Psychic Sciences - 7

Palmistry is one of the most interesting of psychic sciences and has reached a high state of modern development. Long known as the "language of the hand," it interprets the lines and general formations according to well-accepted rules.

Pegomancy requires spring water or bubbling fountains for its divinations.

Pessomancy requires pebbles for its divinations.

Phrenology, which deals in head formations, is a modern form of psychic science.

Phrenopathy is a similar subject incorporating hypnotism.

Phyllorhodomancy is an intriguing type of divination dating from ancient Greece. It consists of slapping rose petals against the hand and judging the success of a venture according to the loudness of the sound.

Physiognomy is highly modern in its treatment and deals with character analysis through physical appearance of the features. It has older roots, but all of a practical nature.

Precognition is an inner knowledge of things to come, which may lead to Prediction, which is the announcement of such events, or Premonition, a foreboding of the future. These are combined in Prognostication, which goes into specific details, or the greater art of Prophecy, which connotes inspired knowledge of important events, with their fulfillment almost certain.

Psychography is a form of mysterious writing, usually of a divinatory type.

Psychometry is the faculty of gaining impressions from a physical object, either regarding its owner, or the history of the object itself.

Pyromancy and Pyroscopy are forms of divination by fire, wherein powdered substances are thrown on the flames; if these kindle quickly, it is a good omen.

Rhabdomancy is divination by means of a wand or stick. Of ancient origin, much of its history is obscure, but it was the forerunner of the divining rod, discussed in the chapter on Radiesthesia.

Rhapsodomancy is performed by opening a book of poetry and reading a passage at chance, hoping it will prove to be an omen.

Sciomancy is a term for divination gained through spirit aid.

Sideromancy is the burning of straws on a hot iron and studying the figures thus formed, along with the flames and smoke.

Sortilege is the casting of lots in hope of a good omen; this has many phases and variations dating from antiquity and is still practiced today.

Spodomancy provides omens from cinders or soot.

Stichomancy is another form of opening a book hoping that a random passage will give inspiration, something that many people follow today.

Stolisomancy draws omens from oddities in the way people dress.

Sycomancy is performed by writing messages on tree leaves; the slower they dry, the better the omen. A more modern way is to write questions on slips of paper, roll them up, and hold them in a strainer above a steaming pot. Whichever unrolls first will be answered; but a blank slip should always be included in the group.

Tephramancy is the seeking of messages in ashes; tree bark is often burned for that purpose and the diviner looks for symbols as with tealeaves.

Tiromancy is an odd form of divination utilizing cheese.

Xylomancy is divination from pieces of wood. Some diviners pick them up at random, interpreting them according to their shape or formation. Others put pieces of wood upon a fire and note the order in which they burn, forming conclusions as to omens, good or bad.