Aeromancy is divination by observing atmospheric phenomena.
Aeromancy is also known as nephelomancy and aerimancy. In Italian this field of divination is called aeromanzia.
The word aeromancy comes from Greek, aero meaning air and manteia meaning divination.
Aeromancy is more than just predicting the weather, it is the art of foretelling the future by observing atmospheric, air, and sky phenomena. This includes observing wind currents, cloud shapes, cloud formations, comets, falling meteors (“falling stars”), rainbows, changes in weather patterns, storms, and anything else natural that can be seen in the sky.
Ancient peoples associated the weather with the gods and goddesses, believing that the weather revealed the will of the divine.
Eromancy is divination by taking omens from the air.
Austromancy is divination by studing the winds and cloud shapes.
Anemoscopy is divination by studying the winds. This ancient practice involves studying the speed, direction, and sound of the wind.
Anemoscopy can also include observing certain objects (such as dust or smoke) blowing in the wind, especially the shape of dust clouds blowing in the wind. A variation of anemoscopy involves asking a question and then tossing a handful of dirt, sand, or seeds into the air and observing the answer from the pattern of the resulting dust clouds.
Anemoscopy by the sound of the wind involves discerning answers and messages directly from the changing sounds of stronger winds or even the sounds of wind chimes moving in gentle winds.
A pendulum variation of anemoscopy involves holding a pendulum over a circle lined with runes or other symbols and observing how the wind blows the pendulum.
Nephomancy is divination by studying clouds. This involves observing and interpreting the color, shape and position of clouds in the sky.
The Celtic Druids made extensive use of nephomancy, which they called neladoracht.
A Medieval form of aeromancy involved summoning ghosts and specters to project images of future events onto clouds.
François de la Tour Blanche wrote that aeromancy was the art of fortune-telling when specters materialize in the air, possibly with the aid of demons, projecting images of the future onto clouds like a magic lantern.
Modern nephomancers observe the ever changing shapes of cloud formations as a form of meditation.
Chaomancy is a form of aeromancy that looks for visions in the sky, particularly in the shapes of clouds and cloud formations. The Hindu, Etruscans, and Babylonians made extensive use of chaomancy.
Ceraunoscopy (also called keraunoscopy) is divination by observing thunder and lightning. Ancient peoples believed that thunder and lightning were direct communications from the gods and goddesses, such as Thor (thunder) or Zeus (lightning). The Hindu, Etruscans, and Babylonians made extensive use of ceraunoscopy.
Tinia, the Etruscan god of lightning, was particularly associated with ceraunoscopy. Similarly, Adad, the Babylonian god of thunder, lightning, and prophecy, was particularly associated with ceraunoscopy.
François de la Tour Blanche “As for thunder and lightening these are concerned with the auguries, and the aspect of the sky and of the planets belong to the science of astrology.”
In the Middle Ages, Europeans believed that thunder and lightning were omens of coming war, floods, or the death of an important person.
Ceraunomancy is divination by observing lightning. Ancient Roman augurs believed that lightning bolts from the east were favorable omens, while lightning bolts from the west were bad omens. Lightning bolts from the north were the worst omens. Lightning bolts from the northwest were a sign that very bad news would arrive soon.
Brontoscopy is divination by listening to the sound of thunder. Ancient Roman augurs (priests who specialized in the interpretation of auspices, the movement of birds, or sometimes other animals) believed that thunder from the left was a lucky omen or happy ending. Thunder from the right was a bad omen. Thunder on Sunday indicated the death of aan educated or wise man, such as a judge, general, or scholar. Thunder on Monday indicated the death of a woman. Thunder on Tuesday or Thursday was a good omen, indicating plenty of grain (especially wheat, which the Romans called corn, not to be confused with maize) and sheep. Thunder on Wednesday indicated the death of a prostitue or beggar or some other more general kind of bloddshed. Thunder on Friday indicated the murder of a great man. Thunder on a Saturday indicated widespread death, especially by plague.
Roadomancy (also called astromancy) is divination by observing stars, comets, and meteors. This differs from astrology.
Some people believe that a sincere wish made on the first star seen in the night sky will come true. Often the first night object seen in the sky is the planet Venus, which is sometimes called the morning star or evening star (depending on when it is seen).
Cometomancy is the taking of omens from comets. Information can be gathered by observing the appearance of comet tails.
Meteormancy is divination by observing meteors (often called “falling stars” or “shooting star”). Some people believe that a sincere wish made quickly while a “shooting star” can still be seen in the night sky will come true. In the 19th Century (1800s) people believed that a “shooting star” was a sign that a child had been born.
In Mithraism, the story of the birth of Mithra includes an example of aeromancy. Twelve Zoarastrian Magi (highly respected priest-magicians from the sacred caste of the Medes in Persia) followed the sign of a bright star that suddenly appeared in the sky to mark the location of the birth of Mithra. Mithra was born of a virgin Goddess. The Magi brought three gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, symbols of a king.
Several hundred years later the Christian followers of Paul claimed that an unspecified number of eastern Magi (by tradition, three) followed the sign of a bright star that suddenly appeared in the sky in the east. After meeting with King Herod and the high priests of Judaism in Jerusalem, the Magi followed the star six miles southward to Bethlehem to find the location of the birth of Jesus by the virgin Mary. The Magi presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Magi then were told in a dream to return home without seeing Herod.
deities associated with the sky
- Aditi (Hindu Goddess)
deities associated with the wind
- Amon (Kemetic God)
deities associated with lightning
- Agni (Hindu God)
See also: divination
using 
.
