General Information from Mistress Arwen
The Soothsayers' Guild was chartered as a Kingdom Guild in A. S. XII and
encompasses a variety of disciplines in the field of divination and prophecy.
Among the most popular categories with SCA members are:
- Oneiromancy/Omens
- The technique of divination by means of portents, including omens and dreams.
- Cartomancy
- Primarily Tarot reading, but also other techniques using part or all of a
standard deck of playing cards such as the Swedish card system. Cartomancy divination is usually valid for
the person asking for a prophecy (the "Querant").
- Casting
- Reading patterns derived from the fall of such items as coins, grain, stones,
bones, wands etc. to predict the future. I Ching, Runesticks, Grain Casting and
Salt Casting fall in this category. Casting techniques may predict for an
individual or a group.
- Astrology
- Divination by study of planetary and solar alignments at a point in time.
- Numerology
- The use of numbers (and the numerical values of letters)
and their associations as a means of prediction.
- Palmistry Cheiromancy
- The study of the lines and topography of the whole hand (or only the palm)
in determining a person's character and future.
- Physiognomy
- The study of the human body in order to determine a person's character and
future. Palmistry is a specialized application of physiognomy.
- Molography
- The study of the distribution, pattern, and character of moles, interpreted
zodiacally, in determining a person's character and future. This is a
specialized form of physiognomy.
- Tasseomancy
- Prediction by means of patterns in tea or coffee grounds in a cup. Zodiacal
interpretation, as well as general patterning, may also be used to divine for the
Querant. Molten lead and wax patterns fall in this catergory
- Scrying
- Prediction from visualization in a crystal ball, flame, dark mirror, bowl of
water, etc. This is a form of precognition prophecy.
Many other techniques have been used in soothsaying, but the above categories
seem to encompass those most frequently used in the Society.
