Cleidomancy


Cleidomancy or Clidomancy was a complicated form of divination performed only when the sun or moon was in Virgo. All but the last use noted below are technically forms of Radiesthesia or divination through the use of a pendulum. The guilty party in some crime was ascertained through the use of a suspended key. The name of the individual being investigated was written on a key which was then tied to a Bible. Both were hung from the nail of the ring-finger of a virgin. As she softly repeated, "Exurge Domine, adjuva nos et redime nos propter nomen sanctum tuum" three times, the key would remain moving or become stationary according to the person's guilt.

Some ancient diviners would further complicate the charm by including the recitation of the seven Psalms with litanies and sacred prayers. In this case, not only would the key stop moving, but the impression of the key would be found on the person being judged or he or she would lose an eye.

Another method called for the key to a street door to be placed on the fiftieth Psalm. The Bible was then closed and fastened tightly with a woman's garter. Then it was fastened to a nail and would turn when the name of a suspected thief was mentioned.

A third form of this divination involved two people who would suspend the Bible between them, while holding the ring of the key between their two forefingers.

Another form of Cleidomancy similar to Dactylomancy used a key suspended from a thread and held between the thumb and forefinger. The key was lowered into a glass and a question asked. The key would knock against the glass: one knock meaning yes, or two no.

A final form of Cleidomancy was used to determine the sex of a child before birth. This involved holding a key in one's fist and allowing a pregnant woman to touch one of two proffered fists. If she chose the one in which the key was held, then the child would be a girl.