Lithomancy — from the Greek lithos (stone) — is one of the most ancient oracular arts. Stones were among the first tools humans used for divination, whether through casting and reading their fall patterns or through the reflective and luminous properties of polished gems.
In one classical method, a set of stones — each assigned to a planet or celestial force — were cast onto a cloth and their positions and groupings interpreted. In another, a clear crystal or polished gem was used as a scrying surface, reflecting light into visions.
Certain stones carried specific divinatory associations: obsidian for truth and shadow; quartz for clarity and amplification; moonstone for intuition and cycles. Lithomancy was practised across ancient Rome, the Celtic world, and medieval Europe.