divinatory

Divinatory is an adjective relating to divination, the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through means considered supernatural or beyond ordinary perception. The term derives from Latin divinare, to foretell or reveal, with divinus meaning prophetic or godly.

Historically, divinatory practices have appeared in many cultures and periods. In ancient Greece and Rome, oracles and augury guided public and private decisions. In East Asia, the I Ching and astrology have informed personal and political life. In Northern Europe, runes were cast or consulted for guidance. Across Africa, the Americas, and Oceania, a wide range of signs, omens, and ritual observers offered divinatory insight. Common categories include textual or symbolic systems (such as tarot cards or I Ching), astral charts (astrology), the interpretation of dreams, and forms of scrying or cast objects (runes, tasseography, lithomancy).

In practice, divinatory methods are used for personal decision-making, ritual matters, or cultural divination within religious frameworks. In modern contexts, divinatory arts appear in spirituality and popular culture, including readings, horoscopes, and alternative wellness settings, sometimes framed as tools for reflection or guidance rather than empirical knowledge.

Criticism varies: scholars typically view divination as a cultural or psychological phenomenon rather than a reliable means of obtaining information about the external world. Debates address interpretation, subjectivity, and ethics, including cultural respect and consent when practices are borrowed or commercialized.