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How were coca leaves, spiders, fire, and llama lungs used in Inca divinatory practices?
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In Inca society, divination was a fundamental prerequisite for all significant actions, used to diagnose illnesses, predict military outcomes, and resolve judicial matters. Practitioners employed various methods to interpret the will of the supernatural:12
- Coca Leaves: Priests observed the patterns formed by coca leaves when placed in a shallow dish. Additionally, practitioners (yacarca) chewed the leaves to induce a narcotized state, which they believed allowed them to summon spirits.12
- Spiders: Diviners watched the natural movements and meandering of spiders to interpret omens.12
- Fire: Flames were considered a medium for spiritual contact. Practitioners used metal tubes to blow air into fires to reach a red heat, then used fiery conjurations to summon spirits, who were said to speak through ventriloquism.12
- Llama Lungs: Priests performed augury by studying the lungs of a sacrificed white llama. They inflated the lungs by blowing into the trachea and foretold the future by minutely observing the conformance of the veins.12
These practices were essential for guiding political and military decisions, ensuring that the Inca acted in accordance with divine portents.12