Oomancy
Oomancy (sometimes ovomancy or ooscopy) refers to divination by eggs. An example would be the oracular reading (i.e., scrying) of the shapes that a separated egg white forms when dropped into hot water. This appears to be similar to methods of molten lead divination, which ascribe meaning to the shapes and forms into which hot lead solidifies.[1]
Along with other young girls of Salem Village, Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams are known to have to played at reading omens by means of an egg and a mirror (or "Venus glass"): an apparently similar system of egg divination.[2]
References
- ↑ "Museum Object #52: Copper pan". Museum of Witchcraft. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
Another form of divination dating from ancient times involved dropping molten lead into a container of cold water from a height. The hot lead hit the water and instantly solidified into all manner of shapes and forms from which the wise woman would make her readings. Sometimes egg white was used instead of lead - safer and cheaper but less impressive. (Adapted from text by Cecil Williamson).
- ↑ Breslaw, Elaine G. (1997). Tituba, Reluctant Witch of Salem: Devilish Indians and Puritan Fantasies, p. 89, at Google Books.
See also
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