What does the future hold for you? Are you destined to become a master of the occult or will you wind up reading fortunes at the funfair? To find out, simply drop a handful of dirt, sand or ashes of a recently deceased loved one onto a flat surface and start looking for omens that might foretell the future.

For example, if you’re using ashes and they take the form of an animal, the dead person’s soul has now migrated to a new form. If you see numerous lines, it indicates you’re about to embark on a long trip.

Known as Abacomancy or Amathomancy (from the Greek word “amathos”, meaning sand), this form of divination is great for beginners - all you need is a bit of dirt and an open mind.