Chartomancy I define as any divination method which employs the use of charts, either consulting established charts—such as the Arabian Squares, the Tablets of Fate, or Napoleon’s Book of Fate—or the erecting of a chart, such as a numerological, astrological, lexigrammical, or nameological chart.
The clearest benefit of chartomancy divination methods is, they store flat. If you don’t have a lot of storage space, this is a plus. It also makes them easier to hide, another advantage if you live with someone who doesn’t like or disdains divination. You don’t have to keep them around; you can tear them up and even burn them it you want to. You can keep the master copies on a flash-drive, or an SD card; again, the portability and/or hideability issue.
A few of these, like the Tablets of Fate, the Arabian Squares, the Wheel of Fortune, or Napoleon’s Book of Fate, could double as a diverting way of passing an evening with friends. (If they don’t like divination, just hand them a print-out of my Tree of Life chart and a box of colored pencils, and tell ‘em it’s an adult coloring sheet).
Another virtue of chartomancy is, you’re not made to guess or discern what your fortune is, as with stone divination, African bone divination, omen divination, or any of the psychically-based divination methods—chartomancy methods clearly spell out what your fortune is. Just follow procedure–focus your mind, ask your question, consult the chart in the prescribed manner, and boom, you’re done. No ruminating for minutes on end over a cast, card-spread, or cup of wet leaf-fragments, wondering what it all means. Chartomancy is for people who want a straight answer with minimal fuss.