"What Is...?" Wednesday

...A few of the more unusual techniques of divination

Ailuromancy- (from Greek ailouros), also known as felidomancy....the art of divination using cats' movements or jumps to predict future events, especially the weather.

Since ancient times the mysterious cat has been associated with witches, the occult and many superstitions, so it is not surprising that diviners used them to search for clues to the future. One of the oldest and most common method of ailuromancy uses the behavior of a cat to predict the weather. If it turns its tail to the fire, it foretells a change of weather, particularly rain or hard frost. If the cat lies curled up with its forehead touching the ground, it means that stormy weather is in its way.

Aleuromancy- a divination method that was popular with the ancient Greeks. Sentences were composed that were written on very small pieces of paper and rolled up into balls of flour. The balls were then mixed up nine times and given to those seeking information on their future. This form of divination was presided over by Apollo.

Moleosophy- Like palmistry, tarot and numerology, Moleosophy or the study of moles is also a branch of astrology – a form of divination by studying the moles or the birthmarks on your body. Moleosophy or the study of moles on the body was developed dates back during the civilization of the ancient Greeks.

Gyromancy- a form of divination performed by going round in circles.The circumference of the circle is marked by letters. The message was gained from the words formed by the inquirer when they stumbled on the letters when going round the circle.







"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." -Marie Curie