Building a Geomantic Shield Chart

The geomantic divination process involves casting four foundation runes to create the first four geomancy runes of the shield chart which is read from right to left. Each foundation rune has one dot on one side and two dots on the reverse with an elemental symbol assigned to each one. After casting the initial four foundation runes, they’re placed in a vertical order of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth with the resulting rune placed in the upper right-hand box on the shield chart. The process is repeated three additional times to create the remainder of the first four geomancy runes of the chart. Again, the chart is read from right to left.

From there, the remainder of the first row is derived from each line of the runes contained in the first four boxes. The first line creates the rune in the fifth box, the second line creates the rune in box six, and so forth.

But when the second row is created, we use a different process. We’re not simply transferring existing dots to create the next rune. Instead, we’re combining dots together and if an even number is reached, then we enter two dots on that elemental line of the new rune. If an odd number is reached, then a single dot is entered.

The first two runes from row one create the ninth rune below them in row two, runes three and four create the rune below them (ten), etc. until both rows are filled. The Right and Left Witnesses are derived in the same manner and we combine them together to discover the Judge or Outcome of the reading.