Clavel

An Encyclopaedia of Occultism (1920)

Author of Histoire Pittoresque de la Francmazonnerie. He hints in it that when Freemasonry in Austria was suppressed by Charles VI., the Order of Mopses was established in its place. Cledonism, or in full, Cledonismantia, is the good or evil presage of certain words uttered without premeditation when persons come together in any way. It also regulated the words to be used on particular occasions. Cicero says Cock the Pythagoreans were very attentive to these presages; and according to Pausanius, it was a favourite method of divination at Smyrna, where the oracles of Apollo were thus interpreted. Cleromancy was practised by throwing black and white beans, little bones or dice, and perhaps, stones; anything, in short, suitable for lots. A method of practising cleromancy in the streets of Egypt is mentioned under the head of Sortilege, and the same thing was common in Rome . The Thriæan lots, named before, meant indifferently the same thing as cleromancy; it was nothing more than dicing, only that the objects used bore particular marks or characters, and were consecrated to Mercury , who was regarded as the patron of this method of divination. For this reason an olive leaf, called "the lot of Mercury," was generally put in the urn in order to propitiate his favour. Clidomancy should be exercised when the sun or moon is in Virgo. the name should be written upon a key. the key should be tied to a Bible, and both should be hung upon the nail of the ring-finger of a virgin, who must thrice softly repeat certain words. According as the key and book turns or is stationary, the name is to be considered right or wrong. Some ancients added the seven Psalms with litanies and sacred prayers, and then more fearful effects were produced upon the guilty; for not only the key and the book turned, but either the impression of the key was found upon him, or he lost an eye. Another method of practising with the Bible and key, is to place the street door key on the fiftieth-psalm, close the volume and fasten it very tightly with the garter of a female; it is then suspended to a nail and will turn when the name of the thief is mentioned. By a third method, two persons suspend the Bible between them; holding the ring of the key by their two forefingers.