No matter how absurd this might sound but it’s true. Zoomancy is the practice of observing animals to foretell an individual’s future. So far various props tarot cards, playing cards, marbles, pebbles and seashells are used to predict an individual's future based on their specific patterns. However, there are thousands of methods to predict the future that function on intuitive rather than scientific means. Well, the basic reasoning behind the existence of these techniques is the belief in the spiritual world and all those gifted with this intelligence aid the human race in these processes.
History
Alectryomancy presently known as Zoomancy was initially racticed by the ancient Europeans (Italians to be precise) around two thousand years ago. They would first inscribe all the ancient alphabets on the ground and then let the hen or the rooster wander around it. They would place the grains in front of each alphabet and then as the bird ate the grain, the readers would note down the alphabet and then predict the future happenings.
In Babylon, they sprinkled water on any sleeping ox and then the reader would predict future based on the ox's reaction, for an example if the ox opened both the eyes the answer might be a "yes", whereas if both the eyes remained closed then the answer would be a "no".
Hippomancy is the form of prediction through horses. Here, the horses were trained to walk in specific areas and then observations were made in the form of their movements and the pattern of their footprints. They even made calculations based on the amount of dust created in the ground. The custom of hanging horseshoes outside the homes date way back to the times of Hippomancy. In ancient Europe, horseshoes were hung outside the farms in order to save themselves against any evil energy.
Ophimancy is the art of predicting future by the movement of snakes. This was formerly practised by a lot of civilizations. In a majority of mythologies across the world, snakes were always considered the god-like creatures and messengers of knowledge. They were also treated as omens. For an instance, if the snake is coiled then it might mean you should be patient, whereas if the snake was ready to strike, it would mean that it is time to act as far as the questions are concerned.
Groundhog day is a famous festival in the North American countries such as Canada and United states. It is celebrated on February 2nd every year. It is also believed that if the groundhog comes out of its burrow and fails to see its shadow due to the clouds, then the winter will soon end, at the same time if it sees its shadow due to the clear bright sunshine, it will be frightened and will run back to its burrow which means that the winter will last for at least another six weeks.
