Random Geomancy Divination
Here we show the process of constructing and interpreting a geomantic divination. We first give the divination and its interpretation, with the derivation of the figures shown beneath. To obtain a new, random divination, just refresh this page.
The divination
Divination table
Fourth Mother | Third Mother | Second Mother | First Mother |
---|---|---|---|
Laetitia in 7th | Puella in 4th | Fortuna Minor in 1st | Tristitia in 10th |
Fourth Daughter | Third Daughter | Second Daughter | First Daughter |
Amissio in 8th | Albus in 5th | Rubeus in 2nd | Cauda Draconis in 11th |
Fourth Nephew | Third Nephew | Second Nephew | First Nephew |
Laetitia in 9th | Fortuna Major in 6th | Fortuna Major in 3rd | Puer in 12th |
Reconciler | Judge | Left Witness | Right Witness |
Acquisitio | Puella | Caput Draconis |
Interpretation
House | Figure | Judgment | R | E | T | F | D | Strength |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First | Fortuna Minor | Speed in victory and in love, but choleric. | X | Very strong | ||||
Second (POF) | Rubeus | Evil in all demands. | X | Weakest | ||||
Third | Fortuna Major | Good in all. | ||||||
Fourth | Puella | Indifferent. | ||||||
Fifth | Albus | Good. | ||||||
Sixth | Fortuna Major | Very good except for debauchery. | ||||||
Seventh | Laetitia | Indifferent. | X | Strong | ||||
Eighth | Amissio | Excellent in all questions. | X | Weakest | ||||
Ninth | Laetitia | Very good. | X | Strongest | ||||
Tenth | Tristitia | Evil except for fortifications. | X | Strongest | ||||
Eleventh | Cauda Draconis | Evil save for favours. | X | Strongest | ||||
Twelfth | Puer | Medium; good favour. Very good in all. | ||||||
Judge | Acquisitio | Generally good for profit and gain. |
There are three figures in their houses, signifying the most significant effect on the divination. The ninth house, which relates to long journeys and voyages, as well as science, religion, art, visions and divinations, contains Laetitia, which in this place signifies "Very good." The tenth house, which relates to the mother, rank and honour, trade or profession, authority, employment, and worldly position generally, contains Tristitia, which in this place signifies "Evil except for fortifications." Finally, the eleventh house, which relates to friends, hopes and wishes, contains Cauda Draconis, which in this place signifies "Evil save for favours."
There is one figure in its exaltation, signifying a very strong effect on the divination. The first house, which relates to life, health and the querant, contains Fortuna Minor, which in this place signifies "Speed in victory and in love, but choleric."
There is one figure in its triplicity, signifying a strong effect on the divination. The seventh house, which relates to love, marriage and spouse, as well as partnerships, associations, public enemies and lawsuits, contains Laetitia, which in this place signifies "Indifferent."
The fourth house, which signifies the end of the matter, contains Puella, which in this place signifies "Indifferent."
The judge, showing the overall outcome of the judgment, is Acquisitio, which signifies "Generally good for profit and gain."
Finally, the part of fortune, a symbol of ready money and of the greatest importance in all questions of money, falls in the second house, containing Rubeus, here signifying "Evil in all demands."
We could also give particular prominence to the figure in the house relating to the querant's question, and also use the figure in this house to obtain the reconciler as additional information.
Derivation
Drawing the lines
First, whilst concentrating on the question the divination is to address, draw sixteen rows of dots or dashes. This should be done quickly, without counting the number of dots and dashes in each row, in order to make them as random as possible.
Once drawn, count the number of dots or dashes in each row, and determine whether that number is odd or even. The table below shows an example:
Row | Marks | Number | O/E |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 18 | Even | |
2 | 12 | Even | |
3 | 14 | Even | |
4 | 13 | Odd | |
5 | 17 | Odd | |
6 | 17 | Odd | |
7 | 12 | Even | |
8 | 16 | Even | |
9 | 11 | Odd | |
10 | 20 | Even | |
11 | 15 | Odd | |
12 | 17 | Odd | |
13 | 19 | Odd | |
14 | 16 | Even | |
15 | 16 | Even | |
16 | 14 | Even |
Obtaining the four mothers
The first four geomantic figures — the four mothers — are obtained from these rows. If the first row contains an even number, then the topmost line of the first mother will consist of two points; if an odd number, one point. Similarly, if the second row contains an even number, then the second line of the first mother will consist of two points, and if odd, one point. The third and bottommost lines of the first mother are derived in an identical way from the third and fourth rows.
In the same way, the four lines of the second mother are derived from rows five through eight, the four lines of the third mother are derived from rows nine through twelve, and the four lines of the fourth mother are derived from rows thirteen through sixteen.
The table below shows an example:
Row | O/E | Figure |
---|---|---|
1 | Even | |
2 | Even | |
3 | Even | |
4 | Odd | |
5 | Odd | |
6 | Odd | |
7 | Even | |
8 | Even | |
9 | Odd | |
10 | Even | |
11 | Odd | |
12 | Odd | |
13 | Odd | |
14 | Even | |
15 | Even | |
16 | Even |
We place the four mothers on the top row of our divination table, from right to left.
Obtaining the four daughters
The second four geomantic figures — the four daughters — are obtained from the four mothers. The topmost line of the first mother becomes the topmost line of the first daughter. The topmost line of the second mother becomes the second line of the first daughter. The topmost lines of the third and fourth mothers become the third and fourth lines of the first daughter, respectively.
In an identical fashion, the second lines of each of the four mothers become the four lines of the second daughter, the third lines of each of the four mothers become the four lines of the third daughter, and the bottommost lines of each of the four mothers become the four lines of the fourth daughter.
Another way of describing this same process is to construct the first daughter from rows one, five, nine and thirteen, the second daugher from rows two, six, ten and fourteen, the third daughter from rows three, seven, eleven and fifteen, and the fourth daughter from rows four, eight, twelve and sixteen.
The table below shows an example:
Row | O/E | Figure |
---|---|---|
1 | Even | |
5 | Odd | |
9 | Odd | |
13 | Odd | |
2 | Even | |
6 | Odd | |
10 | Even | |
14 | Even | |
3 | Even | |
7 | Even | |
11 | Odd | |
15 | Even | |
4 | Odd | |
8 | Even | |
12 | Odd | |
16 | Even |
We place the four daughters on the second row of our divination table, underneath the four mothers, again from right to left.
Obtaining the four nephews
The third four geomantic figures — the four nephews, sometimes called the four resultants — are obtained from the first eight figures.
To obtain the first nephew, compare the four lines of the first and second mothers. Add up the number of points in the topmost lines of the first and second mothers. If the sum is even, then the topmost line of the first nephew will contain two points; if odd, then one point. Another way of saying this is that if the topmost lines of the first and second mothers are both even, or both odd, then the topmost line of the first nephew will contain two points; otherwise, it will contain one point. Obtain the remaining three lines of the first nephew by summing the number of points in the second, third and bottommost lines of the first and second mother.
The second nephew is obtained in an identical fashion by comparing the third and fourth mothers, the third nephew is obtained by comparing the first and second daughters, and the fourth nephew is obtained by comparing the third and fourth daughters.
The table below shows an example, showing the relevant row numbers for reference:
Row 1 | O/E | Figure 1 | Row 2 | O/E | Figure 2 | Sum | Figure |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Even | 5 | Odd | Odd | |||
2 | Even | 6 | Odd | Odd | |||
3 | Even | 7 | Even | Even | |||
4 | Odd | 8 | Even | Odd | |||
9 | Odd | 13 | Odd | Even | |||
10 | Even | 14 | Even | Even | |||
11 | Odd | 15 | Even | Odd | |||
12 | Odd | 16 | Even | Odd | |||
1 | Even | 2 | Even | Even | |||
5 | Odd | 6 | Odd | Even | |||
9 | Odd | 10 | Even | Odd | |||
13 | Odd | 14 | Even | Odd | |||
3 | Even | 4 | Odd | Odd | |||
7 | Even | 8 | Even | Even | |||
11 | Odd | 12 | Odd | Even | |||
15 | Even | 16 | Even | Even |
We place the four nephews on the third row of our divination table, underneath the four daughters, again from right to left.
The houses
Each of these first twelve geomantic figures is assigned to one of the astrological Houses of Heaven — which indicate the area of influence that each figure affects — as so:
Figure | Name | House |
---|---|---|
1 | First Mother | Tenth House |
2 | Second Mother | First House |
3 | Third Mother | Fourth House |
4 | Fourth Mother | Seventh House |
5 | First Daughter | Eleventh House |
6 | Second Daughter | Second House |
7 | Third Daughter | Fifth House |
8 | Fourth Daughter | Eighth House |
9 | First Nephew | Twelfth House |
10 | Second Nephew | Third House |
11 | Third Nephew | Sixth House |
12 | Fourth Nephew | Ninth House |
An alternative presentation is:
Fourth | Third | Second | First | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mothers | Seventh House | Fourth House | First House | Tenth House |
Daughters | Eighth House | Fifth House | Second House | Eleventh House |
Nephews | Ninth House | Sixth House | Third House | Twelfth House |
If we order the table according to the House, we can see the pattern more clearly:
House | Figure |
---|---|
First House | Second Mother |
Second House | Second Daughter |
Third House | Second Nephew |
Fourth House | Third Mother |
Fifth House | Third Daughter |
Sixth House | Third Nephew |
Seventh House | Fourth Mother |
Eighth House | Fourth Daughter |
Ninth House | Fourth Nephew |
Tenth House | First Mother |
Eleventh House | First Daughter |
Twelfth House | First Nephew |
We have included the names of the Houses on our divination table for ease of reference. Note that if Rubeus or Cauda Draconis appears in the first house, then the judgment is worthless, and should be destroyed.
Calculating the dignities
Each of the geomantic figures is ascribed a planetary ruler, as follows:
Figure | Ruler |
---|---|
Puer | Mars |
Amissio | Venus |
Albus | Mercury |
Populus | Luna |
Fortuna Major | Sun |
Conjunctio | Mercury |
Puella | Venus |
Rubeus | Mars |
Acquisitio | Jupiter |
Carcer | Saturn |
Tristitia | Saturn |
Laetitia | Jupiter |
Cauda Draconis | Mars & Saturn |
Caput Draconis | Venus & Jupiter |
Fortuna Minor | Sun |
Via | Luna |
The planets are classified in varying degrees of strength in a particular house:
House | Ruler | Exhaltation | Triplicity | Fall | Detriment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ascendant | Mars | Sun | Jupiter | Saturn | Venus |
Second | Venus | Luna | Jupiter | — | Mars |
Third | Mercury | — | Saturn | — | Jupiter |
Fourth | Luna | Jupiter | Mercury | Mars | Saturn |
Fifth | Sun | — | Mars | — | Saturn |
Sixth | Mercury | Mercury | Saturn | Venus | Jupiter |
Seventh | Venus | Saturn | Jupiter | Sun | Mars |
Eighth | Mars | — | Sun | Luna | Venus |
Ninth | Jupiter | — | Venus | — | Mercury |
Tenth | Saturn | Mars | Mercury | Jupiter | Luna |
Eleventh | Saturn | — | — | — | Sun |
Twelfth | Jupiter | Venus | — | Mercury | Mercury |
The strength of each figure is determined as follows:
- If the ruler of the figure is also the ruler of the house, then the figure is at its strongest;
- If the ruler of the figure is in its exhaltation in the house, then the figure is very strong;
- If the ruler of the figure is in its triplicity in the house, then the figure is strong;
- If the ruler of the figure is in its fall in the house, then the figure is very weak; and
- If the ruler of the figure is in its detriment in the house, then the figure is at its weakest.
For example, Rubeus, which is ruled by Mars, will be at its strongest if it appears in the first or eighth houses, very strong if it appears in the tenth house, and very weak if it appears in the fourth house.
Naturally, strong figures will have the most significant influence on the divination as a whole, and weak figures will have the least.
Obtaining the remaining figures
The remaining figures are of lesser importance to the divination than the twelve we have already obtained, and are used as aids to the general judgment.
The two witness are obtained in an identical fashion to the four nephews. The right witness is obtained by comparing the lines of the first and second nephews in exactly the same way that the first nephew was obtained by comparing the lines of the first and second mothers. The left witness is obtained by comparing the lines of the third and fourth nephews.
The witnesses themselves are not used in the divination, but they are used to obtain the judge, which is. The judge is obtained by comparing the lines of the right and left witnesses, and serves as a synthesis of the whole figure. Note that the judge always contains an even number of points in total. If it does not, then a mistake has been made somewhere in the calculation.
A sixteenth figure — called the reconciler — is sometimes used. The reconciler is obtained by comparing the lines of the judge with the figure in the particular house signifying the subject of the divination. For instance, if the divination concerns a long journey, which falls under the ninth house, then the reconciler is obtained by comparing the lines of the judge and the fourth nephew. If the divination concerns money, which falls under the second house, then the reconciler is obtained by comparing the lines of the judge and the second daughter.
Finally, the part of fortune may also be calculated by adding together the number of points of the first twelve figures, and dividing by twelve. The remainder will indicate which figure contains the part of fortune, the twelfth figure containing it if there is no remainder. For example, if the remainder is three, the part of fortune will fall with the third mother; if it is ten, with the second nephew.
The table below shows the calculation of the right witness, the left witness, and the judge:
Line | O/E | Figure 1 | O/E | Figure 2 | Sum | Figure |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top | Odd | Even | Odd | |||
2nd | Odd | Even | Odd | |||
3rd | Even | Odd | Odd | |||
Bottom | Odd | Odd | Even | |||
Top | Even | Odd | Odd | |||
2nd | Even | Even | Even | |||
3rd | Odd | Even | Odd | |||
Bottom | Odd | Even | Odd | |||
Top | Odd | Odd | Even | |||
2nd | Odd | Even | Odd | |||
3rd | Odd | Odd | Even | |||
Bottom | Even | Odd | Odd |
The sum of all the points in the first twelve figures is 74. 74 divided by twelve is 6 with a remainder of 2, so the the part of fortune is in figure 2, the second mother.