Geomancy

[PaganBoyNC]

Geomancy is a divination technique that has fallen into obscurity. It originated in Africa and became popular in the Middle East (especially among the Chaldeans). It was also very popular during the Middle ages and the Renaissance period. Today we have Henry Cornelius Agrippa to thank for most of our modern knowledge on the topic (which he covered extensively in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy written in the 1500s). There are very few modern books that even mention Geomancy and I have found only one book that covers the topic exclusively, in detail and well (the book is at home and I don't have access to it now to provide the info but I will post that later).

Geomancy is a system of 16 figures. Each figure is 4 rows high and each row consists of either one dot or two dot (Geomancy is a binary system). The figures are determined through various methods both ancient and modern. Four figures are created, and then a chart is filled in using simple binary addition, the chart is then interpreted based on the meanings of each figure (each of the 16 figures has a latin name and meaning) and the places in the chart where they fall. Astro Geomancy also became popular in the Middle Ages and involved taking this chart and using it to fill in an Astrological Chart.

Discuss or ask questions about Geomancy in this thread.

[belladonna23]

I would definately be interested in learninig about the system of geomancy. When you have access to your book, please post the figures and their meanings, I would love to try it out!

[PaganBoyNC]

Here are the sixteen figures of geomancy. These figures can be attained as described in my last posting or any other method you can think of to get an odd or even number (an odd number meaning one dot, an even two).

Since I cannot draw here I will use numbers, for example, 1-2-1-1 will mean a figure that has one dot at the top, two in the next row, one in the next and one on the bottom.

2-2-1-1: Fortuna Major -- Major Fortune
1-1-2-2: Fortuna Minor -- Minor Fortune
1-1-1-1: Via -- Street
2-2-2-2: Populus -- Crowd
2-1-2-1: Aquisitio -- Acquisition
1-2-2-2: Laetitia -- Joy
1-2-1-1: Puella -- Girl
1-2-1-2: Amissio -- Loss
2-1-1-2: Conjunctio -- Conjunction
2-2-1-2: Albus -- White
1-1-2-1: Puer -- Boy
2-1-2-2: Rubeus -- Red
1-2-2-1: Carcer -- Prison
2-2-2-1: Tristitia -- Sorrow
2-1-1-1: Caput Draconis -- Head of the dragon
1-1-1-2: Cauda Draconis -- Tail of the dragon

These can be broken down in several ways, the simplest being a duality, dividing them into those figures which were considered favorable and those that were considered unfavorable:

Favorable: Acquisitio, Albus, Puella, Laetitia, Caput Draconis, Populus, Conjunctio, Fortuna Major

Unfavorable: Amissio, Rubeus, Puer, Tristitia, Cauda Draconis, Via, Carcer, Fortuna Minor

Here is a table of further associations with planets, elements and signs:

Puer - Ares - Fire - Mars
Amissio - Taurus - Earth - Venus
Albus - Gemini - Air - Mercury
Populus - Cancer - Water - Moon
Fortuna Major - Leo - Fire - Sun
Conjunctio - Virgo - Earth - Mercury
Puella - Libra - Air - Venus
Rubeus - Scorpio - Water - Mars
Acquisitio - Sagittarius - Fire- Jupiter
Carcer - Capricorn - Earth - Saturn
Tristitia - Aquarius - Air - Saturn
Laetitia - Pisces - Water - Jupiter
Cauda Draconis - Dragon's Tail - Fire - Saturn & Mars
Caput Draconis - Dragon's Head - Earth - Jupiter & Venus
Fortuna Minor - Leo - Fire - Sun
Via - Cancer - Water - Moon

And a brief list of possible associations with each figure:

Puer: Boy, yellow, beardless, rash and inconsiderate. A neutral figure whose nature depends on where it lies in the spread, however is more often good than bad. This is the destructive side of mars. Son, servant, slave, page, bachelor.

Amissio: Lost, that which is taken away. This is generally not a favorable figure except where a loss or diminishing is desired.

Albus: White, dead white. Associated ideas include fair, wisdom, clear thought and all Mercurial associations. It is good for profit and for entering into a place or undertaking. Associated ideas include pale, bright, white paint, cement, egg whites, newspapers.

Populus: The people. Community, state, congregation, crowd. This is a neutral figure that reflects the nature of the figures that surround it in the spread. Associations include a host, a multitude, a free state, the people (not the ruler).

Fortuna Major: Chance, luck, lot, fate. This is the most fortunate figure. It is associated with entering, success and protection... also property, possessions and a good position in life.

Conjunctio: Uniting or joining together, assembling. Associated with marriage, alliances and relationships and also the recovery of lost items.

Puella: Girl or maiden. A pretty face or a pleasant daughter. This figure is associated with superficial beauty or pleasantness and is not necessarily very fortunate.

Rubeus: Red. Associated with redheads, passion, vice and a fiery temper. Also associated with the negative side of Scorpio including violent sexuality.

Acquisitio: Acquisitions or additions. Associated with success, obtaining, absorbing, receiving, gain and good fortune. It is a good sign in any matter pertaining to increase or gain. If it appears in a signifigant house (in astro-geomancy) or as the judge great success is indicated.

Carcer: Prison or jail. Associated with being bound or confined. If Carcer occurs in the 1st house of an astro-geomancy figure the chart is immediately destroyed and the question is not asked again until later. Also associated with evil, delay, binding, restriction and the negative side of Saturn.

Tristitia: Sadness, sorrow, melancholy. Associated with perversion, condemnation and is a negative figure unless you desire Saturnian qualities such as fortification, retrenchment or debauchery. It is also associated with a poor (or tasteless) sense of humor, severity and sternness.

Laetitia: Joy, expressed and unrestrained gladness or delight. Associated with health, laughter, good fortune, beauty and grace.

Cauda Draconis: The dragon's tail. Associated with exit and is good for terminating or ending things. This figure is the bringer of disaster and if it occurs in the 1st house of an astro-geomancy chart the chart should be destroyed and the question not asked until later.

Caput Draconis: The dragon's head (moon's northern node and constellation Draco). Associated with the entrance and the beginning of all things and is generally a good sign.

Fortuna Minor: Lesser Fortune. Not nearly as good as Fortuna Major. It generally indicates an outcome that is only slightly favorable ("it could be worse").

Via: Street or way. Associated with roads, a way through something, a march, a method. It is essentially a neutral figure but it is good for journeys and voyages. It generally lessens the fortunateness of the surrounding figures.

The only good book on the topic I have seen (which I think is out of print, I ran into a copy by "chance") is The Oracle of Geomancy: Techniques of Earth Divination by Stephen Skinner published by Prism Press in the UK.

That's a mouthful, whew.. Later I will post the methods for casting and interpreting a chart using the figures.

[Phrater]

Greetings. Do not think the Geomancy art too far dead. I have a couple odd books that touch on it quite well. It seems that the Ordo Templi Orientis, The Argentium Astrum and The Aurora Aurea all had and probably still have an interest in it. You can find sections about it in Aleister Crowley's "Magick in Theory and Practice" as well as "The Black Arts" by Richard Cavendish. Both are excellent reads in their own right so long as the information within is weighed and measured in the minds of the sane and firmly footed. Not a good pair for those of baser minds.

[Shadowulfe]

Merry Meet Everyone!,

I was just curious.....what is geomancy? I've heard of Pyromancy but never Geomancy....could someone please elaborate for me?

Blessings,
Shadowulfe

[Lilu]

I had a little look online, and I found this following piece of information regarding geomancy.

"A system of divination that employs the scattering of pebbles, grains of sand, or seeds on the earth and then the interpretation of their shape and position. "

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/g/geomancy.html

There's also a couple of other articles here that I found interesting:

Earth Mysteries: Geomancy
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/earthmysteries/EMGeomancy.html

Astrological Geomancy
http://www.accessnewage.com/articles/astro/TLOUIS4.htm

BB
Lilu

[Shadowulfe]

Thanks for the information Lilu...you are terrific! :thumbsup:

[Lilu]

You are most welcome :D

[Flar's Freyja]

Bumpin for Chary

[Mnemosyne]

Can one consider feng shui as a part of geomancy? I saw this book at the library today called Chinese Geomancy. The entire book was on feng shui. What do you think?

[Phoenix_Blue]

I'd say yeah. Geo = shape, mancy = majick. Or something close to that, anyway. **Smiles**

[Flar's Freyja]

Bump