Editing Axinomancy (section)

{{Short description|Method of divination using an axe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Portal|Religion}}
'''Axinomancy''' is an obscure method of [[divination]] using an [[axe]], [[hatchet]], or (rarely) a [[saw]]. Most methods involve throwing an axe into the ground, or swinging it into a tree, and interpreting the direction of the handle or the quivering of the blade.<ref name="book">{{Cite encyclopedia  | title = Axiomancy  | encyclopedia = The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World  | pages = 52  | publisher = Harper Element  | date = 2006  }}</ref><ref name="Cook1925">{{cite book|author=Arthur Bernard Cook|title=Zeus: a study in ancient religion|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.533501|accessdate=29 January 2011|year=1925|publisher=The University Press}}</ref> A form of this is axiomancy; this is when the quivering of the [[blade]] of an [[axe]] that has been thrust into a wooden table is interpreted by the [[Divination|diviner]].

Another interesting method is heating an axe-head in a fire until it glows, and then interpreting the colors and shapes.<ref name="book"/> A variant, attributed to the ancient Greeks, who held it in good repute, is to balance a spherical piece of [[agate]] on the edge of the axe (held sharp edge up).<ref name="Forsyth1827">{{cite book|author=J. S. Forsyth|title=Demonologia: or, Natural knowledge revealed: being an exposé of ancient and modern superstitions, credulity, fanaticism, enthusiasm, & imposture, as connected with the doctrine, caballa, and jargon, of amulets, apparitions, astrology, charms, demonology ... witchcraft, &c|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZU3AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA143|year=1827|publisher=J. Bumpus|page=143}}</ref><ref name="SmedleyTaylor1855">{{cite book|author1=Edward Smedley|author2=William Cooke Taylor|author3=Henry Thompson|author4=Elihu Rich|title=The occult sciences: sketches of the traditions and superstitions of past times, and the marvels of the present day|url=https://archive.org/details/occultsciencessk00smed|accessdate=29 January 2011|year=1855|publisher=R. Griffin and company|page=[https://archive.org/details/occultsciencessk00smed/page/328 328]}}</ref> The direction in which the agate rolls can be interpreted as needed.<ref name="Adams2003">{{cite book|author=W. H. Davenport Adams|title=Witch, Warlock and Magician|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ecS8etxAGcgC&pg=PA57|date=March 2003|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|isbn=978-0-7661-4671-6|page=57}}</ref><ref name="Forsyth1827"/>

Some sources claim that [[Psalm 74]] refers to the use of axinomancy to predict the fall of Jerusalem, although in the text the reference to ''upright axes'' is not specifically for divination.<ref>{{cite book |last=Spence |first=Lewis |date=Sep 2006 |orig-year=1920 |title=An Encyclopaedia of Occultism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L7Wx21p4f5IC&pg=PA57 |publisher=Cosimo |page=57 |isbn=0486426130}}</ref>