In the Middle and early modern ages, the term onmyoji consequently no longer meant bureaucrats in Onmyoryo, but came to mean non-government civilian worker onmyoji performing kaji kito (removing bad spirits by offering prayers) or divinations personally requested by common people in the private sectors and their onmyodo went through unique transitions being blended in with popular faith and ethnic rituals in various regions.
このため、中世・近世においては陰陽師という呼称は、もはや陰陽寮の官僚ではなく、もっぱら民間で私的依頼を受けて加持祈祷や占いなどを行う非官人の民間陰陽師を指すようになり、各地の民衆信仰や民俗儀礼と融合してそれぞれ独自の変遷を遂げた。