Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge about the future or unknown events through supernatural means. It has been a part of human culture for thousands of years, and numerous methods have been developed over time. These methods can be categorized into various means of divination. One of the most well-known means of divination is astrology. Astrology is the study of the positions and movements of celestial bodies, such as the stars and planets, and their supposed influence on human behavior and events on Earth. It is believed that the alignment of these celestial bodies at the time of a person's birth can provide insight into their personality traits and future events.
The seeking after knowledge of future or hidden things by inadequate means. The means being inadequate they must, therefore, the supplemented by some power which is represented all through history as coming from gods or evil spirits. Hence the word divination has a sinister signification. As prophecy is the lawful knowledge of the future divination, its superstitious counterpart, is the unlawful. As magic aims to do, divination aims to know. Divination is practically as old as the human race. It is found in every age and country, among the Egytians, Chaldeans, Hindus, Romans, and Greeks; that tribes of Northern Asia had their shamans, the inhabitants of Africa their mgangas, the Celtic nation their druids, the aborigines of America their medicine-men all recognized diviners and wizards. Everywhere divination flourished and nowhere, even today, is it completely neglected. Cicero's words were, and apparently always will be, true, that there is no nation, civilized or barbarian, which does not believe that there are signs of the future and persons who interpret them. Cicero divided divination into natural and artificial. Natural (untaught, unskilled) included dreams and oracles in which the diviner was a passive subject of inspiration, and the prediction that from a power supposed to be then and there within him. Artificial (taught, studied) comprised all foretelling from signs found in nature or produced by man. Here the diviner was active, and the divination came apparently from his own skill and observation. This division is almost the same as that given by St. Thomas with respect to the invocation of demons: divination with express invocation of spirits, embracing dreams, portents, or prodigies, and necromancy, and divination with tacit invocation through signs and movements observed in objects in nature, such as stars, birds, figures, etc., or through signs and arrangements produced by man, such as molten lead poured in water, casting of lots, etc. Dreams here mean those expressly prepared and prayed for with hope of intercourse with gods or the dead. Portents or prodigies are unusual and marvellous sights coming from the lower world. Here we are considering artificial divination.
I, xxxvi, xxxvii , prophets might be consulted on private affairs 1 Kings 9 6 , and the high priest could respond in greater matters by the Urim and Thummim. Under the New Law all divination is forbidden because, placed on a higher plane than under the Old Dispensation we are taught not to be solicitous for the morrow Matthew 6 34 , but to trust Him perfectly Who numbers the very hairs of our heads Matthew 10 30.
It is believed that the alignment of these celestial bodies at the time of a person's birth can provide insight into their personality traits and future events. Another means of divination is tarot card reading. Tarot cards are a deck of cards with symbolic images and meanings.
KJV Dictionary Definition: divination
1. The act of divining; a foretelling future events, or discovering things secret or obscure, by the aid of superior beings, or by other than human means. The ancient heathen philosophers divided divination into two kinds, natural and artificial. Natural divination was supposed to be effected by a kind of inspiration or divine afflatus; artificial divination was effected by certain rites, experiments or observations, as by sacrifices, cakes, flour, wine, observation of entrails, flight of birds, lots, verses, omens, position of the stars, &c.
2. Conjectural presage; prediction.
The reader will shuffle the cards and then lay them out in a specific pattern called a spread. The reader will then interpret the cards based on their position and symbolism to provide insights into a person's past, present, or future. Palmistry, known as chiromancy, is another means of divination that involves analyzing the lines, shapes, and markings on a person's hand. The palmist believes that these features can reveal information about a person's character, talents, and future events in their life. Another method is scrying, which involves using a medium such as a crystal ball, mirror, or water to attempt to gain insights. The practitioner will focus their gaze on the medium and interpret any images, symbols, or visions that they see. This practice has been used by various civilizations, including the Ancient Egyptians and Celtic Druids. Furthermore, there are divinatory practices involving the elements, such as reading tea leaves or casting runes. Tea leaf reading, also known as tasseography, involves interpreting patterns and symbols formed by loose tea leaves in a cup. Similarly, rune casting involves using a set of symbols carved into stones or wood to gain insights and guidance. Lastly, there are divination methods involving dreams, such as dream interpretation and oneiromancy. Dream interpretation involves analyzing the symbols, emotions, and events experienced in a dream to gain insight into one's subconscious or potential future. Oneiromancy, on the other hand, involves interpreting dreams as messages from the divine or spirits. Overall, divination encompasses a wide range of means through which individuals seek knowledge of the future or the unknown. These methods rely on supernatural or symbolic elements and have been practiced by different cultures throughout history. While some may view divination as a means of entertainment or self-reflection, others believe in its ability to provide genuine guidance and foresight into their lives..
Reviews for "The Art of Scrying: How to Connect with the Spirit Realm through Divination"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Means of Divination". The plot seemed promising at first, but it quickly became convoluted and hard to follow. The characters were also quite one-dimensional and lacked depth. I found myself struggling to connect with any of them. The writing style was also a bit choppy, making it difficult to stay engaged in the story. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
2. Emily - 1 star - I found "Means of Divination" to be a complete waste of time. The story meandered aimlessly and made no sense most of the time. The author seemed more interested in creating bizarre and unnecessary plot twists rather than developing a coherent narrative. The writing style was also pretentious and overly descriptive, making it a chore to read. I couldn't wait to finish this book and move on to something better.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Means of Divination", but it turned out to be a letdown. The pacing was all over the place, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed and incomplete. The characters were also quite forgettable and lacked any real development. The concept of divination in the story had potential, but it wasn't executed well. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Mark - 2 stars - "Means of Divination" was a confusing and disjointed read. The plot seemed intriguing at first, but it quickly became convoluted and hard to follow. The author introduced too many unnecessary subplots and characters, which only served to distract from the main story. The dialogue was also stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to stay engaged. I was disappointed by the lack of cohesiveness and would not recommend this book to others.
5. Laura - 1 star - I really didn't enjoy "Means of Divination" at all. The story lacked direction and purpose, leaving me feeling confused and unsatisfied. The characters were shallow and uninteresting, and there was no emotional connection to be made. The writing style was also dry and uninspiring, making it hard to stay engaged. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of time and would not recommend reading it.