#Geomancy

[rosesforhekate101]

What is Geomancy?

No, this isn’t a post about earth energies and earth magic – this is the start of a series of posts looking at an ancient form of divination. Geomancy, or Geomanteia (γεωμαντεία), is a Hellenic word consisting of two words, gaia=earth and manteia=divination therefore it is divination by the earth. Geomancy was a common form of divination from 1200 CE all the way to the 17th Century, with…

[astra-ravana]

Types Of Divination

Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge of the unknown or future through supernatural or symbolic means. There are hundreds of divination methods used across cultures and time periods, each utilizing different tools, elements, or techniques. Below is a categorized and comprehensive list of various divination practices.

Classical & Symbolic Divination

These methods use symbols, numbers, and abstract concepts to gain insight.

A. Alphabet & Writing-Based Divination

• Abecedarian Divination – Using letters of the alphabet in random patterns for messages.

• Onomancy – Divination through names.

• Graphomancy – Analyzing handwriting for hidden meanings.

• Lexomancy – Opening a book randomly and interpreting the first word or passage seen.

• Spirit Boards(Ouija) - Spirit divination using an alaphet board and planchette to spell out messages.

B. Number-Based Divination

• Numerology – The study of numbers and their mystical meanings.

• Arithmancy – Using numbers associated with names or events to predict outcomes.

• Geomancy – Casting marks on the ground or sand to form patterns for interpretation.

C. Sound & Speech-Based Divination

• Echomancy – Interpreting random or accidental sounds.

• Oinomancy – Using the sounds and bubbles of poured wine for divination.

• Geloscopy - Divination using the sound of someone's laugh.

• Cantiumancy - Drawing messages and predictions through music.

• Phonomancy - Divination through people's voices and speech.

Elemental & Nature-Based Divination

This category includes divination methods that rely on natural elements like fire, water, earth, and air.

A. Fire Divination

• Pyromancy – Divination using flames.

• Capnomancy – Studying smoke patterns.

• Causimomancy – Burning objects and interpreting how they react.

• Spodomancy - Divination using ashes.

• Ceromancy - Interpreting the patterns/shapes in melted candle wax.

B. Water Divination

• Hydromancy – Scrying or divining using water.

• Pegomancy – Studying the movement of sacred wells or springs.

• Aspidomancy – Scrying with whirlpools or moving water.

C. Air & Wind Divination

• Aeromancy – Divination through atmospheric conditions.

• Anemoscopy – Studying wind direction and patterns.

• Chaomancy – Observing air currents and swirling dust or leaves.

D. Earth Divination

• Lithomancy – Casting and reading stones or crystals.

• Geomancy – Reading marks or patterns in soil, sand, or earth.

• Spatalamancy – Divination through cave formations.

• Halomancy - Divination using salts.

• Abocomancy - Divination based on interpretation of the patterns in dirt, silt, sand, or dust.

Animal & Plant-Based Divination

These methods rely on interactions with living things and biological matter.

A. Animal-Based Divination

• Ornithomancy(Augury) – Observing bird flight patterns.

• Ailuromancy – Watching the behavior of cats.

• Myomancy – Interpreting mouse or rodent behavior.

• Ophiomancy – Observing snakes.

• Ichthyomancy - Divination using fish.

• Zoomancy - Divination through the actions of wildlife.

• Alectromancy - Using roosters or hens to make predictions.

• Apantomancy - Interpreting chance meetings with animals, such as the familiar black cat crossing your path.

• Myrmonancy - Discerning the future through observing ants eating food.

B. Plant-Based Divination

• Dendromancy – Divination using tree bark or branches.

• Botanomancy – Burning plants and interpreting the smoke.

• Xylomancy – Interpreting patterns in fallen branches or wood.

• Tasseomancy - Gaining wisdom by reading tea leaves

Object-Based Divination

Using objects, artifacts, and physical tools to gain insight.

• Bibliomancy – Interpreting messages from the open page of a fallen book.

• Rhabdomancy – Divining with rods, wands, or sticks.

• Belomancy – Throwing arrows and interpreting where they land.

• Oomancy - Divination using eggs.

• Crystallomancy – Scrying into crystals (e.g., crystal ball gazing).

• Curiomancy - Divination by casting random or obscure objects.

• Catoptromancy - The art of scrying with a mirror.

• Psychometry - Scrying of a held or touched object.

• Astagyromancy - Divination performed by tossing dice.

• Dactylomancy - Using a ring suspended on a cord/chain or a pendulum to divinate.

• Papyromancy - Folding paper into shapes, then interpreting the forms and shadows created.

Death & Spirit-Based Divination

Methods focused on communicating with spirits, ancestors, or the dead.

• Necromancy – Summoning or consulting spirits of the dead.

• Oneiromancy – Interpreting dreams.

• Psychomancy – Communicating with spirits and being able to hear their voices.

• Osteomancy – Reading bones or skeletal remains.

Energy & Psychic Divination

These methods rely on intuitive abilities or the reader's energy field.

• Morphic Resonance - Using the concept of collective memory and patterns from the past to predict future patterns.

• Aurascopy – Reading auras and energy fields.

• Cryptomancy - Supernatural insights through secret signs and omens.

• Intuitive Counseling - Offering guidance based on intuitive feelings.

• Remote Viewing - Psychically perceiving a distant or unseen target.

• Energy Scrying - Divining information about a person’s physical or emotional state through their energy.

• Channeling - Mediums communicate with spirits to convey messages or predict future events.

Popular & Modern Divination Systems

These systems have structured methods and are widely practiced.

• Cartomancy/Tarot – Using cards to interpret the past, present, and future or speak to spirits.

• Runecasting (Runology) – Reading ancient runes for insight (Futhark, Ogham, Witch Runes, etc).

• I Ching (Yi Jing) – Using hexagrams derived from coin or stick throws.

• Astrology – Studying celestial bodies and their influence on human affairs.

• Palmistry - Reading the lines on a person's hand.

[fort-of-novelty]

Geomancy and Necromancy begin to have a lot of overlap when you consider that soil is made of the decomposed remains of plants and animals.

[caput-larvae]

Mercury pentacle from the Veritable Key of Solomon, which contains many different talismans from the ones seen on the most popular version of the grimoire, as well as an alternative method of evocation. I really recommend the pdf read. I found this one particularly interesting because of the geomantic glyphs.

[nekokabuuuri]

[visardistofelphame]

Flesh to Spirit Sun to Earth Rod to Cauldron Knife to Cup Queen most secret, she who flows with the will of the World. Hidden lord, he who knows the placement of all the Stars. Fire glows, Air blows, Water flows, Earth grows. Paint the story of the MANY with the power of the ONE.

╚══════════════════ஓ๑♡๑ஓ═════════════════╝

Finished my special dice for Geomancy~! I might create a vessel to shake the dice in, since they are a little bit bigger than normal d6 dice.

[prismabella]

heyy so I've always been interested in having my birthchart done (a comprehensive, deep reading) but frankly haven't found a source or person I trust like that. I'm looking for recommendations if you have any fellow star seekers, thanks

[barncultus]

what sorts of divination practices do you do?

I was raised reading tarot, and have continued to do so into adulthood. However, over the last few years my divination practice has focused on a mix of scrying and roadomancy, observing omens through crystal and comet light. This is a system I hope to further develop and synthesize in the years to come, as my spirits have made it clear it's their preferred method of communication.

I also find geomancy fascinating, and is the traditional methodology I'm the most eager to learn. It does not, unfortunately, come very naturally to me.

[moderatelyquicksilversposts]

In divination, if you can't name, describe!

[thetavernintheforest]

I'm trying to learn geomancy and ngl is a little anxiety inducing, specially when there is a figure that essentially goes "BAD, very BAD", I know there is nuances and its not an easy art but hoo boy does it get it palpitating.

On the other hand I love casting the rocks to make the figures and then drawing and setting them :3

[koscheys-skull]

Occult And Witchcraft Supply

A colleague and friend of mine is opening up his services. I've worked with Baou for several years and I am very fond of his work. He's currently looking for work and is an artisan as well as a Geomancer! Check him out! He opened a Ko-fi and is available for work! See Below the Cut for Details

Copy and Pasted From Ordus Vesperum's Artisans Chat:

" Due to a current lack of work and immediate need to build funds, i am once again letting people know about my divination services, and that my jewelry commissions open for the foreseeable future.

as far as the Divination services, they are as follows:

3 yes/no questions plus any follow-up with my Chamalongos: $5

A Geomantic chart reading for any question with a full breakdown of what each figure means where it appears in the chart: $20

A yearly Geomantic Chart Reading that covers the whole year ahead: $30

As for my Jewelry services, prices vary depending on what you're looking for, but i have a minimum of 10 dollars an hour, and most of my bracelets take an hour or so to make, plus bead prices, and a 15% overhead to cover wire, fixings, and any material loss due to beads breaking and the like.

Prayer Cord times vary, and my prayer cords do not come blessed, that is something you will have to do yourself, i also do not oil them, but if you know the blend or can point me to it, i will provide a bottle of the oil blend for you to charge and complete the cord yourself.

(this is mainly because i don't work with many demons, and i'd rather be respectful than barge in and ask for blessings of an entity i've never interacted with.)

Same goes for Malas, though these often take up to 4 hours, and have a lot more beads.

a (rather incomprehensive) portfolio of my work can be seen here "

[squirrilous]

[caput-larvae]

Relating the geomantic figures to the Behenian stars + 1

[This is a post from an old blog of mine.]

After obtaining some experience with both systems, I started to notice some similarities between the applications given by BM Bodleian MS. 52 for the Behenian stars and the correspondences for the geomantic figures.

Below I make an attempt to relate the two, adding the star Fomalhaut (as it is one of the Persian royal stars), based on imagery, magical uses and planetary attributions. I don’t have any specific objective with this exercise, but I think it’s interesting and even esoterically uplifting to think about the close relationship between a terrestrial and a stellar system.

Algol (Caput Larvæ)

Associated with Saturn and Jupiter. Algol “brings hatred and courage, preserves the members of the body, and grants vengeance over anyone you wish”. For its malefic traits – including the designation as “Demon Star” – I associate this star with the figure Cauda Draconis, which is Saturnian and Martial.

Alcyone (Pleiades)

The Pleiades are given to the Moon and Mars and “preserve the eyesight, summon demons and the spirits of the dead, call the winds, and reveal secrets and things that are lost”. Even though their current longitute assigns them to Gemini, they are a cluster in the constellation of Taurus. Agrippa’s talismanic image for this star is a “little Virgin, or the Figure of a Lamp”. Thus I associate it with Puella, which is Venusian.

Aldebaran

It’s associated with Mars and Venus. It’s one of the Persian royal stars and it’s assigned to the Archangel Michael. According to Agrippa “under Adlebora, they made an image after the likeness of God, or of a flying man.” It “increases riches and brings honors”. For its military correspondences I associate it with Puer, which is Martial.

Capella (Alhayhoch, Hircus)

It’s associated with Jupiter and Saturn. It “exalts men to honors, and brings them the favor of kings and nobles, and heals toothache, and is very medicinal”. Its image is of “a man willing to make himself merry with musical instruments”. I associate it with Laetitia, which is Jupiterian.

Sirius (Canis Major)

It’s associated with Venus. Its image is of a “Hound and a little Virgin” and “it bestoweth honor and good will, and the favor of men, and Aerial spirits, and giveth power to pacifie and reconcile Kings, Princes, and other men”. I associate it with Conjuctio, which is Mercurial, due to its usefulness for communication and reconciliation. Interestingly, the image for the star is reminiscent of Hecate, a goddess of crossroads.

Procyon (Canis Minor)

It’s associated with Mercury and Mars. It “grants the favor of God and man, gives men the favor of the spirits of the air, gives great power over magic, and keeps men healthy”. It’s image is of a “cock or three maidens”. I associate it with Caput Draconis, which is Venusian and Jupterian.

Regulus (Cor Leonis)

It’s associated with Mars and Jupiter, but it’s a star in the constellation of Leo. Its image is of “a Lion or Cat, or the Figure of an honorable Person sitting in a Chair” It “takes away anger and melancholy, makes men temperate, and grants favor.” I assign it to Fortuna Minor, which is Solar.

Alkaid (Tail of the Great Bear)

It’s associated with Venus and the Moon. It “has power against enchantments and against dryness and gives safety in travel, and if it be put together with wolf’s teeth it makes hunters proficient”. The image is of ” a pensive Man, or of a Bull, or the Figure of a Calf”. As it’s related to travel and hunting, I associate it with Via, which is Lunar.

Algorab (Ala Corvis)

It’s associated with Saturn and Mars. Its image is a “Raven, or Snake, or of a black Man cloathed in black”. It “makes men angry, hateful, daring, and evil-speaking, causes wicked dreams, drives demons away, and protects men against demons and evil winds.” I associate it with Tristitia, which is Saturnian.

Spica

It’s associated with Venus and Mercury. Its image is of “a Bird, or of a man laden with Merchandize”. It’s useful to “increase gold, accumulate riches, bring victory in lawsuits, and free men from evil and anguish.” For its relation to prosperity, I associate it with Acquisitio, which is Jupterian.

Arcturus (Alchameth)

It’s associated with Mars and Jupiter. Its image is of a “Horse of Wolf, or the Figure of a man dancing”. It “carries away fevers and restrains the flow of blood”. I assign it to Amissio, which is Venusian, due to its association with health.

Alphecca (Elpheia)

It’s associated with Venus and Mars. Its image is of ” an Hen, or of a man crowned and advanced”. It “makes men chaste, and grants friendship and honor with God and man”. Since it’s associated with purity, I assign it to Albus, which is Mercurial.

Antares (Cor Scorpii)

It’s associated with Venus and Jupiter. Its image is “man armed, and with a coat of Male, or the Figure of a Scorpion”. It “gives men healthy color, grants good memory and intelligence, makes them appear wise, and banishes demons”. Since it belongs to Scorpio and carries Martial imagery, I relate it to Rubeus, which is Martial. The fact that the star gives healthy color reinforces the association.

Vega (Vultur Cadens)

It’s associated with Mercury and Venus. Its image is of a “vulture or hen”. It “grants favor with beasts, protects from scabies, that is, against demons, nocturnal phantoms, and fears”. I associate it with Carcer, which is Saturnian, due to the bird’s similar nature and the star’s protective quality.

Deneb Algedi (Cauda Capricorni)

It’s associated with Saturn and Mercury. Its image is of a “Hart, or Goate, or of an angry man”. It gives “favor in lawsuits, improves the home in which it is kept, keeps it [the home] secure, and increases all manner of riches”. I associate it with Fortuna Major, which is Solar.

Fomalhaut

This star is associated with Archangel Gabriel and it’s one of the Persian royal stars. It belongs to Piscis Austrinus. For its watery associations I relate it to Populus, which is Lunar.

Sources:

Hermes on the Fifteen Stars

Bronze English Fomalhaut Talisman For Fame, Honor and Spiritual Change

Behenian fixed star

Of the Images of the fixed Behenian Stars.

[visardistofelphame]

MAGICKAL EXPERIMENTATION: CRAFTING THE SEAL OF DARKNESS II

(Check out part 1 to get caught up)

Witchcraft is a science, and we can test and confirm results.

I have spent the last two-ish weeks working on a series of nightly rituals, with the desired result of crafting a Seal that would allow me to connect with the dead self. The nightly workings, while magically potent, were not what I had intended.

It seems being able to direct my will when performing automatic drawing is more tricky than I initially thought. Towards the fifth night in a row, I found myself having a difficult time being able to focus. And I don't mean in a way that made it hard to focus on the present moment in the rite. Rather, it was trying to continue the flow of power that I had started on the first night.

While the automatic drawings I did are potent; and I do plan on using them in sigil crafting, it didn't feel like things were clicking together. It certainly didn't help that I had a very busy and tiring week during all this.

Instead of bashing my head against the wall trying to force things, I stopped and took a step back. It was time to utilize one of the best resources for magical workings: divination.

I find the specificness of Geomancy useful for determining if a spell has worked or not. It allows both a "Yes or No" answer, while also being able to go into details about that answer.

In my reading, I found that the Way of Points (branching from the Judge) stopped at the Left & Right witnesses. This meant that the problem was not something so deep. And luckily, I found that my past efforts (Right Witness) had been fruitful. The tools and exercises done were on the right track.

It seems, to obtain my goal, I need to figure out a way to unify the magical elements into a more conjoined ritual (per the Left Witness).

With that information, my previous issues have better context to what has been missing. Perhaps the next attempt shall be the one.

Time to draft up a new outline for the working~

[tarosophical-tarot]

The I Ching gua arrived at today is Heng: Long Lasting (Zhen•Thunder, Xun•Wind) the long term sharing of commitments, the firm above, the gentle below.

Moon in Sagittarius indicates an uncanny ability to foretell the outcome of where events are leading you, an intuitive receptivity to grasp concepts and symbols. This sits opposite Mars in Cancer, where an inner aggression/energy needs to be brought to the surface, analysed and integrated into the personality, to be consciously directed to a constructive end. Once this emotive is "freed" - we become more adept at dealing with situations (hence Moon in Sagittarius).

Spirit is found in the "grounding" influence of Taurus/Venus, a sense of security found in surrounding yourself with those things you find to be aesthetic - which is opposed by Scorpio (in Scorpio we see what we don't need, what we are able to let go).

This "balance" allows for the free spirit of Moon in Sagittarius to express itself, to escape from the mundane through inner contemplation (meditation as a way of decluttering the mind).

Part of Fortune supports this concept, advising today to do what gives you self-respect, nurture your ideas and fulfil your goals.

Al-Na'am, the Lunar Mansion for today signals success in pursuing this direction.

It indicates we must reign in or let go of unruly passion, albeit angers or aggression (Mars in Cancer) if we are to progress. The opposing Mansion Al-Hanah tells of Venus, to understand and allow for the power and flow of our energies.

In this way, we arrive at Via (Change) the endless cycle of flux and movement: our thoughts become more powerful when infused by the Will.

Time to check the direction you are going in is correct, that all your energies are aligned correctly.

Think of The Moon and how it affects the tides, the water doesn't compete with the gravity of The Moon, it waxes and wains in sympatico.

This gives forth the image of King of Swords, a mentally disciplined mind, thinking things through (the inner energies of Mars in Cancer) and breaking them down in order to make a selection between an ever widening variety of choices.

Allowing then, for Al-Na'am to take part. The firm above, the gentle below of Heng.

Via/Change - Moon in Cancer, thus highlights a restless wandering that is withdrawal into sanctuary, due to being attuned to subtle undercurrents and changes in the environment.

Part of Fortune in Capricorn supports doing whatever gives you self-respect, that which allows you to achieve your goals, but in opposition advises of not being selfish in this ,of being aware of the needs of others in doing this.

[moderatelyquicksilversposts]

Tarot is not deep (and its limits as a tool for self-reflection)

I always bring up poor Rachel Pollack whenever I need to give a paradigmatic example of someone who utterly ruined tarot divination by turning it into a heap of psychobabble, though in reality the list is quite long. At some point, it was decided that 1) divination could not be a serious undertaking in an age of reason, and 2) we still wanted to think our illustrious predecessors who bought into it were not poor saps. The compromise therefore was that there was something deeper to divination, and so divination had to be reassessed and purged in accordance to this new ideology of 'depth' or *shudders* 'wisdom'.

The reality is that in the "I'm too special for religion but wouldn't it be fun if there was something more to life" community, where most people tend to think exactly alike in spite of how different they think they are, depth is a misunderstood concept.

Something is considered deep if it will allow them to talk themselves or others silly while giving them plenty of safe thrills and predictable a-ha moments by hurling around the latest buzzwords (try finding a tarot reader who doesn't talk about narcissists, gaslighting or inner truth).

Thankfully, the tarot is not deep, just like playing cards--and tarot cards ARE playing cards--or tea leaves or dice or geomantic figures are not deep, which is what makes them marvellous divination tools. Even astrology is not deep by today's standards, if by astrology we mean astrology in its traditional forms (Hellenistic, medieval, Chinese, etc.)

But the depth that is found in divination, just like the depth that is found in all other branches of magic, has nothing to do with finding abstract meanings or deep doctrines that move us beyond real life. Although there can be space of deep philosophy, the real depth is found in the shift in our consciousness of existence and of our place in it as we practice it concretely and see its concrete impact on real life.

I will forever be grateful to my GD supervisor, who always insisted that I practice tarot in real life and not as a mere metaphysical plaything (people will be surprised by how concrete the GD tarot system is, in spite of its metaphysical underpinnings). Traditionally, in magical practice, people are advised on how to recognize when they have established contact with an entity other than themselves.

The risk is sometimes that of contacting parasites masquerading as great beings, but the even higher (and more common) risk is that of simply contacting one's ego. Psychic onanism IS a thing, and a much worse vice than the physical counterpart.

This is what limits, in my view, the potential for tarot as a tool for self-reflection or meditation or scrying. Granted, most symbols can be used as doorways for these aims, and therefore also the tarot. There is some value to it, especially when done under supervision or with the proper frame of mind. There is also some value in allowing symbols to bring certain aspects of oneself to the surface, if one has the necessary detachment.

Wisdom is a great thing, and it is something that can be pursued on the path of magic, including divination. But more often than not, those who are too good for simple divination and want to discover the "deeper layers" of the tool simply end up massaging the shallower parts of their own psyche without realizing it, and often even thinking they are making some kind of psychological or occult progress when in fact they are simply digging themselves a deeper hole in their own ego.

MQS