Geomancy is an ancient form of divination rooted in Arabic practices. Over the centuries, Geomancy spread across the world and is now found in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Geomancy involves creating and analyzing sixteen symbolic figures, each composed of four lines of dots.

These figures are derived from random marks created by the caster that carry specific meanings connected to elements, planets, and astrological houses. Used historically for personal guidance and predicting future events, geomancy combines spiritual insights with the natural world, making it a unique and earthy method of divination that continues to intrigue and inspire practitioners today.

What is Geomancy and How Does It Work?

The main aim of geomancy is to gain knowledge, guidance, and foresight through the symbolic meanings of the geomantic figures generated by the caster. The process involves creating a geomantic chart from the figures and interpreting their meanings based on their positions and traditional correspondences with elements, planets, and astrological houses.

Geomancy was highly popular in medieval Europe and was often included in the same category as astrology and alchemy. It experienced a decline in the modern era but has seen a resurgence of interest in recent years, particularly among those interested in esoteric and occult practices. It is considered one of the traditional methods of divination, similar to tarot card reading or the I Ching.

Geomancy Magic

Geomancy magick is a form of divination and magickal practice that uses the earth and its symbols to gain insights, predict future events, and, more specifically, influence outcomes. Rooted in the interpretation of patterns formed by natural elements like soil, sand, or stones, geomancy is considered one of the more ancient and earthy forms of magick. Today, geomancy also involves the figures created by the caster looking for guidance. A series of dots is drawn randomly in the sand or on paper. From there, the caster creates the figures and interprets them based on their question.

Here’s an overview of geomancy magick:

Divinatory Practice

• Generation of Figures: The practice starts by generating random figures, typically sixteen, by making marks on the ground or using tools like dice or rocks. These marks are then counted to form binary figures (combinations of odd and even).
• Geomantic Figures: There are sixteen geomantic figures, each with a unique pattern of dots and specific meanings. These figures are arranged into a geomantic chart which is then interpreted in a geomancy reading.

Magickal Correspondences

• Elements and Planets: Each geomantic figure corresponds to specific elements (earth, air, fire, water) and planets (e.g., Puer is associated with Mars, Fortuna Major with the Sun).
• Astrological Houses: The figures are also associated with astrological houses which influence their interpretation in various areas of life, such as wealth, health, relationships, and more.

Geomantic Rituals

• Casting and Reading: The process of casting geomantic figures is often done within a ritualistic framework, invoking spiritual or elemental forces to guide the process and interpretation.
• Talisman Creation: Practitioners may create talismans or amulets based on geomantic figures to attract specific energies or outcomes, like protection, prosperity, or healing.

Geomantic Magick in Practice

• Personal Guidance: Individuals use geomancy for personal guidance, seeking answers to specific questions or general insights into their lives.
• Influencing Outcomes: Some practitioners believe that by understanding the geomantic figures, they can perform rituals or create objects that influence the material world.

In essence, geomancy magick is a blend of divinatory and ritualistic practices that connect the practitioner with the earth’s energies and symbols, providing a means to gain insights and potentially influence the world around them.

Geomantic Readings

A geomancy reading is a way to receive focused answers to fundamental questions. It addresses everyday worries and aspirations through a combination of astrology, sortilege, and spirit work. In a reading, you get to the heart of specific issues by relating them to underlying energies and patterns in a grounded and practical way.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how a geomancy reading is typically performed:

1. Preparation

Gather the necessary tools such as a stick for making marks on the ground or a pen and paper. Some modern practitioners may also use dice or other random generators. After you’ve gathered your tools, find a quiet place where you can focus on the reading. Some geomancers create a sacred or ritualistic space to enhance concentration and spiritual connection. You may also find grounding and centering helpful, as well.

2. Creating the Geomantic Figures

Spend a few moments focusing on your question before beginning. This process helps connect your question to the figures you will be drawing. When you’re ready, begin by creating a series of random dots in a row going from right to left. There is no necessary number of dots to make as long as you have more than 12. Repeat this process for a total of 16 lines of dots. Some geomancers connect dots together for the counting process that will happen in the next step. This involves connecting two dots together in the lines so it is easier to see if the count is odd or even. This process should look something like the below image.

3. Forming the Four Mothers

The 16 lines you generated in the previous step will now be used to create the first four figures known as the Four Mothers. To begin, take the first four lines from the previous step and figure out if each one is odd or even. For example, if you drew 15 dots for the first line, that line is odd. Every odd line is one mark and every even line is two. You will arrange these marks in a vertical line to create each figure. Using the example image above, the four mothers would look like this.

4. Deriving the Daughters and Other Figures

The next four figures you will create are called the Four Daughters. These figures are derived from the four mothers by taking the first line of each Mother for the first Daughter, the second line of each Mother for the Second Daughter, and so on. In our example, the first line of the Mothers, read for right to left, is one-one-two-two. This means that the first daughter would read the same from top to bottom. The Four Mothers and Four Daughters are then written in a horizontal line from right to left. Here is a visual representation.

Next, you will create four more figures known as the Nieces. These figures are derived by adding together two figures at a time, usually seen as two figures “above” the nieces due to the layout of the geomancy reading. The first Niece is derived by adding up Mother One and Mother Two. The second is derived by adding up Mother Three and Mother Four. The third and fourth are derived by adding up the daughters in the same manner. With the example above, we get the following Nieces.

Finally, the last three figures to create are called the witnesses and the judge. The Witnesses are derived in the same manner as the Nieces, adding up the first two figures and the last two figures. The Judge is derived by adding the two Witness figures. In this manner, we get the following last three figures.

5. Arranging the Figures and Interpreting the Message

The figures are then arranged into a pyramid or shield shape. The first twelve figures are associated with a house in astrology, so having an understanding of the house system is fundamental to the geomancy reading. The last three figures — the two witnesses and the judge — give an overall interpretation and path forward for the caster. If the caster’s question related to their love life, for example, they would pay special attention to the third daughter, the seventh figure in the reading. Here is an example using the figures we have created so far.

6. Interpretation

There are only 16 possible figures that can be created using geomancy and each one is given specific meaning, associations, elements, and correspondences. Interpreting these figures relies on these meanings as well as the position of the figure in the arrangement. The caster should pay close attention to any astrological house that involves their question. If no question is asked, each figure is deemed as general guidance. Here are the traditional meanings of each figure as described in the Middle English translation of Martin of Spain’s De geomantia, retrieved from Princeton’s website on Medieval Geomancy.

	Latin Name: Via English Name: Way Planet: The Sun Sign: Leo Timing: Months Element: Water Gender: Feminine		Latin Name: Populus English Name: People Planet: Waxing Moon Sign: Capricorn Timing: Months Element: Water Gender: Feminine
	Latin Name: Conjunctio English Name: Conjunction Planet: Mercury (Retrograde) Sign: Virgo Timing: Hours Element: Air Gender: Masculine		Latin Name: Carcer English Name: Prison Planet: Saturn Sign: Pisces Timing: Years Element: Earth Gender: Feminine
	Latin Name: Caput Draconis English Name: Head of the Dragon Planet: Caput Draconis Sign: Virgo Timing: Years Element: Fire Gender: Masculine		Latin Name: Cauda Draconis English Name: Tail of the Dragon Planet: Cauda Draconis Sign: Sagittarius Timing: Element: Earth Gender: Feminine
	Latin Name: Puella English Name: Child Planet: Venus Sign: Gemini Timing: Months Element: Water Gender: Feminine		Latin Name: Puer English Name: Maid Planet: Mars Sign: Libra Timing: Months Element: Air Gender: Masculine
	Latin Name: Fortuna Major English Name: Greater Fortune Planet: The Sun Sign: Aquarius Timing: Years Element: Fire Gender: Masculine		Latin Name: Fortuna Minor English Name: Lesser Fortune Planet: The Sun (Retrograde) Sign: Taurus Timing: Months Element: Earth Gender: Feminine
	Latin Name: Albus English Name: White Planet: Mercury Sign: Cancer Timing: Years Element: Water Gender: Feminine		Latin Name: Rubues English Name: Red Planet: Mars Sign: Gemini Timing: Months Element: Fire Gender: Masculine
	Latin Name: Acquisitio English Name: Gain Planet: Jupiter Sign: Aries Timing: Years Element: Air Gender: Masculine		Latin Name: Amissio English Name: Loss Planet: Venus (Retrograde) Sign: Scorpio Timing: Days Element: Fire Gender: Masculine
	Latin Name: Tristitia English Name: Sorrow Planet: Saturn (Retrograde) Sign: Scorpio Timing: Years Element: Earth Gender: Feminine		Latin Name: Laetitia English Name: Joy Planet: Jupiter (Retrograde) Sign: Taurus Timing: Years Element: Air Gender: Masculine

7. Concluding the Reading

Now that you’ve gotten your figures and interpreted the reading, it is time to finish up. Make note of any special messages you received through this reading and summarize your findings in a journal or Book of Mirrors. It is always a good idea to go back and reference your reading occasionally so you can see the progress you’re making and notice any patterns that may arise.

If you opened a ritual space, now is the time to close it. Extinguish any candles, let your incense burn out, and close your circle if you cast one. Be sure to thank any spirits you invited to your reading.

It Takes Practice

Geomancy seems like a complicated divination system but it just takes practice! It may be helpful if you do a geomancy reading once a week for general guidance, or you can do them more frequently if you have specific questions in mind. Overall, keep up the practice and you’ll get better in no time!

If Geomancy isn’t for you, there are plenty of other divination methods to try. Check out these posts to learn more!