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Aeromancy
Aeromancy is the divinatory practice that observes atmospheric phenomena to draw omens from them: direction and force of the wind, formation of clouds, behavior of meteorological phenomena. It was widespread in many ancient cultures, from the Babylonians to the Romans.
What was observed
Clouds in the shape of animals or objects, lightning bolts (object of "ceraunoscopy" among the Romans), rainbows (a sign of promise), wind from a certain direction (favorable or unfavorable). In the Greek tradition, the priests of Zeus at Dodona interpreted the rustling of the wind through the sacred oaks.
Specific versions
Aeromancy has sub-categories: ceraunoscopy (lightning), austromancy (winds), nephelomancy (clouds), brontoscopy (thunder). The practice was entrusted to specialized priests: the Roman "augures" observed the flight of birds to read signs from Jupiter.
FAQ
Is it still practiced?
It survives in popular forms of reading clouds or wind, especially in amateur divinatory settings. It is not codified as a science.
Is it meteorology?
No. Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere. Aeromancy attributes symbolic meanings to the same phenomena.
Did the Romans practice it?
Yes, through the augurs who observed lightning, bird flights and sky phenomena before public or military decisions.