#Witchy_Wednesday: Mantology

Mantology (n) The act or art of divination.

In most magical practices I've seen, there is at least one (more than one for most) form of divination.

I used the picture here, because it's usually what people who aren't practicing think of.. that or a woman in similar dress with a crystal ball. Because people have taken money in exchange for services rendered, it's yet another practice that has been minimized and marginalized to the point of it being a joke in some circles.

Divination is a very ancient practice. It dates back to the earliest civilizations and has many different forms.

 The High Priests of Egypt and Judea used divination. It's even in the bible ( Ephod- Urim and Thummim, Joseph- who became Pharoah's right-hand man by the use of divination, Moses casting lots, Micah 3:5-6 where God pretty much tells Micah that he is being punished by having his divination taken from him, etc...).

Most of us who use divination find that we have a preferred method by which we connect to Spirit(s). Some methods are as follows (I'll only use a few here.. the list is long):

• crystal ball
• tarot cards
• dice
• runes
• bones
• feathers
• water
• mirror
• fire
• dreams
• patterns in nature
• tea leaves
• coffee grounds
• garden tools
• planetary movements
• soil, rocks, sand
• boards (like Ouija)

I tend to connect best by using Tarot cards. How about you? Do you practice divination? If so, what form? Any tips for new-comers? Any advantages/disadvantages to practicing mantology you'd like to share?