This is done through the use of mediums, oracles, insight, hypnotism and other secret knowledge. They also keep their ears and eyes open to what is happening in their communities so that they have a store of working knowledge which they use in their divination. The nature of their profession creates an unnecessary halo of secrecy about it, which adds to their respect, stature and dignity in the eyes of their communities. Therefore people resort to them freely for private and public affairs. They play the role of counselors, judges, 'comforters', suppliers of assurance and confidence during people's crisis, advisers, pastors and priests, seers, fortune-tellers and solvers of problems, revealers of secrets like thefts, imminent danger or coming events.
Most diviners are men while most mediums are women.
Sometimes these practise as husband and wife. Rainmakers Rain was regarded a great blessing in the traditional society and there was rejoicing when it rained. The seasons controlled the rhythm of the community life, and in many societies the change of the seasons was marked or observed with ritual activities. There were rites to mark many occasions like the start of the rain, the planting ceremony, the first fruits, the harvest of the crops , the beginning of the hunting or fishing season. Rainmaking is one such communal rite, and rainmakers are some of the most important individuals in the society.