Xylomancy

Etymology

Derived from the Greek xulon ('wood') and manteia ('prophecy')

Methods

Xylomancy is a form of divination that is practiced in Slavonia. The divination is done by interpreting the shape and position of dry pieces of wood found in one`s path. Presages of future events were also drawn from the arrangement of logs in the fireplace and from the manner in which they burned.

Patterns made by fallen tree limbs, branches, twigs, or other pieces of wood on the ground were interpreted during biblical times in this form of divination. In ancient times, only branches that had fallen naturally were used. In a later system, branches were stripped of half of their bark and tossed to the ground to form random patterns that were interpreted.

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