Within the context of a single paleo-pagan Indo-European culture, discuss three different forms of divination or seership, and give an example of each. (minimum 100 words each)

There is a great deal of information on Greek divination in its many varied forms. One common form of Greek divination was Haruspicy1, or the inspection of the entrails of sacrificed animals. Entrails were used as a way to interpret the wishes of the Gods. There are many sources that attest to the consultation of entrails to predict the future as well.  As Cicero once said, “Nearly everyone uses entrails in divination” (Divination 1.10). Examples of its use can be seen on attic vases as well being mentioned in texts written by Xenophon in which he speaks of entrail readings being preformed shortly before battles. Plato also spoke of the practice in Timaeus.

Entrails were taken from animals that were commonly sacrificed at the various temples, and often entrail readings were taken during these celebrations just before the meat from the sacrifice had been distributed to the celebrants.  This allowed the ritual leaders to know if the sacrifice had been accepted or not. One theory developed by the Stoic school of philosophy for why the Gods spoke through the body parts of slain animals was called “sympatheia (συμπάθεια)” 2. Sympatheia asserted that the divine realms and beings were connected to every part of creation, including the animals being led to the knife. This connection left marks that could be discerned and interpreted because divine entities’ greater movements would affect smaller things and beings on Earth.  The liver tended to be the organ of choice, but the Gods might motivate a diviner to a better organ during the reading.3 Abnormalities of the organs were considered extremely important messages and a single organ could be divided up into different segments which would have specific meanings.

Animals seemed to play important roles in several form of divination used by the Greeks.  Another form of divination that concerns animals is that of “Oionomanteia.4” This system of divination used birds (especially birds of prey) as a means of interpreting the will of the Gods. The person who read the bird signs was called an Auspice.5

“The birds of clearest omen were the great birds of prey--hawks," Apollo's swift messengers,"  and eagles, "the birds of Zeus." It was a good omen if the birds flew from left to right, a bad omen if in the reverse direction.” 6

Perhaps it is because birds fly in the heavens, and are thus closer to the Gods than land bound humans, that they were considered by Cicero and other writers as the most important means for the Divinities to communicate with the mortal world.7  We do not have a list of specific rules which the Auspice would use to judge what exactly the Gods were trying to say by sending a bird flying by. We do know from Roman and other nations that used Oionomanteia, that an Auspice would be required to stand and look in a particular direction when he surveyed the sky. Noises the birds made, or how they flew would also affect how the omen was interpreted.

“We do know, however, that Greek oionoskopeis distinguished between right and left, with right generally being positive and left negative.8 .

The last form of Greek divination I wish to look at is Astragalomancy, or the throwing of dice.  The dice in question were often made from sheep or goat bones called “astragalos”.9 The Greek system often involved the use of dice with a statue of Hermes on which the prescribed interpretations of the numbers thrown would be written. These Hermes statues (often just a pillar with the God’s head adorning the top), were common in market places.

“A passerby would pick up five astragaloi, roll them, note the combination of numbers they displayed and then look up the relevant oracle on the side of the Hermes’ statue.10 

Biblioteca Arcana has also provided a way for the dice throws to be tied into a Greek alphabet oracle by modern users of this system of divination11. The numbers as added up after the dice are thrown are assigned a letter value.  Each letter has its own interpretation based on poems and other Greek writings.

1 Mapping the Entrails: The Art of Greek Hepatomancy by Derek Collins.   http://apaclassics.org/images/uploads/documents/abstracts/collins_1.pdf

2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_Stoicism_terms

3 Ancient Greek Divination by Sarah Iles Johnston. John Wiley and Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Chichester, West Sussex, UK. 2008. p.127

4 Reading the Birds: Oionomanteia in Early Epic by Derek Collins.  Colby Quarterly, Volume 38 Issue 1 March (2002). ( http://digitalcommons.colby.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3362&context=cq&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dgreek%2520entrial%2520reading%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D10%26ved%3D0CGQQFjAJ%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdigitalcommons.colby.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D3362%2526context%253Dcq%26ei%3DzE1JULz4LaebyQH494C4Cw%26usg%3DAFQjCNH_Kz5uRnfs-5Oq9g69j_LhNeYnoQ#search=%22greek%20entrial%20reading%22

5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auspice

6 “A Day in Old Athens,” by William Stearns Davis. p. 186 (1910)

7 Johnston. p129

8 Johnston, p. 129

9 http://www.helium.com/items/1639025-astragalomancy-dice-divination

10 Johnston, p.9911 http://web.eecs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/GAO.html

Last night started with a strong urge and desire for ritual.  I felt the desperate need for spiritual connection with my Gods in a more intense way then the  daily candle lighting with prayer. Lately, I have been feeling as if they want something from me, but I have been unsure what.  I made some whole wheat pita bread, bought a pomegranate, grabbed the alcohol, and the Queen of Heaven incense for offerings.  I followed the full Core Order of Ritual, and asked Hecate to be my gatekeeper.  I figured that I was calling for something rather important, and that meant  a full scale ritual was in order. Form the start, things felt extremely intense. I felt the Theoi were giving me the look of, "About time." 

 I have always been fairly good at keeping at least a light trance during ritual work. This time the trance aspect was much more pronounced.  I felt almost  about to enter that state of trance that tends to better described as visions of a dream like quality.  I felt my vision blur at times, but I never seemed go quite that deep, like something was holding me back.  

I had four Gods in particular that I wanted to speck with: Athena, Dionysus, Hera, and Hades. I asked each in turn if they had a message for me that I needed to hear, and then dew the omens.

Dionysus gave me the reverse Goose ( and, no, this isn't him pinching my boobs as opposed to my ass, but instead the animal... silly people). This one hurt to see.  The meaning of this card is that I have been too overly concerned with my rights, possessions, and territory.  He has been calling me to give up control to him for some time, and I keep saying, "Later."  I don't think, "Later," is going to cut it anymore.  I thought maybe I would dare asking for further clarification on the matter, in hopes that I had read it wrong.  He gave me the Stag in reverse. The Stag in reverse symbolizes a need to examine where pride is either helping or hindering. It also can be drawn as a sign for sacrifice, or purification.  The guide adds, "...perhaps through a letting-go of unnecessary possessions or emotional attachments." His were the only animal cards I drew, the rest came from the Plant Oracle (For those who don't know, I mix the two decks into one large one.  I really like how it works with them combined.)

Athena gave me the Fir Club Moss.  My sweet Lady gave me a true gift with this card. This card is a sign of something that is starting small, but will grow to great power and usefulness. It is a card of initiation.

"...in time you may well look back and realize how much your life has changed because of this one, seemingly small, act... Until now your understanding or perspective on a situation has been impaired, perhaps through lack of emotional distance.  But now it is as if a veil has been drawn aside and unmistakeable clarity has emerged."

What has entered my life during this ritual may seem small, but it will grow, and become something amazing.

Hera gave me Burdock in reverse. This is a card of blame and the need to end the cycle that I tend to fall into.  It is so easy to blame others or myself for every little thing that goes wrong.  I need to stop blaming, find what has gone wrong, or right, find out why, and deal accordingly. The image of the Goose hissing keeps attacking itself to this card in my mind's eye.

Hades gave me flowers. Not just any flowers, but the soothing and calming Chamomile. This is card of rest, calm, and mostly protection. He is calling me to reconnect with my body and soul in ways that will allow for healing and regeneration.  My time at the Fellowship has been wonderful. It feels good to be the go-to person when things need to be done, but at the same time I have been feeling rather disconnected from the group spiritually. I feel burned out and ready to step back.  I have found myself not wanting to go on Sunday mornings, because it is just one more thing I need to do.  It is time for me to take a step back before I find myself walking out the door to never return. I've known this for some time. I am now taking those steps that are needed so that I may rest and rebuild my own spirituality. 

The need to create this space with my Gods  was something I think I have needed for some time now, but was either ignoring, or not recognizing.  Group work is powerful, but I needed this deeper work to be just between us, and with no human on-lookers. My daily prayers and meditations are good, but sometimes more is needed.  I am thinking I need to set time aside to do this more regularly.  Okay, what Druid in their right minds doesn't want more ritual in their lives?

I am picking my divination back up.  Tonight I asked what messages the Kindreds wish to give me.

The Ancestors gave me the Raven in reverse. This is a call to deal with my own darkness, my own destructive tendencies.  Recently a friend of mine started a diet game.  To earn some of the points we have to give up one bad habit.  I have slated my negative self talk as the habit I want gone from my life.  Two days into the game and this is a huge struggle for me. So much so, that I am wondering if I have bitten off more than I can handle.  This card makes me feel as if I am on the right track in what I need to be dealing with.  Raven is also one of my spirit animals. He seems to consistently watch over me when I am in deep trance, acting as guide and occasional head tho-whopper when I need it.  I try to listen to him as much as I can, because he has always led me true.  Thinking this card is going to be a good excuse for some journey work tonight.

The Nature Spirits gave me the fern in reverse. The guide book says this card in reverse is a symbol of self-effacement... beginning to sense a theme here, LOL.

"Feelings of no one noticing you or paying attention," are not exactly accurate for how I feel.  I really don't think I need more attention than I have.  Perhaps this is a call to go into the quiet a bit more? To be that small delicate life on the forest floor, that grows in the shadows of such big things as trees.  Ferns are healing plants, and powerful even though they are small.  I think I will ask about this one tonight while in trance.

“The interpretations should not be read as predictions, but should be used to provide words of advice, insights into the inner dynamics behind events," are the words I am trying to keep in mind while using these cards.

The Theoi have given me the Crane in reverse.  Guess I'm just a backwards kinda gal tonight.

"The 'shadow' side of the crane is manifested as harshness, meanness, and a nagging, complaining disposition... Ask yourself to  what extent you are denying the wise woman who has knowledge of death and the underworld within yourself, and to what extent your negative behavior may be a reflection of this denial."

I read this as a call to look into why I am so naggy, and mean to myself.  What darkness am I trying to ignore, that then turns around and bites me with such hateful ways? Is there more to this than just bad brain chemistry?  Is there something buried that needs to be brought into balance?  Hmmmm