Overview of Divination Methods, Part 5
This week, we’ll continue to explore the various branches and methods of Divination that you’ll study in the next few years. Remember, you are not expected to know everything about each method this year – rather, these lessons will provide an overview so that you can decide which topics you’ll study more in depth over the next few years. You will be allowed to look back at these lessons during the exam.
Chartomancy
There are two branches of Chartomancy that we study here at Hogwarts: Cartomancy and Stichomancy. The first, Cartomancy, involves divination through Tarot cards. Tarot cards can be purchased for divinatory purposes in sets of 78 cards. This includes 22 cards which make up the Major Arcana, each representing a stage of life or a typical life experience, as well as 56 cards which make up the Minor Arcana, similar to a traditional deck of cards. The cards in the Minor Arcana depict people experiencing influences that may come up in daily life.
The cards are dealt into a spread, containing anywhere from two to fifteen Tarot cards, for a reading. The reader interprets the images, often looking at them from the perspective of present, past, and future. For more information about Cartomancy, you may read chapters 8-9 of the course textbook, Symbology for Seers, but this is not required at this time.
Stichomancy is another form of divination by paper, but in this case, the tool used for divination is a book, generally of historical or cultural significance. A word or phrase from within the book is chosen randomly, either through flipping and pointing or dropping a small item onto the page. If a single word or phrase is not substantial enough, the process is repeated until a full interpretation can be made.
Theriomancy
This form of divination focuses on animal behavior. There are several types of Theriomancy studied at Hogwarts. The first is Ichthyomancy, or divination by fish. A fish is placed into a bowl specifically used for divinatory purposes, and its behavior is studied to make general predictions about the future.
Myomancy is the study of mice and rats in order to make predictions about the future. Certain behaviors by mice or rats are believed to indicate evil or misfortune. Seers may keep mice and rats to monitor their behavior regularly, but for a particular reading, one places a mouse or rat into a maze in order to observe it as it exits the maze.
Ailuromancy is divination involving cats. Various behaviors of cats are believed to be associated with good or bad fortune; for example, fighting with another cat is believed to predict death, while looking out the window predicts forthcoming rain. Cats are also used to answer yes or no questions by placing them near an entrance to a room; the first paw to enter the room determines the answer to the question.
Finally, Ornithomancy involves studying birds for divinatory purposes. Birds can be observed spontaneously or in a planned session. Certain colors and flight patterns of birds are believed to be associated with certain traits and fortunes. You may read chapter 7 of the course textbook, Symbology for Seers, for more information, but this is not required at this time.
Homework
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. Your responses must be in your own words.
1. What is the name for divination using cats? 5 points
2. What are the two parts of a Tarot deck called? What is the difference between them? 5 points
3. What animal do some seers keep in order to regularly monitor predictions about the future? 5 points
4. What type of book is primarily used for Stichomancy? Why do you think this is? 5 points
Divination 