Cloud gazing

The beauty of the sky can really draw one in.

Cloud gazing, or Aeromancy, is the scientific study of cloud formations. This often often done in the belief in a connection between the atmospheric conditions and terrestrial matters.

Cloud gazing has played an important part in human history, having various regional branches including Indian or Chinese aeromancy, and European aeromancy. Cloud gazing has in fact been instrumental in shaping the course of human history, especially in regards to the 20th century.

Etymology

Aeromancy come from the Greek ἀήρ, ἀέρος, (aer, aeros) meaning "air" and the verb Μανία (mania) meaning "madness, frenzy". This reflects that early cloud gazers looked at clouds with a fervent passion - a passion that is still matched in professional cloud-gazing today.

The first recorded instance of cloud gazing as a modern science being used was found in Chambers, Cycl. Supp, 1753. It was defined as "That department of ʃience which trætſ of the atmoſfere". This has often been referred to as an early form of meteorology, although it has been suggested that this was generally just developed from awkward social occasions where everyone just stood around and talked about the weather.

Current practice

Cloud gazing can be practiced by anyone, given sufficient clouds. It can be done indoors, though more commonly practiced outside. Reading the clouds for amusement is not a new past-time, and engaged by many as a hobby, but professional cloud reading is a very serious business, with stronger academic roots than ever before, and providing lucrative opportunities after study. The cloud gazing business in the US generates approximately 15% of the gross national product.

An intense and rigorous pursuit of study in school cloud gazers have to hone a variety of skills and talents. Some suggest that cloud gazers are born, not made. It does require prodigious demands on the faculties of the cloud gazer to pursue gazing as a career choice. Cloud gazers who wish to go professional after school will have to be versed in all the major cloud forms, not only in identification but reading and predictive morphology, as well as being able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the portents the clouds forewarn. Generally practitioners don't travel far from their universities or colleges where they got their degree, since climate patterns in other areas may prove obstacles to what they're familiar with, while for others this is a reason to voyage out.

Of course Masters and PhDs are also offered at some schools, and are generally better paid after school, as their advanced studies will often specialize in particular concentrations, such as Pileus or Cumulus. Very specialized fields, like Altostratus Undulatus and Cumulonimbus Calvus are offered at fewer universities, and often students must go to specialty cloud gazing and reading schools for their degree.

Predictive morphology

There are various methods used toward divination from cloud formations, however the Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology, Fifth Edition, Vol. 2 edited by J. Gordon Melton, notes:

“ In order to divine terrestrial events from the atmospheric conditions the diviner or gazer must first empty their mind of all conscious thought. This is a skill that takes some practioners many years of effort, however thers are more naturally inclined toward lack of thought initially. The diviner now looks at the pattern of clouds in the sky and allows the imagination to play around the colours and shapes suggested by them. They might look like a letter, a heart shape, or a fluffy white thingy. These shapes are then interpreted intuitively or by means of a fairly standard system of symbolism, such as: snake (enmity or falsehood), spade (good fortune through industry), mountain (journey of hindrance), or fluffy white thing (change, success). ”

Melton's notion that readers give intuitive interpretations reflects his unfamiliarity with cloud reading; most readers use the standard symbols that have been handed down through several generations. There are, however, many who prefer to read by feel and intuition, as stated by Melton. The most common readings however are:

Atmospheric conditions	Prediction
Clear skies Sun shining	The sun will set within 12 hours.
Clear skies Stars/moon shining	The sun will rise within 12 hours (It may be more approriate to take up Astrology.)
Significant cloud cover Dark grey colour	It may start raining
Significant cloud cover Water falling from sky	It will stop raining eventually

Early Origins

Cloud gazing in its broadest sense, is the search for meaning in the cloud formations. It has therefore been argued that aeromancy began as a study as soon as human beings made conscious attempts to measure and record their experiences staring at clouds. This argument is obviously idiotic and can be dismissed out of hand as the ravings of an individual with extraordinarily low IQ.

Eastern tradition

Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th/6th century CE. In the Two Entrances and Four Acts, traditionally attributed to Bodhidharma, the term "cloud-gazing" is given as follows:

"Those who turn from delusion back to reality, who meditate on clouds, the absence of self and other, the oneness of mortal and sage, and who remain unmoved even by scriptures are in complete and unspoken agreement with reason".

These are the first mentions in the historical record of what may be a type of meditation being ascribed to Bodhidharma.

Exactly what sort of practice Bodhidharma's "cloud-gazing" was remains uncertain. Nearly all accounts have treated it either as an undefined variety of meditation. There have also, however, been interpretations of "cloud-gazing" as a non-meditative phenomenon, and more directed toward a predictive practice.

Western tradition

Cloud gazing has been dated back to Isrealite times. It was mentioned in Deuteronomy 18 as being condemned by Moses, who felt that staring at stone tablets with a dozen or so commandments on them was better than staring into the sky and relaxing.

It is also condemned by Albertus Magnus in Speculum Astronomiae, who describes the practice as a derivative of nigromancy (a form of divination via necromancy). Why he believed dead people were pushing around the clouds and making them form into different shapes is still unknown, but it is believed to be related to his own practice of divination via hallucinogenics.

In Renaissance magic, aeromancy was classified as one of the seven "forbidden arts," along with necromancy, geomancy, hydromancy, pyromancy, chiromancy (palmistry), and masturbation.

Modern Controversy

In 1926 Hitler stated in his book Mein Kampf that his political opponents often used cloud gazing to create their political opinions, and referred to them living in Cloud Cuckoo Land. This effectively discredited his opponents, and allowed him to take power over Germany, which then lead to WWII. It is commonly believed by supporters of cloud gazing that it was primarily due to this prejudice that millions of people died.

Starting in the 1980s the debate as to the practicality and utility of cloud gazing being offered in schools was seriously challenged. It was listed, along with egg nog smithery, tree refueling, and conversational binary as one of the courses proposed to be axed under the Regean administration. In the proposal drafted by the 1986 Congress these courses were cited to 'have no friggin purpose' and 'be a total waste of time', despite time wasting being proven to have many benefits.

Many public university systems scaled back or eliminated their programs in cloud gazing, including Rhode Island, Kentuckistan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Some universities defended their rights to offer cloud gazing, especially outspoken defenders were California's UC system and the SUNY system in New York, both of which have kept their cloud gazing programs and degrees. Many private institutions, and most liberal arts colleges, offer cloud gazing.

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