Augury
Generally, the art and practice of divination, covering many forms of it, but applying chiefly to interpretations of the future based on various signs and omens found usually in nature, mostly related to the appearance and behavior of animals, which is called Zoomancy. Also, a promising sign of the future.
Augury is based on the belief that spirits or the divine inhabit everything in the natural world and can reveal divine will concerning human decisions and actions.
Specifically, Augury is the art and practice of divination by the observation of the flight patterns, the behavior or the singing of birds. This was a common practice in ancient Rome where Augurs foretold future events by observing and interpreting bird omens, which ranged from the type of bird seen to the direction of its flight, their singing, and so forth. The Romans also used the term augury to divination by eclipses, as well as by thunder and lightning, which was believed to be a direct communication from the god Jupiter.
In ancient Rome Augurs were the officials in charge of observing and interpreting omens for guidance in public affairs. They adopted many of their practices from the older Etruscan culture, passing their intricate system orally from generation to generation.
As time went by, augury became institutionalized in the Roman Republic, and Augurs were gathered into a formal college (The College of Augurs), along with the pontiffs, who administered public ceremonies, and the keepers of the Sibylline books (a collection of ancient oracular prophecies). The augurs' readings were recorded and stored, with the subsequent outcomes, in secret archives.
The College of Augurs in Rome ascertained the gods wishes by reading omens in nearly everything, and was consulted before hand by the state, organizations and private individuals, for almost any and every plan of action. The most common form of augury was ornithomancy, predicting from the sound, appearance and flight of birds.
There was a specific spot on top of the Roman Capitol from which the Augurs, facing south, with veiled heads, read the auspices in the flight of birds. Augurs also accompanied Roman armies and fleets, specifically to read the omens before an engagement was entered upon.
 | | | | |
| | |
| |
Interpreting signs was a very complex task. Signs occurring on the augur's right were considered unfavorable; the reverse was true for those occurring on his left. The speed of flight, the number of the birds, the nature of their droppings, and whether they shed any feathers were all factors to be taken into account. Furthermore, different birds were consulted in a different manner. The voices of crows, hens, owls, and ravens were thought to reveal the gods wishes, whilst with eagles and vultures, flight patterns were considered significant. An alternate method of read omens from the colorful appearance of birds. It's suspected that, in the sixth century, philosopher Anaximander was able to predict an earthquake in Sparta due to his observation of the local birds appearance and behavior.
| | | | |
| | |
| |
See Sorcerer, Radiesthesia, Astrology, Acutomancy, Agalmatomancy, Divination, Coscinomancy, Cleidomancy, Augur, Stoichomancy, Dowsing, Tarot, Heptameron, Demonology, Sortilege, Idolomancy, Demonomancy, Tephramancy, Anemoscopy, Eromancy, Austromancy, Chaomancy, Roadomancy, Capnomancy, Pyromancy, Meteormancy, Ceraunoscopy, Zoomancy, Felidomancy, Horoscope, Horary Astrology, Zodiac, Numerology, Bibliomancy, Mystic Gifts and Charms - New Age Gift Shop & Wicca and Pagan Supplies, Love Spells -- Use these powerful love spells to help you find and keep your true love, The Tarot Store, Divination & Scrying Tools and Supplies, Unique Amulets, Talismans, Good Luck Charms, and Love Tokens, Powerful Witch Doctor Spell Kits, Powerful Spells - Cast by Andreika the Witch, Webmasters Make $$$, AzureGreen - Celebrating All Paths to the Divine, ISIS - Tools for Your Soul's Journey, and The Pyramid Collection - Myth, Magick, Fantasy and Romance.
| | | | |
| | |
| |
Sources: (1) Dictionary of the Occult, Caxton Publishing; (2) Zolar, Encyclopedia of Ancient and Forbidden Knowledge, Souvenir Press Ltd; (3) Pickover, Clifford A., Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction, Prometheus Books; (4) Dunwich, Gerina, A Wiccan's Guide to Prophecy and Divination, Carol Publishing Group; (5) Bailey, Nancy (editor), The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Spells and Magic, Sterling Publishing; (6) Guiley, Rosemary Ellen, The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy, Facts On File Publishing.
| | |
.
.
.
.
.
.
