Geomancy

Geomancy or geomancy ( ancient Greek: γῆ [ ɡɛ ː ] " earth" and μαντεία [ mantaia ] " prophecy ", roughly prophecy from the earth ) is in esotericism a form of clairvoyance, in which markings and patterns in the soil or sand stone and soil can be used. It is the Arabic North Africa as a place of origin. In the twelfth century the geomancy passed through Latin translations of Arabic works into Europe and was in the Renaissance become a popular method of divination. Today geomancy in the original sense in Europe has almost disappeared. The term is now used for other methods, for example in connection with the so-called ley lines, the more the Chinese Feng Shui are similar.

History

In Europe, the geomancy in the 12th century became known through Latin translations of Arabic texts, such as the treatise Ars geomancie by Hugues de Santella. Another well-known work is De geomantia by Robert Fludd in the Tractatus secundus. De Naturae Simia seu technica macro cosmi historia, Oppenheim 1618 Frankfurt 1624th

By Arabs who drove along the coast of East Africa Trade and spread their faith, geomancy came to Madagascar, where she found as Sikidiy circulation and is still in operation today.

Sikidiy method in Madagascar

In Europe Sikidiy was made known by the Malagasy method of the French colonial official Raymond Decary.

A Sikidiy exercise starts with a random experiment ( the so-called survey of doom), are used in the seeds of a Fano - tree, a species of acacia. In the recitation of "magic " formulas takes the soothsayer a handful of grains whose number he does not know, and places them in a heap in front of him. Then he takes them always two grains away, stay until only one or two grains left. This process repeats 16 times. Each draw result (one or two grains) is placed in a square table of four by four fields, the parent matrix ( renin Tiskidy ). Each of the four columns (from right to left) of the four lines (from top to bottom) has a name. Columns: bilady, fahatelo, maly, tale; Lines: fianahana, Abily, alisay, fahavalo.

From the mother matrix eight figures of four superposed fields are calculated by additions. These eight characters are placed under the mother matrix. In each field in the result back to either one or two grains. The "daughters" are determined by two columns or two lines are added in a specific order. The addition is modulo two,

• That is, a grain and grain yields two grains,
• A grain and two grains yield a grain (of the three grains, two grains are removed again, as with the questioning of fate, it remains a grain )
• Two grains and two grains yield two grains (of the four grains, two grains will be deducted, as in the survey of fate, there remain two grains again).

Basically, the soothsayers differ in the eight subsidiary figures, each of which has a name (from left to right: fahasivy, ombiasy, haya, Haky, asorita Saily, safary, kiba ) between characters with an even number of grains, the Prince ( mpanjaka ), and the figures with an odd number, the slave ( andevo ). Each of the prince - figures, as well as each of the slaves figures also has its own name. Prince: for example 1 1 1 1 tareky, 1 1 2 2 alsady, slaves: for example 1 1 1 2 karija, 1 1 2 1 alimizanda

The rules of interpretation are complex, but in principle are stronger prince figures as slaves. The person seeking advice is represented by the column one ( bilady ) of the mother matrix. When asked about a disease that column 1 would bilady to daughter haya added. If the figure is one that is available for those seeking advice, a slave, the figure that represents the disease a prince, then the soothsayer concludes that the disease is difficult.

In addition, each of the 16 possible characters Sikidy a direction associated with it. This varies regionally somewhat, but at the Atandroy in the south of the island, for example, the figures are renilaza, alibiavo, karija and Adalo the North assigned. The directions play a major role in the interpretation. One interpretation says for example that two princes and two slaves from the same direction never hurt.

As exceptional ( toka or into) figures, in which one direction among the 16 tableaux occurs only once apply. Sometimes the soothsayers spread to such a degree unusual tableau, a white powder that they process at a later regarded as dangerous talisman.

European method

By Robert Fludd, a variant was used, the geomantic system consists of 16 characters, each with four lines that can have one or two points each. The characters all have a name from which an oracle was derived.

A grid drawn, in which the various rectangles corresponds to a line of figures - To propose to the oracle, was - either on Earth or on a sheet of paper. Without looking you now drew with a stick on the ground or with a pen on the paper, a random number of points. Then there were the points in the respective rectangles, with an odd number one point in the figure corresponded to a just two points. For each oracle you needed four figures, from which one herauslas a prophecy.

Modern use of the term geomancy

Today's European Geomancy is an unscientific esoteric doctrine, which defines itself as a " holistic " experience science and tries to capture the identity of a habitat, a place or landscape and take them into account by design, art or spatial and landscape planning and individual expression lend. Geomancy is the recognition and ability to sense good places in space and landscape and thus the basis for a harmonious and healthy living and life. The job of a Geomancer was to unite " building biology knowledge " with the geomantic art to design rooms, good place to see and to feel and to bring to the people in line. Thus, it has moved away from the original Arabic divination system and were more similar to Chinese Feng Shui.

In the view of modern esoteric geomancy the whole earth is covered with global grid systems. These are called grid systems " Curry grid ", " ley lines ", " Hartmann Grid " or " Benker lines ". This grid - line system and are awarded "energetic" properties and thus biological effects.

The ideas of geomancy to the postulated from their energies are not scientifically verifiable and durable. The double- blind conducted, well-controlled trials for dowsing, who tested a variety of allegations, are all negative assumed. Grid and line systems and their " energy flows " have never been detected by physical measuring instruments.