From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordDivination in which the air supplies the signs.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341.
Historical definition
Chaomancy is the art of foretelling through the air.
Meaning
The definition identifies the medium of the practice. It does not specify one kind of cloud, colour, wind or vision, so those distinctions must come from the passage being read. The subject is foretelling by signs, rather than a general study of the air’s material properties.
Austromantia narrows attention to winds and adds a strongly critical judgement, while Hydromancy and Pyromancy name neighbouring practices through water and fire. The set is useful for navigating the dictionary’s divination terms without assuming that all use the same signs or receive exactly the same evaluation.
Places to read
- ChaomancyRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- AustromantiaWind divination presented through a strongly critical description.
- HydromancyForetelling through manifestations associated with water.
- PyromancyDivination through the signs of fire.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341 — Facsimile