Throughout history, people have sought the ability to glimpse into the future, resorting to the strangest methods of divination. Some of them continue to amaze today.
Divination by Animal Entrails
The method of studying the liver and other organs of animals was popular among the Etruscans and Romans. The Roman haruspex Spurinna is particularly well-known for predicting the fate of Julius Caesar. His famous warning about the "Ides of March" has entered history and literary works, although in reality, the prediction was less accurate and may have been based on knowledge of a conspiracy.
Parrot Astrology
In Southern India and Singapore, parrots were used to select cards that determined a client's fate. One parrot named Mani predicted the outcomes of the 2010 World Cup football matches, although the final proved to be an unsuccessful prediction for him.
Scatomancy
Divination by feces has been practiced since ancient times. In Egypt, priests studied the movements of scarab beetles, while modern methods include analyzing bird or even human droppings by their shape, texture, and smell.
Rumpology
Divination by the shape of buttocks, popularized by Jackie Stallone, uses prints or photographs of buttocks to predict the future. This method has also been applied to animals, such as Dobermans.
Asparamancy
Predictions using asparagus shoots became known thanks to Jemima Packington from England. The shoots are tossed into the air, and their landing is interpreted as an omen of events, including sports results and even royal occurrences.
Lapomancy
Divination by cat paws studies the lines and shape of the animal's paws, supposedly allowing one to understand the pet's inner world and characteristics.
Areolomancy
A method popular in Japan uses the shape and color of the areola to determine a person's character traits and fate. It was promoted by Eri Koizumi, who also performed as a comedian.
Table Turning
The Roman method of divination with a ring and letters on a table, later popularized in the USA and Europe, allowed for obtaining answers to questions through the movement of the ring over the letters.
Automatic Writing
A technique used by mediums and spiritualists, where messages "come" from otherworldly entities through writing without the conscious control of the writer.
Alektromancy
Divination with roosters, where the bird pecks at grains corresponding to letters of the alphabet. This method was used for predictions, including political events, during the time of Emperor Valens.
These unusual methods demonstrate how inventive people have been in their attempts to glimpse into the future, sometimes mixing mysticism with observations of nature and animals.
