Geomantic Divination for May 21 through 27, 2018

I really like geomantic divination. Interpretations take a varied focus, but all use the same progressive process to discover what we want to know. I use four sticks with one side showing one spot and the opposite side showing two spots with each stick corresponding to one of the four elements. I throw them four times to create the first four geomantic symbols and use those to create the rest of the table. The table is read from right to left beginning at the top row. The first four are considered the Mothers, the second four the Daughters, and the next four the Nieces or Nephews. The final three symbols are typically used as the results of the divination but the first twelve can also correspond to astrological houses and can be interpreted from that standpoint. Of the three symbols at the bottom of the table, the right symbol is called the Right Witness and represents the past, the querent. The left symbol is the Left Witness and represents the question and the future. The center symbol is called the Judge and represents the present and the outcome. Additionally, we can look at the fourth position on the top right to get an overall “end of things”.

Geomantic symbols, or figures as they’re also called, are comprised of four levels of either one or two dots. One dot signifies energy that is active while two dots signify energy that is passive in nature. Each dot corresponds to the four elements in the order of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. So using the first geomantic figure in the divination, we see two passive energies (Fire, Air) and two active energies (Water, Earth). Overall, there are twenty-eight active energies and thirty-two passive energies contained within the table.

Rather than using astrological houses for the weekly reading, this time I’m going to simply look at each symbol as influences we should be aware of over the next week. Then, I’ll look at the Right and Left Witnesses along with the Judge to get the overall influences.

We begin on a positive note with Fortuna Major, a Fire element symbol that speaks of good fortune, success, and inner strength. Carcer is next indicating that the success from Fortuna Major may be delayed or that we may experience restriction either from self or others. Puer is next suggesting that passion and energy are available, but we should guard against impulsive action. Finally, Populus finishes out the first four Mothers suggesting going with the flow instead of expressing individuality.

Conjunctio begins the four Daughters created from each line of the Mothers. It suggests interaction and union, joining good with good and bad with bad and indicates the possibility of the unexpected occurring. From there, Albus appears indicating a peaceful nature, clear thought and inner wisdom. It also supports beginning new projects. Laetitia appears next indicating joy and suggests good fortune is on the way, reinforcing Fortuna Major. However, it’s followed by Cauda Draconis, considered an evil influence and can indicate disaster or the end of something. It can also indicate corruption and self-destructive behavior. This is where the influence of Albus will allow for inner guidance to either guard against corrupt influences from others or our own self-destructiveness. On a positive note, Cauda Draconis, if viewed in the Eighth Astrological House, is good for magickal workings so there’s that at least.

The Nieces begin with Amissio or loss of some kind. That’s not always a problem, however, because maybe it’s something we want to be rid of. It can also indicate a lack of tactful response. The unpredictable and impulsive Puer appears again suggesting an unstable force is influencing. Rubeus continues the negative slant indicating temper, power, passion, and destructive or evil outcomes. We finish out this level with Conjunctio which really doesn’t help the situation since it joins bad with bad.

The Right Witness is Caput Draconis, a more positive influence than Cauda Draconis. Both represent the nodes of the Moon with Caput the North node and Cauda the South. Caput is a positive influence and represents the inner threshold, supporting new opportunities and positive change. In this position, it also represents the past as well as the querent suggesting whatever we’re working on had a positive genesis.

Albus appears again as the Left Witness representing the question (in this case influences over the next week) or the future suggesting a detached, peaceful perspective. It suggests that we’ll be using inner awareness as our guide during the week.

Finally, Acquisitio or gain appears as the Judge, or in the position of outcome. Profit, fortune, and success are indicated by this symbol and supports Fortuna Major’s own influence of success.

Given the dominance of the passive influence among the geomantic symbols, it’s easy to conclude that we might not possess the wherewithal to accomplish much, but that’s not the case here. I worry when Populus shows up because it can indicate a willingness to go along with the crowd and not blaze our own trail, so to speak. But in this case it may also indicate a choice to not cause any conflict, to keep one’s own counsel and with the repeated influence of our inner awareness over the next week, I think that’s what it’s saying.

If I break this down to each day, then two squares equal one day with the final three, the Left and Right Witnesses and the Judge comprising the seventh. Here’s how that might look:

• Monday ~ Fortuna Major and Carcer ~ delayed success or getting in the way of one’s process
• Tuesday ~ Puer and Populus ~ a day where we may vacillate between energetic action and blending in with the crowd
• Wednesday ~ Conjunctio and Albus ~ a peaceful day with positive interactions with others
• Thursday ~ Laetitia and Cauda Draconis ~ joy due to the end of something
• Friday ~ Amissio and Puer ~ tempting to say the loss of innocence, but maybe it’s actually the loss of impulsivity
• Saturday ~ Rubeus and Conjunctio ~ tempers may fly today and it may be easy to build off of others
• Sunday ~ Caput Draconis, Albus, Acquisitio ~ a peaceful, positive day filled with success

All in all, even with the sketchy Niece section, next week looks positive and we should be able to accomplish whatever we set out to do.

~Blessed Be