek spodos, wood ashes + manteia, prophecy)
- cineromancy/ceneromancy: by the ashes of a specifically sacrificial or ritual fire
- libanomancy : by smoke or ash from incense (Greek libanos, frankincense + manteia, prophecy)
- tephramancy/tephromancy: by tree bark ashes, by sacrificial or ritual fire ashes, or human sacrificial victim ashes (Greek tephrÄ, ash + 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 â†' see chartomancy
- stigonomancy: by burning writing onto bark (Greek stizein [stigÅn-], to brand + manteia, prophecy)
- stoicheomancy/stoichomancy â†' see chartomancy
- stolisomancy: by fashion (Greek stolis, garment + manteia, prophecy)
- styramancy: by observing patterns produced by chewing gum, gum wax, or products produced by the L. styraciflua tree.
- sycomancy â†' see phyllomancy
- symbolomancy: by things found on the road (Greek sumbolon, sign + manteia, prophecy)
T
- taromancy â†' see chartomancy
- tasseography/tasseomancy â†' see phyllomancy
- technomancy: by technology (English techno(logy) + Greek manteia, prophecy)
- temurah: â†' see kabbalah
- tephramancy/tephromancy: â†' see spodomancy (Greek tephrÄ, ash + manteia, prophecy)
- theomancy: foretelling events, prophecy (Greek theos, god + manteia, prophecy)
- theriomancy : (also zoomancy): by animal behavior (Greek thÄ"r, wild animal + manteia, prophecy)
- ailuromancy/aeluromancy (also felidomancy): by cats (Greek ailouros, cat + manteia, prophecy)
- alectryomancy/alectoromancy : by rooster behavior (Greek alektruÅn, cockerel + manteia, prophecy)
- augury: by bird formations (Latin augur, diviner)
- hippomancy : by horse behavior (Greek hippos, horse + manteia, prophecy)
- ichthyomancy : by fish behavior (Greek ikhthūs, fish + manteia, prophecy)
- myomancy : by rodent behavior (Greek mūs, mouse + manteia, prophecy)
- myrmomancy : by ant behavior (Greek murmÄ"x, ant + manteia, prophecy)
- nggà m: by spider or crab behavior (Mambila nggà m, divination)
- ophidiomancy/ophiomancy: by snakes behavior (Greek ophis [ophid-], snake + manteia, prophecy)
- orniscopy/ornithomancy (also auspicy/auspication, avimancy): by bird migration (Greek ornÄ«s [ornÄ«th-], bird + -skopiÄ, observation)
- thumomancy : by one's own soul, presage (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)
- turifumy: by shapes in smoke (Latin tūs [tūr-], incense + fūmus, vapor)
- 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 urticÄria, hives + Greek manteia, prophecy)
V
- videomancy: by films (English video + Greek manteia, prophecy)
W
- water witching â†' see dowsing
X
- xenomancy: by strangers (Greek xenos, stranger + manteia, prophecy)
- xylomancy: by the shape or texture of wood, or the appearance of burning wood (Greek xulon, wood + manteia, prophecy)
Y
- ydromancy1 â†' see scrying
- ydromancy2 â†' see alomancy (from idromancy above, influenced by alomancy)
Z
- zoomancy â†' see theriomancy (Greek zÅion, being + manteia, prophecy)
- zygomancy: by weights (Greek zugon, yoke, balance + manteia, prophecy)
See also
- divination
- list of astrological traditions