Request to bring Geomancy back to the Magic and Mysticism thread
in Feedback & Suggestions ·
To be perfectly honest, I haven’t even felt much inclination to post here lately, mostly because everything I say seems to come across as nothing more than a grievance, supported by perhaps two or three forum regulars who just wanted to make their voices heard regarding the relocation of this thread. So, this will be my final word on the matter, offered solely in an attempt to debunk the claim that Geomancy is strictly limited to divination.
In my own estimation and firm belief, Geomancy absolutely belongs in the section titled magic and mysticism.
Everything bahomet mentioned concerning tarot remains valid; however, while Geomancy works with incredibly modest tools—just sixteen figures that look exactly what they are, lacking both the symbolic depth and the lush, illustrative richness found in tarot decks—that does nothing to diminish its inherent value or its potential. During one particular era of its history, these figures were refined into symbols specifically utilized in talismanic magic; furthermore, for my own practice, they have served me in what is known as "scrying," as a focal point for meditation, and even as a gateway to other dimensions. Beyond that, I have experimented with a method that could tentatively be described as manifestation work for achieving specific goals, and I have had quite successful experiences there as well. My results have ranged from modest to profoundly significant, which only serves to prove that while Geomancy might not be an overly elaborate magical system, it is certainly far more than a mere method of divination.
I have no desire to mystify things or attribute qualities to it that it doesn't possess, yet it pains me to see Geomancy stripped of what is rightfully its own. Just as a natal chart in astrology functions as divination, so too does Geomancy. But, taking into account everything I’ve noted above regarding magical practice, it gains entirely different dimensions. The very history of Geomancy is fascinating reading; tracing its supposed origins leads us toward African variants like Ifa and other traditions tied to sub-Saharan Africa. This only reinforces the fact that these methods were integral to the spiritual lives of the peoples and tribes inhabiting those regions. Yes, they functioned primarily as divination, but they were never exclusively that.
And finally, I find the current placement of this topic increasingly irritating—it is just all sorts of things. With all due respect to people and their personal concerns, amidst threads about washing machines vibrating, random pictures, and e-cigarettes, it makes it seem as though Geomancy is something so "miscellaneous" that it’s difficult to even define where it fits. Someone looking for a better battery for their remote control will eventually stumble upon it—which is admittedly one way to discover Geomancy—but it feels like a status that "demeans" the practice, especially since there is a dedicated virtual space on this forum for magic and mysticism, where Geomancy undeniably belongs.
In my own estimation and firm belief, Geomancy absolutely belongs in the section titled magic and mysticism.
Everything bahomet mentioned concerning tarot remains valid; however, while Geomancy works with incredibly modest tools—just sixteen figures that look exactly what they are, lacking both the symbolic depth and the lush, illustrative richness found in tarot decks—that does nothing to diminish its inherent value or its potential. During one particular era of its history, these figures were refined into symbols specifically utilized in talismanic magic; furthermore, for my own practice, they have served me in what is known as "scrying," as a focal point for meditation, and even as a gateway to other dimensions. Beyond that, I have experimented with a method that could tentatively be described as manifestation work for achieving specific goals, and I have had quite successful experiences there as well. My results have ranged from modest to profoundly significant, which only serves to prove that while Geomancy might not be an overly elaborate magical system, it is certainly far more than a mere method of divination.
I have no desire to mystify things or attribute qualities to it that it doesn't possess, yet it pains me to see Geomancy stripped of what is rightfully its own. Just as a natal chart in astrology functions as divination, so too does Geomancy. But, taking into account everything I’ve noted above regarding magical practice, it gains entirely different dimensions. The very history of Geomancy is fascinating reading; tracing its supposed origins leads us toward African variants like Ifa and other traditions tied to sub-Saharan Africa. This only reinforces the fact that these methods were integral to the spiritual lives of the peoples and tribes inhabiting those regions. Yes, they functioned primarily as divination, but they were never exclusively that.
And finally, I find the current placement of this topic increasingly irritating—it is just all sorts of things. With all due respect to people and their personal concerns, amidst threads about washing machines vibrating, random pictures, and e-cigarettes, it makes it seem as though Geomancy is something so "miscellaneous" that it’s difficult to even define where it fits. Someone looking for a better battery for their remote control will eventually stumble upon it—which is admittedly one way to discover Geomancy—but it feels like a status that "demeans" the practice, especially since there is a dedicated virtual space on this forum for magic and mysticism, where Geomancy undeniably belongs.