The Art and Practice of Geomancy: Divination, Magic, and Earth Wisdom of the Renaissance

by John Michael Greer

Have you ever lost an important object? Are you taking on a new job? Looking for buried treasure? The Art and Practice of Geomancy teaches readers how to divine the answers to life's everyday questions about health, luck, new jobs, and love, as well as those less mundane tasks such as finding buried treasure, predicting the weather, being released from prison, and identifying secret enemies. Greer delivers to readers an ancient system of divination in an easytouse form requiring little more than a pen and a piece of paper. Using a system of counting odd and even numbers--from a deck of cards, a roll of the dice, or even by hitting sand or dirt with a stick to generate patterns--readers learn how to cast their own geomantic chart. And for those who wish to delve further, he offers exercises for geomantic meditation and ritual magic. The Art and Practice of Geomancy will appeal to pagans, followers of the Western Mystery tradition, scholars of folk magic and divination, and anyone who wants to take their past, present, and future into their own hands.

Genres: Occult, Divination, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Paganism, Magick

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

John Michael Greer is an author of over thirty books and the blogger behind The Archdruid Report. He served as Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America. His work addresses a range of subjects, including climate change, peak oil, the future of industrial society, and the occult. He also writes science fiction and fantasy. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent -- thorough, well researched, and clear even when explaining what can be rather complicated or confusing-seeming processes for a beginner. While there are certainly parts of this book I won't use -- traditional physical appearance associations, gendered associations, etc. -- it is a great geomancy text to have that includes both traditional and more contemporary aspects. When I purchased this book, I was signed up for a course on geomancy but had no prior knowledge of it at all, and I found the text approachable. I have no doubt I'll refer to it again and am happy to have it on my shelf.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough and well-sourced book on geomancy. I think I took about a notebook's worth of notes. My only complaint (and it's a very tiny complaint) is his addition of moralizing little bits about magical practices. And I think adding in rituals at the end maybe wasn't necessary. They're interesting and useful, but so much time is spent trying to explain the use and method of these rituals that not much is left to the ritual pieces themselves. That bit probably could have been designated to its own book. The book was pretty well organized and really intriguing. I enjoyed it and I've enjoyed dabbling in geomancy.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough and very accessible book about the art of geomancy - a form of divination very popular in the medieval/early modern period. There is material here for people at any level of familiarity with geomancy, from the complete neophyte to more experienced diviners. The author's knowledge on the subject is simply mind-blowing. He knows his stuff, but more importantly, he knows how to teach it. Explanations are clear, and the text is peppered with lots of useful examples.

If you are at all interested in forms of divination, you should check out this book.

[hope h. · Rating 5 out of 5]

a descriptive and thorough primer to the levels of geomantic divination and practical geomantic magic - a lifesaver if you don't feel like combing through latin renaissance magical manuscripts or reading golden dawn tomes (and who does)! not exactly easy to understand, just because the source material is complex, but accessible and understandable with study. glad i found this as it will be a great jumping off point for studying.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most complete books of divination ever, with a set of spiritual beings, if you feel the need, a system of meditation and of magic. Many of the western divination systems made popular in recent history, feel shallow in comparison to the I Ching or Ifa, systems that have not had to be reinvented from the ground up. Greer's system of Geomancy feels deep, and calls for multiple readings. Which I did, 18 months later.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Mr. Greer, provides you with all the necessary aspects to start and even sustain your geomantic journey. Covering the story of its origins and the reading style of ancient times, the meaning of the figures, aspects, houses, methods of casting, meditation, magic... Really this is one great book and probably the one Geomancy book.

The author is clear, without delving into the obscurity or jargon of complex occultist terms, he explains everything he says and builds up in the preceding chapters. There's no feeling of uncertainty or the need to research for a better understanding of some concepts (although it is encouraged). Maybe the most "obscure" sections is the one devoted to geomantic magic, where the author makes use of Intelligences and Spirits, something that might be confusing for people not so learned in the occult arts.

The method is minimalist and very practical in all senses, from casting, to meditation and even manifestation, it is all simple, clear and straightforward. Even when dealing with materials, you just need anything that can give you a pair of random "symbols", from a stick in the sand, to a random number generator software. But all this does not come with a price, because the readings you can achieve with the 16 figures and their interactions is honest and deep at the least. And it is better if you add astrological meaning to the mix, you get a very unique and colorful, so to speak, method of divination.

The practice of Geomancy is really one of the most "occult" things I've tried to study, in the sense that it is one of the most difficult to research; the available information over the internet and even authors (at least digitally available) are scarce, something odd for one of the most interesting and versatile divination methods I have come across. But this book is the light on the path for sure.

[Constantinos Nterziotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 2009. I read it in 2019. It is the best book around on Medieval Western Geomancy. The book is valuable to anyone who wants to start learning this medieval art of divination and magick. The written style of Greer is always understandable and easy to follow.

Geomancy, just like any art of divination is more easily taught by a teacher, not from a book. This book is the best option for those who only want to learn from a book. Personally, I suggest Kelly Fitzerald's course with this book. She also bases her teaching in this book. 

Geomancy returned with Mathers during the 20th century and with Greer in the 21st. Both Golden Dawn adepts show the way to the rest of us.

The book starts with a short explanation of Medieval and Renaissance philosophy. It proceeds to the figures and divination process. Everything is well explained, yet it needs more space in the teaching of the process. Those things should be repeated and more examples would make the book a better teaching tool. Greer explains all the basic and intermediate methods and he has made full research on the advanced and specific methods of finding objects, time frames, etc.  The third part is about meditation, talismans and theurgic ritual. It provides a skeleton on all those techniques. 

I would like to see a future +100 pages edition. I don't think that anyone who is going to buy this book, isn't going to use it, enjoy it and read it fast.

[Ganesh Ubuntu · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book John Michael Greer is at his best. It is an amazingly eloquent and concise yet comprehensive manual on mastering the art of Geomancy. The book can be read as a normal book - just once - for someone who is looking to gain surface understanding of this method of divination. However, there is a good deal of depth in it that can only be reached by a couple of years and possibly up to a decade of a solid daily practice. It is definitely a must have book for anyone who is at least mildly interested in the subject.

[Edric Unsane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply wow. Although the system of western geomancy seems to be complex, John Michael Greer puts it out in a way which is both easy to work with and comprehend. I believe The Art and Practice of Geomancy to be accessible to those of most backgrounds and skill-sets. Of you are looking at western geomancy, there is no need to look any further, folks. This one is a gem.

[Curtis Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tre informema kaj profunda esploro de geomantio. Mi rekomendus ĝin al iu ajn, kiu volas ekpraktiki ĉi-tiun arton en sia vivo aŭ sorĉa praktikado.
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A very informative and deep exploration of Geomancy. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to start practicing this art in his life or Magickal practice.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference and teaching book.

[Justin Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such detail. Such wow.

[Justin]

About a method of divination. Does not resonate with me

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly superlative.

[Lee Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best examination and explanation of Geomancy there is. Earlier books on the topic merely touch on it, leaving the reading questioning. Greer goes indepth and explains the system and all of its possible applications in great deal.

[W Craig]

Likely not a book I will ever be 'finished' with, this concise text lays out and expands upon the field of Geomancy beyond the simple methods of referring to look up tables and charts as laid out in the Golden Dawn papers and Crowley's brief synopsis. Through this book I feel I know enough about Geomancy to begin making the figures and methods my own.

[Lynne Cantwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read. I thought some of the instructions for perfecting the chart could have been clearer -- I got a little lost in a couple of places. But I expect I will be adding geomancy to my divination techniques.

[David Rappoport · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to attend a weekend workshop on Geomancy Greer conducted in Chicago in the winter of 2014. He is a brilliant man, a joy to talk to about ANYTHING. This book is an excellent summary of the topic from one of the world's most knowledgable living occultists.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book covering the whole of classical geomancy.

[Tod Jones]

Amazing!

[Brian Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Occult Text

This is a concise but detailed approach to geomancy that could also serve as it's own complete introduction to Western Magic. It's a gem.