Capnomancy isdivination by examiningsmoke. This is done by looking at the movements of the smoke after a fire has been made. A thin, straight plume of smoke is thought to indicate a good omen whereas the opposite is thought of large plumes of smoke.[1][2] If the smoke touches the ground, this is thought to be a sign that immediate action must be taken to avoid catastrophe.[3]
When capnomancy involves the smoke from incense, then it is calledlibanomancy.[4]
The wordcapnomancy comes from two Greek words: καπνός (kapnós), meaningsmoke, and μαντεία (manteía), meaningdivination or to see.[5]
The first recorded use of capnomancy was in ancientBabylonia, where the ceremony was performed at religious dates throughout the year, usingcedar branches or shavings.[3][6] Inancient Greece, priests would burn animal sacrifices and then perform capnomancy over the smoke that was produced by the fire.[4][7]
TheCelts were thought to practicedendromancy, a form of capnomancy, usingoak andmistletoe branches.[3]
It was also used by theSemang ofMalaysia, who would use the ritual to determine whether a camp was safe for the night.[4] There is reference made to the practice in both 17th and 19th century religious texts, although these do not describe how the practice was performed.[7]
Capnomancy has been reportedly used as late as 2003 inNew England, where citizens would practice the ritual by using smoke plumes from chimneys.[6] Other modern variations of the ritual involve burning cedar sticks, incense, or candles with ribbons tied around them.[4] Hands are sometimes used to manipulate the smoke, with practitioners reading the shapes that are then produced.[4]