Lecanomancy

Lecanomancy (< Gr. λεκάνη, dish, pan + μαντεία, divination) is a form of divination using a dish, usually of water, which, like many ancient forms of divination, has multiple forms.

The earliest form of Lecanomany appears to have come from Ancient Babylonia, though it is only mentioned in one lecanomantic text. Even there, there were two types of the divination used. Some court magicians would use inductive lecanomany; whereby the magician or priest would observe patterns of oil within water to predict the future. However, intuitive lecanomany is thought to have developed out of this, which merely required the magician to interpret ripples on the water through meditation.