Question 5: How do you define divination?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Sara	30 Dec 2002
What uses of tarot fall under your definition of divination? Here's the next question. Have fun :)

warabi	30 Dec 2002
Fun Question! It might help if there was a definition of divination: 1. The art of foretelling the future or the unknown through supernatural means. 2. A presentiment And for those of you who do not know the word presentiment: An intuitive feeling that something will soon occur. (Both definitions were taken from websters) Considering the definitions above, personally I would have to say that all uses of Tarot dealing with fortelling the future would be divination. However uses that deal with self discovery would not.

cricket	30 Dec 2002
I personally think that all uses of the tarot (or all major uses) are a form of divination. Then again, divination to me is being in touch with the divine. NOt quite the normal definition.

tarotbear	30 Dec 2002
Webster's New Universal Dictionary - Divination - the art of fortelling future events, or discovering things secret or obscure; unusual insight; intuitive perception. "Using (Tarot) isn't evil, supernatural, or dangerous" Scott Cunningham "Nothing paranormal, abnormal, supernormal, or supernatural will occur." Mary Leonesio paranormal - not subject to scientific explanation abnormal - irregular; contrary to a system or law; not conforming to rule supernormal - beyond average human intelligence or ability supernatural - existance of forces above the natural

jmd	30 Dec 2002
Often when we attempt to define concepts we focus on their boundary, rather than entering the field encapsulated by the concept itself. So rather than trying to investigate the fence which separates Divination from non-divination, and there notice that in some places the fence isn't closed or formed in any case, come into the space and let us ruminate on its delicious parts. As each morcel is chewed, it reveals its divine essence (oops, I'd better use another word, if we're seeking to gain greater insight into the character of divination!). Let us start afresh - as each leaf is turned, its contemplation reveals is sanctity - its very sacredness. Through this frequent and regular contemplation, not only does greater knowledge, understanding and wisdom develop, but one's own higher senses become, as it were, clearer: imagination creates for us picture-like qualities which assists in perceptive clues; inspiration brings words to our lips surprising our own ears; and intuition attunes us to the realms of the other. Divination, then, may be characterised as the increased ability to enter the field whereby insight into what is at hand is unveiled.

allibee	31 Dec 2002
I always thought the same as cricket until I had reason to look it up myself recently Now ORACLE.... that's a different matter.... or is it? Main Entry: or·a·cle Pronunciation: 'or-&-k&l, 'är- Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin oraculum, from orare to speak —more at ORATION Date: 15th century 1 a : a person (as a priestess of ancient Greece) through whom a deity is believed to speak b : a shrine in which a deity reveals hidden knowledge or the divine purpose through such a person c : an answer or decision given by an oracle 2 a : a person giving wise or authoritative decisions or opinions b : an authoritative or wise expression or answer So divination is the whole point of tarot really, so that people may know what is unknown. Whether it maybe 'fortune telling', meditation or spellwork. It is about opening a door, walking through it and finding what you need. allibee

fairyhedgehog	31 Dec 2002
In my view, dictionaries tend to be a bit behind the times in their definitions: they reflect the already well-accepted meaning of a word, not any new uses that are just coming into being. I think Humpty Dumpty had it about right: "When I use a word, it means precisely what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less." Digression aside: for me divination is about foretelling the future and I don't do that. When I read Tarot cards I am looking at one possible way of understanding what is going on now and its possible results. But it isn't telling the future, because the cards are random and just give me one way of looking at what is going on. I believe that this is a minority view, but I don't think I am the only one to hold it.

Trogon	31 Dec 2002
Hmmm.... yet another question which requires me to excercise my poor overworked brain... :D If I understand the question correctly... you're asking what part of my use of the Tarot do I consider to be "divination"? For me, there is actually a lot of overlap between what I see as "divination" and "enlightenment". I will shuffle and lay out cards in a spread in order to gain insight into a particular problem or question for someone (or myself), or to just help them "see" more clearly what is going on in their lives at that time. Sometimes these spreads will include cards which represent influences or events which may occur in the future or suggestions for the future. So each spread, for me, is mostly about insight as well as "divination", though I'm not too sure there is all that much difference to me. Hmmm.... perhaps I can waffle some more?

sagitarian	31 Dec 2002
[quote]Originally posted by tarotbear [b]Webster's New Universal Dictionary - Divination - the art of fortelling future events, or discovering things secret or obscure; unusual insight; intuitive perception. As far as "the art of fortelling future events" that's not what I do. However, the rest of the definition fits in what I see tarot being. A way of understanding your surroundings, revealing that which are important to the querent, refocusing on our goals and direction in life, and revealing the "truth" that surrounds us, and an insight to what MAY happen if the path we are on now continues in the same flow. I try to stay away from using the term "outcome" or "future" card. I try to find alternative ways to state what it truly is by explaining that it's only a POSSIBLE outcome, but not necessarily what WILL happen, as anything can change.

Sara	02 Jan 2003
Thanks everyone (Hmm, I seem to be saying that a lot lately, but it's true...:)) Wanted everyone's insights on this one because I couldn't quite decide on how to define it. The more you think about it, the more a given term seems to encompass more than you at first might have assumed, so I wanted to see what everyone else thought about the question. The more I think, the more confused I get, sometimes... :confused: :) Sara

The Question 5: How do you define divination? thread was originally posted on 30 Dec 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.