Nephelomancy
Telling the past, determining the present, and foretelling the future by reading the clouds. Shape, Color, Direction, Formation, and Location all go into a cloud reading.
First, let’s learn a little bit about the history of Nephelomancy.
For ages, mankind has looked to something bigger than themselves for guidance. Beings they could not see, but only dream of. Aside from the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars; the clouds are another heavenly entity which seem to send messages. Dark, thick, angry clouds… white, fluffy, happy clouds.. free and fanciful wisps.. They flow and grow as though controlled by a higher being.
Early civilizations would pray, pour libations, and hold various kinds of sacrifices in hopes of calming or pleasing whatever gods may be watching over them. They would do this for rain to quench the fields, to keep meteorological disasters from happening, or for some kind of sign for guidance.
Closely related and a more broad term, Aeromancy (divination through atmospheric conditions), was first mentioned as a form of science, rather than as divination. It was mentioned in Deuteronomy 18 as being condemned by Moses. Albertus Manus also condemned it, as he believed it was related to necromancy. It was also one of the seven “Forbidden Arts” in Renaissance times (along with geomancy, hydromancy, necromancy, osteomancy, palmistry, and pyromancy.)
In the Greek commedy “The Clouds” by Aristophanes, Socrates declares to Strepsiades the clouds as the only true deities, that only they should be paid homage to. In this play, the clouds would change shape to reveal the true nature of those gazing upon them.
Next, we’ll learn about the forms of clouds.
We have a lot to thank modern meteorology for, in understanding and classifying the varying shapes and forms of clouds. Here, however, we’ll go over the ten basic types of clouds, as there are more than 100 classifications.. but they fit pretty neatly into ten basic types, which can be categorized by the various altitudes in which they lie.
Low-Level Clouds (below 6,500ft) - Cumulus, Stratus, Stratocumulus
Middle Clouds (between 6,500 and 20,000ft) - Altocumulus, Nimbostratus, Altostratus
High-Level Clouds (above 20,000ft) - Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, Cirrostratus
Cumulonimbus clouds go across all altitude levels.
Cumulus clouds are flat and a little dark on the bottom, with light puffy tops. You see these from late morning to early evening when the day is clear and the sun warms the ground.
Stratus clouds are gray, hazy, and a uniform layer (think of fog, but in the sky.) You’ll see these on overcast days, usually accompanied with a light rain.
Stratocumulus clouds are a nice mix of their namesake. They occur in big, honeycomb style patches on mostly cloudy days.
Altocumulus clouds are similar to Stratocumulus, but are higher altitude, smaller, and more round. You see these on warm, humid, summer mornings (signaling rain later in the day,) or ahead of cold fronts.
Nimbostratus clouds are -the- rain cloud. They’re dark, thick, and extend from the lower to mid-level altitudes. You see these when it is going to, or when it is raining or snowing.
Altostratus clouds are gray, or bluish-gray hazy clouds which mostly cover the mid-levels. You can still see the sun through them, but there are no shadows. You’ll see these ahead of any weather front coming through.
Cirrus clouds are light, wispy, curls of white, and made of ice crystals (high-altitude, cold, water vapor.. favorable for forming ice.) These occur on nice, fair-weather days, or ahead of warm front and large-scale storms. A sailor’s provers states “Mares’ tails (cirrus) and mackerel scales (altocumulus) make lofty ships to carry low sails.”
Cirrocumulus clouds are similar to altocumulus, but much smaller, organized into rows, made of ice crystals, and found at a much higher altitude. They’re rare, have a short life, but can be seen on cold, fair weather days.
Cirrostratus clouds are nearly transparent and cover or veil almost the whole sky. A dead giveaway to identifying them would be when you see a halo around the sun. These are seen on warmer days when there is either a lot of moisture in the atmosphere, or ahead of a warm front.
Cumulonimbus clouds are huge. These storm-producing clouds grow from cumulus and stretch across all altitudes. The tops of these clouds often flatten and plume out like an anvil.
Finally, let’s learn the how.
Divining with clouds is truly more involved with intuition. It takes time and also requires more of an open mind. It’s better when you’re not out looking for specific shapes. It can either tell you more about yourself, or generalize occurances coming to you.
Some shapes to consider –
Angels or Felines - listen to your intuition.
Buildings - symbolize how you see yourself. Bigger buildings are confident, smaller buildings, not so much.
Crocodiles or Snakes - danger or deceit.
Circles - feeling complete or marriage ahead.
Deer, Moose, Reindeer - be more assertive. Take control.
There is by no means a definitive list of shapes. It truly is personal to you and your own history and beliefs. Signs that are personal to you. For example, a small bird shape could represent one person’s family member watching over them, while to another, it means innocence or wishful thinking.
Back to the 10 Basic Shapes, they could symbolize the following..
Cumulus - naivety, childishness, innocence, joy
Stratus - secrets, hidden motives, a snake in the grass
Stratocumulus - strength, courage, wisdom, protection
Altocumulus - comfort, a safety blanket
Nimbostratus - power, abundance, influence
Altostratus - stability, prosperity, cohesiveness
Cirrus - freedom, adventure, loose ties, vacation
Cirrocumulus - dreams, sowing seeds for the future, intuition
Cirrostratus - beginnings, renewal, inner calling
Cumulonimbus - turmoil, growing pains, change, difficult times
The Direction in which the clouds move can have meaning. Associate these with the characteristics of the elements we associate with each cardinal direction.
North - Air - Adaptability, Emotions, Charm, Fluidity, Creativity
East - Earth - Force, Inspiration, Trust, Love, Sincerity
South - Fire - Energy, Growth, Strength, Health, Loyalty
West - Water - Fertility, Solidity, Energy, Persistence, Confidence
How quickly or dramatically a shape forms and disappears can affect the meaning, such as something resolving or happening sooner or later. If a cloud splits, or example, it could mean more than one possible outcome. Alternatively, if shapes combine, cross paths, or are closer/farther apart, they can impact each other’s meanings. The cloud’s location in the atmosphere can be relative to the likelyhood of something happening (closer, lower altitude, more likely… farther, higher altitude, less likely.)
Keep in mind that meanings can alter, pending context, personal feelings and intuition.
image credit riverwindphotography.tumblr.com
