Divination - Not What You Think

[Taylor Seraphim]

No it is because when you use a word called Divination, historical evidence and etymology suggest it is the telling of the future through supernatural means.

You are twisting the word to fit what you do.

 

[outhouse]

Out of curiosity, who decides which the real definition is, and with which authority, Outhouse?

Seems like a lot of people are lacking that crucial knowledge somehow.

I posted one. I did no say I follow it or demand anyone else does.


It was an example of one aspect of the definition as far as I'm concerned

 

[outhouse]

It's the meaning used by entire communities.




Dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive. If a dictionary does not list a certain way a word is used, then it's the dictionary that's wrong and needs to be updated.

Besides, you're completely ignoring that dictionary's definition #2:

: unusual insight : intuitive perception

Again

I posted one definition and it happened to be the #1 definition. I did no say I follow it or demand anyone else does.


It was an example of one aspect of the definition as far as I'm concerned

 

[Riverwolf]

Again

I posted one definition and it happened to be the #1 definition. I did no say I follow it or demand anyone else does.


It was an example of one aspect of the definition as far as I'm concerned

You know, if you're going to say the same thing in response to two posts, you could quote both of them in one post...

Anyway, you claimed that it was:

the REAL definition

That most definitely implies that not only do you follow it, but so should others if they want to be consistent with reality.

 

[Erebus]

No it is because when you use a word called Divination, historical evidence and etymology suggest it is the telling of the future through supernatural means.

You are twisting the word to fit what you do.

And awful used to mean "inspiring wonder." The historical use of a word doesn't necessarily constrain its modern day usage.

 

[outhouse]

That most definitely implies that not only do you follow it, but so should others if they want to be consistent with reality.

That is correct, but in context as one part of he definition. I never narrowed it down by stating it was the "real definition"

The one part OP denies as being the definition

I don't think there is any misconception of the definition the way OP states.

 

[outhouse]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination

This does a great job of describing it, and it is in contrast to some extent with the OP

 

[Riverwolf]

No it is because when you use a word called Divination, historical evidence and etymology suggest it is the telling of the future through supernatural means.

You are twisting the word to fit what you do.

Welcome to the process of linguistic evolution!

Fun fact: the word "weird" is descended from the Old English word "wyrd", which referred to some mesh-up of "fate" and "destiny", but not precicely either.

Also, "meat" used to be any food at all, and "deer" used to mean any non-human animal.

 

[Riverwolf]

That is correct, but in context as one part of he definition. I never narrowed it down by stating it was the "real definition"

The one part OP denies as being the definition

I don't think there is any misconception of the definition the way OP states.

The OP never denies it as a definition of the word. A misconception can still be a valid definition.

This is because, again, dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive. Regardless of whether they're accurate or not, dictionaries have to record how words are used.

 

[Erebus]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination

This does a great job of describing it, and it is in contrast to some extent with the OP

A decent overview of the historical practice of divination. One thing the page seems to omit though is its use among contemporary Pagans and occultists. This is problematic because the equivalent would be to try and explain what brain surgery is by linking to an article on trepanning.

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

A decent overview of the historical practice of divination. One thing the page seems to omit though is its use among contemporary Pagans and occultists. This is problematic because the equivalent would be to try and explain what brain surgery is by linking to an article on trepanning.

Exactly my point.

So why not simply make a new word or phrase to describe this activity which would

(a): Get rid of stigma added to your activity by the history of the word divination.

(b): Help make communicating the idea more effective.

and

(c): Help expand the English language?

 

[outhouse]

A misconception can still be a valid definition.

Not in OP's context.


OP states it is a misconception regarding two major definitions. Supernatural and future telling.

And its not, that is part of the foundation to the definition.


How he personally practices this may not be part of the definition. But lest call it what it is, his own personal view.

 

[Erebus]

Exactly my point.

So why not simply make a new word or phrase to describe this activity which would

(a): Get rid of stigma added to your activity by the history of the word divination.

(b): Help make communicating the idea more effective.

and

(c): Help expand the English language?

I actually made another thread covering these points.

The short answer to these particular points though is that these terms are generally used internally, among people "in the know" as it were. There's no need to change them.

If somebody on the outside is interested in how we use the terms, we can do what we've done in this very thread and explain them.

I'm not sure how making up a new term helps expand the English language any more than expanding on the word divination does. Perhaps this is a matter of personal preference.

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

I actually made another thread covering these points.

The short answer to these particular points though is that these terms are generally used internally, among people "in the know" as it were. There's no need to change them.

If somebody on the outside is interested in how we use the terms, we can do what we've done in this very thread and explain them.

I'm not sure how making up a new term helps expand the English language any more than expanding on the word divination does. Perhaps this is a matter of personal preference.

So you just want to make a jargon that you can use interchangeably with English whenever you want.

That sounds an awful lot like Abrahamic religions.

 

[Mindmaster]

Not in OP's context.


OP states it is a misconception regarding two major definitions. Supernatural and future telling.

And its not, that is part of the foundation to the definition.


How he personally practices this may not be part of the definition. But lest call it what it is, his own personal view.

Dictionaries and wikipedia are the basis of your information? What about people who do the practices?... What would they know? Lol... It is a precarious position when a non-player has any authority on a subject... Just saying... You've refuted your own comments.

Anyway, divination is a mixed used word in practice... The books (written by non-practiconers) say it is one thing: fortune telling. What they don't tell is that is not how it is used. It is more common to be used as a sort of method to help narrow possibilities. Occasionally, it is used as a medium of communication with ones spiritual associations... None of these things are still super-natural.... Well, they may be if you are a muggle.

 

[allfoak]

Watch this. No, really. I watched this, then proceeded to facepalm, and wondered why the hell this isn't the standard instruction. This is how everybody should be taught how to scry. It will work, and it will work for anyone and everyone. Well, provided you can learn to see those "magic eye" images. If you can't, then you might be out of luck. I scry in pavement. Popcorn ceilings Walls. Trees. Anything that has a grainy pattern where stuff will pop out at me if I go a little cross-eyed.

Been scrying all my life.
Comes natural.
I seem to have a natural connection with plants, trees animals and babies.
Yes babies.
I got a message from a 6 month old once that something was about to happen to my right side.
A week later my right leg blew up like a balloon.
Nothing serious, just a healing crisis, but the experience with the child was amazing.

 

[outhouse]

Dictionaries and wikipedia are the basis of your information? What about people who do the practices?... What would they know? Lol... It is a precarious position when a non-player has any authority on a subject... Just saying... You've refuted your own comments.

Anyway, divination is a mixed used word in practice... The books (written by non-practiconers) say it is one thing: fortune telling. What they don't tell is that is not how it is used. It is more common to be used as a sort of method to help narrow possibilities. Occasionally, it is used as a medium of communication with ones spiritual associations... None of these things are still super-natural.... Well, they may be if you are a muggle.

Not one bit of this rhetoric addresses the real issues of OPs claim against Supernatural and future telling.

 

[outhouse]

What about people who do the practices?... What would they know?

Often NOTHING outside their own practice.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Not to presume to speak for @Quintessence , but part of the reason for this OP and following discussion has to do with the fact that the dictionary definitions and common popular depictions of divination being "fortune telling," "telling the future," "dealing with the supernatural" and whatnot are based in the dominant Abrahamic ideas about what divination is, not in what non-Abrahamic practitioners actually understand about their practice of divination.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Often NOTHING outside their own practice.

It certainly appears to me that @Quintessence , @Riverwolf , etc., have done the necessary research to make intelligent comment on whether or not the common dictionary definitions and popular portrayals of divination are accurate vis-a-vis their own non-Abrahamic practices and beliefs.