WORD OF THE DAY

Also known as Stichomancy, Bibliomancy is a type of divination. The seeker, with eyes closed, opens a book and—whether trusting in gods or fates—stabs at the page with a finger (or pin, or silver knife). The passage they land upon is interpreted as a message of supernatural guidance.

The practice of Bibliomancy is commonly associated with the Christian bible, but it's been going on longer than that. The ancient Greeks and Romans used Homer and Virgil (aka Stoichemancy). From sacred texts to Tony Robbins, people with a predilection for prediction choose volumes relevant to their beliefs.

TEST YOUR BIBLIOMAGIC: Grab the closest book and share its wisdom in the comments.

BONUS NERDINESS: Here is a page listing different types of divination. There are a lot. We are very uncomfortable with chaos.

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David Pickering, Dictionary of Superstitions (Cassell, 1995), 31