Molybdomancy

Molybdomancy (from ancient Greek μόλυβδος - molybdos "lead") is a technique of divination using molten metal. Typically molten lead or tin is dropped into water.

The method originates in ancient Greece and today is most commonly practiced in magic (and muggle) families to celebrate Silvester (New Year's eve) in the Nordic countries and Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

In Finland, shops sell ladles and small bullions in the shape of a horseshoe for this express purpose. Originally made from tin, now they are made from cheaper low-melting alloys based on lead. These are given as gifts to each other on New Year's Eve, ready to melt.

Alternative Names

• German - Bleigießen, "lead pouring"
• Finnish - uudenvuodentina, "New Year's Tin"
• Norwegian: støyping, "casting"

History

Was used in the middle ages to divine for illness, and medical prognoses. Lead is associated with death. It was also used in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries to check for bewitchments causing illness.

In the nineteenth century in England and Wales it became popular with young women divining the profession of their future husbands, carried out at midsummer, or all hallow's eve.

Method

Tin is melted on a stove and poured into a bucket of cold water. The resulting shape is either directly interpreted as an omen for the future, or is rotated in a candlelight to create shadows, whose shapes are then interpreted. The shapes are often interpreted not only literally, but also symbolically.

• Abbey, future ease and freedom from worry
• Acorn, improvement in health, continued health and strength
• Aircraft, unsuccessful projects
• Anchor, a lucky sign, Success in business and love
• Angel, good news, especially good fortune in love
• Apes, secret enemies
• Apples, long life, gain by commerce
• Apple Tree, change for the better
• Arch, a journey abroad
• Arrow, a disagreeable letter from the arrow's direction
• Ass, misfortune overcome by patience; or a legacy
• Axe, difficulties overcome
• Badger, long life and prosperity as a bachelor
• Basket, an addition to the family
• Bat, fruitless journeys or tasks
• Bear, a long period of travel
• Beasts, other then those mentioned, foretell misfortune
• Birds, a lucky sign; good news if flying, a fortunate journey
• Boat, a friend will visit
• Bouquet, one of the luckiest of symbols, a happy marriage
• Bridge, a favourable journey
• Building, a removal
• Bull, slander by an enemy
• Bush, an invitation into society
• Butterfly, success and pleasure
• Camel, a burden to be patiently borne
• Cannon, good fortune
• Car, approaching wealth, visits from friends
• Cart, fluctuations of fortune
• Castle, unexpected fortune or legacy
• Cat, difficulties caused by treachery
• Cathedral, great prosperity
• Cattle, prosperity
• Chain, an early marriage; if broken, trouble in store
• Chair, an addition to the family
• Church, a legacy
• Circles, money or presents
• Clouds, a serious trouble; if surrounded by dots financial success
• Clover, a very lucky sign; happiness and prosperity
• Coffin, long sickness or sign of death
• Comet, misfortune and trouble
• Compass, a sign of traveling as a profession
• Cow, a prosperous sign
• Cross, a sign of trouble, delay or even death
• Crown, success and honour
• Crown and Cross, good fortune resulting from death
• Dagger, favours from friends
• Deer, quarrels, disputes; failure in trade
• Dog, faithful friends
• Donkey, a legacy long awaited
• Dove, a lucky symbol; progress in prosperity and affection
• Dragon, a great and sudden change
• Duck, increase of wealth by trade
• Eagle, honour and riches through change of residence
• Elephant, a lucky sign; good health
• Falcon, a persistent enemy
• Ferret, active enemies
• Fish, good news from abroad; surrounded by dots, Immigration
• Flag, danger from wounds inflicted by an enemy
• Flower, good fortune, success, happy marriage
• Fox, treachery by a trusted friend
• Frog, success in love and commerce
• Gallows, a sign of good luck
• Goat, a sign of enemies, and misfortune to a sailor
• Goose, happiness; a successful venture
• Grasshopper, a great friend will become a soldier
• Greyhound, good fortune by strenuous exertion
• Gun, a sign of discord and slander
• Hammer, triumph over adversity
• Hare, a sign of long journey or return of absent friend
• Harp, marriage, success in love
• Hat, success in life
• Hawk, an enemy
• Heart, pleasures to come
• Heavenly Bodies signifies happiness and success.
• Hen, increase of riches or addition to the family.
• Horse, desires fulfilled through a prosperous journey.
• Horse-Shoe, a lucky journey or success in marriage.
• Hour-Glass, imminent peril.
• House, success in business.
• Human Figures, judged by what they appear to be doing.
• Interrogation (mark of), doubt or disappointment
• Ivy, honour and happiness through faithful friends.
• Jackal, a mischief maker of no account
• Jug, good health
• Kangaroo, a rival in business or love.
• Kettle, death.
• Key, money, increasing trade, a good husband or wife.
• Kite, a sign of lengthy travel leading to honour and dignity.
• Knife, a warning of disasters through quarrels and enmity.
• Ladder, a sign of travel
• Leopard, a sign of immigration and subsequent success
• Letters, signifies news
• Lily, on top of cup, health and happiness, bottom, anger, strife
• Lines, indicate journeys and their directions
• Lion, greatness through powerful friends
• Man, a visitor arriving
• Mermaid, misfortune, especially to seafaring persons
• Monkey, deception in love.
• Moon, (as a crescent), prosperity and fortune.
• Mountain, powerful friends; many mountains, powerful enemies.
• Mouse, danger of poverty through death or swindling.
• Mushroom, sudden separation of lovers after a quarrel.
• Numbers, very lucky, long life, good health, happy marriage.
• Oblong figures, family or business squabbles.
• Owl, an evil omen, indicative of sickness, poverty, disgrace.
• Palm tree, good luck, children to a wife, marriage to a maid.
• Parrot, a sign of emigration for a lengthy period.
• Peacock, success and acquisition of property; a happy marriage.
• Pear, great wealth and improved social position
• Pheasant, a legacy.
• Pig, good and bad luck mixed.
• Pigeons, important news if flying, if not, domestic bliss.
• Pine tree, continuous happiness.
• Pistol, disaster.
• Rabbit, fair success in a city or large town.
• Rat, treacherous servants, losses through enemies.
• Raven, death for the aged, divorce, failure in business.
• Razor, lovers quarrel and separation
• Reptile, Quarrels.
• Rider, good news from oversees regarding finances.
• Rifle, a sign of discord and strife.
• Ring, marriage; if near clouds an unhappy marriage.
• Rose, a lucky sign denoting good fortune and happiness.
• Saw, trouble brought about by strangers.
• Scales, a lawsuit.
• Scissors, quarrels, illness, separation of lovers.
• Serpents, spiteful enemies, bad luck, illness.
• Shark, danger of death.
• Sheep, success, prosperity.
• Ship, successful journey.
• Snakes, are a bad omen. Great caution should be exercised.
• Spider, a sign of money coming.
• Squares, comfort and peace.
• Star, a lucky sign, surrounded by dots foretells great fortune.
• Straight Line, a very pleasant journey.
• Straight Lines, peace, happiness and long life.
• Swallow, a journey with a pleasant ending.
• Swan, good luck and a happy marriage.
• Sword, disputes, quarrels between lovers.
• Sword (broken), Victory over an enemy.
• Timber, Logs of timber indicate business success.
• Toad, deceit and unexpected enemies.
• Trees, a lucky sign; prosperity, and happiness.
• Triangles, always a sign of good luck and unexpected legacies.
• Twisted Figures, disturbances and vexation.
• Umbrella, annoyance and trouble.
• Unicorn, scandal
• Vulture, bitter foes.
• Wagon, a sign of approaching poverty.
• Wavy Lines, denotes losses and vexation.
• Wheel, an inheritance about to come.
• Windmill, success in enterprise.
• Wolf, beware of jealous intrigues.
• Woman, pleasure and happiness, several women indicates scandal.
• Wood, a speedy marriage.
• Worms, indicate secret foes.
• Yacht, pleasure and happiness.
• Yew Tree, death of an aged person leaving his legacy to you.
• Zebra, travel and adventure in foreign lands.

Similar Practices

Molten lead is also poured into water in a ritual in Turkey used when people have been affected by the evil eye, and a similar traditional practice is used in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In ceromancy/ceremancy, wax is used instead of metal.