1. Summa izbu is the ancient name for a set of ancient Mesopotamian omen writings based on teratology (the study of monstrous births). Generally most of the omens relate to the success of the region’s king. These texts were written on clay tablets in the Akkadian language in cuneiform script. The general format of these texts was a protasis-apodosis (if this, then that) format. The name summa izbu translates literally to “if an anomaly”; this reflects a tendency of ancient writers to refer to texts by the content of their first line. Many copies were created by scribes throughout the ancient Near East at the peak of Mesopotamia’s influence. In the ancient city of Ugarit in the Levant, a text with similar content in Ugaritic script and language has been discovered; it is known as the Ugaritic summa izbu because of its similarity to the original widely copied Akkadian text.

    Summa izbu is the ancient name for a set of ancient Mesopotamian omen writings based on teratology (the study of monstrous births). Generally most of the omens relate to the success of the region’s king. These texts were written on clay tablets in the Akkadian language in cuneiform script.

    The general format of these texts was a protasis-apodosis (if this, then that) format. The name summa izbu translates literally to “if an anomaly”; this reflects a tendency of ancient writers to refer to texts by the content of their first line.

    Many copies were created by scribes throughout the ancient Near East at the peak of Mesopotamia’s influence. In the ancient city of Ugarit in the Levant, a text with similar content in Ugaritic script and language has been discovered; it is known as the Ugaritic summa izbu because of its similarity to the original widely copied Akkadian text.

  2. Spodomancy is a form of divination by means of inspection of ashes. A question would be written on ash obtained from a ritual sacrifice, and left in place overnight. The next morning, a response would be obtained depending on which letters were still readable and which ones had faded.

    Spodomancy is a form of divination by means of inspection of ashes. A question would be written on ash obtained from a ritual sacrifice, and left in place overnight. The next morning, a response would be obtained depending on which letters were still readable and which ones had faded.

  3. Taghairm, sometimes interpreted as “spiritual echo,” or calling up the dead, was an ancient Scottish mode of divination. The definition of what was required varied, but may have included an animal sacrifice and involved torture or cruelty to animals and humans. In one version of the taghairm said to be one of the most effective means of raising the devil, and getting unlawful wishes gratified; the ritual included roasting cats alive, one after the other, for several days, without tasting food. This supposedly summoned a legion of devils in the guise of black cats, with their master at their head, all screeching in a terrifying way. “The divination by taghairm was once a noted superstition amongst the Gael and in the northern parts of the Lowlands. When any important question concerning futurity arose, and of which a solution was, by all means, desirable, some shrewder person than his neighbour was pitched upon, to play the part of prophet. This person was wrapped in the warm smoking hide of a newly slain ox or cow, commonly an ox, and laid at full length in the wildest recess of some lonely waterfall. The question was then put to him, and the oracle left in solitude to consider it. Here he lay for some hours with the cloak of knowledge around him, and over his head, no doubt to see the better into futurity; deafened by the incessant roaring of the torrent; every sense assailed; his body steaming; his fancy in a ferment; and whatever notion had found its way into his mind from so many sources of prophecy, it was firmly believed to have been communicated by invisible beings who were supposed to haunt such solitudes.” Scottish historical novelist Sir Walter Scott scornfully described the last method in a footnote to his influential poem Lady of the Lake. He further adds that it could involve another situation “where the scenery around him suggested nothing but objects of horror.” However, Sir Walter Scott could not speak Scottish Gaelic and his concepts of Gaelic culture were sometimes distorted. Other variations practiced have been recorded, and the same name has also been applied to other ritual customs. One variation of the ritual was said to summon a demonic cat called Big Ears, who would grant the summoners answers to their questions, and fulfill their wishes. The last ceremony of this kind is said to have been performed in Mull some time before March 1824, when it was supposedly recorded in the London Literary Gazette.

    Taghairm, sometimes interpreted as “spiritual echo,” or calling up the dead, was an ancient Scottish mode of divination. The definition of what was required varied, but may have included an animal sacrifice and involved torture or cruelty to animals and humans.

    In one version of the taghairm said to be one of the most effective means of raising the devil, and getting unlawful wishes gratified; the ritual included roasting cats alive, one after the other, for several days, without tasting food. This supposedly summoned a legion of devils in the guise of black cats, with their master at their head, all screeching in a terrifying way.

    “The divination by taghairm was once a noted superstition amongst the Gael and in the northern parts of the Lowlands. When any important question concerning futurity arose, and of which a solution was, by all means, desirable, some shrewder person than his neighbour was pitched upon, to play the part of prophet. This person was wrapped in the warm smoking hide of a newly slain ox or cow, commonly an ox, and laid at full length in the wildest recess of some lonely waterfall. The question was then put to him, and the oracle left in solitude to consider it. Here he lay for some hours with the cloak of knowledge around him, and over his head, no doubt to see the better into futurity; deafened by the incessant roaring of the torrent; every sense assailed; his body steaming; his fancy in a ferment; and whatever notion had found its way into his mind from so many sources of prophecy, it was firmly believed to have been communicated by invisible beings who were supposed to haunt such solitudes.”

    Scottish historical novelist Sir Walter Scott scornfully described the last method in a footnote to his influential poem Lady of the Lake. He further adds that it could involve another situation “where the scenery around him suggested nothing but objects of horror.” However, Sir Walter Scott could not speak Scottish Gaelic and his concepts of Gaelic culture were sometimes distorted.

    Other variations practiced have been recorded, and the same name has also been applied to other ritual customs. One variation of the ritual was said to summon a demonic cat called Big Ears, who would grant the summoners answers to their questions, and fulfill their wishes. The last ceremony of this kind is said to have been performed in Mull some time before March 1824, when it was supposedly recorded in the London Literary Gazette.

  4. The Sortes Virgilianae or Sortes Vergilianae (Latin - Virgilian lottery, literally Virgilian lots; singular - sors Vergiliana) is a form of divination by bibliomancy in which advice or predictions of the future are sought by randomly selecting a passage from Virgil’s Aeneid. It was most widely practiced in the later Roman Empire and in medieval times. It seems to have been modeled on the ancient Roman sortes as seen in the Sortes Homericae, and later the Sortes Sanctorum. Sir Philip Sidney’s Defence of Poesie describes Roman beliefs about poetry and recounts a famous Sors Vergiliana by Decimus Clodius Albinus, a Roman who ruled Britain and laid claim to the Roman Empire, but was defeated in battle by Septimus Severus: Among the Romans a poet was called vates, which is as much as a diviner, foreseer, or prophet, as by his conjoined words, vaticinium and vaticinari, is manifest; so heavenly a title did that excellent people bestow upon this heart-ravishing knowledge. And so far were they carried into the admiration thereof, that they thought in the chanceable hitting upon any such verses great fore-tokens of their following fortunes were placed; whereupon grew the word of Sortes Virgilianae, when by sudden opening Virgil’s book they lighted upon some verse of his making. Whereof the Histories of the Emperors’ Lives are full: as of Albinus, the governor of our island, who in his childhood met with this verse, ‘Arma amens capio, nec sat rationis in armis, and in his age performed it.’Rabelais also relates that he drew the more optimistic Aeneid 6, 857, which he took to mean himself. Other recorded Roman instances of the practice are by Hadrian - drew Aeneid 6, 808, taken as predicting his adoption by Trajan and succession to the imperial throne Alexander Severus - drew Aeneid 6, 851, taken as predicting his later becoming emperor Gordian II - drew Aeneid 1, 278 when concerned as to whether he would have a long line of successors or not, taken as predicting the former Claudius II - drew Aeneid 1, 265, apparently predicting he would rule for three more years (he in fact only ruled for two); consulting as to whether his brother Quintillus should be made joint emperor with him, drew Aeneid 6, 869[8], which was taken to predict Quintillus’ death 17 days after being made joint emperor

    The Sortes Virgilianae or Sortes Vergilianae (Latin - Virgilian lottery, literally Virgilian lots; singular - sors Vergiliana) is a form of divination by bibliomancy in which advice or predictions of the future are sought by randomly selecting a passage from Virgil’s Aeneid. It was most widely practiced in the later Roman Empire and in medieval times. It seems to have been modeled on the ancient Roman sortes as seen in the Sortes Homericae, and later the Sortes Sanctorum.

    Sir Philip Sidney’s Defence of Poesie describes Roman beliefs about poetry and recounts a famous Sors Vergiliana by Decimus Clodius Albinus, a Roman who ruled Britain and laid claim to the Roman Empire, but was defeated in battle by Septimus Severus:

    Among the Romans a poet was called vates, which is as much as a diviner, foreseer, or prophet, as by his conjoined words, vaticinium and vaticinari, is manifest; so heavenly a title did that excellent people bestow upon this heart-ravishing knowledge. And so far were they carried into the admiration thereof, that they thought in the chanceable hitting upon any such verses great fore-tokens of their following fortunes were placed; whereupon grew the word of Sortes Virgilianae, when by sudden opening Virgil’s book they lighted upon some verse of his making. Whereof the Histories of the Emperors’ Lives are full: as of Albinus, the governor of our island, who in his childhood met with this verse, ‘Arma amens capio, nec sat rationis in armis,
    and in his age performed it.’

    Rabelais also relates that he drew the more optimistic Aeneid 6, 857, which he took to mean himself.

    Other recorded Roman instances of the practice are by

    • Hadrian - drew Aeneid 6, 808, taken as predicting his adoption by Trajan and succession to the imperial throne
    • Alexander Severus - drew Aeneid 6, 851, taken as predicting his later becoming emperor
    • Gordian II - drew Aeneid 1, 278 when concerned as to whether he would have a long line of successors or not, taken as predicting the former
    • Claudius II - drew Aeneid 1, 265, apparently predicting he would rule for three more years (he in fact only ruled for two); consulting as to whether his brother Quintillus should be made joint emperor with him, drew Aeneid 6, 869[8], which was taken to predict Quintillus’ death 17 days after being made joint emperor
  5. Rhabdomancy is a type of divination by means of any rod, wand, staff, stick, arrow, or the like. One method of rhabdomancy was setting a number of staffs on end and observing where they fall, to divine the direction one should travel, or to find answers to certain questions. It has also been used for divination by arrows (which have wooden shafts) - otherwise known as belomancy. Less commonly it has been assigned to the I Ching, which uses small wooden rods, and also dowsing, which often uses a wooden stick. Rhabdomancy has been used in reference to a number of Biblical verses. St Jerome connected Hosea 4.12, which reads “My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them” (KJV), to Ancient Greek rhabdomantic practices.[7][8][9]Thomas Browne, in his Pseudodoxia Epidemica, notes that Ezekiel 21.21 describes the divination by arrows of Nebuchadnezzar II as rhabdomancy, though this can also be termed belomancy. Numbers 17 has also been attributed to rhabdomancy. W.F. Kirby, an English translator of the Kalevala, notes that in Runo 49, Väinämöinen uses rhabdomancy, or divination by rods, to learn where the sun and moon are hidden, but this interpretation is rejected by Aili Kolehmainen Johnson (1950).

    Rhabdomancy is a type of divination by means of any rod, wand, staff, stick, arrow, or the like.

    One method of rhabdomancy was setting a number of staffs on end and observing where they fall, to divine the direction one should travel, or to find answers to certain questions. It has also been used for divination by arrows (which have wooden shafts) - otherwise known as belomancy. Less commonly it has been assigned to the I Ching, which uses small wooden rods, and also dowsing, which often uses a wooden stick.

    Rhabdomancy has been used in reference to a number of Biblical verses. St Jerome connected Hosea 4.12, which reads “My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them” (KJV), to Ancient Greek rhabdomantic practices.[7][8][9]Thomas Browne, in his Pseudodoxia Epidemica, notes that Ezekiel 21.21 describes the divination by arrows of Nebuchadnezzar II as rhabdomancy, though this can also be termed belomancy. Numbers 17 has also been attributed to rhabdomancy.

    W.F. Kirby, an English translator of the Kalevala, notes that in Runo 49, Väinämöinen uses rhabdomancy, or divination by rods, to learn where the sun and moon are hidden, but this interpretation is rejected by Aili Kolehmainen Johnson (1950).

  6. (Mod note: I was not about to put a picture of poop in with this article.) Alternatively known as Spatalomancy, Spatilomancy, Cropomancy, and Spatalamancy. Scatomancy is literally “divination by excrement,” though it has been used alternatively in a context similar to necromancy. The process by which the excrement is examined is referred to in modern medical terminology as a scatoscopy. In ancient times scatomancers were often influential members of their community called upon to assist in medical diagnosis and trial by ordeal. In one of scatomancy’s forms, popular in ancient Egypt, kleptoparasitic dung beetles were employed. These amazing insects were actually held sacred and immortalized by the Egyptians. They shape, roll and weave dung balls as a sexual display and courtship attractor. The beetles speed and behavior, as well as the appearance of the dung balls, were all taken into consideration for the prognostications. The examination of feces and urine by physicians and folk medicine practitioners has also been performed since ancient times. Medicine men and women were knowledgeable on it, and made predictions as well as diagnoses from feces examination, resembling today’s medical professionals and laboratories.

    (Mod note: I was not about to put a picture of poop in with this article.)

    Alternatively known as Spatalomancy, Spatilomancy, Cropomancy, and Spatalamancy.

    Scatomancy is literally “divination by excrement,” though it has been used alternatively in a context similar to necromancy. The process by which the excrement is examined is referred to in modern medical terminology as a scatoscopy.

    In ancient times scatomancers were often influential members of their community called upon to assist in medical diagnosis and trial by ordeal. In one of scatomancy’s forms, popular in ancient Egypt, kleptoparasitic dung beetles were employed. These amazing insects were actually held sacred and immortalized by the Egyptians. They shape, roll and weave dung balls as a sexual display and courtship attractor. The beetles speed and behavior, as well as the appearance of the dung balls, were all taken into consideration for the prognostications.

    The examination of feces and urine by physicians and folk medicine practitioners has also been performed since ancient times. Medicine men and women were knowledgeable on it, and made predictions as well as diagnoses from feces examination, resembling today’s medical professionals and laboratories.

  7. In early Latter Day Saint history, seer stones were stones used, primarily (but not exclusively) by Joseph Smith, Jr., to receive revelations from God. Smith owned at least two seer stones, which he had earlier employed for treasure seeking before he founded the church. Other early Mormons such as Hiram Page, David Whitmer, and Jacob Whitmer also owned seer stones. Seer stones are mentioned in the Book of Mormon and in other Latter Day Saint scriptures. James Strang, who claimed to be Joseph Smith’s designated successor, also unearthed what he said were ancient metal plates and translated them using seer stones.

    In early Latter Day Saint history, seer stones were stones used, primarily (but not exclusively) by Joseph Smith, Jr., to receive revelations from God. Smith owned at least two seer stones, which he had earlier employed for treasure seeking before he founded the church. Other early Mormons such as Hiram Page, David Whitmer, and Jacob Whitmer also owned seer stones. Seer stones are mentioned in the Book of Mormon and in other Latter Day Saint scriptures. James Strang, who claimed to be Joseph Smith’s designated successor, also unearthed what he said were ancient metal plates and translated them using seer stones.

  8. Rhapsodomancy is an ancient form of divination performed by choosing through some method a specific passage or poem from which to ascertain information. There were various methods for practicing rhapsodomancy. Sometimes, individuals would write several verses or sentences from a poet on multiple pieces of wood, paper, or similar material, shake them together in an urn, and draw one out. Sometimes, they cast dice on a table that was covered with verses; the one on which the die landed was said to contain the prediction. In ancient Rome, the method of sortes involved opening a book and choosing some verse at first sight. This method was particularly called the sortes Praenestinae; and afterwards, according to the poet who was used, sortes Homerica, sortes Virgilianae, etc.

    Rhapsodomancy is an ancient form of divination performed by choosing through some method a specific passage or poem from which to ascertain information.

    There were various methods for practicing rhapsodomancy. Sometimes, individuals would write several verses or sentences from a poet on multiple pieces of wood, paper, or similar material, shake them together in an urn, and draw one out. Sometimes, they cast dice on a table that was covered with verses; the one on which the die landed was said to contain the prediction.

    In ancient Rome, the method of sortes involved opening a book and choosing some verse at first sight. This method was particularly called the sortes Praenestinae; and afterwards, according to the poet who was used, sortes Homerica, sortes Virgilianae, etc.

  9. Shagai, chükö, asyk, refers to the astragalus of the ankle of a sheep or goat. The bones are collected and used for traditional games and fortunetelling throughout Central Asia, and games involving the ankle bones may also be referred to by the name of the bones. They may be painted bright colors. Such bones have been used throughout history, and are thought to be the first forms of dice. In English language sources, shagai may be referred to as “ankle bones”, and playing with shagai is sometimes called ankle bone shooting. Shagai games are especially popular during the Mongolian summer holiday of Naadam. In shagai dice, the rolled shagai generally land on one of four sides: horse, camel, sheep or goat. A fifth side, cow, is possible on uneven ground. Mongolians still exchange shagai today as tokens of friendship. The shagai may be kept in a little pouch. In addition, Mongolians (usually male) also collect wolf shagai, which are viewed as good-luck tokens.

    Shagai, chükö, asyk, refers to the astragalus of the ankle of a sheep or goat. The bones are collected and used for traditional games and fortunetelling throughout Central Asia, and games involving the ankle bones may also be referred to by the name of the bones. They may be painted bright colors. Such bones have been used throughout history, and are thought to be the first forms of dice. In English language sources, shagai may be referred to as “ankle bones”, and playing with shagai is sometimes called ankle bone shooting.

    Shagai games are especially popular during the Mongolian summer holiday of Naadam. In shagai dice, the rolled shagai generally land on one of four sides: horse, camel, sheep or goat. A fifth side, cow, is possible on uneven ground.

    Mongolians still exchange shagai today as tokens of friendship. The shagai may be kept in a little pouch.

    In addition, Mongolians (usually male) also collect wolf shagai, which are viewed as good-luck tokens.

  10. Rumpology or “bottom reading” is a pseudoscience performed by reading the lines, crevices, dimples, warts, moles and folds of a person’s buttocks in much the same way a chirologist would read the palm of the hand. The American astrologer Jackie Stallone claims that rumpology is known to have been practiced in ancient times by the Babylonians, the Indians, and the Ancient Greeks and Romans, although she provides no evidence for this claim. Stallone has been largely responsible for the supposed “revival” of rumpology in modern times. Rumpologist have a variety of theories as to the meaning of different posterior characteristics. According to Stallone, the left and right buttocks reveal a person’s past and future, respectively, although she has also commented that “The crack of your behind corresponds to the division of the two hemispheres of the brain”. According to blind German clairvoyant and rumpologist Ulf Beck, “[a]n apple-shaped, muscular bottom indicates someone who is charismatic, dynamic, very confident and often creative. A person who enjoys life. A pear-shaped bottom suggests someone very steadfast, patient and down-to-earth.”. The British rumpologist Sam Amos also uses shape to diagnose personality, and claims that “A round bottom indicates the person is open, happy and optimistic in life. However, a flat bottom suggests the person is rather vain and is negative and sad.” Rumpology can be performed either by sight, touch or by using buttock prints. In addition to live readings, Jackie Stallone will perform buttock readings using e-mailed digital photographs, and has claimed to predict the outcome of Presidential elections and Oscar awards by reading the bottoms of her two pet Doberman Pinschers. Ulf Buck claims he can read people’s futures by feeling their naked buttocks.

    Rumpology or “bottom reading” is a pseudoscience performed by reading the lines, crevices, dimples, warts, moles and folds of a person’s buttocks in much the same way a chirologist would read the palm of the hand.

    The American astrologer Jackie Stallone claims that rumpology is known to have been practiced in ancient times by the Babylonians, the Indians, and the Ancient Greeks and Romans, although she provides no evidence for this claim. Stallone has been largely responsible for the supposed “revival” of rumpology in modern times.

    Rumpologist have a variety of theories as to the meaning of different posterior characteristics. According to Stallone, the left and right buttocks reveal a person’s past and future, respectively, although she has also commented that “The crack of your behind corresponds to the division of the two hemispheres of the brain”. According to blind German clairvoyant and rumpologist Ulf Beck, “[a]n apple-shaped, muscular bottom indicates someone who is charismatic, dynamic, very confident and often creative. A person who enjoys life. A pear-shaped bottom suggests someone very steadfast, patient and down-to-earth.”. The British rumpologist Sam Amos also uses shape to diagnose personality, and claims that “A round bottom indicates the person is open, happy and optimistic in life. However, a flat bottom suggests the person is rather vain and is negative and sad.”

    Rumpology can be performed either by sight, touch or by using buttock prints. In addition to live readings, Jackie Stallone will perform buttock readings using e-mailed digital photographs, and has claimed to predict the outcome of Presidential elections and Oscar awards by reading the bottoms of her two pet Doberman Pinschers. Ulf Buck claims he can read people’s futures by feeling their naked buttocks.

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Welcome to The Grimoire. A grimoire, within Wicca, is the Book of Shadows. Grimoire, literally, means 'book of magic', as in a medieval manuscript describing arcane rituals.

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