Cleromancy
Divination by lots: stones, sticks, beans or dice thrown or drawn so that chance gives the answer.
Also: casting lots, sortilege, drawing lots, sortes
Cleromancy takes its name from the Greek kleros, a lot. A question is put, and the answer is whichever marked object is drawn or falls. People have used it for choosing officials, settling disputes and asking the gods, because the result is thought to be guided and not random. The Hebrew Bible mentions lots and the Urim and Thummim, and the New Testament has the apostles choosing Matthias by lot. Greek cities appointed some magistrates this way. Medieval Europe knew many lot books, and the same idea underlies the I Ching, rune casting and bone throwing. Its logic is that chance removes human bias, while sceptics note that it also removes accountability for the decision.