The exhibition, Oracles, Omens and Answers, at the Weston Library (until 27 April 2025) explores the many ways in which people have sought answers in the face of the unknown across time and cultures. From astrology and palm reading to weather and public health forecasting, the exhibition demonstrates the ubiquity of divination practices, and humanity's universal desire to tame uncertainty, diagnose present problems, and predict future outcomes.
In this series of short videos, filmed at the exhibition, co-curator and Professor of Social Anthropology David Zeitlyn talks about how the exhibition came about, some key themes and favourite objects in the exhibition as well as the wider topic of divination, how people have used it across places and times and why its still relevant today.
Participate in Professor Zeitlyn's ongoing research into the use of divination by answering a short questionnaire here
