I recall reading somewhere that small children are still used for
various kinds of scrying in Egypt and perhaps throughout much of the
Arabic world as well. I believe this is ink scrying, if it matters.
Yours,
Chris Lehrich
Caduceus Books wrote:
> Greetings!
>
>> Maybe not quite what you're looking for but interesting nevertheless
>> is Sarah Iles Johnston's article "Charming the Children: The Use of
>> the Child in Ancient Divination". (Arethusa 34. 2001. 97-117.)
>>
>> The famous female philosopher and 'psychic' (Luck 1985), Sosipatra,
>> from the 4th cent CE was taken away as a child and trained by 'wise
>> men', later to become mother of a famous theurgist, Antoninus the
>> anchorite (Luck 1999 in Ankarloo *& Clark).
>
> Use of children for skrying was a recognised procedure in medieval and
> early modern period. I believe John Dee used children until he found
> Edward Kelly more productive. I did not realise that the practice had
> ancient precedents.
>
> My best wishes
>
> Ben
--
Christopher I. Lehrich
Assistant Professor of Religion
Associate Director, Division of Religious and Theological Studies
Boston University
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