Aeromancy, a type of divination that was performed via the medium of air and the inspection of phenomena happening therein. [1] Aristophanes speaks of it in The Clouds . [2] According to Delrio, it is divided into several types: that which is practiced by observing weather phenomena, like thunder, lightning, and thunderbolts, relates to divination. [3] It is considered astrology when it deals with fortunate or unfortunate aspects of the planets, and teratoscopy when predictions are made based on the apparitions of ghosts seen in the air, such as armies, horsemen, and other prodigies of which historians speak. [4] Strictly speaking, aeromancy consists of conjuring the air to make predictions. Cardan wrote on this subject. See Delrio, Disquisitionum Magicarum, Book IV, Chapter II, Question VI, Section 4, page 547 .

This word is formed from Greek ἀὴρ, air , and μαντεία, divination.

1. This article expands on Chambers’s very brief article Aeromancy in his Cyclopaedia . For more on the concept of phenomena, see the Cyclopaedia article Phaenomenon, which explains it as: “in Physicks, an extraordinary Effect, or Appearance in the Heavens, or on Earth; discover’d by Observation of the Caelestial Bodies, or by physical Experiments; and whose Cause is not obvious.”

2. The Clouds is a Greek comedic play written by Aristophanes and first performed in 423 BC. 

3. Martin Delrio (1551-1608) was a Jesuit theologian who wrote classic commentaries and works on witchcraft and demonology, including Disquisitionum magicarum, or, in English, Magical Investigations .

4. See Teratoscopie.