‘Divination (from Latin divinare “to foresee, to be inspired by a god”, related to divinus, divine) is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic, standardized process or ritual. Used in various forms throughout history, diviners ascertain their interpretations of how a querent should proceed by reading signs, events, or omens or through alleged contact with a supernatural agency.’ –Anthropological Studies of Divination. anthropology.ac.uk.
Throughout recorded history, humans have sought knowledge about the future, and have discovered and utilized a host of techniques in an attempt to understand Existence within the context of a Grand Narrative. Divination, fortune-telling, omens, oracles, augury and prophecy conspire towards the teleological mapping of the present in respect to a forecasted future.
An exploration of this deep and controversial history of faith, superstition and science will begin next week on TheIncubator.