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Carromancy
Alternatively known as Ceromancy,
Ceremancy and Ceroscopy.
Derived
from the
Greek
carro ('waxen') and manteia ('divination'), this is an
ancient system of
divination
that draws omens
by melting wax.
According to most occult traditions, Carromancy
is a form of Hydromancy,
developed by the ancient Celts
and Romans, and at one time
commonly practiced in Britain, Sweden, and Lithuania. It
appears that the candle burned during the
Druids' vigil was poured into a bowl and then into a clear pool of cold
water. The auguries for the future would then be read.
Several types of Carromancy have been recorded. In the most common form of Carromancy, wax was
heated in a brass bowl until it was a liquid. The diviner
then
slowly poured it into a container of cold water. This action created
shapes
of hardened wax, forming distinct patterns, letters, numbers and/or
symbols, for the skillful interpretation of the Carromancist. Standard
interpretations were compiled over the centuries, resulting in a system
anyone could learn. The same interpretations were later applied to
Tasseomancy and its many variants.
An alternate method uses boiling water, and the
shapes are read after the water cools. Another technique involved the study of an ordinary candle
burning. The movements and erratic actions of the flame and the shape of the
melting wax were observed for divining the
past, the present and the future.
On yet another method, the
diviner
observed the bubbles formed at the time the melted wax was poured into the
water.
Carromancy although very old, remains popular, especially throughout Puerto Rico and
Mexico, and also Haiti, where is used as part of
Voodoo.
Customarily, the diviner, after listening to the inquirer's questions
and pondering about it,
speaks it loudly. He then carefully melts wax or paraffin in a
Balneum Mariae (double-boiler),
never using an open flame for the task, to avoid igniting the fumes and
causing a dangerous explosion. Finally, the melted wax is poured into cold
water, where it congeals. The shapes and meanings are then interpreted.
See
Divination,
Casting Black Magic Spells,
Commanding Spirits,
The Chakra Store,
The Tarot Store and
Divination & Scrying Tools and
Supplies.
Sources: (1) Dunwich, Gerina,
A Wiccan's Guide to Prophecy
and Divination, Carol Publishing Group; (2)
Spence, Lewis,
An Encyclopedia of
Occultism,
Carol Publishing Group; (3)
Dictionary of the
Occult, Caxton
Publishing;
(4) Pickover, Clifford A.,
Dreaming the Future: The
Fantastic Story of Prediction, Prometheus Books.
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