Omen
A supernatural sign or event presaging a future event. There are two basic kinds of omen: normal occurrences of nature (the hooting of owls, or howling of dogs, for example), ...
An omen interpreted by the flame of a torch was good if the flame formed one point, bad if it formed two, and three points were better than one.
May the omen be favourable, O Asclepios, he said. It is almost a sacrilege to burn incense or any other perfume during prayer; He Who is all and Who contains all, desires nothing.
The above-mentioned omen tablets of Enuma Anu Enlil, part of the library of King Assubanipal (669-626 BC, king in Ninive), show us an amazing system of astronomical observations.
Augury n : an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come; an omen or sign that something is coming; "he hoped it was an augury"; "it was a sign from God". It also means a prediction, prognostication and indication of the future.
Of the strange colours, some appearing out of time, give an ill omen to the work: such as the blackness renewed; for the Crow's young ones having once left their nest are never to be suffered to return.
Perhaps for local reasons, it was regarded by the Romans as a star of evil omen.
SYCOMANCY is performed by writing messages on tree leaves; the slower they dry, the more favorable the omen. A modern variation is to write on slips of paper (always including one blank) and rolling them up.
When his father brought him to study with Socrates, the great Skeptic declared that on the previous night he had dreamed of a white swan, which was an omen that his new disciple was to become one of the world's illumined.
They will have a long way to climb, just as had those who went wrong in Atlantis; but thousands of those who were on the wrong side in Atlantis are on the right side now, and surely that is an omen of great hope for us.
In alchemy, to meet with the black crow is a good omen. Thus in the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, as our hero sets out on his journey of transformation, ...
 See also: Spirit, World, Signs, Anima, Sun
  
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