As defined by Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary...

div*i*na*tion: Function: noun Etymology: Middle English divinacioun, from Latin divination-, divinatio, from divinare

1 : the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers
2 : unusual insight : intuitive perception

As usual, I was ready to give the 'official' definition and then go on to state what the word means to me. However, trusty Webster has it right on the mark. I don't see divination as simply telling the future but gaining other insights, or otherwise hidden knowledge, in addition to the fortune telling thing.

There are probably 50 million different techniques used in divination and I hope to highlight, not only the most popular, but the more interesting ones here. I've used several forms myself, some successfully and others not so successfully. The one thing I hope to express with this page, if nothing else, is that the method you use should be comfortable FOR YOU. Personally, I don't feel that one method is more/less dangerous than another. For example, I have heard a lot of people say that it is extremely dangerous to use a Ouija board for divination or spirit communication. I feel that this is just ridiculous. And yes, I'm speaking from experience. If you have ever had a so-called 'bad' experience using a Ouija board, I suggest you go back to the fundamentals and read What is Magick?

TECHNIQUES Links to more descriptive pages are forthcoming.

Cartomancy: This is a form of divination using cards, either regular playing cards or specialized decks called Tarot. In my opinion there isn't much difference between using Tarot cards and playing cards, except Tarot cards are more visual. It all depends on what you're comfortable with. I am more comfortable with Tarot because I feel more from the symbols and colors.

Chiromancy: The practice of divination by interpreting the lines on someone's palms, better known as Palmistry.

Cleromancy: The casting of lots, usually bones, where the patterns are interpreted. Common in Voudoun and Santeria.

Crystallomancy: A form of divination where one gains knowledge by looking into a crystal, also known as gazing.

Graphology: The study of handwriting, used as a form of divination to determine traits and personal information such as where someone is from.

I Ching: The I Ching symbolism is embodied in a set of sixty-four abstract line arrangements called hexagrams. These are each composed of six stacked horizontal lines; each line is either Yang (unbroken, a solid line), or Yin (broken, an open line with a gap in the centre). With six such lines stacked from bottom to top in each hexagram, there are 26 or sixty-four possible combinations and thus sixty-four hexagrams. Each hexagram is considered to be composed of two three-line arrangements called trigrams. There are 23, hence 8, possible trigrams. Each hexagram represents a state, a process and may represent a change happening. When a hexagram is cast using one of the processes of divination with I Ching, each of the lines may be indicated as moving or fixed. Moving ("old", or "unstable") lines have a polarity in the process of reversal; a full reading will consider the hexagram that would result from the lines changing polarity. The traditional methods for casting the hexagrams use biased random number generation procedures.

Numerology: Numerology is the study of the mystical relationship between numbers and the character or action of physical objects and living things.

Oneriomancy: A form of divination by the analysis of dreams.

Spirit/Witch Board: A talking board is used by one or more operators placing the planchette on the board and then placing their fingers on it. The players start by moving the planchette around the board and begin speaking to the entity (or entities) trying to be summoned and asking questions of it. Eventually the planchette will come to rest on letters, spelling out messages. Often, an additional participant is involved to record the messages on paper.

Tasseomancy: Also known as Tasseography, it is the interpretation of the patterns made by tea leaves in the bottom of a glass or mug.

Runes: In Norse mythology, the invention of runes is attributed to Odin. These are small tiles, rocks or other materials in which the 'runic alphabet' is inscribed. The tiles are cast and then interpreted.