hydromancy
Prophecy through water
Hydromancy is divination by water—interpreting patterns, movements, or reflections in water to foretell the future or reveal hidden knowledge.
Ancient practitioners might observe ripples, colors, or images appearing in pools, fountains, or bowls of water.
The practice belongs to a family of "-mancy" words naming forms of fortune-telling: necromancy, pyromancy, chiromancy.
Visionary surface-gazing
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- seerOne who envisions futures
prognostication · foretelling · soothsaying · augury · omens · diviner · sibyl · geomancy
Concave food container
- basinConcave water receptacle
- vesselReceptacle for contents
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- ripplesSmall surface undulations
droplets · fountain · well · pool · spring · casting · gazing · surface
Water dropping from clouds
Accessible to few
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- mysticalOf hidden spiritual significance
- occultConcealed from view
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
magick · hermeticism · theurgy · alchemy · grimoire · ritual · incantation · invocation
Middle size or state
- channelingDirecting flow or energy
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
- séanceSpirit communication ritual
- spiritsLiquor or apparitions
communion · summoning · otherworld · vision · apparition · manifestation · possession · clairvoyance
scrying
Visionary surface-gazing
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
seer · prognostication · foretelling · soothsaying · augury · omens · diviner · sibyl · geomancy · pyromancy
bowl
Concave food container
- basinConcave water receptacle
- vesselReceptacle for contents
- reflectionReturned light or thought
ripples · droplets · fountain · well · pool · spring · casting · gazing · surface · mirror
rain
Water dropping from clouds
pool · tide · wave · dew · stream · lake · sea · aquatic · flowing · still
esoteric
Accessible to few
supernatural · magick · hermeticism · theurgy · alchemy · grimoire · ritual · incantation · invocation · conjuring
medium
Middle size or state
- channelingDirecting flow or energy
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
- séanceSpirit communication ritual
spirits · communion · summoning · otherworld · vision · apparition · manifestation · possession · clairvoyance · psychic
hydromancypyromancy
Divination by interpreting flames
geomancy · crystal gazing · necromancy · chiromancy · palmistry
hydromancyempiricism
Knowledge through observation
scientific method · hydrology · evidence-based reasoning · meteorology · skepticism