Geomancy is an earth-based divination system.  This is a divination system that is structured after our earth and the earth’s environment.  Psychologist Carl Jung called Geomancy “terrestrial astrology,” in which the astrological chart is recreated by counting pebbles and arriving at ones and twos to produce a chart read like a horoscope.  Geomancy is most developed in Western Nigeria (Slate & Weschcke, 2012).

“The basic concepts of European geomancy derived primarily from ancient Arabic and Roman divination practices combined with Astrology and the Greek doctrine of the four elements.  In this system, the sixteen geomantic signs (made up of four rows of dots or lines) represent all possible basic combinations of the elements…

All of the seven planets are associated with two geomantic signs, the remaining two songs being associated with the nodes of the Moon (the point where the moon crosses the ecliptic).  The Zodiacal symbols are assigned to the geomantic songs associated with the planets according to each planet’s rulership of the Zodiac. Because of the elemental basis, geomancy is also used to determine and notate the flows of earth energies.”—Bill Whitcomb, the Magician’s Companion

Geomantic Figures and their Zodiac Sign Element Correspondence

Geomantic figures are each classified with a ruling element.  These are astrological elements that also correspond with the zodiac signs – fire, air, water, and earth.  Here are the geomantic figures’ names and corresponding ruling element:

Ruling Element:  Fire-Corresponding Geomantic Figures: Laetitia, Cauda Draconis, Fortuna Minor, and Amissio.

Ruling Element: Air-Corresponding Geomantic Figures: Puer, Rubeus, Acquisitio, Conjunctio.

Ruling Element: Water-Corresponding Geomantic Figures:  Populus, Via, Albus, and Puella.

Ruling Element: Earth-Corresponding Geomantic Figures:  Fortuna Major, Tristitia, Caput Draconis, and Carcer.

Geomantic-Astrological Rules of Planets in the Zodiac Signs

Geomantic figures, being attributed to the planets and zodiac signs, are dignified according to the rules which obtain in Astrology.  They follow the dignities of their ruling planets, considering the twelve houses of the scheme as answering to the twelve signs.

Aries Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Mars), Element (Fire), Exaltation (Sun), Fall (Saturn), Detriment (Venus), Strong (Jupiter).

Taurus Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Venus), Element (Earth), Exaltation (Moon), Fall (N/A), Detriment (Mars), Strong (Jupiter).

Gemini Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Mercury), Element (Air), Exaltation (N/A), Fall (N/A), Detriment (Jupiter), Strong (Saturn).

Cancer Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Moon), Element (Water), Exaltation (Jupiter), Fall (Mars), Detriment (Saturn), Strong (Mercury).

Leo Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Sun), Element (Fire), Exaltation (N/A), Fall (N/A), Detriment (Saturn), Strong (Mars).

Virgo Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Mercury), Element (Earth), Exaltation (Mercury), Fall (Venus), Strong (Saturn).

Libra Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Venus), Element (Air), Exaltation (Saturn), Fall (Sun), Detriment (Mars), Strong (Jupiter).

Scorpio Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Mars), Element (water), Exaltation (N/A), Fall (Moon), Detriment (Venus), Strong (Sun).

Sagittarius Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Jupiter), Element (Fire), Exaltation (N/A), Fall (N/A), Detriment (Mercury), Strong (Venus).

Capricorn Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Saturn), Element (Earth), Exaltation (Mars), Fall (Jupiter), Detriment (Moon), Strong (Mercury).

Aquarius Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Saturn), Element (Air), Exaltation (N/A), Fall (N/A), Detriment (Sun), strong (N/A).

Pisces Zodiac Sign: Ruler (Jupiter), Element (Water), Exaltation (Venus), Fall (Mercury), Detriment (Mercury), Strong (N/A)