Capnomancy ( dr. Greek καπνο-μαντεία from καπνός - smoke and μαντεία - fortune telling ) is a way of predicting the future using smoke .
The fortuneteller observes the movement, color, shape and direction of the smoke from the fire. A thin, straight line of smoke is considered a good omen, and a thick pillar is the other way around. If, wriggling, the smoke touched the ground, this is a sign that you need to act immediately to prevent irreplaceable misfortune. In another embodiment of the ritual, the fortuneteller inhales the smoke emitted by the sacrificial fire, and makes prophetic predictions.
History
The first mention of capnomancy dates back to the times of the Babylonian kingdom . The ceremony of burning cedar branches and shavings was held on various religious holidays throughout the year.
In ancient Greece, clergymen made predictions by observing the smoke of a sacrificial fire.
Malaysian semangas used a similar method to determine the safe place to sleep, which is confirmed by the texts of the 17th and 19th centuries.
Celtic tribes practiced dendromantium - a form of capnomancy in which oak and mistletoe branches are burned.