Global Soothsayers Peer Into 1993 : A World of Ways to Tell the Future

The more exotic prophets on these pages consult stones from the Nile or visualize colors to look ahead. Here are some of the more standard practitioners:

Astrologer: Believes that the sun, moon, planets and stars influence what happens on Earth. Consults circular charts called horoscopes or birth charts to determine the position of heavenly bodies at a certain time--usually at birth.

Clairvoyant: Person with an awareness of events, objects or people without the use of the senses of hearing, sight, smell, taste or touch.

Cabalist: Practitioner of Cabala (Hebrew for “receiving”), a Jewish mystical movement that tries to explain the relationship between God’s inner life and the inner life of the individual and creation. It is based on a book called the Zohar.

Crystal gazer: Looks into a ball made of rock crystal, or more commonly glass, and sees images of future events.

Geomancer: Believes in divination based on random lines or figures, such as those formed when a handful of earth is thrown on the ground.

I-Ching interpreter: Tosses special sticks or coins to select a hexagram--a combination of six broken and unbroken lines--which is then interpreted through the commentaries in the I Ching (Book of Changes).

Numerologist: Believes the universe is governed by numerical laws and that each number has special powers and qualities. Uses a numerical conversion of a person’s name and/or birth date to provide insight into character or the future.

Ouija board: A board printed with the letters of the alphabet, numbers and the words yes and no . Typically, several people place their hands on the board’s pointer, said to be spirit-driven, which points toward answers to questions.

Palm reader: Examines lines and marks on the human hand to divine character or the future. For example, a long line of life is said to foretell a long life.

Psychic: A person said to be sensitive to forces beyond the physical world.

Shamanist: Believes in good and evil spirits who can be influenced by a priest or medicine man. In an Afro-Brazilian variant, the practitioner chants and throws a handful of small seashells called buzos to read the future.

Tarot card reader: Shuffles and lays out special decks consisting of 78 cards. Each card and suit has a prescribed meaning. Standard interpretation has the king standing for the essential self; the queen, the soul; the knight, action.

Tea leaf reader: Interprets patterns left by tea leaves remaining in the bottom of a cup after it has been drained and swirled in a counter-clockwise direction. For example, leaves in the shape of a heart might mean future happiness.

Witch doctor: Among certain peoples, especially in Africa, a person who practices a type of primitive medicine involving the use of magic and witchcraft. Some toss bones and read the pattern to predict the future.

SOURCES: World Book; Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology; Superstitions, by Peter Lorie; Webster’s New World Dictionary. Researched by KEVIN FOX.