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 roadomancy. 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 also engaged in roadomancy when they 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 by a different route without returning to Herod.

    Aeromancy is divination by observing atmospheric phenomena.

See also: divination and aeromancy.

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