The Geomantic Figures

These are the qualities or properties of the sixteen geomantic figures, as described in the Middle English translation of Martin of Spain's De geomantia, pp. 73-94. Note: I sometimes receive questions about whether Puer and Puella in this chart are reversed. They are not. There are different traditions for the sixteen figures. The best explanation is in Charmasson, pp. 32-33; the issue is also addressed in the edition of Martin of Spain, pp. 62-4. In brief, Martin is for the most part in the tradition of Bartholomew of Parma and Michael Scot, who based their work on Arabic sources, but for Puer and Puella, he follows William of Moerbeke and Gerard of Cremona.

NamePlanetSignGoodnessTim eDay
WayMoon (waning)LeoGoodMonthsNocturnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
BothBothWaterFemininePhlegmatic8 n o t a z
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
PeopleMoon (waxing)CapricornGoodMonthsNocturnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
BothBothWaterFemininePhlegmatic2 n o t u
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
ConjunctionMercury (retrograde)VirgoModerately goodHoursDiurnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
BothBothAirMasculineSanguine13 17 h j c d
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
PrisonSaturn (direct)PiscesModerately badYearsNocturnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
BothBothEarthFeminineMelancholy10 o p q r s
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
Head of the DragonCaput DraconisVirgoVery goodYearsNocturnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
FixedEnteringFireMasculineMelancholy13 g t
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
Tail of the DragonCauda DraconisSagitariusVery badWeeksDiurnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
MobileExitingEarthFeminineCholeric12 14 h j c d
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
ChildVenus (direct)GeminiGoodMonthsNocturnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
FixedEnteringWaterFemininePhlegmatic1 j c e
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
MaidMars (direct)LibraVery badMonthsDiurnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
MobileExitingAirMasculineSanguine9 j k
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTime Day
Greater FortuneSun (direct)AquariusVery goodYearsNocturnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
FixedEnteringFireMasculineMelancholy12 ff
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTime Day
Lesser FortuneSun (retrograde)TaurusModerately badMonthsDiurnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
MobileExitingEarthFeminineCholeric1 8 e
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
WhiteMercury (direct)CancerVery goodYearsNocturnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
FixedEnteringWaterFemininePhlegmatic12 a d e
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
RedMars (direct)GeminiVery badMonthsDiurnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
MobileExitingFireMasculineCholeric12 a c s
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
GainJupiter (direct)AriesGoodYearsDiurnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
FixedEnteringAirMasculineSanguine31 h m
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
LossVenus (retrograde)ScorpioVery badDaysDiurnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
MobileExitingFireMasculineCholeric15 j t s
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
SorrowSaturn (retrograde)ScorpioVery badYearsNocturnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
FixedEnteringEarthFeminineMelancholy12 b d n
NamePlanetSignGoodnessTimeDay
JoyJupiter (retrograde)TaurusGoodYearsDiurnal
StabilityDirectionElementGenderHumorNumbers
MobileExitingAirMasculineSanguine50 a d

Home | Bibliography | Geomancy Program | Of Geomancy

Elizabeth Z. Bennett
ebennett@voicenet.com
Copyright Elizabeth Bennett 1998
Last revised: March 14, 1998