Cleromancy

Etymology and antiquity

The word "cleromancy" comes from the Greek klḗros ("lot, sortition") and manteia ("divination"). The technique is universally documented in all ancient civilisations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Israel (the casting of lots in the Old Testament was considered legitimate divine communication for important decisions — the apostles cast lots to elect Matthias as substitute for Judas). The original Hebrew Urim and Thummim (oracle objects of the high priest) were a form of cleromancy.

In traditional Africa, the cowrie shell oracle (caracolomancy) is a refined cleromancy. In China, the I Ching with three coins or 50 yarrow stalks is the most philosophical cleromancy that exists. In Tibet, the mo with dice is a divinatory tradition still alive. In Rome, the sortes with marked tablets were used in the temples of Fortuna and Hermes.

Common technique

All cleromantic forms share a similar structure: 1) a set of objects with two or more possible states (heads/tails of coin, faces of die, broken/solid lines, marked stones), 2) a question formulated by the consultant, 3) an act of casting that produces a "random" configuration, 4) a codified system of interpretation linking the result with the symbolic meaning. The "randomness" is the entry point of synchronicity: outside conscious control, the unconscious or the "spiritual world" guides the result.

Classical examples: I Ching with three coins — cast 6 times, building a hexagram according to the heads/tails of each cast (each cast determines a line of the hexagram). Runes drawn from a bag — the practitioner takes runes blindly while concentrating on the question; the runes drawn are interpreted. Bones in shamanic traditions — bones of specific animals cast on a cloth; their fall configuration is read. Stones of nature — set of stones with marked symbols, cast and read.

Personal cleromancy

You can build your own simple cleromantic oracle: 1) Choose a set of small objects (smooth river stones for example), with one side that can be marked. 2) Mark them with symbols meaningful to you (basic letters, simple iconographic symbols, words). 3) Build your own "key of meanings" for each symbol. 4) Use the oracle by drawing 1, 3 or 5 stones from a bag while concentrating on the question. The personal cleromantic system, by being created by you with your conscious meaning, can have surprising power once you have used it for some time.