& AliAOlomi

Geomancy: Path of Points

26 de janeiro

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Origins

The Islamic world is home to several unique and sometimes idiosyncratic

divination systems. Among them, dream interpretation, astrology, scrying, and
geomancy stand tall as significant. Often called astrology's sister discipline, ilm
al-raml, or the "knowledge of the sands" is the practice of divining answers
through a binary system of lines and dots which produce a pattern of sixteen
figures. Known as “geomancy” in the West in part due to Hugh's translation, ilm al-
raml is one of the oldest divinations in the Islamic world deriving originally from
Africa.

According to Islamic sources, the knowledge of geomancy was revealed by the

angel Jibra'il to the Prophet Idris making it one of the Islamic hermetic arts
alongside medicine, alchemy, magic, and astrology. [1] After Idris, geomancy is
associated frequently with the Berber sage, Zanati likely reflecting is origins. [2]
Its historical roots probably lay with the sortilege practices found across several
African cultures where casting lots or sand cutting was used for prognostication
and diagnosis. We have evidence of sortilege through sand cutting among the
Berber and Fula people. For the Berber this was generally through random
formations in the sand while the Fula had a type of binary system. Brenner's work
on geomancy in West Africa strongly supports the thesis of an African origin for
the system. [3] Early Arabs used the casting of lots in the sand to interpret the will
of their god of divination, Hubal. Likely the fusion of Arabic lots with Fula and
Berber sand cutting gave birth to raml. From there it would spread through the
African and overlapping Islamic world reaching India and Malaysia and eventually
through al-Andalus into Latinate Europe.

Scholars of geomancy have often focused on the use of sand to situate its origins
among the Arabs, but an examination of the method vis-a-vis the binary system
clearly puts geomancy in the same family as other African divination systems like
Hakata, Sikidy, and most famously, Ifa. In fact, among Muslim and Yoruba
syncretic practices, geomancy, known locally as atimi, is often used as a Muslim
type of Ifa and it is not uncommon for seekers to go to either Ifa or atimi for the
 same set of issues with nearly identical social Tunctions.

With the development of the Islamicate occult sciences, geomancy was

increasingly linked to astrology and thus expand its system of correspondences
earning it the descriptor of “terrestrial astrology.” [4] In particular, geomancy will
be linked with interrogational astrology as both have overt divinatory functions.
There are analogous practices and techniques between interrogational astrology
‘e and geomancy which prove a rich ground for further research.

However, unlike astrology which required access to an ephemeris or planetary

tables, an astrolabe, and advanced mathematic skills, geomancy was readily
accessible; all you needed was some sand and a stylus or your finger. For those
in-doors a pen and paper would make it even easierto perform. By the Middle
Ages we see material objects associated with geomancy. From the sand tableau,
flat circular table that allowed for portable sand divination, to wooden inscription
boards which could be written on and washed off. We'd also see the emergence
of metal geomancy plates and even stunning mechanical devices used to
generate geomantic figures.

The rich material culture grew alongside a large corpus of geomantic texts.

Texts on geomancy preserve the foundations of the practice while oral

transmission made it a living divination system that quickly spread to India where
it was known as ramala as well as Southeast Asia. It remains a popular divination
system in places like Iran and North Africa and India where sages ply their craft in
outdoor stalls divining with sand, pen and paper, or even with dice.

In the 12th century, manuals of geomancy were translated into Latin by Hugh of
Santalla. Geomancy would become an important practice among the elite
alongside astrology. Geomancy in Europe differs from Islamicate geomancy in
several ways: firstly, the correspondences are more limited in European
geomancy where the verses, poems, jinn, talismans, and esoteric meanings are
missing. Secondly, the configurations with specific pattern of figures, known as
taskin, which were associated with exact interpretations and verses is missing.
For those familiar with Ifa, some of these patterns should be recognizable. Thirdly,
the elemental approach where each elemental make up is used to interpret,
diagnose, and prescribe is lacking. This is important; European geomancy is
predominantly predicative whereas Islamicate geomancy is predictive, diagnostic,
and prescriptive. Finally, there are differences in interpretation when it comes to
some of the figures. Socially, Islamicate geomancy is an accessible practice and
the preserve of the people whereas European geomancy was mostly an elite
 practice limited to priests and scholars.

The most striking difference is that Islamicate geomancy is a living practice

remaining in continuous use since its roots. In Europe, geomancy will begin in the
medieval era with Hugh of Santalla, will find some popularity thanks to early
modern writers like Agrippa, Cattan, Sanders, and Fludd. By the 18th century
geomancy would become wholly disconnected from its Islamicate roots as its
‘e
figures would become a simplified image appearing on cards and later adopted
into the constructed and invented traditions of the Hermetic Order of the Golden
Dawn.

In recent years, there has been attempts at reviving traditional medieval

geomancy alongside newish interpretations which attempt to fill in the esoteric
gaps. Here we see the revival of some of the early modern techniques of
geomancy in the Western European world, though the tradition still remains a
relatively truncated and simplified version of the more complex Islamicate
system.

The Geomancer

By the 13th century, practitioners of geomancy were found in every rung of

society. While the popular practice of geomancy goes back to earliest days, by the
late medieval and early modern period, geomancers could now be found in the
royal courts. Many astrologers were also geomancers and almost all geomancers
were astrologers. The relationship between astrology and geomancy went beyond
the use of astrological correspondences in geomantic treaties as the
practitioners frequently overlapped. Ibn Khaldun notes the relationship between
the two, designated geomancy as the practice of those not learned enough to
practice astrology, even as he recognized geomancy as one of the integral
divinatory arts. Ibn Khaldun could not be wrong. The mere fact that many
astrologers were also geomancers disproves his claim. If they were already
skilled in astrology why turn to geomancy at all? A close reading of the type of
services a royal geomancer performed illustrates the copasetic way the two
divination systems operated. Geomancy answered questions, astrology could not.
Interrogational astrology for example was limited to one or a handful of questions
since repeated questioning within a short time would produce the same
ascendant. While there were some ways around this limitation, most diviners
would simply rely on geomancy which had no such restriction and they could cast
geomantic readings one after the other. It is also evident that the two divination
systems could be used together. For example, we have evidence of when an
 astrological interrogation indicates an iliness or curse, a geomantic reading could
provide the prescription since certain configurations had set remedies and
talismans.

By the early modern era, astrologers and geomancers, both as separate figures
and as individuals learned in both arts, occupied central positions in royal courts.
In Africa, geomancers, far more than astrologers, took on a priestly function. In
Persia, geomancy operated alongside astrology and dream interpretation as
central to the training regiment of the sage and magician. And in India, geomancy
became part of the repertoire of the consulting astrologer. Take the height of the
Ottoman empire under Sulieman the Magnificent; the sultan would rely on
astrologers and a legendary geomancer, Haydar Ramal. [5]

Figures

According to legend, the first geomantic figure (shakal) was born when the
archangel, Jibra'il touched the earth with its fingers. A tetragram of four lines
made up of a binary of one or two dots (or dashes), the figure is the central
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interpretive symbol of geomancy. Each figure is composed of four elemental lines:

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a fire line, an air line, a water line, and an earth line. The balance then produces an
elemental signification for each of the figures.
The binary system produces a total
=

of sixteen figures but with added elemental significations each of those figures
contain whole worlds of meaning.To this are added further layers of
2

correspondences making geomancy a divination system of binaries rooted in the

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unfolding and expression of the elements which in turn are connected to the
occult correspondences of the universe.

The figures are generated randomly and then placed on a tableau with sixteen
positions. Four mothers, four daughters, four nieces (or granddaughters), and a
court made up of two witnesses and a judge. A final figure is taken as the seal, or
the result of the result.

Traditional tableau:
Practice

Geomancy and raml is a straight forward divination system with an elegant and
simple foundation but which grows in complexity as you add layers. All you need
is a pen and paper or your finger and some dirt. African traditions sometimes used
beans or seeds whereas in Ifa the opele is used. In either case the initial process
whether through pen or paper, sand cutting, or seeds etc is roughly the same.

Begin in a state of purification.

You can do a formal purification bath or in a pinch
you can flick your fingers as if you were flicking off water. This latter is done
commonly for quick daily readings.

Recite the following: *In the Name of God the Most Merciful the Most
Compassionate, give us a revelation of truth and guide us to right answers.”

Now hold your question in your mind as you make a row of random dots. Do not
count the dots simply let your hand move making dots until it stops. Repeat this
process for sixteen lines of dots. Hold the question in your mind the whole time
without counting.

Once you've got sixteen lines of dots groups them into four which will become the
*mothers” of your geomancy tableau.

Count each row of dots. If there is an odd number of dots that equals one and is
signified by a dot. If there is an even number of dots that equals two and is
 iyt Ay @ i U My W M MAO©THSD.

The first row corresponds to the head of the first figure. The second row
corresponds to the neck of the first figure. The third row to the body of the first
figure. The fourth row to the feet of the first figure. After the first figure is formed
the process is repeated for all the other rows in the same manner. Rows 5-8
produce the second figure etc. These are the four mothers, grouped from right to
‘e left.

1) ccooererces = odd = »

2) ceeenrers = odd

3) eseesssesses = €VEN = = .

H) coocee =even =

Once you have the four mothers, from them you birth the four daughters working
from right to left. For the first daughter you take the heads of the mothers: the
head of the first mother will give you the head of the first daughter, the head of the
second mother will give you the neck of the first daughter, the head of the third
mother will give you the body of the first daughter, the head of the fourth mother
will give you the feet of the first daughter.

The process is repeated with each subsequent line of the mothers producing the
daughters. The necks of the mothers birth the second daughter, the bodies of the
mothers birth the third daughter, and the feet of the mothers produce the fourth
daughter.

Eg:

The mothers and daughters are then combined to create four nieces. Once more
you use a binary system by counting the dots of each line with an odd number
producing a dot and an even producing a line or two dots. For example, for the
first niece: count the head of the first and second mother and if it is even then
mark a line or two dots, if it is odd then mark a dot for the head of the first niece.
 Then repeat the process for the neck, body, and feet of the two mothers to
complete the first niece.

Repeat the process so that the third and fourth mother produces the second
niece, the first and second daughter produces the third niece, and the third and
fourth daughter produces the fourth niece.

‘e Eg:

__+_ = Even .+, = Even .+__ = Odd .+, = Even

.+. = Even __+.= Odd +__ = Even __+,= Odd
.+, = Even +__ = Even __+.= Odd +__ = Odd
+__ = Even __+,= Odd __+,= Odd +__ = Odd

Next you produce a right and a left witness.

The witnesses are birthed the exact way the nieces were. So, the right witness is
birthed from the first and second niece and the left witness is birthed from the
third and fourth niece.

From the witnesses you then birth the judge in the exact way by adding together
the left and right witness.

Eg:
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v

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Initially this can seem tricky, 80 move slowly and check your work. Because
& geomancy is a simple binary it is easy to double-check by simply reassessing your
counting. The process is an elegant way of unfolding multiple figures from the
random creation of an initial four figures.
&
Once you get practiced at it, it becomes simple to do a geomantic reading on the
4 fly which is why it was an incredibly popular form of divination. It was not
© uncommon for notebooks and journals to have quick geomantic charts in the
margins for a rapid divination.

Now that you have all of your figures, you can arrange them on the takht, or
tableau.

& See below:

4th 31d 20d 4 4th 3rd 20d 4

Daughter | Daughter | Daughter | Daughter | Mother Mother Mother Mother

4" Granddaughter 3" Granddaughter 2" Granddaughter 1* Granddaughter

Left Witness Right Witness

\ Judge \

In some instances when the answer is unclear, you create a final figure known as
the seal or the result of the result. You do this by the same process which created
the judge but you take the sum of the judge and the first mother.

Summary of Steps
 1. Getin the state of mind to divine by purifying either through formal bath or a
symbolic flicking/brushing of your hands.

2. Create 16 rows of random dots while you hold your yes-no question in mind.

3. Group the 16 rows into 4 groups.

‘e 4. Counteach row for even and odd to create the mothers. The first four lines
create the first mother, the second group of 4 lines creates the second mother
etc.

5. Working from right to left: from the heads of the mothers create the first
daughter, from the necks of the mothers create the second daughter, from the
body of the mothers the create the third daughter, from the feet of the mothers
create the fourth daughter.

6. From the sum of the first and second mother create the first niece following
the same odd/even scheme for the mothers. From the Sum of the third and fourth
mother create the second niece. From the sum of the first and second daughter
create the third niece. From the sum of the third and fourth daughter create the
fourth niece.

7. Follow the same process to create the right and left witness.
The sum of the
first and second niece creates the right witness. The sum of the third and fourth
niece creates the left witness.

8. Thesum of the right and left witness creates the judge.

9. Assess the yes-no based on the judge with the witnesses providing context.

10. If the answer is unclear, use the same process as above to produce the seal
or the result of the result. The sum of the judge and the first mother creates the
seal. Whatever this figure, take it as the final answer.

Interpretation

The beauty of geomancy lays in its ability to add layers of complexity to a

remarkably simple system taking the divination from a mere yes-no to more
detailed information. In addition to the interpretation of the court and the
astrological meanings, combining figures, there is the Path of Points. This
technique is an extra simple layer that uncovers what may be at the root of the
question, the motive, or the question that lurks behind the question. It works as a
 type of thought-reading practice. There are geomancers that ask their clients not
to verbalize their question, but simply keep it in their mind. Then use the Path of
Points to reveal what their question was related to. As a more advanced skill, it
does take a little bit of practice to fine tune the ability.

Despite being relatively advance, the actual method is simple. First determine, if
the Path of the Points can be formed by looking at the Judge. Only Judges with a
‘e
single dot for its head can form the Path of Points. Next examine the Left and
Right Witness to see which of those have a single dot for their head. The Path
passes to whichever Witness has a single dot for its head. Then repeat the
process to see if the Path passes to the nieces. If the Path passed to the Left
Witness check the 11th and 12th figures. If the Path passed to the Right Witness
check the 9th and 10th figures. Then repeat the process to see if the Path passes
to the Daughters or Mothers. If the Path passed to the 11th or 12th figure check the
5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th figures. If the Path passed to the 9th or 10th figure then check
the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th figures.

See figure below:

4th 3rd 200 4 4th 3rd 20d 1t

Daughter | Daughter | Daughter | Daughter | Mother Mother Mother Mother
[Y P ® ” b ” ® ”
4 Granddaughter 3'9 Granddaughter 2" Granddaughter 1% Granddaughter
. v * -

Left Witness Right Witness

* -

\ Judge \

Where the path ends indicates the root of their question, a hidden factor, or even
their motive for asking. Here the astrological houses are used to determine
meaning. If for example, the Path ends in the 2nd figure it means their question is
really about money and resources. If the Path ends in the 10th figure it means they
really want to know about their power and success. If the Path ends with the Left
Witness it means they are mostly concerned about the future. If the Path ends
with the Right Witness it means they are concerned with the past or what they
bring into the situation. If the Path ends with the Judge and goes no further, things
 are as they seem from the perspective of the questioner.

Not all Judges can produce a Path of Points. If it does not, then use the combining
figures technique to find more details.

The hierarchy of interpretation should now follow:

‘e 1. Determine the yes-no from the auspiciousness and inauspiciousness of the

Judge and the Court, taking the Judge as the final answer. If unclear then cast the
Seal. Take note of the context of the figure and the question asked.

2. Note if the Judge passes to an auspicious or inauspicious house which

increases or decreases the strength of the yes/no along with adding a layer of
how the questioner will experience getting or not getting what they want.

3. Add the astrological meaning if the figures and the astrological meaning of
the houses for further details and to see if the matter is linked to other matters.

4. Note the presence of the evil eye or enemies by seeing where the Judge
moves to in the houses.

5. Combine the Judge with the figure of the relevant house to see the
interaction between the matters at hand.

6. Combine the figure of the relevant house with the Hidden Figure of the house
to see the secret and hidden root/context of the issue at hand.

7. Examine the Path of Points for motive and hidden root.

Example

Taking the example from above where the right witness is Nusrat al-Kharij and the
left witness is Al-Dakhil and the judge is ‘Ugla. If the question from the client was
*Will | get approved for the apartment | want?” then we start with looking at the
Judge. ‘Ugla is an unfavorable omen and indicates a clear no. It’s a figure
associated with restriction. The right witness indicating the questioner is Nusrat
al-Kharij and indicates the individual is optimistic, energetic, and in a state of
minor favor. They may have had some external assistance in seeking this
apartment. Left witness is Al-Dakhil indicating that there are favorable gains to
come. Since both the witnesses are favorable and the judge is unfavorable, we
would say that while the individual may not get the apartment that they want,
there is some good that will come from the experience and that they may get
 something else that will end up being positive.

Then our astrological layer we've noted Layhan is found in the 4th House and how
it passes to the 6th House, then we combine the figures. After that we examine
the Path of Points. Since ‘Uqgla has a single dot for its head, the Path can be
formed. We examine the Witnesses and see that the Path can pass to the Right
Witness which is Nusrat al-Kharij (it has a single dot for its head too). Then we
‘e examine the Nieces and see the Path passes to the 10th figure which is al-Khad.
From there it passes to 3 figures: the 1st, the 2nd, and the 4th. If we combine the
meanings of those houses, we can see the motive or hidden factor for my client
asking the question: Self, money, and property. Has the client had a recent
increase in income, or have they had a life change for the better, maybe not major,
but something minor that has improved their conditions? These are all factors in
the interpretation.

So now we can put it all together. The judge tells us no, my client will not get the
apartment they applied for. The right witness as Nusrat al-Kharij describes my
client and what she brings into the matter. The left witness what is sought after
and what influences are coming to be. The astrological meaning of the figures
gives us further details. Since the judge doesn't pass to the auspicious or
inauspicious houses we don't need to add anything there. Looking at the
astrological houses, we can tell more about the apartment in the 4th house. That
the figure in the 4th house passes to the 6th house, we know these two matters
are linked. The apartment may have something wrong with its air quality leading to
illnesses. When we combine the figures of the judge and the 4th house we see
that the landlord is down on our client and does not look favorably upon them.
When we combine the figure of the 4th house with its hidden figure we see that
the landlord has likely already promised the apartment to another.

The Path of Points tells us that there have been some changes in the client's life
and finances which means they are trying to move to a better place.

Each layer we add to geomancy gives us more and more details.

In the future we will include translations which require the Path of Points 80
mastering this technique is an important first step as we unlock more and more
advanced techniques.

Tags

geomancy
(4 ¥ 37 [ 8 e @) Compartilhar

N
o Robin Pool - 3meses
Just as a note, I'm very keen to see information on the remedies associated with each of the
geomancy figures.
(]
I think you mentioned in one of your office hours that cinnamon is the traditional incense for
jama'a. That one came up for me as the 14th house in a "no" verdict, and | did burn cinnamon
as part of the remedies. Would love to have those for any other figure that comes up in my
readings!
&
I love the prescriptive, remedial element of geomancy and want to dive into that in my work.

Ali
A Olomi criADOR - 3meses
d ” We shall definitely be sharing the remedies for them!

@ 2

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Q Robin Pool - 3meses

This geomancy content is very helpful. Just did a reading exploring the pros and cons of two
possible backstories for my husband's RPG character. It was fascinating! And so helpful.

2 @

. Carolyn : 3meses
Also are there other techniques to divine what a question is about even if the head of the
judge is not a dot?

1 2

Q Ali A Olomi criADOR - 3meses

l There are! They are many many techniques of which the Path of Points is a part of

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Carolyn - 3meses
Thank you for sharing! Love adding in these layers. Is it ever helpful to examine the hidden
context or even which houses the Path of Points figures pass to?

. o Robin Pool - 3meses

Cool idea! Would love to hear the answer to this!
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N
Mary Elias Letera - 3meses
I'm so glad I've been keeping a notebook for geomancy readings, | love being able to go
back and add in these layers.

() 3 1 6

Robin Pool - 3meses

Me too, that's exactly what I've been doing!
&

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&
! Robert Wasylyk - 3meses
P Quick question: Won't you always end up with one of houses 1-8 because of how combining
the dots works? | can't think of a situation in which the Path of Points would end in the 10th
house, for example, because in orderto have a figure with a single dot for a head, the two
@ figures that create it would have to be a combination of a single and a double dot. Or am |
missing something?

4 1

@ Ali
A Olomi criADOR - 3meses
Great question Robert! Geomancy has built in limitations because it is based on a
binary system of16 figures. This leads to mathematical restrictions like for example
only a handful of those figures can ever be Judge. As a work around, geomancers
create a variety of techniques to arrive at questions. The Path of Points cannot
always be formed and should always be an addition to the hidden figure technique

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. Cali - 3meses
very cool thank you!! love to crack open my geomancy notebooks to apply new techniques
to the tableaus

ETA: unrelated to this specific technique, which house in geomancy would pets fall under?

2 2 @

Michelle Nikolaou - 3meses

I would say the 6th house since beyond its health implications, it also signifies
small animals and domesticated animals

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