Doing a geomantic reading is called “Casting a Shield”. A geomantic shield is formed based on a query or a question you are asking. A geomantic figure will fill each of the 15 boxes in the shield. Geomancy is meant to prepare your mind and soul for what answers it may reveal, and to open your heart to new possibilities. Like all forms of divination, geomancy can be used incorrectly. Before you cast your question, make sure your intentions are pure and that it is something truly important.  

Geomancy uses a system of mathematical recursion to develop every figure in the shield based on the previous symbols. That means that everything in the shield is dependent on what came before it. 

In geomancy, only the first four figures are generated by the geomancer and the rest of the shield is constructed based on the beginning four figures. There are several methods that can be used for divining the first four positions in the chart. Today, most geomancers use a pen and paper, but you will also be able to use the Geomantic Visions coins.

Once you have determined your question it is important to write it down, along with the date of your query above it (you will want to look back on past shields in the future). Remember to phrase your question in the “yes or no” format so that the out.come can be determined as either favorable or unfavorable. 

As an alternate way to produce the four mothers, the elemental coins can be used. Each element coin has two sides that show the element singularly or in a pair. Depending on which side is facing up, the reader will see whether to use 1 dot or 2 to form the figure. Each element is represented by a symbol, fire is the flame, air is the bird in flight, water, the waterlily, and earth, the tree. The coins will always be read in this order: Fire, Air, Water, and Earth, and are shuffled and thrown 4 times in order to determine the four figures. Toss the coins then put them in order from Fire to Earth and see what figure is formed. Once aligned and ordered, we see the figure Carcer in the example shown.

Now it is time to place your Mothers into your shield. Everyone will draw a geomantic shield a little differently, but throughout all shields these things must remain the same:

1. The top row of the shield must consist of 8 boxes. In geomancy we move right to left, so the right 4 boxes are the Mothers. The Moth.ers are the four figures that birth the rest of the figures in the entire reading. It is crucial that you take your time when assembling the Mothers since these figures will determine the outcome.

2. The left 4 boxes next to the Mothers are called “the Daughters” and are formed from the Mothers.

3. The second row of the shield must contain 4 boxes, these are called “The Nieces” and are formed from the figures above them. 

Then all of the necks, the air elements, are added to form the Second Daughter, then all of the bodies, the water elements, are added to form the third Daughter and all of the feet, the earth elements form the fourth Daughter.

The Nieces are the four boxes on the second row of the shield and are made from the Mothers and the Daughters. The First Niece is made from the combination of Mother 1 and Mother 2. If the number of dots is EVEN in a line then the Niece will have 2 dots in that line, if the number of dots is ODD then it becomes one dot. Then the second Niece is made from the combination of Mother 3 and Mother 4. The third Niece is made from the combination of Daughter 1 and Daughter 2. The fourth Niece is made from the combination of Daughter 3 and Daughter 4: 

When you are unsure of the ruling of the Judge, or want to better understand the outcome, it is important to turn to the two witnesses. If the Judge is favorable and the two witnesses are also favorable it only makes the outcome more favorable. The opposite is also true, with an unfavorable Judge and two unfavorable Witnesses the ruling is certainly unfavorable. If the Judge is neutral and the two Witnesses are favorable it will pull the ruling in one direction. If all three are neutral then it is time to look deeper into the shield. 

Each witness affects the shield differently. When the Right Witness, a symbol of the querent and the past, is favorable it suggests that the person asking the question is in a good position. When it is unfavorable it suggests they are in an unfortunate position to begin with. The figure that takes the form of the Right Witness also weighs into the reading and describes the querents state of mind. For example, if Tristitia is the Right Witness they may already feel sad about the situation. If Albus is the Right Witness they likely are already well informed.

Similarly the Left Witness, a symbol of the future and the situation at hand, can add more understanding in the ruling. When the Left Witness is favorable, it suggests that the situation is beneficial to the querent. When it is unfavorable it may be that the situation could be detrimental to the querent. The figure that takes the form of the Left Witness also weighs into the reading and describes the energy of the situation. If Cauda Draconis shows up it may indicate that the sit.uation will end shortly, if Caput Draconis shows up it may be just beginning. If Puella arrives it will indicate something harmonious, if Puer shows up it may be something with high energy and enthusiasm.