Ramal Jyotish, Ramal Shastra, Ramal Vidhya

Ramal Vidhya
The art of geomancy was known in ancient Greek and Roman times, however,
we do not know exactly how it was performed or interpreted. What information
we do have comes to us from the Middle Ages, and this is what is set out below.
The main knowledge of geomancy came to Europe via Arabic texts in the 12th
century in Spain, and from there spread across Europe. Its origins may be either
Persian or Arabic. The Byzantines also called it Rabolion or Ramplion.

The variation discussed here is derived from the original method of obtaining
the figures from lines in the sand. In fact the word geomantia (earth divination)
was a direct translation from the Arabic khatt al-raml (sand writing), also known
as 'ilm al-raml (science of the sand) and darb al-raml or zarb al-raml (striking the
sand). This last name came from the practice of hitting the sand several times
with a stick to read the patterns left behind to decide whether one or two points.

The Arabs brought geomancy to Africa and variations of it can today be found
practised all over Africa. In North Africa it has developed into Afa (Afá in Mina,
Fa in Fon) and Ifa in Nigeria (Ifá in Yoruba). In Madagascar, geomancy
developed into an interesting variant called Sikidy. In India it is called Ramal
Shastra.

Although geomancy has been popular for millennia around the world, in the
Western world it was widely practised during the Middle Ages and the
Renaissance but then its popularity died down until a recent small resurgence
in interest. An offshoot of geomancy became Napoleon's Book of Fate.

Many see this form of divination as too "simplistic" but its outward simplicity
belies the depth of the answers it gives. Some use it to derive a single figure as
an answer. Others prefer to combine it with astrology. Each figure has an
association with a planet and an astrological sign. The figures are placed within
a square Medieval astrological chart and interpreted according to which houses
they fall in. This chart is sometimes called a "theme".

The names given to the four lines of a geomantic figure, from top to bottom, are:

 Head
 Neck
 Body
 Feet

In France these lines are often called the Head, Chest (or Heart), Belly and Feet.
The figure is usually represented using centered points (dots on paper, holes in
the sand). However there are some historical variations. In Medieval times, the
dots were sometimes printed justified to the right which looks very
disconcerting when you are not used to seeing them this way. Especially if you
associate a mnemonic image with the figure, for example, two cups for
Acqusitio (below). Arabic geomancers often wrote a line in place of two dots, as
is used in Arabic handwriting.

There are classic associations linking the figures to planets and astrological
signs dating from the Middle Ages as well as the associations developed by
Agrippa in the Renaissance. Agrippa calculates the Nieces (Nephews)
differently from the classic way and places the figures into different houses.
Many modern geomancers use this Renaissance model.

Have a geomantic spread done for you by the computer, or continue reading to
learn the process yourself. You can also directly to the meanings of the
geomantic figures below.

Are you ready to consult the Oracle of the Earth?

First, you need to decide on a way of getting a one/two

response. Use either a Roman dice (two-sided, bone and
male), a coin (Heads in one point, Tails is two points) or a
randomly drawn line of dots (usually right to left in the
Arabic way) which gives an either odd or even answer. In
Ramal Shastra (India) four dice on a rod are used. You
can also use a bag of seeds or small pebbles. With this
method you grab a handful and remove the seeds two at a
time from the pile until only 1 or 2 are left.

To start you need four one/two answers to draw a figure. For example, a result
of two, two, one, one (even, even, odd, odd) gives the figure Fortuna Major.

Continue until you have four geomantic figures. These are the four Mothers or
Matres.

The next step is to create the four Daughters or Filiae. Simply use the top lines
("the heads") of each of the Mothers to create the first Daughter. For example, if
the top lines of each of the Mothers is two, two, one, two, then the First
Daughter will be the figure Albus, two, two, one, two.
The Second Daughter uses the second lines ("the necks") of each of the
Mothers. The Third Daughter is made up of the third lines ("the bodies") of each
of the Mothers. The Fourth Daughter comprises the fourth lines ("the feet") of
each of the Mothers.

Now it gets a little different. The next line of four figures is called the four Nieces
or Neptes. Some modern books call them the four Nephews.

The First Niece is made by adding the corresponding points of the first two
Mothers and coming to an odd or even result. Odd is one point, even is two
points. So if the first two Mothers have top lines ("heads") of two points and one
point, then the first line of the First Niece will be one point. If the first two
Mothers have second lines ("necks") of one point and one point, then the
second line of the First Niece will be two points. And so on.

In a nutshell...

 one point + one point = two points

 one point + two points = one point
 two points + two points = two points

The Second Niece is made by adding the points of the last Second and Third
Mothers. The Third Niece is made by adding the points of the first two
Daughters. The Fourth Niece is made by adding the points of the last two
Daughters. Now there should be 12 figures in three rows.

The fourth row is made up of two Witnesses or Testes. The First Witness or the
Right Witness is made by adding the first two Nieces together. The First
Witness reveals the question's past. The First Witness has also been called Past
Testimony or the Father of the Judge.

The Second Witness or the Left Witness is made by adding the last two Nieces
together. The Second Witness reveals the question's future. The Second
witness has also been called Future Testimony or the Mother of the Judge.

The last row has one single figure, the Judge or Iudex (Judex), made by adding
the two Witnesses together. The Judge is the synthesis of the reading and
reveals the Outcome of the question.

Only one of eight figures will ever end up as the Judge: Acquisitio, Amissio,
Conjunctio, Carcer, Fortuna Major, Fortuna Minor, Populus and Via.

Now for interpreting the Final Outcome:

 Good Judge + good Witnesses = Excellent Outcome.

 Bad Judge + bad Witnesses = Bad Outcome.
  Good Judge + bad Witnesses = Success after delays and problems.
 Bad Judge + good Witnesses = No real or enduring success.

Place the geomantic figures you have created into the Geomantic Shield as
shown below. If you wish to use Houses in the Shield, the 1st House is in the
top right hand box (First Mother) and the Houses follow to the left, and finish
with the 12th House where the Second Niece is placed.

Or place the geomantic figures you have created into the Geomantic Horoscope
as shown below.
Agrippa (1655) places the figures in different houses to these. The Mothers go
into the 1st, 10th, 7th and 4th Houses (the angular houses). The Daughters go
into the 2nd, 11th, 8th and 5th Houses (the succedent houses). The Nephews
(Nieces) go into the 3rd, 7th, 9th and 6th Houses (the cadent houses).

Some consider that if a figure occurs four times or more, then the reading is
considered void. Others state that if Rubeus or Cauda Draconis falls in the 1st
house then the reading is not fit for judgement and should be immediately
abandoned for a few hours, or even that day.

Throw a geomantic spread

THE MEANINGS OF THE 16 FIGURES

VIA (THE WAY) Change. Also: POPULUS (THE PEOPLE)

Iter. This figure signifies a
journey, action and forward
movement. There is an element of
loneliness connected with this
figure as well as a sense of
slowness or delay. This figure is
Stability. This neutral figure
denotes family, friends, group
involvement and generally
indicates that the outcome
depends on others. It can also
mean messages and news as
generally unfavourable unless the
question is about travel or
progress. Life. Guide.
Associations: Mobile, Moon,
Cancer, Monday, Water, Stomach
CONJUNCTIO (UNION)
Interaction. This figure signifies
love, friendship, sexual attraction,
contracts, agreements and
partnerships. Combination of
forces for good or bad, a neutral
figure. It also indicates the
recovery of lost objects.
Associations: Mobile, Mercury,
Virgo, Wednesday, Earth,
Intestines and the Belly
FORTUNA MAJOR
(GREATER FORTUNE) Power.
Success, good luck, great fortune,
celebration, property and
possessions. Honour and respect.
Associations: Stable, Sun, Leo,
Sunday, Fire, Heart and Chest
ACQUISITIO (GAIN)
Prosperity, promotion, benefit,
gains from business or extension
of existing property. Worldly
success. Your difficulties are now
behind you. Something is within
one's grasp.
Associations: Stable, Jupiter,
Sagittarius (Agrippa: Pisces),
Thursday, Fire, Hips and Thighs
well as the environment around
us. Going with the flow.
Associations: Stable, Moon,
Cancer, Monday, Water,
Breasts and Midriff
CARCER (PRISON) Isolation.
Confinement, limitations and
restrictions Delays and
reversals of fortune. Good for
contracts and mortgages etc.
Servitude and the need to
accept the situation as it is.
Mostly unfavourable unless the
issue is about stability or
security. Willpower.
Associations: Stable, Saturn,
Capricorn, Saturday, Earth,
Knees and Lower Legs
FORTUNA MINOR (THE
LESSER FORTUNE)
Swiftness. Smaller good
fortune, assistance from others,
influence, protection from
misfortune and harm. Abuse of
power. You may have to work
hard but success is yours.
Change and instability. Quick
outcome.
Associations: Mobile, Sun, Leo,
Sunday, Air, the Spine
AMISSIO (LOSS) Loss of
money, sometimes loss of love.
Things lost or taken away,
illness, theft, financial
problems. Negative outcome.
However, if you wish to lose
something (weight etc), you
will be successful.
Associations: Mobile, Venus,
Taurus (Agrippa: Libra),
Wednesday, Earth, Neck and
Throat

LAETITIA (JOY) Joy, laughter,
happiness, good luck, delight,
beauty, good health, harmony and
peace of mind. Favourable for
almost everything. A secret is
revealed. Agreement.
Associations: Mobile, Jupiter,
Pisces (Agrippa: Sagittarius),
Thursday, Water, Feet
ALBUS (WHITE) Peace.
Illumination, wisdom, good
results in business through
moderation and careful decisions.
Spiritual growth and harmony.
Patience, thoughtfulness and the
ability to balance all areas of life.
Good for beginnings and profit.
Favourable but weak. Sleep, slow
down. Ice, snow.
Associations: Stable, Mercury,
Gemini, Friday, Air, Shoulders
and Lungs
PUELLA (GIRL) Harmony. Girl,
lady, purity, cleanliness, external
appearances, including
superficiality, indecisiveness and
fickleness. Good relationships
with women. Healing and
nurturing. Music and the arts.
Passivity.
Associations: Stable, Venus,
Libra (Agrippa: Taurus), Friday,
Air, Kidneys and Lower Back
CAPUT DRACONIS
(DRAGON'S HEAD) Beginning.
A place of entry. New starts, birth
and innocence. Alertness and
shrewdness. Profit. Both
favourable and unfavourable
TRISTITIA (SADNESS)
Unexpected disappointment,
sadness, humiliation, loneliness,
change for the worse. Loss and
destruction of something that
has been carefully built up.
Illness. Pain. Unfavourable
unless the issue involves
building and the Earth. A secret
is kept.
Associations: Stable, Saturn,
Aquarius, Saturday, Air, Ankles
RUBEUS (RED) Passion. Vice,
temper. Sexuality. This is a
warning for caution and a need
for retreat. Negativity and
upheaval. Stop and listen to
your inner voice to find the
correct path to follow. Good in
all that is evil, and evil in all
that is good.
Associations: Mobile, Mars,
Scorpio, Tuesday, Water,
Genitals and Reproductive
System
PUER (BOY) Strife. Young
man, men, employee. Rashness
and combativeness. Violence.
Traditionally good for love and
war, but negative for other
matters. Great energy that needs
to be harnessed. Intiative and
leadership. Impulsive
behaviour.
Associations: Mobile, Mars,
Aries, Tuesday, Fire, the Head
CAUDA DRACONIS
(DRAGON'S TAIL) Ending.
An exit, a way out. Bad luck, a
downward path, death and
endings. Evil. You need to walk
away from something and start
 (mixed). Introversion, mysticism.
Associations: Stable, North Node
of the Moon, Thursday, Earth,
Right Arm
anew. Good in all that is evil,
and evil in all that is good.
Illusion, fraud, deception.
Associations: Mobile, South
Node of the Moon, Saturday,
Fire, Left Arm

THE HOUSES
House Name Translation Meaning

1st The querent. Personal life and appearance, beginnings,

Vita Life
House accidents, new projects, length of life. East. Angular.

Finances, values, lost or stolen objects, possessions,

2nd potential poverty or wealth, resources, material things
Lucrum Riches
House desired, business transactions, earnings (work). East
North-East. Succedent.

Siblings, relatives, neighbours. Short journeys. Schooling,

3rd early education. Cars. Personal communication, letters,
Fratres Brothers
House emails, advice. Gossip, rumours, news. North North-East.
Cadent.

Home, parents, father, domestic issues, buried treasure,

4th land, real estate, inheritances from parents, houses, farms,
Genitor Father
House agriculture, old age, mines. The end of any matter. North.
Angular.

Children, women, luxury, affairs, gambling, hobbies,

stocks, romance, pregnancy, elections, entertainment,
5th
Nati Sons feasts, eating, drinking, parties, fun. Personal creativity.
House
Bodies of water, rain. Teaching. North North-west.
Succedent.

Health, illness, diseases, injuries, misfortunes. Hygiene,

6th
Valetudo Health healing. Daily work, daily routines. Pets, small animals.
House
Servants, employees. West North-west. Cadent.

Partner (marriage and business), lover. Divorce, lawsuits,

7th contracts. Quarrels, open rivals, competitors. Thieves,
Uxor Wife
House robbers, dishonours. Any unidentified person. The
astrologer. West. Angular.
 Shared resources, death, birth. Surgery. Transformations,
occult. Taxes, debts, mortgages and loans. Legacies,
8th
Mors Death inheritance from other than parents, other people's money
House
or resources, corporate money. Investigations. Poverty,
suffering, dangers. Sleep. West South-West. Succedent.

Long-distance travel, religion, philosophy, education,

9th learning, religion. Lawyers, professionals. Dreams,
Itineris Journeys
House divination. Wisdom. The arts. Public communication,
media, publishing. South South-West. Cadent.

Career, calling. Mother. Superiors, authority, employer,

10th
Regnum Kingdom ruler. Status, fortune, success, glory, reputation, honours.
House
Environment, the weather. South. Angular.

Friends, sources of help. Protection, riches, presents. good

11th Good fortune, Joy, hopes and wishes, praise, confidence, goals.
Benefacta
House Fortune Social activities, group endeavours. South South-East.
Succedent.

Loss, imprisonment, secret enemies. REtreat and solitude.

Widowhood, fears. Secrets, suffering, afflictions. Large
12th animals. Hidden life, unconscious thoughts. Institutions,
Carcer Prison
House hospitalisation. Suicide, murder. Vagabonds, prostitues,
beggars. Charity. Drugs and alcohol. South South-West.
Cadent.

The Arabic Names of the Figures

Latin Arabic
Meaning
Name Name

Via Tariq Road

Populus Djama'a Meeting

Assembly,
Conjunctio Idjima'a meeting,
communion

Closed circle,
Carcer 'Uklah
link
Fortuna Al-nusrat Inward
Major al-dakhil victory

Fortuna Al-nusrat Outward

Minor al-kharidj victory

Al-kabd al- Inward

Acquisitio
dakhil capture

Al-kabd al- Outward

Amissio
kharidj capture

Beard,
Al-lahyan,
Laetitia (propitious)
Al-ahyan
times

Tristitia Ankis Reversed

Albus Bayad Whiteness

Rubeus Hamrah Redness

Naky al- Gracious

Puella
khad cheeks

Djaudala, Downy,
Puer Kausadj, scarce beard,
Farah joy

Rayat
Flag of joy,
Caput farah, al-
inward
Draconis 'ataba al
threshold
dakhil

Cauda Al-'ataba Outward

Draconis al-kharidj threshold

Om Tat Sat