manzia
Cleromancy
Cleromancy, from the Greek kleros "lot" and manteia "divination", is the practice of consulting chance through cast objects: dice, knucklebones, pebbles, pieces of wood, coins. It is based on the idea that "chance" is a channel of revelation, since it is never entirely neutral for the one who questions it.
Classic forms
Astragalomancy: casting of astragali (sheep knucklebones) used in ancient Greece. Dice divination: casting of six-sided dice. Cubomancy: variant of dice divination. Belomancy: casting of arrows or rods. Sortes: casting of wooden tablets or stones with carved symbols. The coin toss of the I Ching is also a form of cleromancy.
Attitude
Cleromancy is not "pure chance": it is questioned chance. You pose the question with concentration, cast with presence, and interpret the result as a message. The value is symbolic: a random outcome stimulates reflection and decision, especially when you feel stuck.
FAQ
Is it a science?
No. It is an ancient symbolic practice. The cast is statistically random; the divinatory value is attributed by interpretation.
Can I use it for gambling?
No. There is no correlation between symbolic cleromancy and real gambling probabilities. Divinatory practices do not help you win.
Is it the basis of the I Ching?
Yes: the I Ching also uses a cleromantic procedure (yarrow stalks or three coins tossed six times) to generate the hexagram.