Geomancy

Geomancy : is an ancient form of divination which involves either, the scattering of handfuls of soil, earth or other materials on the ground, or markings made in the earth or sand, in order to make 'a range of dot configurations which can then be "read" by a seer'.

Geomancy, however in the 19th century began to be applied to the Chinese practice of feng shui, which literally means "wind and water". This is an ancient Chinese system of creating harmonious surroundings in order to ensure health, happiness and prosperity. The way in which this was done involved the geomant or the feng shui master employing 'a circular magnetic compass, called a luopan, which was marked off in rings containing data relating to astrology, directions, the elements, landscape forms, times of day, and so on. The aim was to locate a site where the energies or ch'i of the land and sky were brought into perfect balance. The harmony of these energies ensured good fortune'.

The art, science or practice of feng shui holds that there are lines of magnetism and certain powerful currents that are running invisibly across the the whole of the earth's surface. It was therefore, the task of the geomancer to locate these and 'interpret their influences on the land through which they passed'.

In China these lines of magnetic force, or energy lines, are known as "lung-mei", or the "dragon current" which are thought to exist in two forms: one negative current the yin and one positive current the yang. The yin is represented by a white tiger and the yang by the blue dragon. The landscape has both yin and yang features. Some are classed as female while others male. For example 'undulating' country is yin, or female, while sharp rocks and mountains are male or yang.

'It was the aim of the geomancer to place every structure precisely within the landscape in accordance with a magic system by which the laws of music and mathematics were expressed in the geometry of the earth's surface. The landscape itself may be manipulated in order to achieve the harmony sought through the placement or adjustment, or removal, of trees or rocks, or bodies of water. Every feature of the landscape may be contrived to produce an effect which ultimately is perceived as beautiful; indeed, perceived beauty in a landscape may in fact be simply when the lines of the dragon current are in balance'.

From the start the major lines of the dragon must be located by the geomancer in his or her area. Today, it is claimed, that dowsing can be used to trace and detect these energy lines.

The ley lines which were discovered 40 years earlier by Alfred Watkins, came to be identified with the dragon lines of the feng shui in the 1960's. Since then, ley lines were no longer simply straight tracks they were now 'lines of energy coursing through the earth'. The fact that many stone circles, ancient monuments, megalithic tombs and standing stones follow ley lines, tends to suggest that these energy currents were known in prehistoric times. These sites were now, not just route markers but in some way also tapped into this energy source. Where two or more ley lines intersect there is often important prehistoric sites occupying these areas.

Source: Inspiration, information and extracts for this topic are from the Earth Mysteries Website, written and presented by Chris Witcombe

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