The Magic of Mancy Trivia Quiz

Answer: Communicating with the dead

Necromancy is a form of magic which involves communicating with the dead. It is practised through séance meetings by people who want to conjure up deceased relatives or divine the future through spirits able to foretell coming events.

False answers in this question:
Bibliomancy - divine by reading the script from sacred text
Gyromancy - divine by walking in a circle
Myomancy - divine by watching the movement of mice or rats

Answer: Stones

Lithomancy features thirteen stones being thrown onto a surface. An insight is gained by the 'reader' all depending on the pattern and shade of light cast on the stones when they land. The stones can vary from user to user; some are polished crystals, some coloured, some plain pebbles, while others may be marked with a glyph. Readings are normally linked to the planets and/or the colour that emits from their landing position. Blue for tranquility, red for love, yellow for betrayal, grey for illness or death, purple for sorrow, and green for success. Each reader may divine the stones differently.

Answer: Cartomancy

All 52 cards in a standard pack of playing cards represent the 52 weeks of the year. The four suits represent the four seasons, the four cardinal directions and the four elements. So water, winter and north is linked to hearts. Fire, summer and south is linked to clubs. Earth, autumn and west is linked to diamonds, and finally, air, spring and east is linked to spades. Tarot readings are similar but they use their own specific pack of playing cards.

False answers in this question:
Spodomancy - divine by examining ashes
Axinomancy - divine using an axe or saw
Taromancy - divine by reading tarot cards

Answer: Death line

Divination by reading palms goes back to ancient times. Palmists tend to read your most active hand, the one that you write with, as it shows a more in-depth view in to what is happening now and in the future. The other more passive hand shows details of your childhood. Each palm has several lines, the most pronounced being the fate, life, heart and head line. Other main lines include the line of Apollo or sun, health line and marriage line.

Answer: Crystallomancy

Reading into a crystal ball is a form of scrying; the ability to see visions or images by gazing into a pool of water, mirror or crystal ball. Mystics have used this form of fortune telling for thousands of years, dating back to the Ancient Egyptians, Mayans and Aborigines of Australia. Many symbols can be seen inside the crystal ball and these include a cup for love, moon for a peaceful life, a bird for good fortune and a frog or pig for fertility.

False answers in this question:
Theomancy - divine from the responses of oracles
Alomancy - divine by using salt
Clamancy - divine by studying photos and pictures

Answer: Wheel of Fortune

Cyclomancy is a method of divining by using a wheel or rotating circle. The wheel is marked with letters or symbols, and once spun, the symbol which stops nearest to the marker can be read or divined. In the famous television show, "The Wheel of Fortune", the wheel is marked with cash prizes, or the dreaded bankrupt sign.

Another television show which includes a form of cyclomancy in its format is "The Price Is Right".

Answer: Divining dreams

The Greek word oneiromancy is taken from two separate meanings; the word "oneiros" for dream, and the word "manteia" for prophecy or divine. Interpreting dreams date back to Ancient Egypt and it is still a popular form of divination today. Many books have been written which list the different dreams and their meanings. I often dream of eating chocolate, and this denotes that I will "provide abundantly to those people who are dependent on me". Does that mean I have to give some of my chocolate away?

Answer: Cat

Cats have been the subject of revere since Egyptian times. Ailuromancy studies their movements and the way they jump to divine future happenings. If a cat washes its face or ears, it is supposed to rain. If a cat follows you, then money is supposed to come your way. Black cats have been associated with witchcraft, and depending on where you live, they can be seen as good or bad luck.

Answer: Divining rod

Rhabdomancy is the study of divining water and minerals which are underground. By using a forked rod, staff or branch from a tree, diviners can tell by the spasmodic movement of their equipment that they have found something hidden. The wood normally used was hazel or willow. Wünschelrute or "wishingrod" was a very popular practice in Germany used by fortune tellers.

In some parts of the same country, they called the practice Schlagruthe, or "striking-rod", by miners when they located mineral ores.

Answer: Tasseomancy

Tasseomancy, or tasseography, is the study of tea leaves once the last drop of liquid has been drained away. The majority of people associate this form of divination when a plain white cup is used, but patterned cups with the sign of the zodiac has been used in certain countries since the 18th century. The grounds of coffee and sediments from wine have also been used in this age old custom.

False answers in this question:
Anstromancy - divine from interpreting the direction of winds
Sciomancy - divine by studying the shape of shadows
Myomancy - divine by looking at mice