How have omens been regarded in the
past? An appeal to anciency is usually a
safeguard for a basis. It is found that most
of the earliest records are now subsisting.
See official guide to the British Museum.
Babylonian and Assyrian antiquities, table
case H. Nineveh Gallery, the following
appears:
"By means of omen tablets the Babylonian and
Assyrian priests from time immemorial
predicted events which they believed would
happen in the near or in the remote future.
They deduced these omens from the appearance
and actions of animals, birds, fish, and
reptiles; from the appearance of the
entrails of sacrificial victims; from the
appearance and condition of human and animal
offspring at birth; from the state and
condition of various members of the human
body."
In India, where the records of the early
ages of civilization go back hundreds of
years, omens are considered of great
importance.
Later, in Greece, the home of the greatest
and highest culture and civilization, we
find, too, omens regarded very seriously,
while to-day there are vast numbers of
persons of intellect, the world over, who
place reliance upon omens.
That there is some good ground for belief in
some omens seems indisputable. Whether this
has arisen as the result of experience, by
the following of some particular event close
upon the heels of signs observed, or whether
it has been an intuitive science, in which
provision has been used to afford an
interpretation, is not quite clear. It seems
idle to attempt to dismiss the whole thing
as mere superstition, wild guessing, or
abject credulity, as some try to do, with
astrology and alchemy also, and other occult
sciences; the fact remains that omens have,
in numberless instances, given good
warnings.
To say that these are just coincidences is
to beg the question. For the universe is
governed by law. Things happen because they
must, not because they may. There is no such
thing as accident or coincidence. We may not
be able to see the steps and the
connections. But they are there all the
same.
In years gone by many signs were deduced
from the symptoms of sick men; the events or
actions of a man's life; dreams and visions;
the appearance of a man's shadow; from fire,
flame, light, or smoke; the state and
condition of cities and their streets, of
fields, marshes, rivers, and lands. From the
appearances of the stars and planets, of
eclipses, meteors, shooting stars, the
direction of winds, the form of clouds,
thunder and lightning and other weather
incidents, they were able to forecast
happenings. A number of tablets are devoted
to these prophecies.
It is conceivable that many of these omens
should have found their way into Greece, and
it is not unreasonable to believe that India
may have derived her knowledge of omens from
Babylonia; or it may have been the other way
about. The greatest of scholars are divided
in their opinions as to which really is the
earlier civilization.
The point to be made here is that in all
parts of the world—in quarters where we may
be certain that no trace of Grecian, Indian,
or Babylonian science or civilization has
appeared—there are to be found systems of
prophecies by omens.
It may be accounted for in two ways. One
that in all races as they grow up, so to
speak, there is the same course of evolution
of ideas and superstition which to many
appears childish. The other explanation
seems to be the more reasonable one, if we
believe, as we are forced to do, that omens
do foretell—that all peoples, all races,
accumulate a record, oral or otherwise, of
things which have happened more or less
connected with things which seemed to
indicate them. In course of time this
knowledge appears to consolidate. It gets
generally accepted as true. And then it is
handed on from generation to generation.
Often with the passage of years it gets
twisted and a new meaning taken out of it
altogether different from the original.
It would be difficult to attempt to classify
omens. Many books have been written on the
subject and more yet to be written of the
beliefs of the various races. The best that
can be offered here is a selection from one
or other of the varied sources. In Greece
sneezing was a good omen and was considered
a proof of the truth of what was said at the
moment by the sneezer.
A tingling in the hand denoted the near
handling of money, a ringing in the ears
that news will soon be received. The number
of sneezes then became a sign for more
definite results. The hand which tingled,
either right or left, indicated whether it
were to be paid or received. The particular
ear affected was held to indicate good or
evil news. Other involuntary movements of
the body were also considered of prime
importance.
Many omens are derived from the observation
of various substances dropped into a bowl of
water. In Babylon oil was used. To-day in
various countries melted lead, wax, or the
white of an egg, is used. From the shapes
which result, the trade or occupation of a
future husband, the luck for the year, and
so on, are deduced in the folk practices of
modern Europe. Finns use stearine and melted
lead, Magyars lead, Russians wax, Danes lead
and egg, and the northern counties of
England egg, wax and oil.
Bird omens were the subject of very serious
study in Greece. It has been thought that
this was because in the early mythology of
Greece some of their gods and goddesses were
believed to have been birds. Birds,
therefore, were particularly sacred, and
their appearances and movements were of
profound significance. The principal birds
for signs were the raven, the crow, the
heron, wren, dove, woodpecker, and
kingfisher, and all the birds of prey, such
as the hawk, eagle, or vulture, which the
ancients classed together (W. R. Halliday,
"Greek Divination"). Many curious instances,
which were fulfilled, of bird omens are
related in "The Other World," by Rev. F.
Lee. A number of families have traditions
about the appearance of a white bird in
particular.
"In the ancient family of Ferrers, of
Chartley Park, in Staffordshire, a herd of
wild cattle is preserved. A tradition arose
in the time of Henry III. that the birth of
a party-coloured calf is a sure omen of
death, within the same year, to a member of
the Lord Ferrers family. By a noticeable
coincidence, a calf of this description has
been born whenever a death has happened of
late years in this noble family."
(Staffordshire Chronicle, July, 1835). The
falling of a picture or a statue or bust of
the individual is usually regarded as an
evil omen. Many cases are cited where this
has been soon followed by the death of the
person.
It would be easy to multiply instances of
this sort: of personal omen or warning. The
history and traditions of our great families
are saturated with it. The predictions and
omens relating to certain well known
families, and others, recur at once; and
from these it may be inferred that beneath
the more popular beliefs there is enough
fire and truth to justify the smoke that is
produced, and to reward some of the faith
that is placed in the modern dreambooks and
the books of fate and the interpretations of
omens.
Omens
ACORN.—Falling from the oak tree on
anyone, is a sign of good fortune to the
person it strikes.
BAT.—To see one in day time means long
journey.
BIRTHDAYS.—
"Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for its living;
But a child that's born on the Sabbath-day
Is handsome and wise and loving and gay."
BUTTERFLY.—In your room means great pleasure
and success, but you must not catch it, or
the luck will change.
CANDLE.—A spark on the wick of a candle
means a letter for the one who first sees
it. A big glow like a parcel means money
coming to you.
CAT.—Black cat to come to your house means
difficulties caused by treachery. Drive it
away and avoid trouble.
CHAIN.—If your chain breaks while on you
means disappointments or a broken engagement
of marriage.
CLOTHES.—To put on clothes the wrong way out
is a sign of good luck; but you must not
alter them, or the luck will change.
CLOVER.—To find a four-leaf clover means
luck to you, happiness and prosperity.
COW.—Coming in your yard or garden a very
prosperous sign.
CRICKETS.—A lucky omen. It foretells money
coming to you. They should not be disturbed.
DOG.—Coming to your house, means faithful
friends and a favorable sign.
DEATH-WATCH.—A clicking in the wall by this
little insect is regarded as evil, but it
does not necessarily mean a death; possibly
only some sickness.
EARS.—You are being talked about if your ear
tingles. Some say, "right for spite, left
for love." Others reverse this omen. If you
think of the person, friend, or acquaintance
who is likely to be talking of you, and
mention the name aloud, the tingling will
cease if you say the right one.
FLAG.—If it falls from the staff, while
flying it means danger from wounds inflicted
by an enemy.
FRUIT STONES OR PIPS.—Think of a wish first,
and then count your stones or pips. If the
number is even, the omen is good. If odd,
the reverse is the case.
GRASSHOPPER in the house means some great
friend or distinguished person will visit
you.
HORSESHOE.—To find one means it will bring
you luck.
KNIVES crossed are a bad omen. If a knife or
fork or scissors falls to the ground and
sticks in the floor you will have a visitor.
LADYBIRDS betoken visitors.
LOOKING GLASS.—To break means it will bring
you ill luck.
MAGPIES.—One, bad luck; two, good luck;
three, a wedding; four, a birth.
MARRIAGE.—A maid should not wear colors; a
widow never white. Happy omens for brides
are sunshine and a cat sneezing.
MAY.—"Marry in May, and you'll rue the day."
NEW MOON on a Monday signifies good luck and
good weather. The new moon seen for the
first time over the right shoulder offers
the chance for a wish to come true.
NIGHTINGALE.—Lucky for lovers if heard
before the cuckoo.
OWLS are evil omens. Continuous hooting of
owls in your trees is said to be one of
ill-health.
PIGS.—To meet a sow coming towards you is
good; but if she turns away, the luck flies.
RABBITS.—A rabbit running across your path
is said to be unlucky.
RAT.—A rat running in front of you means
treacherous servants and losses through
enemies.
RAVEN.—To see one, means death to the aged
or trouble generally.
SALT spilled means a quarrel. This may be
avoided by throwing a pinch over the left
shoulder.
SCISSORS.—If they fall and stick in the
floor it means quarrels, illness, separation
of lovers.
SERPENT OR SNAKE.—If it crosses your path,
means spiteful enemies, bad luck. Kill it
and your luck will be reversed.
SHOES.—The right shoe is the best one to put
on first.
SHOOTING STARS.—If you wish, while the star
is still moving, your wish will come true.
SINGING before breakfast, you'll cry before
night.
SPIDERS.—The little red spider is the money
spider, and means good fortune coming to
you. It must not be disturbed. Long-legged
spiders are also forerunners of good
fortune.
TOWEL.—To wipe your hands on a towel at the
same time with another, means you are to
quarrel with him or her in the near future.
WHEEL.—The wheel coming off any vehicle you
are riding in means you are to inherit some
fortune, a good omen.
WASHING HANDS.—If you wash your hands in the
water just used by another, a quarrel may be
expected, unless you first make the sign of
the cross over the water.
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