Geomancy

Geomancy, a compound of Greek roots denoting "earth divination", was originally used to mean methods of divination that interpret geographic features, markings on the ground, or the patterns formed by soil, rocks, or sand. Its definition has expanded over time (along with the recognized definition of the suffix -mancy), to include any spiritual, metaphysical, or pseudoscientific practice that is related to the Earth. In recent times the term has been applied to a wide range of other occult and fringe activities.^{[citation needed]}

Geomancy was a common, and cross cultural, forms of divination in premodern times. In regards to Africa and Europe, it was considered a forbidden practice by various Christians and Muslims across the medieval era. In other regions and cultures, geomancy practices include Sikidy and Ifá (found in West Africa), I Ching and Feng shui (found in China), Kumalak (found in parts of Central Asia), Vastu shastra (in India), Kahuna kuhikuhipu'uone (in Ancient Hawai'i).

The word geomancy, from Late Greek *γεωμαντεία *geōmanteía, translates literally to 'earth divination'. In Latin it becomes geomantia. Earlier Greek renditions of this word borrowed the Arabic word raml ('sand') directly, rendering it as rhamplion or rabolion. Other Arabic names for geomancy include khatt al-raml, darb al-raml, and 'ilm al-raml, (literally 'the science of the sand'). The origins of geomancy are Arabic and the original geomantic figures were created by "making lines of random numbers of dots in the sand".

Geomancy was one of the forms of divination throughout Africa and Europe, particularly during the Middle Ages. However it was classified by Christians as one of the seven "forbidden arts", along with black magic, hydromancy, aeromancy, pyromancy, chiromancy (palmistry), and scapulimancy.

The Arabic tradition consists of sketching sixteen random lines of dots in sand. This same process survived virtually unchanged through its introduction to Europe in the medieval era, and survives to this day in various Arabic countries. With the arrival of Islam, this practice was discouraged. In this context, Qatan bin Qabisa narrates from his father that Muhammad said, “Divining through lines (raml), taking bad omens, and using birds to predict fortunes are acts of Satan.”

Like Arabic geomancy, Sikidy and other forms of African divination follow techniques that have remained virtually unchanged. As an example, Sikidy is the most important method of divination for the Malagasy peoples of Madagascar. The process involves a mathematical grid of disk-shaped seeds in sixteen figures arranged in rows which the sorcerer uses to divine the future.

One traditional form of geomancy in Africa consists of throwing handfuls of dirt in the air and observing how the dirt falls. It can also involve a mouse as the agent of the earth spirit. Ifá, one of the oldest forms of geomancy, originated in West Africa, and uses the same sixteen geomantic figures as in Arabic and Western geomancy with different meanings and names; the process is shortened to using only two figures.

In China, the diviner may enter a trance and make markings on the ground that are interpreted by an associate (often a young or illiterate boy). Similar forms of geomancy include scrying involving the patterns seen in rocks or soil.