The Meaning of Conjunctio

This page serves as an outline of the meaning of Conjunctio – the Geomantic Figure. This page is partly a summary of my thoughts and feelings about a particular figure, but it’s also a collection of notes and references. I will update this page over time with more information – a one-stop shop! I hope that it serves other students of Geomancy.

To view one of the other figures, click here to go an article on the 16 figures of Geomancy:

The Geomantic Figure of Meetings…

This is the geomancy figure of Conjunctio

Overview of the Meaning of Conjunctio

Conjunctio is Latin for ‘conjunction’, ‘a joining’ or ‘uniting’. It derives from the Latin verb Conjungere meaning the same, i.e. ‘to join’. The figure’s meaning speaks to connection, whether that’s a meeting, a merging or linking together of separate things. Conjunctio can represent coming together for a common purpose, whether in relationships, business or chance encounters.

Conjunctio is associated with the planet of Mercury, and the element of Air. It is an even figure, and thus it can appear as a judge. Even figures are sometimes termed ‘objective’ figures, rather than their odd ‘subjective’ counterparts.

Whilst many of the figures have their ‘opposite’ or reversed figure (Laetitia/Tristitia, Puer/Puella), Conjunctio is the same upright and reversed. There are four figures in Geomancy of this nature; Via, Populus, Conjunctio, Carcer. These four figures are considered ‘liminal’, as they are neither entering nor exiting. Conjunctio and Via are considered mobile liminal figures (i.e. they move), Populus and Carcer are considered stable liminal figures. The movement or stability of the figure was assigned in the West by their meanings. Conjunctio is assigned as a mobile figure as it’s meaning implies movement – the movement and coming together of two (or more) things.

Conjunctio’s association with the planet Mercury complements it’s meaning, as Mercury is the planet of communication, as well as trade and commerce. In mythology, Mercury was seen as the messenger God who delivered messages and communications. You can see this reflected in the meanings of Conjunctio, as Conjunctio can also be about communication (as a reflection of what happens when people meet) and interaction. Conjunctio departs from Mercury’s astrological influence when it comes to the intellect, mind and learning. The more analytical elements of Mercury are often assigned to Albus.

As Conjunctio is a mobile figure that can cover communication, it reflects well the meanings of the ruling element of Air. Just like a gentle breeze or a tumultuous storm, Air is definitely a moving element. As we need air to make sound, a carrier for our primary mode of communication ‘speech’, air is also the element associated with communication in all it’s forms.

In Arabic, Conjunctio is named Ijtimāʿ, which translates to ‘meeting’ or ‘assembly’. This correlates quite well to it’s Western Latin name, though could be seen as focusing more on people than objects. If you look at the figure, you can interpret it’s shape as this ‘meeting’ or assembly quite easily.

Conjunctio is seen as a mixed, but generally auspicious (happy) figure. Just like when people come together for a common purpose, it depends on the group that’s falling – so Conjunctio emphasises the good when it is with other good figures, but it strengthens the bad when it’s mixing with bad figures.

This figure has a little bit of the feel of ‘Le Mat’ from the Marseille Tarot to it – as a mercurial figure, it can also be about trickery and deception. I also find it’s energy similar, in part, to the Temperance card.

Conjunctio is favourable for:

• As it’s about bringing two things together, it is good for any situation when you want to two things to come together. Whether that is an actual meeting like in business or a lovers tryst, but also for reuniting with lost property.
• Anything where communication is required.
• Contracts, collaboration, resolving issues.
• Good for anything where movement is required – such as journeys.

Conjunctio is unfavourable for:

• Conjunctio is very unfavourable where you don’t want to come into contact with something. Trying to avoid an ex? Wanting to not contract the horrid cold a partner has?
• Unfavourable for times when solitude or isolation is needed.
• If you want clarification on something, this figure can also be a little mysterious and convoluted in its explanation.
• Bad if it represents your enemies or forces that you are against – it demonstrates that they are smart, cunning and likely deceptive.

Reflections on Geomantic Figure of Acquisitio

Looking at the ‘patterns’ which can be created by the points in the figure of Conjunctio, we can see:

• • Two triangles, one formed at the bottom with it’s point facing up, and the other at the top with it’s point facing down – this implies the meeting of two people or objects, also implying different points of view (pointing in different directions). It is also reminiscent of the joining of the two primordial elements; fire and water.
  • A crossroads or an ‘x’ – marking a point of convergence. Whether this is as a meeting place, an assembly for many tribes, or a convergence for reunions (both people and lost objects). It can also be seen magically as ‘the crossroads’.
  • A simple Caduceus – You can see it as two entwined snakes around a central pole, similar to Mercury’s Caduceus.

Geomantically, Conjunctio is constructed with two active, single dots. One in it’s ruling sign Air, and the other in water. Both of these elements share the ‘wet’ (or ‘moist’ – I know… I know) quality. This quality can be seen as the ‘coagulating’ quality, that which brings things together. These elements together are both about movement and flow – from the flow of air around the branches of a tree in the form of a breeze, to the flow of water around stones in the form of a stream.

Conjunctio teaches us that success comes from the gentle joining and moving together with people for a single purpose – a collaboration through connection. In it’s positive aspects, Conjunctio is about being open to opportunities and meetings that arise unexpectedly. In it’s negative aspects, it warns us that we have come into contact with forces which do not help us move forward – potentially dragging us down.

Elemental Ruler:

Planetary Ruler:

Zodiac Ruler:

Given to the sign Libra