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Amniomancy
From the Latin 'amnion' (meaning
membrane), it is a method of
divination
by means of the membrane which sometimes envelopes the head of a baby at
birth. From the inspection of this membrane, or embryonic sac, the diviner
predicts what sort of future the newborn will have. Sometimes the amniotic
fluid is also observed to achieve the desired prognostication.
Throughout pregnancy the amniotic sac acts as a
water cushion, absorbing jolts, equalizing pressures, and permitting the
fetus to change posture. At childbirth it serves as a fluid wedge that helps
dilate the neck of the uterus. When the sac ruptures, about a quart of fluid
escapes. If the sac does not rupture, or if covers the head at birth, it is
known as a caul.
This membrane, if
red-colored, signifies that the child in question will have a happy life. But if the
membrane's lead-colored, the infant will have misfortunes.
In ancient Rome when a
child was born with a caul it was believed to be an omen of phenomenal good
luck, and in other parts of the ancient world such a person was considered
to be immune to witchcraft and protected
from drowning.
In medieval times, the appearance of a caul on a newborn baby was also seen
as a sign of good fortune. The cauls, which were easily dried and kept, were
also believed to be a specific talisman
against drowning and shipwreck, being sold amongst sailors for large sums of
money. They were available in London's shipping district as recently as
1915.
Possessing a caul also meant sure victory in any contests entered into, thus
cauls were formerly in great demand by attorneys, a practice that was
ridiculed by
Sir Thomas Browne in his
'Pseudoxia Epidemica' (Vulgar Errors) in
1646.
In Scotland the caul was known as the
happy hoo, sely hoo, syly hoffe or the sillyhoo, which all literally mean
the "lucky hood."
See
Divination,
Casting Black Magic Spells,
Commanding Spirits,
The Tarot Store and
Divination & Scrying Tools and
Supplies.
Sources: (1) Dunwich, Gerina,
A Wiccan's Guide to Prophecy
and Divination, Carol Publishing Group; (2)
Pickover, Clifford A.,
Dreaming the Future: The
Fantastic Story of Prediction, Prometheus Books; (3) Aldrich,
Chris,
The Aldrich Dictionary of Phobias and Other
Word Families, Trafford Publishing.
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