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Fortuna: The Sacred and Profane Faces of Luck — Folk Magic

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Fortuna: The Sacred and Profane Faces of Luck

Name: Fortuna: The Sacred and Profane Faces of Luck
Price: 16.99 USD
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ISBN: 9781644116470

✍️ Pennick, Nigel

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4.4

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Nigel Pennick embarks on a fascinating journey, charting the evolution of human interaction with fortune and fate. From ancient civilizations' sacred divination practices, where objects like dice, bones, and shells were conduits for divine will, to the emergence of modern gambling and its associated superstitions, this book offers a comprehensive exploration. It meticulously details the techniques and interpretations of various oracular methods, including those found in medieval grimoires, before examining how these profound spiritual tools transformed into instruments of entertainment and games of chance, giving rise to the modern concept of "luck."

Pennick, Nigel

📚 all books by this author (16) →

🌿

Folk Magic

Praise for this book

“With his customary insight, Nigel Pennick investigates the underlying principles and rationale of divination, the means by which the diviner may appeal to the gods (or the subconscious) for guidance, in order to change the course of their luck. Nigel examines methods from bones to dice, to oracle books and geomancy, including an old method of using the eyes on potatoes to foretell the future!”

— Anna Franklin, author of The Hearth Witch's Compendium

🏛 Destiny Books 📅 2024 📖 144 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781644116470

Fun Fact

Pennick's 'Fortuna' is a meticulously researched and expansive journey into humanity's enduring fascination with fate. It excels in drawing clear lines from ancient divinatory rites to contemporary gambling culture, offering a unique perspective on the evolution of 'luck.' While not a practical guide for divination or gaming, it's an indispensable resource for cultural historians, occult enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the esoteric roots of chance. Those seeking a how-to manual will be disappointed, but scholars of folklore and esoteric traditions will find it an invaluable addition to their collection.

📝 Description: Fortuna: The Sacred and Profane Faces of Luck

Traces the history of good fortune traditions from sacred divination to modern gambling - Reveals how dice were originally considered sacred objects of divination and details the techniques and meanings of a dice oracle - Looks at medieval grimoires for fortune-telling and other divination traditions, including those using cowrie shells, bones, coins, cards, sticks, and stones - Examines how dice became a means of gaming and gambling and how gambling gave rise to specialized lucky charms Some believe that our future is predetermined, while others assert that we have free will and our future can take many different courses depending on our actions. In ancient times, it was believed that the will of the gods determined people's lives, and divination or sacrifices to the gods could change or improve one's future. Of the deities devoted to luck and the future, the Roman goddess Fortuna is most famous, having two shrines in Italy where divination was conducted under her guardianship. Tracing the history of the culture of good fortune from sacred divination to profane gambling, Nigel Pennick explores the many ways people through the centuries have sought to divine the future, ensure protection, and draw the full benefits from days of good omen. He shows how dice were originally considered sacred objects of divination and reveals the divinatory geomancy techniques and meanings of a dice oracle. Exploring how dice became a means of gaming and gambling, Pennick details the forms of trickery and crooked dice used in games of craps by cheating gamblers and the Dream Books that served as oracles for those who played the policy game. In addition to dice, he looks at how cowrie shells, bones, coins, cards, sticks, and stones were used to form meaningful patterns for interpretation and how these cultural divination practices were often accompanied by texts or oral traditions that explained the meanings of the patterns. Revealing how divination and gambling are two sides of the same coin, Pennick shows how, whether you are a gambler relying on Lady Luck or a diviner querying the gods, we're all looking to Fortuna in the quest for a better, richer life.

📑 What's inside

Introduction
CHAPTER 1The Myths of Time
The Impossibility of Originality in the Universal Laws
CHAPTER 2
Lady Luck and the Goddess Fortuna
Oracle of Numbers
CHAPTER 3Divinatory Geomancy
Creating Figures for Readings
CHAPTER 4 The Sanctorum Sortes
Dice Divination
CHAPTER 5
Roll Them Laughing Bones
The Dicer's Grip, Controlled Shots, and Crooked Dice
CHAPTER 6
The Wager
One Hundred Guineas to One Penny
CHAPTER 7 Gambling and Gaming
The Prohibition of Practices Pre-1880
CHAPTER 8
Illegal Gambling's Intersection with Divination and Magic
1880s to the Present
CHAPTER 9
Superstition in the Gambling Life
The Black Cat Plays an Ace of Spades
CHAPTER 10
Divination and the Discovery of Randomness Conclusion
APPENDIX 1
James Balmford's
A Short and Plaine Dialogue
Concerning the Unlawfulnes of Playing at Cards, or Tables, or Any Other Game Consisting in Chance, Cambridge, 1593
APPENDIX 2 The Officials of Gambling Houses, London, 1731
Bibliography
Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Pennick delivers a meticulous charting of fortune's evolution, from sacred divination to modern gambling. While valuable for historians of esotericism, this book may not suit readers seeking practical divinatory instruction or those uninterested in historical anthropology. It is less about casting spells and more about analyzing the cultural mechanics of chance. The text excels in detailing oracular methods but assumes a reader comfortable with dense historical analysis. Those looking for quick tips on luck or purely mystical experiences might find the academic tone dry, yet it remains an essential resource for understanding the profound spiritual-to-secular transition of fortune.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the intersection of spirituality and probability will find this book indispensable. It offers a deep dive into how humanity has historically negotiated with fate, transforming sacred tools like bones and shells into mere instruments of entertainment. Those interested in the cultural evolution of luck, from divine portents to modern superstitions, will appreciate Pennick’s comprehensive approach. It is ideal for anyone seeking to understand the profound shifts in human interaction with fortune, providing context for both ancient divination techniques and contemporary games of chance without losing sight of their spiritual roots.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you're drawn to the esoteric history of chance, the forgotten sacred uses of everyday objects, or the cultural anthropology of human belief in fate, this book is an essential journey for your library. It offers profound insights for anyone curious about the roots of our superstitions.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Pennick delivers a meticulous charting of fortune's evolution, from sacred divination to modern gambling. While valuable for historians of esotericism, this book may not suit readers seeking practical divinatory instruction or those uninterested in historical anthropology. It is less about casting spells and more about analyzing the cultural mechanics of chance. The text excels in detailing oracular methods but assumes a reader comfortable with dense historical analysis. Those looking for quick tips on luck or purely mystical experiences might find the academic tone dry, yet it remains an essential resource for understanding the profound spiritual-to-secular transition of fortune.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this is a historical and cultural exploration, not a guide to modern gambling strategies. It focuses on the origins and evolution of concepts of luck and divination.

While the Roman goddess Fortuna is a central figure, the book broadens its scope significantly, delving into diverse global divination practices and their cultural evolution beyond classical antiquity.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Evolution of Fortune

This work meticulously traces how human understanding of fortune has shifted from divine decree, often mediated by deities like the Roman Fortuna, to a more secular concept of chance and personal luck. It highlights the cultural and religious factors that shaped these evolving perspectives across different eras, revealing a profound transformation in humanity's relationship with the unknown.

Sacred Divinatory Tools

Pennick delves into the rich history of various objects used for prophecy and divine communication. Readers will discover the original sacred significance of items such as dice, cowrie shells, bones, coins, and cards, learning about the specific methods and symbolic meanings associated with their use in ancient and medieval oracular traditions, long before they became commonplace in games.

From Oracle to Gambling

The book brilliantly illustrates the transition where revered tools of divination gradually shed their sacred aura, becoming instruments for gaming and wagering. It examines this fascinating cultural metamorphosis, exploring how the human desire to influence fate persisted, manifesting in the creation of specialized 'lucky charms' and the shift from seeking divine guidance to purely recreational or speculative pursuits.

📜 Historical context

The human impulse to divine the future and influence one's fortune is as old as civilization itself. This book places Pennick's research within a tradition stretching back to ancient Rome's goddess Fortuna, examining how cultures globally have sought to understand and interact with destiny, from early oracular practices to the later, more secular manifestations of gambling and 'luck' across millennia.

📚 Glossary

Fortuna
Divination
Grimoire

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on a personal experience where you felt 'lucky' or 'unlucky.' How might ancient beliefs, as described in the book, interpret this event differently than modern perspectives?
Consider an everyday object you use (e.g., coins, cards). How might its sacred origins have been forgotten or transformed over time, according to the book's themes?
In what ways does modern society still engage with concepts of fate, chance, and destiny, even if not through formal divination? Think about superstitions, astrology, or risk assessment.