This assignment is not recommended for those who have studied Divination in the past as it is an introductory lesson.

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Excellent, you’re here and ready to learn! To start our overview, we’ll attempt to answer the question, what is Divination?

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According to Merriam-Webster, to divine means:

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to seek to predict future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers

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True Seers are gifted wizards who are able to see into the future without the aid of interpretive tools. Those who veritably possess the Inner Eye may make Prophecies, or predictions about the future, which are recorded in orbs and kept in the Ministry’s Department of Mysteries.

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Even those who are not gifted as natural Seers are able to divine with the use of interpretive tools. These may include crystal balls, tea leaves, runes, and Tarot cards. Many methods of Divination incorporate these interprative tools in order to help answer questions, analyze the past, and anticipate the future. Other methods, such as Palmistry and Astrology, focus on patterns and symbols in the world around us to make observations and interpretations.

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Each method that we will study has advantages and limitations, and some methods are more suitable to certain situations than others. As you learn about each method of Divination, think about the types of information that can be ascertained. Does the method answer a question or make unprompted observations? Do the readings focus on one person, multiple people, or the world at large?

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When used properly, Divination can guide us to improve our lives by helping us to make informed decisions and increase our control over the future. Divination is not destiny; rather, it provides insight to help us overcome challenges.

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Now that we’ve discussed a basic definition of Divination, we’ll be looking at the terms that will commonly come up in our study of Divination. Please note that these terms may vary from one resource to another, but these definitions should help you understand these terms in the course of our lessons.

 

Querent – the person who is asking a question or seeking information

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Reader – the person who is completing a reading or performing another method of Divination

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In some cases, the Querent and Reader may be the same person. Although not all methods of Divination involve “reading”, I will use the term Reader to generally refer to the person performing the method.

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Tool – an object used to aid in the process of Divination, such as Tarot cards

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Symbol – a image or representation of an object or concept that appears in Divination, often representing something else

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Branch – a subset of Divination; for example, Cleromancy is any Divination done by casting

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Method – a particular type of Divination and the process used to complete it

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There is some overlap between branches and methods of Divination, but in some cases there are distinctions, so be careful using these words interchangeably.

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Many branches/methods of Divination end with the suffix -mancy, which is derived from the Greek word manteia, meaning prophecy. By breaking down these words and analyzing their roots, we can often discover their meaning. For example, the Greek word lithos means stone; therefore, Lithomancy is Divination by gems or stones.

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Assignment

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Choose one of the following activities to complete.

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OPTION A: READ AND RESPOND

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Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. Your responses must be in your own words.

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1. What do you already know about Divination, prior to taking this course? What are you hoping to learn? 10 points

 

2. Divination is often considered an art form. Why do you suppose this is? 10 points

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3. Describe a situation in which the Querent and the Reader might be the same person. 5 points

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4. Symbols that appear in Divination often have either a positive or negative connotation, or feeling. For each of the following symbols, describe whether you think the reading would be positive or negative, and briefly explain your answer. 2 points each

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• Kite

• Pig

• Wheat

• Butterfly

• Hourglass

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5. Based on its root word, what do you think Pyromancy is? What about Hydromancy? 5 points

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OPTION B: RESEARCH

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Do some research about Divination methods. Find at least eight different methods and describe them for me, including such things as what they are, and in what context they are most commonly used. 5 points each