Hydromancy
Hydromancy is the divinatory art of reading water: its movements, ripples, reflections, transparencies and the figures formed in it. Practised since antiquity in many cultures of the world, encompasses different specific techniques: gazing into a basin of water, observing reflections, throwing objects into water, etc.
Origin and history
The word "hydromancy" comes from the Greek hýdōr ("water") and manteia ("divination"). The technique appears in Mesopotamia at least from 2000 BC, in Egypt, in Greece (lekanomancy: divination with bowls of water), in Rome (where the practice was widespread), and in many other ancient cultures. It is one of the oldest divinatory techniques.
In the Western traditions, hydromancy ramified into specific techniques: scrying (looking at reflections in a basin of water for the visions to appear), lekanomancy (throw oil drops on water and read the figures), kapnomancy (combination with the technique of incense smoke on water), hidromancy of the well (consult water in deep wells, especially at midnight). In African and indigenous American traditions, hydromancy combines with rituals of cleansing, communication with water spirits and divination of natural sources and rivers.
Specific techniques
Hydromantic scrying: a black bowl filled with clean water, dim light (preferably candles), formulated question, relaxed gaze on the water without looking for anything specific. Wait for the unconscious to start producing visualisations on the surface — sometimes brief images, sometimes inner sensations, sometimes verbal flashes. Inner clairvoyance technique using water as ground. Lekanomancy: drops of oil are dropped on the water; the figures formed are read iconographically.
Object throwing: small objects (stones, coins, herbs) are thrown into the water; the way they float, sink or arrange themselves is interpreted. Reading of natural sources: contemplation of natural rivers, streams or sources to read messages in their flow, sound, transparency. Tea/coffee water reading (variant of coffee divination): reading the residue or the water-coffee mixture in motion before settling.
How to practise it
Setup: 1) dim space (a couple of candles), without distractions. 2) Bowl or basin (preferably black inside) with clean water. Some practitioners use specific moon water (water exposed to a full moon for one night, then bottled). 3) Question formulated. 4) Sit comfortably, relax, gaze relaxed on the water. 5) Allow visions, sensations or thoughts to arise without forcing — and without rejecting either. The technique requires patience. 6) Then write what came up. With weeks of practice, sensitivity develops.
Also known as
- Water reading
- Water divination
- Hydromancy