The 16 Figures of Geomancy

“Les Figures se trouvent inscrites ‘à l’état naturel’ dans les formes sensibles.

Elles peuvent révéler, à l’insu de qui s’en pare, la teneur secrète“

“The figures are found inscribed ‘in their natural state’ in sensible forms.

They can reveal, unbeknownst to those who adorn themselves with them, their secret content”

(M. Albin, 1987)

This is a page dedicated to talking about the 16 figures of geomancy overall – what they are, and the patterns inherent between all sixteen figures.

At the current time, I have prioritised creating pages dedicated to each of the 16 figures. These will outline the meanings, associations and correspondences for each of the figures in turn. I’ve prioritised this over this page as they will be a better resource for students than an overview page. However, check back here and at some point there will be more information! Just not today!

The names of the 16 figures are below, with a link to their post when it becomes available:

• Laetitia – Joy
• Tristitia – Sorrow
• Rubeus – The Red
• Albus – The White
• Fortuna Major – Greater Fortune
• Fortuna Minor – Lesser Fortune
• Caput Draconis – Head of the Dragon
• Cauda Draconis – Tail of the Dragon
• Puer –  The Boy
• Puella – The Girl
• Acquisitio – Gain
• Amissio – Loss
• Populus – The People
• Carcer – The Prison
• Conjunctio – The Conjunction
• Via – The Way

What do the Sixteen Figures of Geomancy Mean?

Here is a brief summary of what each of the 16 figures of Geomancy mean within a reading.

I. Laetitia – Joy

This is the figure of Joy, representing anything ‘moving up’ – promotions, success, emotional state (happiness) or health. It balances the figure of Tristitia, and therefore it’s not great for secrets, and not great for stability but positive for most questions.

II. Tristitia – Sorrow

Figure of sorrow, difficulty and pain. It can be visualised as a coffin nail, being hammered into the earth. It represents things that are stuck or caught up, or an inability to move forward and resolve problems. It symbolises a downward movement – for low emotions, and low health (sickness), as well as low expectations (failure). It is good for questions around stability and solidarity, especially buildings or agriculture. Anything that needs to be ‘buried’ too, such as secrets or treasure!

III. Rubeus – The Red

Passion and energy in life, balancing out the detachment and abstractness of Albus. Think blood pumping and seeing red. It’s a challenging figure and seen as very negative – violence and fierceness, but also passion and pleasure. Traditionally seen as delighting in all that is evil, and evil in all that is good. Deceit, treachery and danger.

IV. Albus – The White

Distant and intellectual. Happiness is found through idleness. Peace and detachment, balancing Rubeus’ passion. Inward focus, attention to the transcendance or mystical, retreats and isolation. Purity, wisdom and purity. The figure is favourable for quiet and slow progress where intelligence or strategy is required, unfavourable if the situation requires fast quick reaction or energy.

V. Fortuna Major – Greater Fortune

Fortuna Major is a figure of inner strength, which results in success. Success which comes from no apparent effort. It brings health, wealth, and safe travels. Your friends are faithful, opportunity will come swiftly, and victory is assured. Figure of power, and nobility. Nearly fortunate for all questions.

VI. Fortuna Minor – Lesser Fortune

Fortuna Minor brings successes at cost. A symbol of outer strength and unstable success. Help or circumstances are required to bring about success. A long life will come with sickness and pain, dangers will be escaped but faced nonetheless, wealth will be had but prodigally spent, power will be gained but through violence and betrayal, and fortunes will fluctuate often from good to bad and back again.

VII. Caput Draconis – The Head of the Dragon

Caput Draconis brings excess in all things– though material wealth is attained, so is sickness and strife; though many friends are had, so too are enemies. A figure of opportunities and beginnings. Fertile ground for new growth, though needs energy and nurturing. Many possessions may be held, but they are all of little value, and many wives may be known, but none may show true love. Favourable with good signs, unfavourable with bad signs.

VIII. Cauda Draconis – The Tail of the Dragon

A corrupt, dangerous and destructive figure with no conscience. Whether good or bad, it will end fast and swift. Cycles are completed, and radical change occurs. Favourable when anything needs to, or is, coming to an end. Unfavourable for most questions.

IX. Puer – The Boy

Succeeds in war and military endeavours. A legacy is gained in life and lost in death. Trust is uncommon. Rash, enthusiastic, thoughtless with plenty of energy and little tact or control. Confidence, yet insecure and inexperienced. Sudden change. Justice, due to it being an upright sword.

X. Puella – The Girl

Figure of female energy, balancing the masculine of Puer. Balanced, harmonious but ambivalent/indifferent. Happiness and harmony may not be lasting. Pleasing and fickle character. Favourable in questions of love, romance and friendship. Not great for permanence.

XI. Acquisitio – Gain

Figure of Gain and Success. The figure foretells both these things as well as all types of profit – something you want is within your grasp. Figure or prudence traditionally. Unfavourable when you want something to be lost (such as illness, or a bad situation). Otherwise a generally favourable figure.

XII. Amissio – Loss

Wickedness, ignorance and poverty. Anything ‘gained’ will come at a ‘loss’ – journeys wont end well, relationships will possibly cheat, if money is obtained it is at great cost. Transient figure balancing Acquisitio’s gain. It means loss in any way – positive and negative. Can be seen as a figure of charity or generosity. Favourable where loss is wanted, otherwise it’s unfavourable.

XIII. Populus –The People

Figure of dispersal and multiplicity, balancing the movement of Via. Responsive to external energies. All elements are passive and latent, but receptive of anything it comes into contact with. Average health, wealth, and knowledge is gained through hard work. One shall have many flatterers but few friends, and menial knowledge with no curiosity for more. Represents as crowd of people, and similarly doesn’t have any direction or movement unless it comes into contact with a leader (the energy of another figure). Represents gatherings or assemblies. Fortunate with fortunate figures, unfortunate with unfortunate figures. Quiet reflection.

XIV. Carcer – The Prison

Figure of restriction and isolation. Inability to communicate, or connect with something. The restriction can be interpreted as a source of strength and focus, but also one of limitation. A literal interpretation can be imprisonment, but it can also be about binding. It is an omen for delays and problems. Mostly unfavourable, yet can be good in questions of stability, security or isolation.

XV. Conjunctio – The Conjunction

Figure of contract and union, communication and bringing things together. It represents the union of opposites, and the potential for change. The combination of forces, though no riches are obtained but no poverty either. Learning and wit are found easy. Favourability depends upon other figures or circumstances, but good for things lost or stolen (symbolises them being found). Figure of temperance.

XVI. Via – The Way

Via is a figure of movement and change. It balances the passivity of Populus. All elements are active, and thus it is a busy and fast figure. Everything is in constant change, and where change is required the figure is seen as good. It is favourable for journeys of all kinds (physical, spiritual or metaphoric!).