In honor of Nicomachus of Gerasa, I will share a few numeric-type, lot divination methods. The methods are called the Nicomachus Oracles. They are named after Nicomachus because the text attributed to him is one of the earliest surviving sources on arithmology, and because dedication to numbers in all their forms was a feature of Pythagoreanism. Nicomachus was a Neo-Pythagorean. He lived in the 100s CE and was said to be from Gerasa, a town in Syria. Nicomachus wrote Introduction to Arithmetic, a text on number theory. There are two ideas behind the lot divination systems that are outlined here. The first idea is that the human mind doesn’t believe in complete randomness. The throw of a die or lot just one time to answer a big question like should one get married or will one’s business succeed seems extremely random and unlikely. With this in mind, there is the repeated casting of lots applied to the divinatory process to dispel the appearance of total randomness. Instead of having just one or two lots cast, there are a large number of lots cast, according to a system. This helps to ensure that the divinatory process is thorough and not open to complete randomness. The second idea is that the probability of something happening, being a certain way, and so forth can be viewed on a range of potentiality. The answers to queries can be either yes, middling, or no. Taking a variety of indicators to come to an answer, the human mind is more likely to believe it, and answers can be given on a scale of probability rather than on a binary spectrum of either yes or no. Answers on the affirmative, at the mean, or that are negative can be seen by the casting of lots and the results that occur. Various methods of lot divination utilizing numbers can be crafted. Here are two methods, both of which belong to the aforementioned Nicomachus Oracles. The first is called Tree Rings, as it uses “layers” of lot castings. The second method is called the Human Body, as it uses the numbers of the parts of the human body for the casting of lots. These divination techniques are a powerful tool for problems that require yes and no answers. They can also be used for other queries, to see the degree something is likely or possible, to test the potency of something, or any other way that can be imagined that uses their yes, middle, and no spectrum in a worthwhile way.
The Nicomachus Oracles, Method 1: Tree Rings
The idea behind this technique, as explained in an earlier paragraph, is to trick the human mind into thinking the divinatory process can’t be rigged by having a high number of seemingly random throws of various instruments like dice and coins.
How to perform the technique:
Tree rings
3 rolls or throws for each line
The diviner rolls the die three times and writes down the results, either odd or even numbers.
Die: Roll the die three times, there should be either an odd or even winner.
Die: Roll the die three times, there should be either an odd or even winner.
Coin: Cast the coin three times, there should be either an odd or even winner.
Dice: Roll the die three times, there should be either an odd or even winner.
Coin: Cast the coin three times, there should be either an odd or even winner.
Now, count each line of rolls. If there are 4 lines of odd or even, then that numeric value won outright. There is an extra round only if odd or even is 3 lines, and the opposing number type is 2 lines.
Then, if the extra round results in a tie, i.e. it was 3 lines odd, 2 lines even, and the extra round result had 1 line even, there should be an additional two rolls.
If there is a tie after the extra round, there are two rolls left. If they are even and even the answer is leaning on no; if they are odd and odd the answer is leaning on yes; and if they are odd and even they are leaning on middle or average.
Roll Results:
4 odd: Yes, with low certainty
5 odd: Yes, with a high level of certainty
4 even: No, with low certainty
5 even: No, with a high level of certainty
Extra Round
4 odd: yes, but close to middling
4 even: no, but close to middling
Extra Round Ties
6 odd: leaning on yes
6 even: leaning on no
5 odd, even: leaning on middling
The Nicomachus Oracles, Method 2: The Human Body
The technique is modeled on the human body, with five throws in four sets, symbolizing the total of twenty fingers and toes on a human body. Then there are two throws for the legs and two throws for the arms, then one for the torso and one for the head. The parts of the body that are represented in the casting of lots are the fingers, the toes, the limbs, the frame, and the head.
How to perform the technique:
The Human Body
Fingers, toes, limbs, frame, head
Five throws of a die or coin. There should be either an odd or even winner.
Five throws of a die or coin. There should be either an odd or even winner.
Five throws of a die or coin. There should be either an odd or even winner.
Five throws of a die or coin. There should be either an odd or even winner.
Two throws of a die or coin. There should be either an odd or even winner or a tie.
Two throws of a die or coin. There should be either an odd or even winner or a tie.
One throw of a die or coin. There should be either an odd or even winner.
One throw of a die or coin. There should be either an odd or even winner.
After the casting is over, the answers are looked at.
Right Fingers: Odd, even
Left Fingers: Odd, even
Right toes: Odd, even
Left toes: Odd, even
Arms: Odd, even, tie
Legs: Odd, even, tie
Torso: Odd, even
Head: Odd, even
There are six possible odd or even lines. There are two additional lines that can go tie or odd or even. So, there is the initial six that can be tied if three are even and three are odd, and there are the two additional lines that can add to it. Ties are middling but can favor odd or even based on the additional casting of lots. If there is a tie, there should be two rolls for the eyes. If they are odd, they are affirmative, and if they are even, they are negative.
So out of eight lines, there are odd rolls which relate to the affirmative, positive, and yes answers. Ties, especially ties that occur after the initial tie are middling, but can lean towards yes or lean towards no. Even number rolls indicate a negative and no answers.
Roll Results:
7-8 lines are odd: Strong yes, affirmative.
5-6 lines Yes, affirmative
4-4 lines: Tie, middling
Additional round, 2-0 odd, middling but leaning towards yes, 2-0 even, middling but leaning towards no, 1-1 odd, even middling at the mean.
7-8 lines are even: Strong no, negative
5-6 lines: No, negative
4-4 lines: Tie, middling
Photo Credits
- A man does a ritual in his shop. Photo by Midjourney. Creator: @david.k9
- Random dies sit on a table for use in lot divination. Photo by Midjourney. Creator: @david.k9
David has studied traditional astrology since 2014. The Bay Area native completed Chris Brennan’s Introduction to Hellenistic Astrology course, and attended courses taught by Austin Coppock, Nina Gryphon, and Ryhan Butler. He is interested in exploring the less well known aspects of astrology, divination, and spirituality.