Aeromancy

Approaching thunderstorm

Aeromancy (from Greek aero, "air", and manteia, "divination") is divination conducted by interpreting atmospheric conditions. Alternate spellings include Arologie, Aeriology and Aërology.^[1]

Practice

Aeromancy uses cloud formations, wind currents and cosmological events such as comets to attempt to divine the future.^[2] There are sub-types of this practice which are as follows: austromancy (wind divination), ceraunoscopy (observing thunder and lightning), chaomancy (aerial vision) and meteormancy (meteors and shooting stars).^[2]

History

The first recorded instance of the word Aeromancy being used was found in Chambers, Cycl. Supp, 1753. It was defined as "That department of science which treats of the atmosphere", rather than a form of divination.^[1] However, variations on the word have been used throughout history with the earliest instance being in the Bible, though the practice is thought to have been used by the ancient Babylonian priests.^[2][3]

Cultural Influence

Aeromancy was mentioned in Deuteronomy 18 as being condemned by Moses.^[3] It is also condemned by Albertus Magnus in Speculum Astronomiae, who describes the practice as a derivative of nigromancy.^[4] The practice was debunked by Luis de Valladolid in his 1889 work Historia de vita et doctrina Alberti Magni.^[5]

In myth

• Tinia, the Etruscan god of lightning
• Adad, the Babylonian god of thunder, lightning, and prophesy
• Amon, Egyptian god of wind, fertility, life, and secrets
• Aditi, Hindu goddess of the sky
• Agni, Hindu god of the sun, lightning, and fire
• Thor, Norse god of thunder
• Zeus, Greek god of the sky and thunder

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Howard, Edwin J. (December 1942). "Four Words in Coxe's a Short Treatise... of Magicall Sciences". Modern Language Notes (The Johns Hopkins University Press) 57 (8): 675. JSTOR 2910532. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Aeromancy". The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World. Harper Element. 2006. pp. 8–9. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Friedenwald, Harry (January 1942). "Apologetic Works of Jewish Physicians". The Jewish Quarterly Review (University of Pennsylvania Press) 32 (3): 237. JSTOR 1452355. 
4. ^ Thorndike, Lynn (July 1927). "Alfodhol and Almadel: Hitherto Unnoted Mediaeval Books of Magic in Florentine Manuscripts". Speculum (Medieval Academy of America) 2 (3): 327. JSTOR 2847724. 
5. ^ Collins, David J. (Spring 2010). "Albertus, Magnus or Magus? Magic, Natural Philosophy, and Religious Reform in the Late Middle Ages". Renaissance Quarterly (The University of Chicago Press) 63 (1). doi:10.1086/652532. JSTOR 10.