What is Divination?

Divination is a branch of magic that practices seeking the future by different supernatural means. It is an ancient practice that uses a series of tools and rituals that seek knowledge into the past, present and future. In order for one to pursue Divination techniques, one must require a clear mind with concentration during the various rituals. Concentration enhances insights into events, emotions and thoughts, details and appearances of visions. Examples of sub-branches of Divination are Human Divination and Centaur Divination.

What is Human Divination?

There are witches and wizards whom are born with a natural gift for prophecy. They are known as Seers who can use their inner-eye to foresee the future, though non-magical folk can also learn Divination methods and develop insights over time. Divination in the human world has been practiced since ancient times. The first method of fortune telling among the human race was known as Chinese Fortune Sticks, which was practiced since the Jin Dynasty.

Even witches and wizards who have the ability to know magic are skeptical of Divination. The famous Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore for example found Divination to be an imprecise branch of magic. It was such a strong opinion that Dumbledore was close to closing the Divination curriculum at Hogwarts until he took on Sybill Trelawney who was a true Seer and became a trusted Divination professor.

Wands that aid with this form of magic are those made of Silver Lime or Rosewood, the first having a talent for Divination and Legilimency and the second for Divination and any magic related to prophecies.

What is Centaur Divination?

Unlike Human Divination, Centaur Divination is quite distinct. Instead of banking on multiple methods of fortune telling, Centaurs primarily base their practice around the movement of planets, moons and stars. This method, however, takes quite a bit of time-- it's not uncommon to take about a decade for a Centaur to understand the makeup of the galaxy's movement that describes and event, and sometimes even then this art is hardly precise.

A well-known Centaur who practiced Divination was Firenze. In 1996, he taught Divination in Hogwarts and often put down the Human Divination methods calling them "self-flattering nonsense." He, like all Centaurs, had a low opinion of Human Divination in general.

When do Students Learn Divination?

Students who are based in Hogwarts can learn Divination from their third year onwards as an elective course. The curriculum of Divination primarily revolves around how to use the various tools and rituals of this branch of magic. Students learn the many sub-branches of Divination such as foreseeing the future, using rituals such as crystal-gazing, tea leaves and coffee grounds, palm reading and more.

What Careers are Affiliated with Divination?

Divination careers are scarce but are available within the Wizarding World. If positions are open, becoming a Divination professor at a school such as Hogwarts can be a career where the professor would teach students different methods of Divination. Most commonly, witches and wizards who can foresee with the Inner Eye choose to work within the Ministry of Magic's Department of Mysteries, where they help update the once destroyed Hall of Prophecy. Lastly, another option is starting freelance work in shops or as a Naming Seer, a person who can predict a child's future and suggest a suitable name for a hefty sum. The latter is becoming an increasingly rare practice, however.

Methods of Divination

There are many methods of Divination within Human Divination. Methods that will be explained includes:

• Astrology
• Cartomancy
• Catoptromancy
• Chinese Fortune Sticks
• Dream Interpretations
• Ornithomancy
• Palmistry
• Pyromancy
• Tasseography
• Xylomancy
• Runic Divination

Each method will be explained in brief below.

Astrology

Astrology is the ability to foresee the future using the movements of the planets, moons and stars. This is a distinct form of Centaur Divination. This method of Divination takes about a decade to fully analyze and can be found to be imprecise. However, Centaurs find it to be a practice that is meaningful as it takes time and patience to explore rather than one day. Planets and their alignment in the sky have different meanings. For example, Mars, a planet of fire, is related to burns and accidents. When this planet is aligned, one must have extra caution when handling hot things. It's position can also warn of an impending war.

The use of Zodiac signs is also a form of Astrology. Those who practice Divination can gain a lot of knowledge about a person's personality, emotions and thoughts by studying their astrology sign. The signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Each Zodiac sign coincides with an element (fire, water, wind, earth), planet and moon. When one creates their personal chart, a chart that shows the position of the planets at the time of a person's birth, they are able to acquire knowledge of their day-to-day horoscope.

Cartomancy

An old practice that involves the reading and interpretation of Tarot Cards. Tarot Cards consist of 78 cards divided into two different categories: Major Arcana and Minor Arcana.

Major Arcana
There are a total of 22 cards in the pack of 78. Major Arcana cards represent significant events in a person's life that are real-world and large-scale. When laid out to predict the future each card has a unique meaning.

Minor Arcana
There are a total of 56 cards in the pack of 78. Minor Arcana cards represent day-to-day life. Unlike Major Arcana, the Minor Arcana cards have four "suits" that each has a theme. Each suit is numbered one through ten with four additional cards: Page, Knight, Queen and King. It is very similar to a regular deck of cards but with a much more magical meaning.

• Pentacles: Also referred to as coins, are things in the material and physical world. In other words, it relates to day-to-day experiences that coincide with money matters, career and success.
• Wands: This suit is much more spiritual than physical. Wands helps identify growth and new beginnings in life as well as ideas and innovation. In a way, it can relate to your sense of purpose in the world in which it helps guide your being to where you need to go.
• Swords: This is associated with conflict and strife. Swords cut to the heart of a matter and reveal not only our greatest challenges, but our internal conflict as well. They can tell of illness, war, loss and death, grief, heartbreak and more. When getting a card that shows Swords, it is not to be looked at with negativity as it helps us move forward and acknowledges the challenges in which can make us ready for the negative where it can then be a positive impact.
• Cups: Related to our emotional well-being, cups are connected to how our emotions work and help us get in turn with our relationships with family, friends and loved ones. It not only reveals how we feel about others, but how others feel about you.

Tarot Spreads
Tarot cards can be spread in multiple ways. They can either be placed as a cross called the Celtic Cross, a square or a line. No matter the shape, it will always have room for the following categories: past, present and future. When reading the Tarot cards, it is important to keep in mind what position the card is flipped as it can make a difference in interpretation.

Knowing which spread to make depends on the person you are reading for. If the person is asking a specific question, it is best to use the Celtic Cross as it will help draw in the information needed for said question. However, there are some people that do not have a question in mind and would rather want their spirituality challenged. In this case, it is best to use the line method.

Catoptromancy

Catoptromancy is a form of divination that uses mirrors and other reflective surfaces. There are three different types of catoptromancy that can be used on a daily basis: scrying, psychomanteum and crystal gazing.

• Scrying: The ability to "see" visions and messages by looking through a suitable medium of choice. This form of Catoptromancy focuses primarily on the interpretation of objects than the interpretation of rituals. In order to Scry, one must be in a self-induced trance. Some people deem this method unreliable because the user must have a sensation that is very drug-like and in some cases, some users use drugs to help with that connection. In short, it makes anything seen and interpreted to be invalid.
• Psychomanteum: This method of Catoptromancy is when the user puts themselves in a small room with dim lighting and a mirror angled to reflect darkness. This is using mirrors to connect and communicate with the dead; a form of spiritualism.
• Crystal Gazing: The ability to see visions and messages by gazing into a round, crystal ball that acts as a one-way mirror into the future. The user must be in a trance in order to see visions and messages of the future. Crystal gazing can help the seer provide character analysis, tell fortunes, or can even help others make choices about current situations and/or problems.

Chinese Fortune Sticks

Chinese Fortune Sticks, or Kau Cim, is a practice that is performed in front of an altar. Originating in China, this form of Divination has the client asking a series of questions and answers come from a sacred oracle lot. It is typical to make an offering to the altar with either incense, fresh fruits, cakes or monetary donations.

For this method to work, there are specific tools that are required: a Cim bucket (long cylindrical bamboo cup or tube) and Kau Cim stucks (flat and wide bamboo sticks that are painted red at one end). The sticks also contain a number either in Chinese characters or in Arabic numerals. In addition, no stick is alike from another, and there are a total of 100 sticks within one Cim bucket. Therefore, there are 100 written oracle outcomes for a client to choose from.

Although there are 100 outcomes, each outcome still needs to be interpreted. This method allows for either a temple priest (who watches over the altars in China), volunteers who are able to interpret or even can be self-interpreted by the client. 

Dream Interpretation

Dream interpretation is the act of interpreting messages, objects and visions that are found within dreams. Interpretations can either be an answer to a question, foretelling the future or even a divine supernatural communication with the other. Dreams interpretations can either be from sleeping at night or from daydreaming. 

Ornithomancy

Ornithomancy is the practice of foretelling the future and reading omens from the movement and behaviors of birds. The actions of birds such as their cry, their flying patterns and other behaviors can help determine omens in the future. This type of Divination was often used during the Ancient Greek times alongside Ichthyomancy, divination using fish entrails.

Palmistry

A branch of divination that has been practiced all over the world, Palmistry, or Palm Reading, is the interpretation of the palms of one's hands and their various lines and features. Palmistry has been practiced in many cultures around the world including India, Persia, Ancient Israel, Tibet and Babylonia. Unlike other methods, Palmistry during the Middle Ages was considered one of seven forbidden arts and its use was restricted along with other Renaissance magic.

When undergoing Palm Reading, there are five specifics lines that the reader will be looking for on the palm. Each line contains a special interpretation within the person's life. The line from between the thumb and pointer finger to the edge of the palm is called the Life Line. The line that bows through the middle of the palm is called the Wisdom Line. The line that begins between the pointer finger and middle finger and bows across the top half of the palm is called the Love Line. The line that starts below the middle finger and elongates down is called the Fate Line. And lastly, the small lines that are below the pinky finger are called the Marriage Line.

Pyromancy

Pyromancy is a basic form of divination where the seer observes the appearance of flames to foretell a future or interpret an omen. Unlike other methods, Pyromancy during the Middle Ages, was considered one of seven forbidden arts and it was restricted to use among other Renaissance magic. There are many subcategories of this branch of magic from a sacrificial fire to interpretation by flame shapes and the smoke that goes with it such as Alomancy, Botanomancy, Capnomancy, Causinomancy, Daphnomancy, Oesteomancy, Plastromancy, Scapulimancy and Sideromancy.

• Alomancy: The practice of throwing salt into a fire.
• Botanomancy: The method of Pyromancy that burns plants into the fire.
• Capnomancy: A method that focuses on the smoke of the fire. If the smoke rises up, then it is a positive omen. If it goes down, then it is a negative one.
• Causinomancy: The practice of burning objects of any kind.
• Daphnomancy: Also known as Empyromancy, is the practice of burning laurel leaves.
• Osteomancy: The practice of using heat to burn and crack bones for interpretation.
• Plastromancy: Often done in China, this is the practice of heating puts carved into turtle plastrons.
• Scapulimancy: Done in Asia and North America, this is the practice of heating shoulder blade bones of any animal. Unlike other methods, Scapulimancy, during the Middle Ages, was considered one of seven forbidden arts and it was restricted to use among other Renaissance magic.
• Sideromancy: The practice of burning straw with an iron.

Tasseography

Tasseography is a branch of divination that bases their interpretations on patterns in beverage sediments. Through this practice, seers are able to have an intuitive interpretation of consistent events. In comparison to other branches, this branch of divination is considered one that is the most natural.

How this method works is that after the user drinks the beverage, the user shakes the cup and turns it over to ensure that all liquid is drained. When dried, the diviner would flip the cup over and read the patterns that they see. Patterns can be shapes that are familiar such as animals or objects. The meaning of these patterns goes hand-in-hand with symbolism. For example, a snake represents falsehood and a house represents change and success.

There are two different types of methods in Tasseography: coffee grounds and tea leaves.

• Coffee Grounds:  This method of Tasseography commonly uses Turkish Coffee Grounds where the grounds are finer and its sediments settle quickly. Unlike Tea Leaves, Coffee Grounds have multiple layers of interpretation. Interpretations are determined by not only the symbolical shapes, but also the placement of such shapes. For example, if symbols were located on the left side of the cup then they represent negative events or outcomes; if on the other side, then they represent positive reads.
• Tea Leaves: Using green tea leaves to decipher patterns in the bottom of the cup to interpret omens. When setting up this method, one will not use a tea strainer as it is important to have all the leaves in the cup. Interpretations are by symbolism of shapes that are found on the bottom of the cup.

Xylomancy

Xylomancy, a method of divination that originated in Slavonia, is the interpretation of dry wood, or twigs, that are found within one's path. Seers would observe the twigs and determine an interpretation by its appearance. Seers would also make predictions on patterns that were made by fallen tree limbs. Having been taught once in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the North Tower, this is one of the few branches of divination that is not necessarily taught often.

Runic Divination

The usage of runes for divination purposes is almost as old as runes itself. With runes possessing their own magic, even Muggles can be trained to interpret and understand the messages behind the runes, although most of them simply tried to lift the veil of their future. 

It must be said that the art of using Runes for Divination is no fortune-telling. You won’t get certain advice to a question you will ask, but rather guidance and options. Rune users acknowledge the future to be an open book and that humans are capable of changing their destined path if they want to. Runes will help you find your path.

The magic of the written signs works best on hard and sturdy objects. It is therefore common to engrave small stones or bones with the runes and use them for Divination. Some use wood, but the material needs to be processed further to avoid rot, which can tamper with the magic of the runes. Each user has their own collection of rune stones or bones that they created themselves. They won’t use any other stones or bones but the ones they engraved and infused with their subconsciousness, making it hard for other people to use their stones.

They work best for their owner, but the owner may ask questions for others as well. The answer won’t be as exact, however, and the guidance that they offer might not always be the best option.

Reading
Each rune has its own meaning, so depending on the user's question, the runes will fall and present a message that needs to be translated. They should always be laid out on soft fabric, one that belongs to the person asking the question or wanting the answer.

Nine runes, representing the Nine Worlds of Norse Mythology, are taken randomly out of the rune bag. With the question in mind, they are thrown onto the fabric. Some will land upwards, some will point downwards or in reverse. Their position and layout define their meaning. Each interpretation is unique, but nevertheless, there are a few guidelines to follow. Reversed runes are undefined possibilities of your future, whereas those facing upwards are pointing you to a path you can expect.

Muggles can attempt to use runes for themselves, however, while they can make some interpretations, some of which might seem accurate, they won’t ever have a true connection to their stones. Without magic, they won’t be able to connect to the runes, and their predictions will be nothing more than hollow words.