Calendars and Divination Methods

Flashcards covering key concepts related to calendars and divination methods from the lecture notes.

Chinese Agricultural Calendar

A calendar based on observations of celestial bodies used to predict farming times and seasonal changes.

Lunar Months

Months based on the moon's orbit around Earth, totaling about 354 days annually.

Zodiac Signs

A system of 12 signs representing personality traits and behaviors based on celestial positions at birth.

Solar Terms

Divisions of the year into 24 periods based on the sun's position, aiding agricultural activities.

Antikythera Mechanism

An ancient Greek device that predicted astronomical positions and eclipses.

Tonalpohualli

The Aztec agricultural calendar cycle of 260 days focusing on spiritual and ritual events.

Xiuhpohualli

The Aztec agricultural calendar cycle of 365 days used for farming and daily activities.

Haab’

The Mayan calendar cycle of 365 days used for agricultural and seasonal events.

Tzolk’in

The Mayan calendar cycle of 260 days related to religious rituals and ceremonies.

Computus

The method used by the Christian Church to calculate the date of Easter, involving lunar and solar cycles.

Saros

A period of approximately 18 years and 11 days used to predict eclipses.

Metonic Cycle

A 19-year cycle after which the phases of the moon repeat on the same days of the year.

Barnum Effect

The tendency for people to perceive general personality statements as uniquely applicable to them.

Pygmalion Effect

The phenomenon where higher expectations lead to improved performance.

Cold Reading

A technique used to gather information about a person without prior knowledge.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to favor information that supports existing beliefs while disregarding contrary evidence.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A belief or expectation that brings about its own outcome.

Haruspicy

An ancient practice of reading animal intestines to predict the future.

Ornithomancy

A form of divination based on interpreting bird behavior.

Alectryomancy

A method of divination using chickens to answer questions based on their pecking patterns.

Pyro-osteomancy

An ancient practice of divination involving bones and fire.

Oneiromancy

The interpretation of dreams to gain insight into the future.

Bibliomancy

A divination method involving interpreting random passages from sacred texts.

Hydromancy

A practice using water to communicate with spirits or divine forces.

Astragalomancy

Divination using the casting of dice or bones.

Scyphomancy

An ancient method of divination interpreting the behavior of liquids in a vessel.

Astrology

The study of celestial bodies' influence on human affairs, often practiced through horoscopes.