Fludd describes the importance of purification, meditation and other practices in preparation to geomancy.
3. How a Geomancer Should Prepare Himself, So That the Intentions of His Mind May Be Clearly Emitted, and May Be United With the Senses by Means of Reason
It is thanks to our senses that we can see the geomantic points. Then, we compare these same points to the celestial [bodies] and the elements with our imagination.1 Finally, the hidden virtue, both of these points and of the figures arising from them proceeds from the correctness of the intellect, both active and passive,2 and consequently from the mind.
From all this follows that the human body must be regulated and governed in such a way that its more intellectual part may not be drowned by too much intercourse with the flesh, or become dulled, and that the imaginative or fantastic spirit may not be rendered dull and impure.3
Therefore, before this work is approached, let our fantastic spirit be clean, pure, unmoved and untroubled by cares, so that it may be made worthy of being trusted by the mind and intellect. Thus, such a spirit, most suitable for divination, will receive the light of the rays of the mind without any hindrance, and will depict the objects of truth in a mystical manner, as if in a mirror, and will cause the sensation and movement of the body to proceed exactly and to the degree to which the effect of the mind itself tends.4
When, therefore, we are safe and healthy in body, and not disturbed in mind, not weighed down by food or drink, not suffering from want or poverty, and not ruled by any vices of lust or anger, let us enter into this area of prophecy. Let him also who wishes to use this art keep his spirit pure, both by quiet and religious meditation, and by moderate and temperate diet according to nature.5
This preparation is necessary for him who desires to foretell the truth of future things, either by the geomantic art, or by any other method, since without it no one can access true divination, for he who is languishing in a fantastical spirit6 will not attain the desired end, but will judge confusedly and indiscernibly.
Similarly, when we are filled with wine, our imaginative spirit, as if submerged in noxious vapors, hides and distorts the glory and truth of the rays of the mind, no differently than a thick cloud, or the earth raised in the middle of the air region, shields the glory of the sun from the eyes of the beholder, and produces a refraction of its rays. In this manner falsities will appear instead of truths, and in the very portion of the cloud the objects of the sun will be seen changed into an iridescent or multi-colored substance, and many phantasms will appear in the air, which are not such as they appear.7
Hence they say that the vassals of Amphariaus,8 as Philostratus testifies, ordered one who wished to divine future things, and to receive the oracles of God or of the mind, to abstain from food and wine for a whole day, or even for three days, if this could be conveniently done.
Thus we read that Ezra and Daniel, and even Moses himself, before they came to God, abstained from their wives for three days and washed their clothes: and so they did all this, at the command of God himself, of which we read Exod. 19 and Ezech. 44.9
And so also must he who desires to devote himself faithfully to this form of divination, be delighted not with carnal intercourse, but with spiritual union, not with wine, but with the light of the mind’s milk, not to be lavished with worldly riches, but with the infinite affluence of the divine intellect, not with junk, but to be filled with spiritual food.10
In an old French manuscript on occult Geomancy I found a confirmation of the above in these following words: “Before you get to the projection of the Geomantic points, I would like you to understand that they are not counted. Indeed, if you do this, nothing good or profitable will result from it, since this is knowledge based on the soul, and therefore the number of points is to be found in the will of the soul, and in no way be established according to the appetite of your senses.
It behooves him, therefore, who undertakes this work, to begin nothing, unless his heart is at peace, and his conscience is whole and healthy, and his spirit and soul are not troubled by any disturbances, so much so that he would not even wish worse for another than for himself.11
Finally, having been prepared in this way, let him trust in God, the teacher of knowledge, and beseech him with prayers, that by the power of that knowledge he may reveal to him the truth; having therefore carefully completed these things, it will be necessary to proceed immediately to the projection and arrangement of the points, etc.”
This author in no way disagrees with our opinion, but rather, on the contrary, seems to agree exactly with it.
4. It Is Not Sufficient for Divination That the Body and Flesh Should be Well Ordered. It is Also Necessary That the Rays of the Internal Soul Be Gathered Together
As concentrating a force generally increases its strength, so also it begets great weakness when it is dispersed.12 Thus we see that the rays of a candle in a confined room illuminate a place in a wonderful manner, since the narrowness of the place compresses and contracts the rays emitted by the flame to each other, so that they have a greater power in illumination. However, if that candle is placed in a larger room, its light is greatly weakened and darkened, because of the dispersion of its rays in a wide area.
In the same way, then, the soul (whose candlestick is the human body) spreads its rays in this or that business, nay, in infinite external things, for example, in lawsuits and legal affairs, in the art of medicine, in the care of family matters, in pain and sadness over a lost cause or the death of a friend, in anger or some unexpected adversity, in some art or knowledge and others of the like, or if he is also affected by the intercourse of concupiscence, the vice of drunkenness, the indulgence of gluttony, or other temptations of the flesh, he will be very weak and have little power to illuminate the body.
But truly, if all these soul-rays are reduced from external affairs to the internal economy of the Microcosm, and are drawn back to their center from the multitude, the force of the soul will be united, and that body, which was formerly dark and gloomy because of the rays, will be illuminated in a wonderful way, and thus the prophetic power in man will be far more effective than it was before.13
However, this reduction of the expanded rays of the soul into one cannot take place without the purification of the body, which is done in the manner mentioned above. As a result it is necessary above all things for him who wishes to claim the name of truth in Geomancy, that his soul should once again turn and reflect its scattered rays upon itself; since the chief virtue of this science consists in the illumination of the soul, in so far as true things are seen in its divine light, as in a mirror of truth, and are explained by the external observation of points in a mystical way through the guidance of the soul that turns its attention to this.
The concept of the ‘intellectus agens’ or Active Intellect is key to Neoplatonist spirituality both in Europe and in the Arab world, and has many similarities with some kabbalistic concepts. Generally, the Active Intellect was a universal form of intelligence that is not confined to one’s individual nature. Whether Fludd is referring to this or simply to the more active faculties of the human soul is unclear to me. The gist of his argument, however, is that the occult sciences, including Geomancy, rest on the highest principles, which makes them hard to access when one is not pure. ↩︎
Imagination is depicted here as a valid aid to understanding, as long as it is in its pure form and not just mere fancy. ↩︎
To put it simply, the body and the lower faculties of our nature must be ruled in such a way that they move in unison with the higher. Once this is accomplished, divination may take place successfully. ↩︎
Old medicine was of the idea that an appropriate diet could only be prescribed based on one’s nature. There was no one-size-fit-all. As for meditation, Fludd is unlikely to refer to those forms of meditation that entered into the Western consciousness thanks to theosophy’s Eastern dabblings, and that have become commonplace today. The West used to have its forms of meditation. ↩︎
possibly meaning someone who gives in to their fantasy without ruling it appropriately ↩︎
It is impossible to read this passage without being reminded of Plato’s myths, especially that of the cave. ↩︎
Here Fludd interprets passages from the Bible as episodes describing some higher form of divination. In a way, this is very true. ↩︎
Here Fludd proposes a series of alternatives to ‘lower’ forms of pleasure that may seem rethorical at first, but on closer inspection aren’t. Such ‘substitutions’ are typical of many occult training curricula. ↩︎
Ill-wishing is part of the things that weigh the soul down. ↩︎
The same pressure applied on a wider surface disperses it. ↩︎
This process of ‘unification’ is the same that has been typical of Neoplatonism since (at least) Plotinus, and which has been described, within a Christian context, by the German mystics (Meister Eckhart and his disciples) who described the Seelengrund (ground of the soul) as the point of contact of the individual soul with the universal presence of the divine. Fludd, living at the end of the Renaissance and its exaltation of humanity, gives us a slightly less mystical version of this idea, one geared toward increasing one’s knowledge through occult practices. ↩︎
Here Abano explains the broad signification of the sixteen geomantic figuresand the seven traditional planets.
In order that one may more easily judge every question without much effort, what follows is the signification of the sixteen figures.1
Acquisitio is the figure of Jupiter in Aries, good, fortunate, mobile, entering, masculine, airy, eastern, hot and wet. Good in the first house and bad in the seventh. It signifies good fortune in what one seeks to obtain, and in things of friendship, weddings, merchandise, company, in traveling, in getting what you desire. It is bad for sick people and prisoners. It signifies blood loss, torments and a long time, and similarly it signifies pregnancy, and changing abode, and sailing, and for the sailor it announces storms. The absent party is delayed, and it is not good for changing from one lord to another, and it shows damage from enemies. In war against enemies it promises victory, and it’s good for obtaining honors and offices, but it doesn’t grant greater accumulation. In case of suspected pregnancy, or theft or other crime, or when one hears rumors, this figures confirms that they are true. The stolen goods are retrieved. The baby is a boy. In sending money or making down payments/deposits it is good. It is good for children and friends and relatives and indicates holiness, abundance, great harvest, but famine will soon follow.2
Amissio is a figure of Venus in Scorpio, unfortunate, mobile, exiting, masculine, fiery, hot and dry, southern, evil. Good in the eighth and bad in the second. Good for travel and selling, the sick person will heal soon, the prisoners comes out of prison soon, it is good for pregnant women, the baby is a boy, the medicine is good. It is bad for fights and enmities, it signifies unfaithfulness, end of friendship, theft, murder and similar things, and if an army marches against the other it will be victorious without effort. If one is in the right it solves matters quickly. It signifies droughts, dearth, flax, legumes. Sending money to make gain is fruitless, you will lose. The fugitive is not found, nor the stolen goods. One doesn’t obtain the pardon, nor anything one seeks. There is no marriage, and when there is, it is soon broken with great shame. It is the enemy of all pleasure and usefulness. Favors, honors, dignity and friendship are not lasting. It is good for asking about family and friends that one hasn’t seen: they are well. If one departs to go damage someone else, one doesn’t succeed, but still comes back safe and sound. One doesn’t acquire the besieged place, but it is good for taking medicines. Abundance of fruits, shortage of everything else.
Fortuna Maior is a figure of the Sun in Acquarius, fortunate, entering, fixed, well-meaning, feminine, earthy, western, nocturnal, cold and dry. Good in the eleventh, bad in the fifth. It denotes increment and accumulation and increases the wealth of one’s lords, friendship with people in high places, with noble people and women, good marriage, pleasure in writing and through messengers, good news, honors, dignity, friendship, the absent party and the pilgrim are well. It grants all that one wishes, except if one wants to gain it from an enemy or suspicious person, especially if it’s about money. Love and hate are firm and unshakable, positive for building and sowing. Rumors and suspicions of theft and pregnancy are true. It is good for coming out of a bad situation, but at the beginning it is hard. In traveling it will be hard at first and easy and with mirth afterward. One can flee from danger. There is no war. The baby is a boy, born without danger. Sickness and imprisonment are of long duration, and difficult to overcome, and it is hard to get back one’s dues. Fertile year. Lots of rain.
Fortuna Minor is a figure of the Sun in Taurus. Unfortunate, mobile, exiting, fiery, masculine, hot and dry, southern, evil, good in the second and bad in the eighth. It signifies company of noble people, traveling with noblemen and buying and selling on their account. It is good for the sick and the imprisoned, and for anyone who wants to flee dangers or problems. It helps pregnant women, and the baby is a girl. Sailing. Sentences can be appealed victoriously, good for entering in other people’s places and country, the besieged town is not captured. It is not good for starting something that is meant to last. The stolen goods are not found. The army will be defeated. Bad for marriage, and if the marriage is made soon there will be rumors. It doesn’t concede anything. Dignity and honor don’t last. Suspicions and rumors are false. The messenger and the absent party come back and bring gain. Damaged merchandise. Promises are not kept. Debts are not collected. Family and friends in good state. If one takes a medicine one heals soon, but it also signifies bleeding. A year of dearth, few fruits, lots of barley and spelt. Problems while traveling.
Laetitia is a figure of Jupiter in Taurus, eastern, airy, fortunate, hot and wet, masculine, sanguine, mobile, entering, positive, diurnal. It means honors, exaltation, dignity, good travel and good for returning. The messenger and the absent party come back bringing joy, good news, it is useful to travel, albeit belatedly, and the dignity one has obtained may falter. Good for buying and selling, the prisoner will be released, changing one’s lord or king or one’s place is positive, it is good to be at the service of a lord, to make down payments/deposits, taking medicines. Long life, increase of wealth. The sickness is long, even though one will heal eventually, bad for partnerships. Every suspicion is false. The stolen goods and runaway servant are not found, the debt won’t be paid back. Hatred and friendship are both steadfast, the servant or subject don’t love you. In questions of faith, of doubt about treason, and when asking about absent friends or family members, they are well. It helps pregnant women, the baby is a boy. Good for sailing, dreams are positive. A year of dearth, but it doesn’t last long, good rain. If you wonder about a friend’s death, it’s not true, and he’ll heal. Good in all houses, except the seventh, eighth, twelfth and the occupied place won’t be conquered.
Tristitia is a figure of Saturn in Scorpio, unfortunate, fixed, entering, malicious, earthy, melancholic, cold and dry, western, feminine. Good to be with noblemen and not bad for departing. Going up against an enemy won’t cause damage out of doubt,3 risk of death in conflict, you will stay in prison, good for partnerships, and the occupied place will be conquered unexpectedly. Good to buy animals, bad for selling them. Good for down payments/deposits, bad for sending money, lots of rain which is helpful, the shunned woman will go back to the friend, victory in a fight, one can keep one’s salaried office. It is bad for the sick and the prisoner, for it lasts long, bad for traveling, danger of death. It doesn’t give you anything that you may wish, except trifles. When there’s suspicion of someone’s death, or of robbery, or any other rumor of the sort, it is true. Accidents by water. The absent party is in trouble, sickness or poverty, the marriage will cause trouble, damage, enmity, moving to another region will cause ill, and wanting to conquer it will cause defeat, the debt is paid back but with great trouble and many issues. One’s life or that of those around you will be problematic or full of sickness, when one has an office, or some dignity, one will suffer through it. Little honor. Childbirth causes issues and comes late, and perhaps results in miscarriage. The baby will be a girl. Both love and hatred are steadfast. Whatever is damaged won’t be fixed. The year will be plentiful. Evil in all houses, except the eighth. Worst of all in the eleventh. When trying to hurt others one will cause even worse damage.
Albus is a figure of Mercury in Cancer, fortunate, common, feminine, nocturnal, phlegmatic, watery, cold and wet, southern, mobile, benign. It means good profit, increase of wealth, honor, influence and being in the right, merchandise, useful partnership, excellent marriage, the stolen goods are retrieved, it concedes everything one asks, honors, servants, buying livestock, conquering a land, the debt is paid back, the rumors or suspicions are true. The runaway servant comes back. Good friendship and money or other possessions. Risk of losing something through oversight. Short life. In war it is bad for the querent, it implies flight and loss of blood, infirmity, long time in prison, problems in pregnancy, the baby is a girl, storms during the sailing, if one has doubts about traveling, the travel will cause harm, the absent party won’t come back, and it is bad for changing place. If one asks for friends or relatives, they are well, and he who is in the right will win the fight [or court case]. Good for agriculture, abundance, good and fruitful rains. Good in the fourth house, bad in the tenth.
Rubeus is a figure of Mars in Gemini, unfortunate, mobile, exiting, masculine, fiery, hot and dry, diurnal, malicious, southern, evil in everything, except in war, in which case it is the best. Good for writing and for marriage, in occult things, and he who seeks honors will obtain them. Good for bloodletting or bleeding, good for going up against the enemy, war will cause death and blood, good for not changing room [place?] or country, the pregnant woman will, after great trouble, be happy with the child, the suspicion of theft or other vice is true. Every good company (or partnership) is good, except in traveling, and the sick will heal after long trouble, and the prisoner will stay long in prison, will need to pay a bail, the down payment is secure, it grants everything one wants from a nobleman, the rumor coming from afar is false, love is steadfast, especially if adulterous, and war will be victorious. Good for buying animals, bad for selling them. The absent party won’t come back, debts are paid back but there will be controversies, and if one wants to speak to a lord one will find him occupied in many things. Very bad for the sick and for prisoners, it means damage, and burials. In travel there is damage and danger when changing place. The marriage is surrounded by suspicions and issues, sailing bad, winds against your way, bad for selling. The occupied place is conquered, the lost item is not found. Good fortune for the querent, and everyone he asks about is well except one.4 The year is dearthful at the beginning, abundant later, lots of rain. Wrath and hatred and danger, bad for taking medicine. Bad in the fourth, seventh and eleventh house, and also in the first except for war and conflict.
Puella is a figure of Venus in Gemini, fortunate, positive, temperate, fixed, entering, feminine, nocturnal, watery, cold and wet, phlegmatic, southern. Good for buying, it brings peace with problematic friends, it solves fights. The absent party comes back with profit, inheritance, increases wealth, confirms marriage, but it will be with suspicions, enemies are won, the journey is delayed but will bring profit. In war there will be loss, sickness and prison are of long duration, and one will pay a fine, sailing causes trouble but only at the beginning. One gets what one wants. Animals and servants will be lost. The pregnant woman will give birth with some problems, the baby is a girl. The suspicion of death, or that a woman is pregnant, is false, suspicion of theft and vice are true. Good for taking medicines, and even if the illness is serious one will heal. You will get your goods back. For obtaining honors, dignity and office it is positive. Good for getting back money, bad for sending money, what is lost is found. If you fear a lord or any other danger, you are not without danger, the down payment/deposit is not secure, as you will lose a good deal of it, changing place or lord is bad, better to stay where you are. If you are accused of something you will be punished, the occupied place won’t be conquered, good for one’s or other people’s health. Average year, at first abundant, then with dearth, lots of rain, which will endanger fruits and plants, good in all houses except the seventh.
Puer is a figure of Mars in Libra, unfortunate, airy, hot and wet, sanguine, masculine, eastern, exiting, malicious, good in war and in sickness, it means overcoming and vanquishing the enemy. Obtaining a favor from a lord will be hard at the beginning, but then you’ll succeed, good for sending money and traveling, the sick and the prisoner and the absent party are fine, and after trouble they’ll come out of it. Suspicion of theft and other wicked deeds is true, suspicion of pregnancy is true, and the woman is give birth with great trouble, and the baby will be a boy. Good for traveling to other countries, good for buying animals and servants. The suspicion of enmity is false. Death will be due to chance happenings and disasters. Good for serving a lord, but bad for gaining from other people; the absent party will come back with usefulness; reconciliation with enemies, the bandits will go back to their homeland, long life, one will die rich. Friendships won’t last, the journey is long and full of issues, problems with merchandise. Not getting back your dues without fighting harshly and with great controversy. Bad for relocating, risk of drowning, promises are not kept. Family and friends are fine, but some of them will fall sick soon. Good for agriculture. A year of dearth, with little rain. Only ryegrass will be abundant. Good in the second and seventh houses, not in the others.
Populus is a figure of the Moon in Capricorn, temperate, of mixed fortune, mobile, common, watery, phlegmatic, cold and wet, bicorporeal, feminine and masculine, northern, nocturnal. Good in things done in company and with many people or animals, and for commerce, siblings, sailing and travel, in sailing positive powerful winds, good for selling and buying but with difficulty in marriage, childbirth will be easy, and there will be twins, in travel rain and lots of water, the sick person dies, the absent party and the pilgrim come back with gain: the prisoner will be released soon but with issues and money problems. The figure grants what one wants, good in things of fathers and mothers, and in occult things. In war and fights one can flee without causing rumors, the besieged place is not conquered. Bad for travels by land, and war and fights are long, and relocating will cost a lot of money. Suspicion of theft or other vice are true, as well as love and hate, if a lord waves war he’ll have a hard time winning. In things of faith and Church it means disunion and schism. Marriage is not easy, will cause debts and divorce with infamy. In making contracts and down payments and partnership, they won’t last. Long life, useful for the querent, but when asking for friends or family, it means infirmity and death, honor and dignity don’t last. The year will be in every way abundant, with much rain and water. It is middling in all houses.
Via is a figure of the Moon in leo. Temperate, mediocre for good or ill, though more bad than good, watery, cold, wet, phlegmatic, nocturnal, feminine, northern. Good in travel and things that are done soon and don’t last. Good for gardens and fields and for taking water from the river, for sowing small grains, in marriage in selling and in buying with little gain, for going from place to place, but not for staying a long time. The pregnant woman will give birth soon, the baby is a boy. The prisoner and the sick are soon free, the absent party and the pilgrim will come back soon. In things of war it causes quick resolution, and one must be cautious, because it threatens flight.5 And every thing is easy and good in the beginning, but doesn’t last. Buildings, marriage, contract, company, friendship, servants, honor, offices, commerce and in every thing it means some diminishment and loss, except in travel, and it is not very good in the eleventh.
Carcer is a figure of Saturn in Pisces, unfortunate, fixed, earthy, feminine, cold and dry, melancholic, western, bicorporeal, malicious for possessions, marriage, contracts, down payments/deposits. It means6 secret sciences, occult things, company. Good for travel by road, and in earthy things, suspicion of prison and news of death are true. Good in building, in inheritance, in entering a region or city or office. The besieged place won’t be conquered, the lord lasts in his dominion. In war and in other strifes, the enemy will flee, in planting trees and wineyards, it means great inner turmoil, grave sickness, possibly deadly, burial. The absent party doesn’t come back, long term in prison, lack of success, not good for asking for help, bad for travel by water, dangers in pregnancy, the baby is a boy. Faith is steadfast, in everything else it’s bad. A year of dearth. Good only in the second.
Conjunctio is a figure of Mercury in Virgo, bicorporeal, mediocre, fortunate, airy, hot and wet, sanguine, eastern, masculine, diurnal, common, benign. Good intellect, science, doctrine, scriptures, writings, company, partnership, commerce, but the partnership will be with ulterior motives, and with issues, and one will need to be cunning to take advantage of the partner, good for marriage. The lost good or stolen good are returned, betrayal and such things are found out, in office and dignity it is good, mediocre wealth and inheritance, easy and short travel, woman with child, but childbirth with issues, twins. The besieged place will be freed with cunning and betrayals. War with shrewdness and deceit, rumors, fights will lead to bleeding, discord and bad advice among fellow citizens. It promises death and burial to the sick, the prisoner will be condemned to death if he is a thief, one can be bailed out belatedly by paying, dangers in travel and problems through it, and storms on the sea, accidents and drowning. The absent party comes back with difficulties. Messengers and letters are false, sent by occult enemies, all kinds of machinations, duplicity, bad in the second house.
Caput is a figure of Jupiter and Venus in Virgo, entering, fortunate, earthy, cold and dry, fixed, melancholic, benign, late, feminine, western, nocturnal. Good for being at the court of the king or of a lord, and good for them, improvement of one’s status, lordship, noblemen, mirth, marriage, long travel and with honor. The absent party comes back belatedly, but with profit. The childbirth is easy, the baby is a boy, good children and siblings, obtaining help from noblemen, victory in war and conflict, the besieged place won’t be conquered, ecclesiastic honor, good for sailing and buying animals. Long trouble for the sick and the imprisoned. The lost or stolen goods are not found. Good in every other thing. Best in the sixth house, bad in the twelfth.
Cauda is a figure of Mars and Saturn in Capricorn, unfortunate, exiting, malicious, choleric, fiery, hot and dry, southern, diurnal, masculine, mobile. Good in retrieving stolen goods and lost things, but with trouble, and in finding out occult things, and for betraying. Travel will happen soon, but with danger. It frees one from enemies and allows to sell animals, and it is good for asking help to one’s superiors. The sick person will heal after great trouble, and the prisoner will be freed after great danger. Suspicion of theft and other vice is true. The marriage is cause for suspicions, the pregnant woman will give birth soon with many issues, the baby is a boy. In water and sea there are storm and wind. The besieged place is conquered, it means rumors and controveries and what one doubts will happen, love is false, buying causes damange, and the lost honor won’t be won back, except with grave diffulties. And it is good for being soon freed from trouble. Good in the sixth, seventh, twelfth and tenth and fourth house, bad in the second, fourth, eleventh.
MQS
Footnotes
For the modern mind, this is one of the most maddening and frustrating sections of Abano’s book due to the seemingly unreconcilable descriptions of the figures. Still, I believe it is important to take this section seriously as it gives insight into the way of thinking of the old practicioners of Geomancy. In the original text, Abano sorts the meanings of each figure out into ‘Good’ or ‘Bad’ but because he often doesn’t keep to the classification (attributing good meanings to the ‘bad’ category and vice versa) I have eliminated the headings of ‘good’ and ‘bad’. It may be that I am wrong in doing so. ↩︎
Admittedly, the above is quite a mishmash of significations, some of which are hard to reconcile among themselves and with the general meaning of the figure. In the following figures similar discrepancies can be observed. We ought to bear in mind that, as it often happens with Medieval authorities on occult subjects, Abano is aiming at giving us extremely concrete examples so that the intelligent reader can extract a general signification from them. As for the seemingly nonsensical meanings (why would Acquisitio signify famine?) it may be that I am missing something, or it may mean we ought to keep an open mind in judging the figures. It may also be a blind placed deliberately to confound readers. This may explain such gross inconsistencies as Laetitia being given as entering instead of exiting (note that Abano said the opposite in the first section) and being given some of Tristitia’s ideas of stuckness. ↩︎
“Andando contra lo inimico per sola dubbitatione non patira alcun damno”. This sentence is not clear to me. Could it mean that the enemy will be assailed by doubts? ↩︎
This sentence is not clear, as it seems to imply everyone around the querent is fine, except one person. Also, this description of Rubeus has to be one of the most puzzling I have ever come across. ↩︎
it is not clear if this means the flight of the querent’s side or of the enemy’s side. ↩︎
I have added this “it means”, as otherwise it seems that Carcer would be bad for occult things as well. However, this addition also causes another problem, as it makes it seem as though Carcer means company, while usually it is seen as a figure of solitude. ↩︎
Some days ago I was talking to a fellow occult student and we were comparing notes on how we go about the process of divination. When I told her that I tend to say a little prayer before divination she was surprised, so I thought it would make for a nice topic.
First off, I do not think that praying before divination is mandatory, nor do I think that it’s the prayer that makes divination work. It doesn’t matter if it’s synchronicity, as Jung said, or if it’s the spirits that live inside the cards, as my first teacher told me, or if it’s the Soul of the World, as the Platonists believe, or if symbols are living beings, as I believe: the point is that the cards always rearrange themselves in a meaningful pattern, the planets always find themselves in the right aspects, the right geomantic figures always emerge, the right I Ching Hexagram always forms.
As such, in a way, divination is a natural activity, so much so that it’s probably one of the earliest activities humans have undertaken. The reading of symbols came much sooner than the reading of characters, because symbols occur naturally to the mind whenever we realize that X means Y. The moment the first men drew any kind or conclusion from any kind of observation, divination was born.
And yet, I believe that divination is also essentially extraordinary. In a way, divining is as normal as cleaning your cat’s litter box, but in another sense it is also very different. In divining we read a part of the whole (the divination system) to derive conclusions on the whole (life itself). Indeed most divination systems are universal languages that mirror the complexity of the Macrocosm.
As such, divination cannot be decoupled from a global understanding of life, and this global plane is where philosophy, spirituality and occultism unfurl their wings.
In my own view, occultism is divided into three branches: devotion, divination and magic. But these three aspects are not discretely separated. For instance, theurgy brings together magic and devotion. Divination and magic are often coupled together, such as in electing the right time to make a talisman or in asking if a magical action is warranted or advisable or effective.
Praying before divination brings together devotion and divination. It is a way of recognizing the extraordinary import of the action I’m about to take, despite this action being, in another sense, perfectly ordinary.
It helps me more than it helps the divination system itself. Nor does it have to be prayer. I know of some people who wash their hands before divining. In Imperial China official diviners had to cleanse themselves before attempting divination, and this is true all over the world.
No one divines willy-nilly. No one *should* divine willy-nilly. This has nothing to do with respect (unless you are receiving information from a particular spirit), it has nothing to do with asking deep questions (divination should always be practical) and it has nothing to do with not having a sense of humor (you can have a sense of humor, in spite of how bland and vapid many of us are). It does have to do with knowing what place divination has in the scheme of things and reaching that place. I do it through prayer, others may do it by just taking a second to clear their mind, but everyone does it one way or another.
