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Apantomancy
Apantomancy is the divinatory practice that draws omens from chance encounters with animals or objects. The principle is that "chance" is never random and that every unexpected encounter brings a symbolic message.
Classic examples
Meeting a black cat (in Italian tradition it is bad luck; in English tradition it is good fortune), a black butterfly (omen of mourning), a ladybug (luck), a white pigeon (news arriving), a snake (transformation), a black dog (companion or warning depending on the culture). Interpretations vary greatly from culture to culture.
Attitude
Apantomancy requires attention and an open mind. It is not about believing that every cat encountered is a divine messenger, but about remaining sensitive to encounters that strike by intensity or repetition. It is close to the Jungian concept of synchronicity.
FAQ
Is it scientific?
No, it is a popular symbolic practice.
Are the meanings universal?
No, they vary greatly: the black cat, for example, is interpreted in opposite ways in Italy and England.
How to distinguish chance from sign?
Traditionally a "sign" is the encounter that strikes by coinciding with a thought, a question or an inner situation.