Many couples worldwide are trying to boost the odds of birthing a baby of the gender they most desire. Some families have already welcomed four or five sons or daughters, only to find they were yearning for the opposite sex. A handful of intriguing methods claim to tip the scales toward the boy or girl of a couple’s dreams. In this article we’ll dive into the top 10 unusual gender‑selection techniques that parents have experimented with, while reminding everyone that the ultimate goal is to love the child that arrives, no matter the gender.

10 Chinese Gender Chart

We kick off the list with the legendary Chinese Gender Chart, a method that many skeptics dismiss as pure folklore. Proponents boast a 99% success rate, claiming the chart was discovered in an ancient tomb and that Earth, Air, Fire, and Water elements—balanced within the parents’ spirits—can sway luck toward a desired gender. Scientific surveys, however, reveal a mere 50% success rate, essentially no better than a coin toss, suggesting the chart’s magical allure outweighs any real predictive power.

9 Dr. Landrum Shettles Method

The Shettles method, pioneered by Dr. Landrum Shettles, hinges on timing intercourse relative to ovulation. For a boy, couples aim for conception as close as possible to the moment of ovulation; for a girl, they try three to four days beforehand. Shettles argued that Y‑bearing sperm are faster but short‑lived, while X‑bearing sperm are slower but more resilient. Original claims suggested 80% success for boys and 75% for girls, but broader surveys (including data from inGender.com) report more modest figures—around 60% for boys and 65% for girls.

8 Diet Method

According to the diet method, a mother’s nutritional choices can shift the pH of her reproductive tract, favoring either X‑ or Y‑bearing sperm. An alkaline environment supposedly benefits Y sperm (boys), while an acidic environment aids X sperm (girls). To tilt toward a girl, the diet emphasizes calcium‑rich foods like fish, lettuce, and plenty of milk. For a boy, the recommendation shifts to protein‑heavy fare—meat, eggs, and sodium‑rich items. Some surveys claim success rates up to 80%, yet doctors warn that such restrictive eating plans may not be healthy during conception attempts.

7 Post‑Ovulation Method (Kynzi’s Discovery)

Australian mother Kynzi, after six sons—including five conceived via the Shettles method—decided to try something different. She waited until 12 hours after all ovulation signs had faded before trying for a baby, and welcomed a daughter. Over a 12‑year span, this “after‑ovulation” approach has shown a 70% success rate for those specifically seeking a girl. It’s a simple tweak of timing, but it appears to work only for couples desiring a daughter.

6 Ericsson Test‑Tube Technique

Dr. Ronald Ericsson built on Shettles’ ideas by separating sperm in a test tube filled with water. Because Y‑bearing sperm are faster, they swim away from the slower X sperm, creating two distinct layers. The desired layer can then be used for artificial insemination, aiming for an 70‑80% success rate. This laboratory‑based technique offers a more controlled environment, though it still requires clinical intervention.

5 Rotator Separation Method

In this clinical approach, semen is placed in a rotating chamber. The larger X‑bearing sperm migrate toward the outer edge, while the smaller Y‑bearing sperm stay nearer the center. By extracting sperm from the appropriate zone, physicians claim a 70‑80% chance of achieving the targeted gender. However, the procedure is costly, often running into thousands of dollars per attempt.

4 Pre‑Implementation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

Pre‑Implementation Genetic Diagnosis, or PGD, is perhaps the most controversial and expensive option. Originally developed to screen for genetic disorders, PGD involves fertilizing eggs in a lab, letting embryos develop a few days, then biopsying a single cell to determine its chromosome composition (XX or XY). The chosen embryo is implanted, while others are discarded—a practice many deem unethical. Success rates exceed 99% when a suitable embryo is available, but the process costs tens of thousands of dollars and is illegal for gender selection in most countries.

3 Comprehensive Commercial Program (C3)

An American company markets a bundled service that blends multiple factors—diet, herbal supplements, douching, and timing—to sway gender odds. They claim the female reproductive tract’s pH oscillates, attracting different sperm at different times, and that synchronizing lifestyle changes can boost success. Boasting over 5,000 customers and only 20 reported failures, the company’s claims sound impressive, yet skeptics suspect the low failure count may reflect satisfied parents who simply appreciated the outcome, regardless of gender.

2 Schoun Charge Chart

Dr. Patrick Schoun observed that X‑bearing sperm carry a slight negative charge, while Y‑bearing sperm are mildly positive. He theorized that the egg’s electric charge fluctuates, periodically attracting one type while repelling the other. By tracking a woman’s charge cycle, Schoun created a calendar that couples could purchase for $400 a year, guiding them on optimal days for conceiving a boy or a girl. The method claims an 87% success rate, according to the company Selnas.

1 Jonas Astrological Method

Dr. Eugen Jonas, a former psychologist, turned to astrology after Hungary legalized abortion in 1956. He linked a woman’s fertility to lunar phases, using astrological charts to predict not only the likelihood of conception but also the prospective child’s gender and health. Jonas asserts a 98% success rate for achieving the desired gender, delivering healthy offspring, and even assisting couples deemed infertile. Critics label his method “too good to be true,” yet Jonas and his wife—who reportedly have 11 children—all claim to have been planned using his theories.

In the end, whether you lean toward ancient folklore, dietary tweaks, high‑tech labs, or star‑guided calendars, the quest for a baby of a particular gender reflects a deep parental desire to shape family dynamics. While science offers varying degrees of influence, the most reliable guarantee remains the same: love the child you welcome, irrespective of its sex.

Welcome to a whirlwind tour of 10 amazing new scientific breakthroughs that are turning the impossible into everyday reality. From invisible Wi‑Fi holograms that peek inside sealed rooms to particle‑accelerator X‑rays that read ancient scrolls, these cutting‑edge techniques are rewriting the rulebook of discovery.

Why These 10 Amazing New Methods Matter

Each of these innovations blends fresh technology with clever twists on classic ideas, giving researchers unprecedented insight into everything from the deepest cosmos to the tiniest cells. Buckle up as we count down the most mind‑blowing tools scientists are using right now.

10 Photographing Hidden Spaces With Wi‑Fi

Scientists set out to give Wi‑Fi a pair of eyes, arranging a simple aluminum‑foil cross, a Wi‑Fi emitter, and two receivers—one fixed, one mobile—inside a sealed chamber. By capturing the way Wi‑Fi waves bounced off the cross, they reconstructed a three‑dimensional hologram that faithfully reproduced the hidden object.

This breakthrough could soon let us view the insides of closed structures from the outside, a potential lifesaver for people trapped beneath snow or in collapsed buildings. Looking ahead five to ten years, the same principle might even be harnessed to monitor whole factories populated by swarms of robots, keeping everything running smoothly without a single physical sensor inside.

9 Revealing Hidden Space Scenes 10 Million Times Faster With AI

Massive galaxy clusters act like gigantic lenses, warping and magnifying the light of more distant objects behind them. Traditionally, decoding these gravitational lenses required months of painstaking comparison between real telescope images and countless computer simulations.

Enter neural networks: artificial brains trained on half a million simulated lens images. In just a few seconds, the AI matched the accuracy of conventional analysis, performing the same work ten million times faster. This speed boost will let astronomers sift through the torrent of data expected from the next generation of observatories, opening the universe wider than ever before.

8 Peering Through Solid Objects With Neutron Beams

A brand‑new imaging method sends a tightly focused neutron beam through solid material, using silicon wafers as tiny lenses to split and redirect the particles. As the neutrons strike the object, they interfere with one another, creating a distinctive pattern that reveals internal structure.

Unlike previous approaches, this neutron interferometry can zoom across a vast size range—from one‑nanometer features up to ten‑micrometer details—making it versatile enough to image both minuscule and relatively large structures. What was once a supplemental technique may now become a primary tool for researchers needing deep, non‑destructive insight.

7 Turning (Dead) Animals Transparent To Glimpse Hidden Biology

The uDISCO method—short for ultimate 3‑D imaging of solvent‑cleared organs—makes deceased animals effectively see‑through. By immersing the specimen in a dehydrating solvent that removes water and fat, researchers shrink the body up to 65 % and render it translucent, like a glass sculpture.

Crucially, uDISCO preserves fluorescent proteins, allowing scientists to follow genetically engineered markers throughout the cleared tissue. This breakthrough could eventually enable a full map of the human brain—a task that would otherwise take a millennium using traditional techniques.

6 Mapping An Entire Country Using Lasers

England is being turned inside‑out by aerial LiDAR, a laser‑based scanning system that fires a million light pulses per second from aircraft, measuring the time each pulse bounces back to build a detailed 3‑D map of the terrain.

What began as a project to monitor shifting coastlines has uncovered hidden Roman roads snaking beneath modern streets, and it also promises to choke off a £1 billion‑a‑year illegal dumping industry by spotting sudden landscape changes and alerting authorities in real time.

5 New X‑Ray Methods Illuminating Invisible Art

Scientists have begun to peel back layers of paint on world‑famous masterpieces using tailored X‑ray wavelengths that pass through oil paint like glass. The technique first revealed a hidden landscape beneath Picasso’s 1902 work “La Misereuse accroupie,” confirming a 1992 study that an earlier artist’s scene lay underneath.

Further analysis uncovered a new detail: the woman’s hand, previously obscured by her robe, is clutching a piece of bread. This method can now be deployed directly in museums, promising fresh revelations from centuries‑old canvases.

4 Detecting CTE And Brain Damage In The Living

For the first time, researchers have confirmed that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)—a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma—can be diagnosed in living patients. In a study of 14 former NFL athletes, brain scans revealed the presence of tau protein, which smothers damaged cells and spreads across the brain, killing neurons.

One participant, former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Fred McNeill, later died and his autopsy confirmed CTE alongside ALS. If this diagnostic tool proves reliable, it could benefit not only athletes but also military personnel exposed to blast‑induced concussions, offering early detection and intervention.

3 Exposing Cancerous Cells With A Pen

Ensuring every malignant cell is removed during surgery has long been a surgeon’s nightmare. The new “MasSpec pen” tackles this by gently sprinkling a droplet of water onto suspect tissue, then whisking the liquid into a mass spectrometer that reads the chemical fingerprints of cancer cells.

In trials involving 253 patients, the device identified cancerous tissue with 96 % accuracy in just ten seconds—about 150 times faster than existing methods. Widespread adoption could make surgeries quicker, more precise, and dramatically safer for patients.

2 Peeking Inside Mummies With A Particle Accelerator

Researchers have harnessed the power of the Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Photon Source—a massive particle accelerator—to peer inside ancient Egyptian mummies without causing damage. The high‑energy X‑rays were aimed at the Hibbard mummy, a five‑year‑old girl from the first century AD, whose intact “mummy portrait” offered a rare window into the past.

The scan revealed unexpected objects hidden within the shroud: tiny wires lodged in the child’s teeth, a bowl‑shaped artifact lodged in her skull, and a small stone‑like item wrapped around her abdomen. All of this was visualized without ever disturbing the fragile remains.

1 Unrolling Ancient Scrolls With Novel X‑Ray Tech

Pompeii wasn’t the only city buried by Vesuvius; nearby Herculaneum also succumbed, sealing away a priceless library of scrolls. The volcanic heat charred these papyrus rolls, leaving them brittle and unreadable—until now.

Scientists employed a sophisticated X‑ray technique that detects minute distortions caused by the raised letters on the scroll surface. Though the ink never penetrated the parchment, the subtle relief—just a tenth of a millimeter deep—creates a detectable signal, allowing researchers to digitally “unroll” and read the ancient text without ever physically opening the scroll.

Think guns are the only way to bag a meal? Think again. The world of hunting is peppered with 10 bizarre ancient practices that have survived the ages and are still being pulled off today. From daring lion‑stealing raids to the oddly graceful art of flounder tramping, these methods showcase humanity’s uncanny knack for turning the environment into a hunting partner.

10 Bizarre Ancient Hunting Methods

10 Kleptoparisitism

Snatching meat straight from a lion’s kill might sound like a fool’s gamble, yet the Mbororo herders of Cameroon have been perfecting this audacious act for centuries. Armed with flaming sticks, they drive the big cats away from their fresh kills, allowing the humans to swoop in and claim the prize. Though kleptoparasitism is well‑documented among animal predators, it is a rarity in human culture, making this practice all the more extraordinary.

As lions grow increasingly wary of human presence, the opportunity for kleptoparasitism has widened. Reports from Cameroon, Uganda and Tanzania suggest the technique is on the rise, a trend that spells trouble for big cats. Lions expend massive energy to bring down prey; having their hard‑won meals stolen can dramatically affect survival rates. Conservationists warn that unchecked human kleptoparasitism could drive entire lion populations toward extinction.

9 Trout Tickling

Despite sounding like a mischievous prank, trout tickling is a centuries‑old, equipment‑free fishing technique that yields a free dinner for the patient practitioner. The method calls for a stealthy approach: the angler slips downstream toward a likely trout hole, lies flat on the riverbank, and gently reaches into the water. Once a trout is felt, the fisher gently rubs the fish’s belly, moving from tail to head to lull it into a trance.

When the fish’s head is within reach, the hunter gives a swift squeeze and lifts the trout out of the water. Historically favored by Europe’s impoverished, who could not afford rods or tackle, trout tickling skirts the line of poaching. Notably, Django Reinhardt, the celebrated Gypsy guitarist, was reputed to be a master of this art—perhaps his nimble fingers on a guitar translated into deft fish‑tickling skills.

8 Golden Eagle Hunting

The Burkitshi, a subgroup of Mongolia’s Khazakh minority, have cultivated a breathtaking partnership with golden eagles, riding horseback while the massive raptors perch on their arms, scanning the High Altai for foxes and other quarry. This aerial alliance, honed over generations, blends human horsemanship with avian ferocity.

To forge this bond, hunters capture four‑year‑old female eagles—young enough to be trainable yet already seasoned hunters. The females, boasting a broader wingspan and a fiercer temperament than their male counterparts, are hand‑fed, co‑sleep with their masters, and become lifelong companions. Though an eagle may live up to thirty years, the Burkitshi typically release the bird after a decade, allowing it to return to the wild for the remainder of its life.

Unfortunately, the tradition teeters on the brink of disappearance. With only about 50 to 60 practitioners left, the art of golden‑eagle hunting faces extinction alongside the dwindling nomadic lifestyle of the Burkitshi.

7 Aboriginal Fire Hunting

The Martu people of Australia’s Western Desert have long employed fire as a strategic tool to hunt goannas, the lizards that supply roughly 40 % of their caloric intake. By igniting a carefully measured swath of grass around goanna burrows, they coax the reptiles out of hibernation, making them easy prey.

This controlled burn not only yields food but also reshapes the landscape into a mosaic of fresh growth that benefits a host of bush critters. Without such fire‑clearing, vegetation would become overly dense, providing fuel for catastrophic lightning‑induced wildfires that devastate mammalian habitats. The Martu’s fire‑hunting practice is so ingrained that their language possesses distinct terms for every stage of post‑burn vegetation succession.

6 Rat Hunting With Dogs

Hunting rats may seem a modest endeavor, yet it demands a remarkable choreography of predators. Mid‑19th‑century London accounts describe terriers flushing rats from burrows while ferrets pursued them, and a second dog delivering the final blow. Many of today’s beloved lap‑dog breeds trace their lineage back to these vermin‑hunting ancestors.

Modern New York City has revived this tradition, training Jack Russells, fox terriers and dachshunds to chase down the urban rodent menace. While some view the practice as a time‑honored rite, animal‑rights advocates argue it borders on cruelty. Nevertheless, proponents claim it may be more humane than poison, which can cause prolonged suffering and secondary poisoning of predators that consume the tainted rats.

5 Persistence Hunting

Human evolution is thought to have progressed from scavenging to endurance running, with our upright posture, naked skin and abundant sweat glands acting as natural cooling systems. Our powerful gluteal muscles and elastic tendons enable us to out‑run most four‑legged animals over long distances, a trait exploited by persistence hunters.

Today, Kalahari Bushmen in Botswana and the Rarámuri of northern Mexico still practice this ancient method, chasing prey until exhaustion forces it to collapse. Even fitness enthusiasts in the West have begun experimenting with persistence hunting, often adopting a vegetarian diet and focusing on the physiological challenge rather than sustenance.

4 Knife Hunting Wild Boar

Hawaii’s delicate ecosystems are under siege by invasive wild boar, whose rooting behavior devastates native flora. The island’s response? A culinary one—hunters use knives to stalk, chase with dogs, and then deliver a precise, fatal stab.

Knives are prized for being both traditional and safer than firearms on a crowded island where stray bullets could endanger tourists and wildlife alike. This low‑impact method also minimizes collateral damage, preserving the fragile environment while providing a tasty source of protein.

Outside Hawaii, wild boar pose a looming threat across the lower 48 states. Some desperate measures have turned to explosives—a method that destroys the meat and classifies the act as extermination rather than hunting.

3 Octopus Pots

Octopuses are among the most intelligent invertebrates, yet they fall prey to a surprisingly simple trap: the pot. Fishermen lower bait‑free vessels to the sea floor; an inquisitive octopus crawls inside, mistaking it for shelter. The pot is then hauled aboard, and the creature, rarely attempting escape, is collected for its prized flesh.

This technique has changed little over millennia. Ancient Greeks employed terracotta pots, while modern fishers use durable plastic. From Spain to Japan, octopus pots remain a staple, underscoring the timeless efficiency of a low‑tech solution to a high‑tech problem.

2 Gum Lime Sticks

In Cyprus, poachers target songbirds with a cunning contraption: lime sticks coated in a sticky gum harvested from Syrian plums. The sticks are placed in lower branches of juniper trees, where unsuspecting birds become ensnared while seeking shelter.

The primary quarry is the blackcap, a cherished delicacy in local cuisine. However, the gum‑stick method indiscriminately traps other species, including the endangered spotted flycatcher. Conservation groups and volunteers are battling the tradition, which is deeply embedded in Cypriot culture, to curb the widespread avian slaughter.

1 Flounder Tramping

Flounders, the flat, flaky fish of estuarine mudflats, have inspired a delightfully simple yet daring harvest method: tramping. Hunters wade through the shallow waters, feeling for the subtle rise of a flounder beneath their soles, then stand firm long enough to lift the fish before it can dart away.

Some practitioners supplement their footwork with a stick, using it to prod the fish from behind as they shuffle. The sport has even birthed an annual World Flounder Tramping Competition in Palnackie, Scotland, broadcast across the UK and Australia each August, celebrating this quirky tradition.

+ Further Reading

Craving more wild tales? Dive into these additional articles for a deeper look at the animal kingdom’s most astonishing stories.

10 Mysterious Trips Into The Wilderness That Went Horribly Wrong
8 Endangered Species Still Hunted
Top 10 Worst Man Eaters In History
10 Deadly Tricksters of the Animal World

Abraham Rinquist is the executive director of the Winooski, Vermont branch of the Helen Hartness Flanders Folklore Society. He co‑authored Codex Exotica and Song‑Catcher: The Adventures of Blackwater Jukebox.

When most people think of psychotherapy, they picture patients relaxing on a sofa and spilling all of their emotions. “Tell me about your childhood,” the therapist says, taking a drag of his cigar. In reality, therapy takes place in all kinds of settings. This article explores the 10 strangest psychotherapy techniques you’ve probably never heard of.

10 Strangest Psychotherapy Overview

10 Sexual Surrogacy Therapy

Your therapist gazes deeply into your eyes, gently squeezes your hand, and then leans in for a passionate kiss. This isn’t a breach of the American Psychological Association’s ethical code; rather, it’s an integral part of the work performed by a trained sexual surrogate. Sexual surrogates collaborate with sex therapists to help clients navigate intimacy challenges, providing a hands‑on model of appropriate romantic and sexual behavior.

People turn to sexual surrogacy for a variety of reasons—relationship anxiety, general sexual dysfunction, or even the awkwardness of re‑entering the dating world after a loss. A newly widowed individual, for instance, might practice flirting and body confidence with a surrogate, while an amputee veteran could rehearse social cues and even genital‑to‑genital contact. Though it may sound like prostitution, the therapeutic goal is education, not pleasure; the surrogate’s aim is to equip the client with the skills to end therapy and forge authentic connections independently.

9 Equine Therapy

Horseback riding is no longer a privilege reserved for the affluent. The sheer size and keen emotional intelligence of a horse make it a superb therapeutic partner for troubled youth, substance‑abuse survivors, and individuals with disabilities. Learning to tend to and ride these gentle giants cultivates self‑confidence, patience, and a host of coping skills.

Because a horse can weigh up to 900 kilograms (about 2,000 pounds) and is easily startled, clients receive a hands‑on lesson in confronting fear. Anger and anxiety simply have no place in the saddle, so participants often discover new, positive behavior patterns while mastering the art of riding and caring for the animal.

Horses aren’t the sole animal allies; elephants, dolphins, monkeys, and many other species have also been employed in therapeutic and service contexts.

8 Nude Psychotherapy

In the late 1960s, shedding clothes and inhibitions alike became a fashionable therapeutic experiment. Pioneer Paul Bindrim, an unconventional psychologist, argued that nudity stripped away societal expectations, allowing participants to confront their most private emotions directly. During intensive group sessions, attendees would discard shirts and ties, believing that nakedness facilitated deeper trust and self‑actualization.

Bindrim’s programs featured a suite of daring activities: prolonged eye‑contact, a controversial “crotch eyeballing” exercise, communal swimming, meditation, and even raw emotional outbursts—all conducted in the birthday‑suit. He maintained that true freedom from repressed thoughts required exposing both mind and body.

As the cultural tide shifted, nude psychotherapy faded from mainstream practice. Critics labeled it excessive, and the movement lost momentum. Nevertheless, modern venues like the Human Awareness Institute in California still offer intimacy‑focused courses where participants can opt to forgo clothing in pursuit of personal insight.

7 Chess Therapy

Sometimes healing arrives on a checkered board. Chess therapy leverages the strategic world of kings, queens, rooks, and pawns to help clients articulate feelings that resist verbal expression. The method traces its roots back to Persian scholar Rhazes (AD 852‑932), who used board games to teach problem‑solving at a Baghdad hospital.

One documented case involved a 16‑year‑old with schizoid personality disorder, who felt socially isolated. Through regular chess sessions, he began to view his therapist as a collaborative partner, gradually opening up about his inner world while debating moves.

The pieces serve as metaphors: a rook’s straight‑line advance can mirror a client’s desire for direct action, while a pawn’s slow progression may reflect feelings of vulnerability. Therapists probe the reasoning behind each move, unlocking conversations about larger life challenges.

6 Wilderness Therapy

When the campsite is pitched and the fire crackles, the therapist steps into the wild. Wilderness therapy blends intensive group work and one‑on‑one sessions with outdoor pursuits—mountain climbing, fly‑fishing, and long hikes—to teach self‑reliance, responsibility, and social competence. It’s marketed as a rescue strategy for wayward teens, juvenile delinquents, and those battling depression, anger, or eating disorders.

Controversy shadows the field. Some programs operate with minimal regulation, blurring the line between therapeutic adventure and punitive boot‑camp. Critics argue that certain “therapy” outfits employ abusive tactics, offering little genuine mental‑health benefit.

Steve Cartisano, founder of the Challenger Foundation, epitomizes the debate. He faced negligent‑homicide charges after two participants died under his supervision, though he was later acquitted. Allegations of abuse have trailed his various programs worldwide, and his current whereabouts remain unknown. Even reputable wilderness groups have drawn fire for partnering with teen‑escort firms that forcibly remove unwilling youths from their homes.

5 Hypnotherapy

Hypnotism may look like a stage trick, but in therapeutic hands it unlocks the subconscious, targeting habits like smoking, overeating, or chronic anxiety. Hypnotherapy guides patients into a deeply relaxed state—akin to the “zoning out” feeling while driving long distances or lounging on a beach—where they become especially receptive to positive suggestions.

During a session, the therapist first leads the client through a calming exercise to release tension. Once the patient is comfortably relaxed, the practitioner delivers tailored suggestions—perhaps encouraging healthier snack choices or reduced portion sizes—to reshape entrenched patterns.

Crucially, hypnotherapy is intended to supplement, not replace, conventional talk therapy. Skilled practitioners also teach self‑hypnosis techniques, empowering clients to manage stress independently between sessions.

4 Sandplay Therapy

Building sandcastles may seem like child’s play, but sandplay therapy harnesses that very playfulness to give voice to deep‑seated emotions. Inspired by Carl Jung, Swiss psychologist Dora Kalff crafted a method where clients arrange figurines in a sand tray, creating stories that reveal inner conflicts without spoken words.

Therapists, trained to decode symbolic language, watch as a child places aggressive adult figures beside anxious child figures, for example. Such arrangements prompt the therapist to ask probing questions—why are the adults acting harshly?—which can surface trauma, abuse, or other hidden pains.

The tactile, non‑verbal nature of sandplay makes it especially valuable for those who struggle to articulate feelings verbally, offering a safe, imaginative space for healing dialogue.

3 Flooding Therapy

Phobias—whether of spiders, dogs, or elevators—can cripple daily life. Flooding therapy, an intense form of exposure, forces patients to confront their fear head‑on, aiming to exhaust the anxiety response and extinguish the irrational dread.

Traditional exposure therapy introduces the feared stimulus gradually: starting with photos, then progressing to real‑world encounters. Flooding skips the gradual steps, placing the client directly in the feared situation—like playing with puppies on the first visit for a dog‑phobic individual, or riding an elevator nonstop for someone terrified of lifts.

While some report rapid breakthroughs, critics warn that the sheer intensity can be traumatizing, potentially worsening the phobia. Many practitioners therefore favor the slower, steadier approach, believing that “slow and steady wins the race.”

2 Puppet Therapy

Dragons, pigs, and playful tigers become therapeutic allies, allowing clients—especially children—to rehearse difficult conversations and express complex emotions safely. By projecting feelings onto a puppet, patients can practice assertiveness, explore family dynamics, or rehearse coping strategies without the pressure of direct self‑disclosure.

The puppet creates a protective buffer between therapist and client, making it easier to discuss sensitive topics. For example, a child uneasy about moving to a new town might find comfort in a puppet who also “just moved,” opening a pathway for honest dialogue.

Therapists often “interview” the puppet rather than the child, granting the youngster a license to speak freely. This method has proven effective for teaching social skills to autistic children and fostering imaginative problem‑solving.

1 Horticulture Therapy

Imagine nurturing a tiny seed until it blossoms into a sturdy tree. Horticulture therapy blends botanical care with mental‑health expertise, encouraging participants to grow plants while cultivating patience, confidence, and teamwork. Practitioners work in prisons, hospitals, and nursing homes, using gardening projects to spark conversation and foster a sense of achievement.

Group activities—planting flower beds, assembling pine‑cone bird feeders, or tending community gardens—serve as conduits for discussions about self‑esteem, collaboration, and personal growth. The approach is especially beneficial for individuals with disabilities, as tasks can be adapted for wheelchairs or other special needs.

Samantha Popp, an educator and behavior‑modification specialist, champions these methods, helping professionals learn to “play nicely” together. Learn more about her work at www.laforceschool.com and follow her insights on Twitter.

When it comes to reading the future, most of us picture tarot decks, palm lines, and star signs. Yet the world of divination once teemed with wildly inventive practices that would make today’s psychics blush. In this roundup of 10 fascinating fortune methods, we travel back to the bizarre and the brilliant, uncovering how ancient cultures tried to glimpse what lay ahead.

Back in antiquity, countless seers and oracles across the globe employed techniques that sound stranger than fiction. From eerie omens in a newborn’s membrane to the flicker of a fire, each method offered a unique window into what might come.

10 Fascinating Fortune Techniques Unveiled

When a child emerges wrapped in a thin, translucent membrane called a caul, the event is extraordinarily rare—roughly one in every 80,000 births. Ancient diviners seized upon this oddity, claiming the caul whispered clues about the infant’s destiny. A crimson‑hued caul signaled a joyful, prosperous life, whereas a blue‑tinged one warned of looming tragedy.

Polish folklore took the omen a step further, insisting that a caul‑crowned baby was destined to become a vampire unless the membrane was carefully dried, preserved until the child’s seventh birthday, and then force‑fed back to them. Some desperate parents ground the dried caul into powder and concealed it inside a cake; others allegedly made their offspring chew the seven‑year‑old tissue like jerky. In Victorian England, the caul became a coveted talisman sold to sailors who believed it could stave off drowning.

9 Pyromancy

In ancient Greece, devotees of Hephaestus thought they could converse with the god through fire. They would stare into blazing tongues, treating the flames like a crystal ball, believing the dancing light revealed future events. Pyromancy wasn’t just about gazing; the very shape and behavior of the fire were interpreted as messages from the divine.

Throwing an object into the blaze offered additional insight. A swift, clean burn with little smoke foretold a favorable outcome, while a sputtering, smoky struggle signaled disaster. Modern chemistry explains why leaves and paper produce copious smoke, and why certain chemicals color flames, but to ancient eyes each reaction was a direct line to the gods. An old text even warned, “If the offerings sputter and do not burn, Hephaestus will not cooperate.”

8 The Long Man

Among Cherokee peoples, families would seek counsel from a river‑dwelling medicine man known as the “long man.” He would cast a spell and watch the river for signs. A steady, uninterrupted flow promised at least seven years of health and prosperity, while the appearance of a drifting log or even a tiny leaf foretold an imminent death within the clan.

Another favorite of the Cherokee seer involved a handful of beads that seemed to move of their own accord, much like a Ouija board. By interpreting the beads’ restless dance, the long man could predict personal matters—such as whether a woman would accept a marriage proposal.

7 Zoomancy

Animals have long been viewed as messengers of the future. In ancient Greece, the famed commander Alexander the Great once prepared a sacrificial offering when a massive bird swooped down, hurling a stone onto his head. The seer Aristander declared the omen a sign of certain victory, sparing Alexander from any further bloodshed.

Zoomancy branched into specialties—cats, for instance, gave rise to ailuromancy, the study of feline behavior as a prophetic tool. Modern science now acknowledges that cats and dogs can sense impending earthquakes or hurricanes, lending a grain of truth to these age‑old beliefs.

6 Scrying

Crystal balls have become synonymous with mystical foresight, but the broader practice is called scrying, which can involve any smooth, reflective surface—mirrors, water, or polished stone. Practitioners gaze into the surface, allowing images or symbols to surface from the subconscious.

During the reign of England’s Queen Elizabeth I, the scholar‑magician John Dee employed a crystal sphere to predict that the queen’s sister Mary would die, paving the way for Elizabeth’s ascension. Accused of witchcraft, Dee was briefly imprisoned, only to be released when his prophecy proved true. Elizabeth then declared Dee’s divination “white magic” sanctioned by God, and he dove deeper into occult studies, even inventing a mysterious angelic script.

Today, Dee’s crystal ball and other occult paraphernalia are displayed at the British Museum, offering a tangible link to this once‑controversial art of scrying.

5 Agalmatomancy

Ancient Egypt erected massive stone or metal statues expressly for divination, a practice sometimes called agalmatomancy or idolomancy. These towering automata stood in public squares, while smaller household idols served similar purposes. Oracles believed spirits inhabited the statues, and by praying to them, seekers could receive prophetic dreams about their futures.

In ancient Israel, comparable figures were known as teraphim. The Bible recounts Rachel stealing her father’s teraphim, suggesting these objects held personal or familial significance. Some scholars argue teraphim were ancestral effigies haunted by protective ghosts; others assert they functioned as fortune‑telling devices much like the Egyptian statues.

4 Tasseography

Across ancient China and medieval Europe, tea‑leaf reading—tasseography—offered a portable crystal‑ball‑like experience. After sipping, the leftover leaves settled into intricate patterns at the bottom of the cup. Interpreters treated these shapes like Rorschach inkblots, extracting clues about the drinker’s destiny.

If the leaves formed a serpent, it warned of a deceitful individual who would cause trouble. Conversely, a “mountain” pattern suggested a forthcoming journey or obstacle. Leaves near the rim indicated immediate events, while those deep in the bowl foretold distant outcomes. By the 18th century, Italian fortune‑tellers had adapted the practice to coffee grounds, expanding the art beyond tea.

3 Casting Lots

Casting lots boils down to a simple question‑and‑answer system, using objects that represent clear responses—yes, no, maybe. Cultures worldwide employed shells, sticks, paper slips, or beans. Some practitioners swung a pendulum, interpreting its direction as a binary answer.

Modern descendants of this practice include the whimsical Magic 8‑Ball toy and the classic paper fortune‑teller game loved by schoolchildren. Some even claim pendulum swings can predict a pregnant woman’s baby gender. Though many religious authorities later labeled such divination “demonic,” Christians retained a version called cleromancy, framing it as seeking God’s will.

2 Anthropomancy

The Aztecs and Incas, infamous for elaborate human sacrifices, also used those very victims for a grim form of divination known as anthropomancy—literally “man prophecy.” Children or infants were slain, their chests opened, and their organs examined. The arrangement and condition of the entrails were read as omens, each pattern hinting at future events.

Similar practices appeared in ancient Mesopotamia and Japan. In Greece, a related ritual called splanchomancy involved sacrificing a young virgin woman to divine the future. Various societies also dissected animal entrails, a method called haruspicy, to glean prophetic insight.

1 Chaomancy

Irish mystics turned the very air, wind, and stars into a divination system called chaomancy. Storms and harsh winds were read as warnings—damaged crops or homes signaled looming illness or death. Occasionally, a strange residue on fallen leaves hinted at an impending sickness in the household.

Even on calm days, chaomancers examined cloud formations, interpreting shapes much like tea‑leaf readers. Comets and shifting constellations were especially potent, heralding either chaos or good fortune depending on the celestial context. In many ways, chaomancy served as an early form of meteorology, using nature’s cues to predict future weather and events.

Shannon Quinn is a writer and entrepreneur from the Philadelphia area. You can find her on Twitter @ShannQ.

This year, the French began to enforce a law that bans unhealthily thin models, with said models needing a doctor’s certificate in order to be hired for work. In addition the law stipulates that digitally altered images, that make models appear even skinnier than they are, will need to be labeled as such. It’s a dramatic step to tackle the growing epidemic of eating disorders that continues to perpetuate in the Western world.

With more and more individuals attempting to reach unattainable beauty standards, it’s no surprise that weight loss gimmicks and scams have reached epic proportions. However, to our surprise, radical and misguided attempts weight loss have been prevalent throughout history. Here are 10 such methods more horrifying than you probably imagined…

10. Victorians Ate Live Tapeworms

The Victorian Era, which took place roughly between the 1830s to 1900, was known for its particular beauty standards. Most notably, women of wealth wore extravagant, multi-layered skirts which had a beehive shape. For women in the Victorian period, getting into those tightly worn outfits was a struggle in itself. Most women of the Victorian Era were pushed into fastening corsets around themselves, with the goal of achieving the esteemed 16 inch waist. Internal organs weren’t deemed to be of that much importance. And while corsets are not in great use today, a Victorian Era practice still is: tapeworms.

The concept is as terrifying as it is disgusting. Ingest a pill containing a tapeworm egg? Sounds more like a science fiction movie than a diet routine. We wish that were true. Apparently, once hatched, “the parasite grows inside of the host, ingesting part of whatever the host eats.” What makes the tapeworm diet so appealing to many is the belief that the dieter will not have to change their lifestyle or eating habits at all. The theory holds that ingesting the tapeworm allows hosts to lose weight and eat without worrying about calorie intake. There is little to no evidence that supports these claims, but somehow, the theory still exists with even “celebrities” like Khloe Kardashian suggesting their merits.

It’s our hope that the tapeworm will join the rest of Victorian fashion in the dustbins of history.    

9. Vinegar to Keep Thin

Khloe Kardashian won’t be the first or the last celebrity to use their status to promote an unhealthy weight loss method. Celebrities have long used their platform to either shape or inadvertently promote an unwise weight loss diet. Enter Lord Byron. The Romantic era poet and politician, Byron was greatly concerned about his figure and popularized a vinegar-based diet. Although side effects included vomiting and diarrhea, Byron would drink vinegar daily and eat potatoes soaked in the pungent liquid. It was meant to cleanse his body, as Byron believed that he had a “morbid propensity to fatten.”

Soon after his habit became known, it became a craze with one critic noting, “Our young ladies live all their growing girlhood in semi-starvation.” The youth of the period were so influenced by Byron that they began diets consisting of vinegar and rice to emulate their idol’s thin and pale look. The need to be perceived as thin was so great during the time that even Queen Victoria worried about gaining weight. It seems that even as times change, some things do not.

8. Poisoned Themselves With Arsenic

A precursor to the “wonder pills” that are currently advertised were the drugs, pills, and potions that became a part of the big business of weight loss in the 19th century. However, without the FDA, the 19th century drug makers were liable to include much more dangerous ingredients – including arsenic. For those unaware, arsenic is a rat-killing poison that will kill humans if consumed in large amounts. Studies have also linked prolonged exposure or use with cancer, diabetes, and liver disease. It remains unclear why exactly dieters believed that those ingredients would help in weight loss, but some experts believe that it “was advertised as speeding up the metabolism, much like amphetamines.”

The amount of arsenic used in these drugs and pills was small, but it was still extremely dangerous for users; especially because many would consume more than the prescribed amount with the belief that they would lose weight sooner.

7.  Dieters Would Chew And Spit Out Food

Some of the greatest artists in history have had their names used to characterize other works. Works resembling Shakespeare have become Shakespearean, works similar to Kafka have become Kafkaesque. It’s not much of a leap to believe that William Fletcher must have believed his name would join the great men in history with his radical Fletcherism diet.

In the early 20th century, Horace Fletcher came up with a new weight loss program. He argued that a lot of chewing and spitting was the most effective way to lose weight. It began to be known as Fletcherism, and as it became more nuanced, Fletcher stipulated that one must chew a mouthful of food until the “goodness” was extracted, then spit out the remaining material that was left. Fletcherism became immensely popular, with proponents including the likes of Henry James and even Franz Kafka. Items such as shallots were said to be chewed more than 700 times, and dinner parties soon began to include members timing one another’s chews.

As a result of the diet, participants only defecated once every several weeks. Fletcher seemed to take this as a positive, even arguing that one’s feces would smell like “warm biscuits.” It was said that William Fletcher even carried around a bag of his own feces to demonstrate the great smell.

6. Women Tried to Wash the Fat Away With Soap

If advertisements now seem deceptive, imagine seeing an ad that claimed that with just a little of soap, you could wash away fat. A 1920 newspaper advertisement did just that, claiming the La – Mar  brand could, “wash away fat and years of age.” The promotional material makes a lot of ridiculous claims, promising users that there was no need for “dieting or exercise. Be as slim as you wish.” In a lot of ways, what the La-Mar soap promises isn’t that outrageous in comparison to many of the current dieting plans. However, the La-Mar brand did make some claims that even the most ambitious scam artists wouldn’t make.

Here are a few: acts like magic removing double chin, results quick and amazing, and reduce any parts of the body desired without affecting other parts.

The amazing and terrifying thing is La-Mar wasn’t alone: La Parle existed in the United States with the same promises of their competitors, and undoubtedly the same “results.”

5. Breatharian Diet was Like a Cult

Probably the most terrifying diet on our list is more than just a diet, and is considered a philosophy and even a spiritual movement. Proponents believe that all one needs to survive is… sunlight. That’s it. Advocates claim that human beings who demonstrate spiritual purity can live solely on water, sunlight, and the life force (Prana). While it may seem to be an ancient hoax, “breatharianism” is currently practiced in the United States.

Leaders of the American movement, Wiley Brookes and their founder Jasmuheen (born Ellen Greve), have led its growth and resurging popularity. Jasmuheen claimed to be able to survive without any more than the occasional cup of tea for months on end. However, after an interview with 60 Minutes where she consented to stay in a hotel room to demonstrate her abilities, she was unable to stay for a single day without demonstrating signs of dehydration.

Actress Michelle Pfeiffer, who admitted to participating in the movement early in her career, has called it a cult with adherents who are very controlling and manipulative.

4. Anklets Were Another Form of Corsets

It’s hard to beat the crudeness and restrictiveness of the corset, but the anklet certainly made its best effort. A rubber device that appeared like a modern ankle brace, the anklet promised to “reduce your flesh.” The advertisement claimed that weight would be lost without diet or exercise, simply by dissolving fat as a result of perspiration that will be caused by wearing the anklet.

Promotional material claimed the anklet was deemed effective by a Dr. Jeanne P.H. Walter. And we don’t think it takes Holden Caulfield to tell us that the woman’s middle initials must have stood for phony.  

3. Spot Reducer Has a Familiar Advertising Slogan

The Spot reducer makes the list because of its demonstration of the parallels between ad campaigns. The great similarity between advertisement for the Spot Reducer and La- Mar soap is quite fascinating and terrifying. A one page promotional piece placed in the 1950 Milwaukee Sentinel for the Spot Reducer encouraged readers to not to stay fat, but to “lose pounds and inches safely.” A small gadget made of aluminum and rubber, the Spot Reducer was nothing more than a small vibrator. That didn’t stop advertisers.

Wherever the reader has extra weight, the Spot Reducer will erase it “like a magic wand,” they said. Similar to earlier ad campaigns, they told consumers that they did not have to worry about diet or exercise, all the work would be done by the Spot Reducer. It’s sad that people not only believed those words then, but continue to believe them now.

2. Tongue Patch Test

A “modern” iteration of the tapeworm diet, the tongue patch test consists of a doctor sewing a patch of mesh into patients’ tongues. As a result of the patch, swallowing or eating, in general, becomes difficult – even causing pain. The tongue patch test is most prevalent in Venezuela but has also been documented in the United States.

A cosmetic surgeon in California who has begun to administer the patch charges $2,000 for the procedure while promising it will lead to 18 to 20 pounds of weight loss in 30 days.

For those who found this method appealing, “the procedure comes with an 800-calorie per day liquid diet of shakes and drinks until the patch comes off.” Buyer beware.

1. Last Chance Diet Took Lives

Like Mr. Fletcher, the Prolinn diet also bears the name of its creator: Robert Linn. The Prolinn diet was created in the 1970s as a precursor to the wonder drinks of the 1990s. Linn’s special drink was said to contain “400 calories of liquid protein.” However, after some investigation, the “protein” in Linn’s drink began to be questioned. Soon after, it was revealed that the “protein” was nothing more than the leftover of slaughterhouse byproducts like crushed animal horns, hooves, hides, tendons and bones.

Linn then used artificial flavors, enzymes, and colors to make the drinks more appealing to consumers. And it became more than appealing to consumers: they actually bought it. Millions did. In total, two to four million people used the Prolinn diet to lose weight and, sadly enough, 58 people died from heart attacks while on it.