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Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

The Geomancy of Peter of Abano – Book II Pt. 6

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Here Abano discusses topics relating to the Eleventh House and Twelfth House.

Eleventh House

If your friends or family or servants are faithful.
Look at the first and eleventh houses, if they are fortunate, entering and good, in which case it shows them faithful, especially if the eleventh is in the second or if the first and eleventh are the same, or also the Judge. If they are contrary to one another, it means the opposite, especially if the seventh is contrary to the first and the twelfth is unfortunate. When the eleventh is in the sixth and is unfortunate, it means being hated by them.1 If in the seventh, they shall turn into enemies or will help your enemies, and similarly in the eighth. If it goes to the eighth and twelfth you shall be betrayed. However, if said figures which are contrary to the first are good and fortunate and not malicious, it means that you shall not come to harm from them. Always keep the Witnesses and Judge in mind.

If you shall have your wish or what you have been promised.
If you want to know if you shall have what you have been promised by your lord or master,2 or if you want to know if you shall have your wish, look at the first, eleventh and tenth. If they are good, entering, fortunate, it means good hope, and being loved by your master, especially if the fifth and ninth and fourth and seventh are also positive and entering, or if they are exiting but fortunate.
However, if the fourth and tenth houses are involved they show toil.3 And if the figures are unfortunate and contrary one to the other, it shows not being loved, and hoping in vain. This is also valid of one’s mother, doctor, magistrate and promises made by friends.

Of abundance and dearth.
In addition to what we have already said about the matter,4 also look at the eleventh and second figures, which, together with the angles should have good entering figures. Tristitia, in this particular case, means abundance, and also Populus.
If the first, second and ninth are good and fortunate, it means the first three months are good. If the third, fourth and tenth are good it means the sixth, seventh and eighth month are good. If the seventh, eighth and twelfth are good it shows the ninth month is good, and if the ninth, tenth and thirteenth are good and conform, it means the tenth month, and if the Judge and Witnesses are good it means the last month is good. And vice versa with bad figures. But if it’s a mixed bad of good figures and bad ones it means mediocrity. This same method can be used to analyze a month, such as March, or even for single days.5

Twelfth House

If your prison sentence or illness shall be long6
If you fear you may go to prison and want to know if it’s true, look at the first and the thirteenth. If either of them is in the twelfth or is conjunct the twelfth, such as the first in the eleventh,7 and if they are unfortunate, it shows a prison sentence. Especially if the seventh and eighth are unfortunate. And if the first is in the eleventh and the fifth and sixth are unfortunate, or if the first is earthy, unfortunate and goes to the twelfth, and if the Judge agrees.

If one shall soon heal from a sickness or come out of prison
If the first, second, third, fourth, ninth and tenth figures8 are exiting it means freedom, and all the sooner if it’s Via or Cauda, and similarly if the last figures and the Judge and the Witnesses.9 If you find Acquisitio, Cauda, Tristitia or Conjunctio and they don’t move it shows long sickness or prison sentence. Populus, being formed by good figures, shows freedom, but if it comes from evil mothers it shows delay in liberation or healing.

And if Puella and Amissio, it shows freedom from a serious illness or from prison. And if they don’t move to any other house, it means also freedom. And Carcer in the twelfth lets the prisoner out, but if Carcer or Tristitia are in the twelfth and second, you must post a bail. And if it goes to the third, it will be thanks to the help of your siblings or relatives, and so on with the other houses, depending on their signification. If the Judge of the Judge10 is Rubeus, you shall be executed, and if Rubeus is in the twelfth you shall be hurt, if the same figure appears in the eighth.

Of buying large animals.
If, in the twelfth house, you find Acquisitio, Major, Cauda, Tristitia, Conjunctio or Albus it means the animal is good and will be profitable, but if Carcer, Laetitia, Via, Caput and Amissio it is not good, and you shall suffer losses, and if Puer or Puella, mediocre. If any of the aforementioned figures moves to the sixth or seventh or eighth it means losses through what the house signifies. And if Amissio or Cauda are in the twelfth, the horse shall be stolen, especially if it moves to the sixth or seventh, and the first is unfortunate, and if the twelfth is exiting, it’s best to sell the animal immediately, especially if the twelfth figure is also in the eleventh.

Of hidden enemies and traitors.
Look at the twelfth house, if good and fortunate it shows no ill, especially if it is also in the second, tenth or ninth. But if it is malicious, it shows harm, especially if it is also in the aforementioned houses, or if these houses are unfortunate. And if you want to know who the person is and of what condition, look at the houses where the twelfth moves, and judge accordingly.

MQS

Footnotes
  1. I don’t understand this reference to the Sixth house, unless we take it as the joy of Mars, in which case it justifies the idea of hatred. ↩︎
  2. The lord of master being indicated by the Tenth House, the Eleventh is the thing they promise the querent. ↩︎
  3. This reference to the Fourth House is not clear. Maybe Abano is referring to it because it opposes the Tenth. ↩︎
  4. When covering the Tenth House ↩︎
  5. Old books are full of methods for timing events by the houses. This particular method I haven’t found anywhere else either in geomancy on in astrology books. ↩︎
  6. We are often used to seeing the Sixth House as the house of sickness, but in medieval practice the Twelfth could indicate sickness as well. The late Robert Zoller ended up considering the Twelfth as the house of serious illness (such as would require prolonged hospitalization). ↩︎
  7. Here we have definitive proof that Abano conforms to the modern practice of considering even the houses not in company to be next to each other. This leaves open some questions, such as why he doesn’t accept a figure moving to the Twelfth as conjuncting the First. I believe it may have to do with the fact that the Twelfth house is negative. ↩︎
  8. That is, the figures on the querent’s side of the shield. ↩︎
  9. This sentence doesn’t make much sense. What Abano may mean by ‘last figures’ is unclear. ↩︎
  10. The Sixteenth figure ↩︎
Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

The Via Puncti (Way of the Point) in Geomancy

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I already said that I am not a big fan of complications in divination. Nor do I believe that the tendency to overcomplicate things is just modern: if we look in older Horary Astrology handbooks, for instance, they are filled to the brim with (often mutually contradictory) techniques that may be thrown at the chart in an attempt to smoke a positive judgement out of it.

Still, one technique that is relatively consistent in the tradition is that of the Via Puncti, or Way of the Point. Not all traditional sources talk about it, but I have found it to be occasionally helpful. As usual, techniques are not to be used blindly, but intelligently, like tools in the hand of a surgeon.

The long and short of this technique is as follows: some Judges have one point in their Fire line (the upmost one), while others have two. In fact, out of all eight possible Judges, four have one single Fire point (Carcer, Fortuna Minor, Via, Amissio), while the other four have two (Conjunctio, Fortuna Major, Populus, Acquisitio). Due to how Geomancy’s model works, whenever the Judge has one Fire line, it is possible to trace it back unequivocally to one of the four Mothers or Daughters (that is, to one of the eight figures at the top of the shield).

Geomantic Shield Reading, drawn with the Simple Geomancy app

In the above example, Fortuna Minor is the Judge. It has one point in its Fire line. This one point is found again in the Left Witness, Laetitia, and again in the third Niece, which is again Laetitia, and finally in the second Daughter Puella. No other path is possible. This is always so (if it isn’t so and you’ve calculated the chart by hand, you’ve made a mistake.)

Usually, the Via Puncti or Way of the Point can be looked at as a root cause for at least some aspects of the final answer. In the example above, for instance, a woman may be the cause (Puella). Or, if we take the House in consideration, since Puella is in the Sixth house, it may indicate that a sickness is the cause, or a servant/subordinate, or a pet, depending on the question.

I repeat: depending on the question. I make no effort to squeeze a consideration of the Via Puncti into my readings. If it is helpful, and if the question lends itself, I will consider it.

Geomantic Shield Reading, drawn with the Simple Geomancy app

In this second example, Acquisitio is the Judge. Immediately the Via Puncti branches off, as both Witnesses have two points in their Fire line. John Michael Greer says that this shows more complex causes, but he fails to mention that, in the old books, this is not considered a valid Via Puncti. I don’t know if I am unaware of some of the old material or if Greer gave in to his tendency to mix innovation (which is fine) with pretense that it is rooted in tradition. You can of course choose to experiment with Greer’s version of the Via Puncti. Personally, I don’t even always regard it when it is there (as in the first example) let alone when it is not there.

One thing that the existence of the technique shows, though, is that the Golden Dawn’s way of reading the astrological chart by placing the mothers in the angles is completely baseless, and is a typical example of the “let’s make up a secret” tendency of the occult community.

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Puer / The Boy (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Puer (The Boy); sometimes called Beardless
Element: Air
Planet: Mars (direct)
Sign: Aries (Sometimes given as Libra)
Quality: Exiting
Fortune: Bad (but in practice neutral, sometimes positive)

Puer is a much misunderstood figure in Geomancy. Because it is assigned to Mars, it is sometimes given as invariably bad. In reality, the figure is mostly neutral, and much depends on the question, where it comes up and with what other figures. Symbolically, the Puer glyph is said to represent a phallus or a sword, which is fitting considering the Mars association. The sword is a symbol of war, justice and action. Indeed, these are all potential meanings of Puer.

Illustration for the geomantic figure Puer, the Boy

The main meaning, however, is that of representing a man (not necessarily young) Very often, Puer shows the influence of a man in the question. Man means man, not your lesbian aunt who looks like Super Mario and has been called “sir” once by a distracted store clerk. On the other hand, in my limited experience I have found that trans men do show up as Puer and trans women as Puella. Needless to say, the influence of this man in your life or question will depend on the other figures, and is not in itself negative.

As an extended set of correspondences, Puer also indicates all manly things, the male side of existence. This can go from traditionally man-related things (trousers, ties, drills etc.) to traditionally man-related action, such as taking action and fighting. The figure, however, is called Puer, boy, so there is always the martian tendency to be rash and take action without putting much thought in it. Interestingly, Puer and Puella both tend to be rather unstable figures, but for different reasons. Puer is instability due to lack of foresight and forethought.

Sometimes, Puer can be exactly what is needed to break a stall: sometimes you just need to go “the hell with it” and do your thing. However, Puer lacks patience and the ability to reconcile oppositions, and this can be the cause of trouble. Also, sometimes Puer is associated with sex due to the Mars correspondence, but I see it more as the ardor or drive toward sex (in other words, horniness) but I see sex as a prerogative of Conjunctio.

Common Keywords: A boy, A man, All things manish or masculine, Justice, Doing what’s right, Action, Energy, Strong drive, Thoughtlessness, Danger from rash action, Cutting instruments, Fights, Litigation, Arguments

Puer in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meaning
FirstEnergy, Action, Manish behavior, Justice, Rashness
SecondRash action, Overspending, Energy in enterprise
ThirdArgument with siblings or neighbors, False rumors
FourthControversy, Fights, Useful to take action, Discovering hidden treasures
FifthA baby boy, Bad intermediary, Happiness, Having fun
SixthSurgery, Danger from doing the wrong thing, Need for toil
SeventhDivorce, Marriage or partnership too soon, Energy in enterprise, Picking fights
EighthLittle gain from other people, Danger with sharp instruments
NinthGood for travel, bad for learning, False science
TenthGreat enterprise in job, Loss of job, Manual work, Infamy
EleventhArguments with friends, Being friends with the bad boys, Minor contrarieties in getting one’s wish
TwelfthTrouble with the law from doing something silly, Quick liberation, Backstabbing
ThirteenthQuerent has energy, Takes action, Has been rash in the past, There has been fighting
FourteenthQuerent will need to put more energy into it, There will be fighting
FifteenthPuer cannot be the Judge
Possible meanings of Puer in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles
Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Fortuna Minor / Lesser Fortune (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Fortuna Minor (Lesser Fortune); sometimes called Exiting or Outgoing Help
Element: Earth
Planet: Sun (setting)
Sign: Taurus
Quality: Exiting
Fortune: Bad (but in practice mostly good)

Fortuna Minor is the opposite of Fortuna Major in many ways. From an elemental standpoint, it has exactly the opposite configuration. Whereas Major has one point in the passive elements (Water and Earth) and two points in the active ones (Fire and Air), Minor has one in the active elements and two in the passive ones. If we take one point to indicate that the element is manifest or activated, then Fortuna Minor plays its hand very differently from Fortuna Major. Wheras the latter represents calm, focused, long-term action, Fortuna Minor may indicate a quick onrush of energy which is immediately expended.

Illustration of the geomantic figure Fortuna Minor, Lesser Fortune

In some old manuscripts there are indications that Fortuna Minor may have been considered a bad figure. However, when the same manuscripts indicate the effects of the figure in the various houses, they give it as mostly good. I believe this is due to the fact that, being the opposite of the more regal Fortuna Major, Fortuna Minor was considered negative, but being a figure of the Sun, it was still good enough to have a positive effect.

In general, its effect is very quick, and often manifests in the form of an unexpected chance that needs to be taken as it arises, or it will disperse quickly. Being a figure of the setting Sun, Minor may further indicate the last chance one has to make things right, but this needs to make sense within the contest of the question. In general, Minor is more positive than Major when you need something done quickly. However, it can show that the situation may either deteriorate or need constant upkeep in the long run.

Fortuna Minor retains many of the basic qualities of its sibling, being connected with money, gold, courage, nobility, etc. However, these qualities are understandably of lesser value. Also, the adjective “minor” may on occasion indicate that the result will be satisfying, but not wholly satisfying. Maybe some sacrifices will need to be made. Again, this needs to be checked against the whole chart.

Common Keywords: unexpected help, a stroke of luck, a chance to be taken, quick results but possibly unstable in the long run, the last chance, money, health, nobility, moderate satisfaction, etc.

Fortuna Minor in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meanings
FirstGood person, honorable, active, healthy, lucky, noble
SecondGain, A sum of money (not big), Quick wealth, Objects, Possessions of good value
ThirdGood relationship with siblings and neighbors, partly true rumors, Good for short trips
FourthA small inheritance, Discovering hidden treasures, Good relationship with the father, buildings, etc.
FifthGood luck in matters of art, gain through it, Helping children or help from one’s children, Good relationship with them, Joy, Celebration
SixthQuick recovery from illness, toil won’t be in vain, Small vexations from servants
SeventhA chance meeting with someone, gain through acquaintances, Protection from theft, Marriage
EighthGain through the spouse or partnership, help getting out of a fear-inducing situation, Honorable death
NinthQuick return from journey, Change of place, Good faith, Mostly good science and knowledge
TenthNoble people, Employment, Good chance, Good relationship with the mother
EleventhMoney from the government, Opportunity, Help from friends
TwelfthQuick return to freedom for the prisoner, safety from hexes and magic, Loss of honor
ThirteenthHonor, Good faith, Past chance
FourteenthLack of honor, Lack of chances, Chance in the future, Future good luck
FifteenthQuick good outcome, Fame, Honor, Gain
Possible meanings of Fortuna Minor in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Fortuna Major / Greater Fortune (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Fortuna Major (Greater Fortune); sometimes called Arriving or Incoming Help
Element: Earth
Planet: Sun (rising)
Sign: Aquarius
Quality: Entering
Fortune: Good

Fortuna Major is the Greater Fortune of the geomantic figures. It has a plethora of symbolic attributes that may be useful to someone looking to use geomancy as a framework for magic, but as far as divination goes, it is relatively straightforward in its meaning. From a strictly symbolic standpoint, it may be said to represent a river flowing between two mountains while the Sun rises. Whether this is the case or not, it represents a peculiar form of fortune that is not blind luck.

Illustration of the geomantic figure Fortuna Major, Greater Fortune

If we accept preliminarily the symbolic depiction and also the common view that one point means the element in the figure is active, then Fortuna Major is formed by activating the passive elements (Earth and Water) and by keeping the active elements (Fire and Air) passive. Metaphorically, the water flowing and cutting its own path through life by moisturizing the earth can be taken to show the type of fortune that Fortuna Major indicates: the hard-won one.

All, or at least most traditional sources agree that Fortuna Major is a slow figure, promising success but also delay. This can be good or bad depending on what the querent needs. For instance, it can be slightly worrying for illness, and someone in prison is probably looking at a longer sentence, but the figure remains broadly good. It is a symbol of fortitude. In good things, while it may show delay, it also promises stability.

In general, Fortuna Major promises success through effort, Nothing will be handed to the querent for free, but at the same time, the fact that this figure shows up indicates that the querent has the potential to achieve what he wants. It also has the general attributions of the Sun, signifying gold, renewal and similar.

Common Keywords: success through effort, perseverance, constancy, stability for good or ill, renewal, gold, some delay, great satisfaction, triumph

Fortuna Major in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meanings
FirstOf great stature, resilient, kingly, a nobleman, steadfast, long life, health, honorable, well-known, accomplished
SecondWealth, accumulation, riches, fortune
ThirdWell-being of siblings, good for short trips, True rumors
FourthGood in stable things, inheritance, good for parents and for the father
FifthFriendship, good grace, talent, success of a mediator
SixthGain through small animals and servants, slow recovery
Seventhlasting union, honorable partner
EighthWealth through partners of all kinds, long life, honorable death,
NinthGood science or skill, Long travel, Honor and success through travel, Piety, Faith
TenthKings, honorable people, achieving honors, promotion
EleventhGood friends, Achievement of hope, help from government
TwelfthLong prison sentence, freedom from occult enemies, gain through large animals
ThirteenthSuccess in the past or present, stamina, power, ability to achieve what one wishes
FourteenthSuccess in the future, Still need for a lot of work
FifteenthSuccess, Accomplishment of most things through effort
Possible meanings of Fortuna Major in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles

MQS

nec sequar nec ducam
Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Populus / The People (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Populus (The People); sometimes called Double Way
Element: Water
Planet: Moon (waxing)
Sign: Capricorn
Quality: Common
Fortune: Mixed

Populus is the opposite of Via, the other figure of the Moon. Its properties are in many ways diametrically opposite. Where Via forces a radical transformation of every figure it comes into contact with, flipping it into its opposite, Populus passively accepts every figure as it is, like a mirror or a bunch of clay waiting to be shaped. This latter comparison is very apt, as in Medieval (Aristotelian) philosophy, the Moon was seen as receptacle and a symbol of matter, which was capable of receiving all forms, just as the Moon receives her light from the Sun, but was ultimately beyond complete formation.

Illustration of the Geomantic figure Populus, the People

The Medievals, who were fond of finding similitudes and parallels everywhere, also saw the common folk as matter and the Emperor or King as the form-giver, just like they saw the female as matter and the male as form, so they must have felt a great thrill in finding all these correspondences at play in Populus, which also represents people (just like in astrology the Moon rules common people). If Via represents the Moon’s changeable nature, Populus is her passivity.

Populus is formed of the highest number of points of any Geomancy figure, eight, in contrast to Via, which had the least with four. This brings to light another common meaning of Populus: that of indicating “lots” of something, for good or ill.

Some old Geomancers considered Populus extremely bad, some saying that if Populus was the Judge, the chart wasn’t valid. I find this to be nonsense. We already have a limited number of possible charts to play with, and if we exclude those ending in Populus we eliminate a whole bunch more. Plus, in my experience, Populus is a neutral figure, augmenting the good and bad of other figures.

Common Keywords: passivity, receptivity, stability, a situation that may have various influences at play but in the end won’t change much, many people, groups of all kinds, crowd, togetherness, lots of anything that may make sense in the context, large, big, numerous

Populus in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meanings
FirstA long and/or mediocre life, a mutable life subject to many influences, lots of water, phlegmatic temperament, companionable
SecondLots of money, great wealth, many objects
ThirdMany siblings or cousins, neighbors, small trip by water or near a body of water
FourthCities, castles, buildings, abundance, fertile terrain
FifthGreat harvest, many children, gathering of artists (like an exposition), A fun gathering
SixthMany servants or small animals, dangerous illness
SeventhMany acquaintances, Good marriage, Pliable but unstable partner, Many public enemies
EighthTears, A funeral, Lots of money from the partner
NinthLong travel especially by water, pilgrimage with other people, a class or learning group, a spiritual gathering
TenthA gathering of important people (like a cabinet meeting), elevation of regular people, Rebellion of the common folk
EleventhLots of money from the government, Lots of friends
TwelfthMany occult enemies, evil machinations, groups of prisoners
ThirteenthPublic favor, stable past, good company
FourteenthThe public is against, many obstacles or lots of opposition, stable future
FifteenthSome delay, stability in the end, good if coming from good figures, bad if from bad ones
Possible meanings of Populus in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Via / The Way (Geomancy Figures)

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Name of the Figure: Via (The Way); some give it as Candela (Candle)
Element: Water
Planet: Moon (waning)
Sign: Leo
Quality: Common
Fortune: Mixed

When interpreting Via, there’s a couple of notions to keep in mind. First, its interesting geomantic property of turning every figure into its opposite: If you add Via to Conjunctio, meaning connectivity, you get Carcer, isolation; if you add Via to Puella, innocence and balance, you get Rubeus, vice and lying; if you add Via to Caput Draconis, the beginning of something, you get Laetitia, its peak, etc. This is because Via has one point in each elemental row: one point in the Fire row, one in the Air row, one in the Water row, one in the Earth row. One point, when added to another single point, turns it into an even double point, while when added to a double point it turns it into an odd number again.

Illustration of the Geomantic figure Via, the Way

This property of Via connects well with its meaning of change, travel, etc. It is an active, transformative figure, indicating that the situation will not stay as it is. Something that began one way will finish as something different.

Another interesting and often mentioned property of Via is that it has the least amount of points of any figure in Geomancy, four. This can mean that Via stands for a small amount of something, whether for good or ill. This, however, is usually only in questions of quantity (“Will I get back the money?” “Yes, but only a small part.”)

Finally, because it is in contrast with the other figure of the Moon, Populus, which is the crowd, Via can represent aloneness, not necessarily in a bad sense. It can show someone doing something alone, following their own path. It may indicate independence. However, if you dabble in the old manuscripts, you will see that depending on the author Via is attributed better or worse qualities depending on that author’s own ideas. I personally find it a neutral figure, if an unstable one.

Common Keywords: Travel, path, journey, going, moving, acting, making inroads, change, transformation, one, only, lonely, small, little, small amount

Via in the Geomantic Houses (these are only examples. Use context to guide your interpretation)

HousePossible Meanings
FirstA traveler, wayfarer, piligrim, small stature, phlegmatic temperament, changeable, A short life
SecondTraveling merchant, Little money, change in the economic situation, poverty
ThirdShort trip, visit, younger siblings, arrival of news, partly true rumors, the garden or neighborhood
Fourthmixed end results, instability at the end, a trip to see one’s parents of father, little inheritance
FifthFew children (possibly one), going to a party, little pleasure
Sixthshort illness, change in the health, servants are arriving or fleeing (traditionally), small animals, small gain from animals
SeventhUnstable partner, highwaymen, little company, gain or loss of support (depending on how one is at the present moment)
EighthFleeing danger or fearful situation, little money from other people
NinthLong travel, little faith, unworthy knowledge or teacher, a process of transformation, inner journey
TenthUnstable government, Unstable profession, change of job, traveling for work, authority figures are not to be trusted
Eleventhvain hope, little hope, little help, changeable friends, few of them
TwelfthRelease from prison, Freedom from addiction, Few enemies
ThirteenthUnstable past, ability to change, good for traveling, positive journey or path
Fourteenthquick solution, the situation will evolve or change, issues while traveling
FifteenthThere will be travel or change for good or ill, Quick solution
Possible meanings of Via in the various Geomantic Houses. Note that this is not meant to be exhaustive, and it only serves to jog your interpretive muscles

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

The Meanings of the Geomantic Houses

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In European geomancy, the places occupied by the figures in the Shield are assigned the meaning of the houses of an astrological horoscope. I have no idea if this corresponds to older Middle-Eastern practice or if it is a European innovation. Certainly, if Astrology hadn’t been attached to Geomancy by the Arab magi of old (which it probably was), it got coupled with it as soon as it reached Europe, since Astrology was not only extremely popular–it was also the only method of divination that was not unanimously frowned upon by the church, the reason being that it was perfectly embedded within the shared understanding of how the cosmos was thought to factually work, so that the anticipations given by astrology could be defended as being just part of how life worked and, therefore, scientific (in the old meaning of science). Astrology was indeed often condemned, but it was hard to condemn it without condemning a lot more stuff that the church liked.

The Geomantic Shield, therefore, got assigned the meanings of the astrological houses. As far as I can tell from reading the old manuscripts, the difference between the Shield chart and the square astrological chart was not very marked–if at all. Most manuscripts assign the meanings of the houses to the Shield itself, without bothering to turn the Shield into an astrological chart. This is even true when they describe the modes of perfection. A few manuscripts do show the astrological chart at one point or another, but only to remark on the similarity with the Shield chart.

A Geomantic Shield
The same chart as an astrological horoscope

I may be wrong, but I get the sense that the distinction between Shield chart and Astrological chart was only emphasised following the Golden Dawn’s reshuffling of the houses by following Agrippa. Basically, the GD (again, following Agrippa) assigned the four Mothers to the angles, the four Daughters to the succedent houses and the four Nieces to the cadent houses. This is in line with the old occult fascination for making up bogus secrets to get people interested in your person. People needed to keep occupied, in a world where Monopoly hadn’t been invented yet.

It is also in sharp contrast to the old practice of following the numerical order of the figures (First House = First Mother, Second House = Second Mother, etc., shown in the image above) Note, furthermore, that in the old practice, the Witnesses and the Judge were usually considered normal houses (often called the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth houses.)

The meanings of the houses, as said, correspond more or less to those of a horary chart. You will find that not all sources agree. Here’s a good start (it’s not exhaustive, but it’s something.)

HouseFigureAttributes
First1st MotherThe Querent, Querent’s Body, Appearance, Mind, “Here”
Second2nd MotherQuerent’s possessions, Moveable Goods, Money, Assets, Sustenance
Third3rd MotherSiblings, Neighbors, Letters, News, Communication, Rumors, Short Trips, Regular Journey, Lower Education
Fourth4th MotherThe Father, The Parents in general, Old Relatives, Lineage, House, Property, City, Castle, Buried Treasures, Fields, End of the Matter
Fifth1st DaughterJoy, Mirth, Fun, Festivities, Clothes, Children, Pregnancy, Art, Self-Expression, Sexual Activity, Harvest, Messengers, Diplomats
Sixth2nd DaughterSickness, Trouble, Toil, Difficulties, Surgery, Small animals (pets, goats, sheep, etc.), Servants, Employees
Seventh3rd DaughterMarriage, Partnerships, Partners, Public Enemies, Other People, The Public, Thieves, “There”
Eighth4th DaughterDeath and the Dead, Money from other people, Dowry, Fear, Failure
Ninth1st NieceLong Journeys, Pilgrimages, Church, Spirituality, Higher Education, Faith, Teachers, Courses, Higher Knowledge and Skills, Church People and Prelates, God
Tenth2nd NieceThe Mother, Honor, Ascension, King, Emperor, Government, Job, Profession
Eleventh3rd NieceFriends, Help, Money from the Government, Wishes, Hopes, Fortune, Luck
Twelfth4th NieceEvil, Secret Enemies, Addiction, Prison, Curses, Hexes, Large Animals (Large Cattle, Horses, etc.), Impotence to act
ThirteenthR. WitnessThe Querent, The Querent’s side, What’s in Favor of the Querent, The Past
FourteenthL. WitnessOpposition to the Querent, The Other Party, The Future
FifteenthJudgeAnswer, Ultimate Development of the Question
The meanings and attributes of the Geomantic houses

Note: All images are from the App ‘Simple Geomancy’

MQS

Divination, Divination Master Post, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Geomancy – From the Four Mothers to the Geomantic Shield Chart

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In the previous article I’ve talked about how to generate the four Mothers of a Geomancy reading. These are the four geomantic figures you need in order to answer a question. As I discussed previously, the four Mothers, being actively created by you (or the questioner), represent your point of view, what you actively bring to the table. Afterward, we generate the four Daughters, which represent the consequence of your stance in the outside world around you.

This divides the Shield Chart into two halves: the right half, assigned to the querent or to what speaks in favor of the querent getting his wish; and the left half, assigned to the quesited or to the obstacles. These are like thesis and antithesis: as soon as the thesis is given, the antithesis is called into being automatically. The right half, the querent’s side, culminates into the Right Witness, while the left side culminates into the Left Witness. Here, the separation between thesis and antithesis reaches its apex, and can no longer be carried further, and must therefore be resolved. This is done by adding the Witnesses to form the Judge. This is the only figure in the chart that encompasses both right and left side, which is why the term “Judge” is fitting: the Judge must see the whole picture and take it into account in order to rule fairly.

Let us start with the Four Mothers, and let’s derive the Four Daughters from them.

the four Mothers of a Geomancy reading

Above you find the Four Mothers. These are seen from right to left. To obtain the first daughter, we need to take into account the first row of points in each of the four Mothers. In the example above, the first row of the first Mother has two points, the first row of the second Mother has one point, the first row of the third Mother has two points and the first row of the fourth Mother has one point. This means that the first Daughter is going to be formed of two points in the top row, one in the second, two in the third and again one in the fourth. The other three Daughters are formed in the exact same way, only, we take into account the corresponding row in the four Mothers (i.e., for the second Daughter, the second row of each of the four Mothers, for the third Daughter, the third row of each of the four Mothers, for the fourth Daughter, the fourth row of each of the four Mothers.) At this point, we have the base line of the Geomantic Shield.

From right to left, the four Mothers and the four Daughters

From this base line, which encompasses the two sides of the shield, we begin a new kind of operation, which will allow us to obtain the four Nieces. This operation is called Geomantic Addition. This is a very simple formula. Take the first two Mothers as an example. Now add the number of points in the top row of each. The sum is three (two in the first Mother, one in the second Mother.) Three is an odd number, and odd numbers are represented by a single point. Therefore, the result of this Geomantic Addition is going to be a figure whose first row is occupied by a single dot rather than two. Now we go through the same process row by row. Only at the end, with the fourth and final row, do we find that the operation gives a different result: here, both the first and the second Mother are made up of two points, so the result is four. Four is even, and even is represented by two points.

First MotherSecond MotherFirst Niece
O OOO
O OOO
O OOO
O OO OO O
The process to obtain the first Niece

In general, the process of Geomantic Addition can only yield four scenarios.

First VariableSecond VariableNumber of PointsOdd/EvenResult
O OO O4EvenO O
O OO3OddO
OO O3OddO
OO2EvenO O
All possible scenarios in the process of Geomantic Addition

By pairing first and second Mother together, we get the first Niece; third and fourth Mother yield the second Niece; first and second Daughter give us the third Niece; and third and fourth daughter result in the fourth and final Niece.

Four Mothers, four Daughters and four Nieces

At this point, we go over the process once more, pairing up the first and second Niece to obtain the Right Witness and the third and fourth to get the Left Witness.

the four Mothers, four Daughters, four Nieces and two Witnesses

The final addition yields the Judge, which is the only figure of the Geomantic Shield to result from the Left and Right side of the Shield communicating with each other.

The complete Geomantic Shield

This completes the operation. It is customary to derive a sixteenth figure by adding the figure of the querent, i.e., usually the first Mother, with the Judge, but this sixteenth figure is often not explicitly drawn on the shield, though it might sometimes, and there are examples of it in the old literature.

Note: all images are from the App ‘Simple Geomancy’

Divination, Fortune-telling, Geomancy

Toward the Geomancy Shield – The Four Mothers

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Geomancy has changed a bit since Medieval times, but one thing that remains constant is how a Geomantic figure or Geomantic Shield is formed. This is done in order to answer a question.

As I said in the previous article, we don’t draw the whole figure in the same way. We can divide the process in two parts: the creation of the four Mothers on one side; and the deriving of the rest of the figure from the four Mothers on the other side. The first is the “divinely inspired” part, i.e., the part where you allow chance into your life, while the second part is automatic and fixed and will follow with mathematical rigor from the first.

So, how do we get a set of four Mothers? In reality, Geomancy is a rather flexible oracle, as any method is technically valid. Once you are well versed in the main operations required to draw a Geomantic figure, you can pretty much use any method that suits you in order to obtain the four mothers.

Still, some methods are more traditional than others. It seems that the Arab Magi used a stick to poke points in the sands of the desert, a method that is still perfectly valid and has even been accepted and adapted by the Golden Dawn. By the time Geomancy reached Europe in the Middle Ages, it was customary to use a stylus or pen and a tablet or piece of paper or parchment. Dice were also used, and one could, and can use dried beans or pebbles or playing cards. Anything that can give you odd and even numbers will do.

Needless to say, some have devised software that calculate everything automatically. I don’t particularly trust this method, and yes, partly it’s because technology is still so new that my mind doesn’t accept it as a valid substitute for things that are more dependent on my direct manipulation–it may very well be that in five hundred years occultists will use geomantic software without thinking twice about it, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

The Pen and Paper Method

My personal favorite method remains pen and paper. I almost always use it, and I find it has an odd beauty, even power to it. It also reminds me of a playful oracle that we used to use as kids in middle school and high school in Italy to answer yes or no questions. Usually, some love-stricken teen would ask the fateful question, “does he love me?” and would start drawing random numbers of points on a piece of paper. Then she would pair up the points until either one point was left (yes) or none at all (no). I have no idea how this oracle originated, but I remember it being very much in vogue when I was a kid.

A set of geomantic Mothers is obtained in a similar, albeit more complex, manner. First off, it pays to write down the question. This has the incredible advantage that it forces you to think about it seriously, and it also makes it more real and objective.

Then, after concentrating on the question, you should ask for divine help. I’m not saying this to be preachy. Consult any Medieval handbook of Geomancy and you will find the same instruction: it’s the “Unmoved Mover” that sends his “vertue” down from the skies to answer your question. At the very least, you should take a moment to relax.

Once you feel ready, start drawing sixteen consecutive rows of points. Try to be orderly, but don’t worry too much: as long as the rows don’t cross or merge you are fine. Also, I have found that it is better to draw I’s instead of points, for the simple reason that it makes it easier to recognize the marks instead of leaving you wondering “is it a point or a random inkblot?”

Do not count the points or I’s you are making, and do not bother counting the rows as you make them. Do not engage in any kind of mathematical or rational thinking. In fact, I have found it pays to write down numbers from 1 to 16 before starting the operation, so as to be free from the worry of drawing too many or too few rows of points. Still, in the traditional instruction, you are normally told not to bother if you end up with an extra row of two–just go overboard and then discount the extra ones. Either way you will end up with something like this:

  • 1) IIIIIIIIII
  • 2) IIIIIIIIIIIII
  • 3) IIIII
  • 4) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
  • 5) IIIIIIII
  • 6) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
  • 7) IIII
  • 8) IIIIIIIIIIIII
  • 9) IIIIIIIIIIIII
  • 10) IIIIIIIIIIIIIII
  • 11) IIIIIIIIIIII
  • 13) IIIIIII
  • 14) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
  • 15) IIIIIIIII
  • 16) IIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Once this operation is over, you have your four Mothers, but only in a raw form. Each Mother figure is made up of four rows (4×4 = 16). Now you need to pair up the I’s in each row until either one is left over or two. Let’s make the example of the first Mother, which is made up of rows 1 through 4:

  • 1) I-I I-I I-I I-I I I = O O
  • 2) I-I I-I I-I I-I I-I I-I I = O
  • 3) I-I I-I I = O
  • 4) I-I I-I I-I I-I I-I I-I I-I I-I I-I I I = O O

The figure we have received as first Mother is comprised by a sequence of two points on top, then one point, then one point, then two points. The same process of pairing up must be done for all sixteen rows to obtain the four Mothers (the second Mother being made up of rows 5 through 8, etc.) The first Mother we have obtained is called Conjunctio.

The Geomantic figure Conjunctio. From the App ‘Simple Geomancy’

Once this operation is over, you will be left with four figures, each made up of four rows of either one or two points. From these figures you will need to derive the rest of the chart, which I will go over in the next post.