Editing Geomancy (section)

{{Short description|Method of divination that interprets markings on the ground}}
{{Redirect|Geomancer}}
{{About|the African and European divination technique|the Chinese art of aesthetics|Feng shui|the Chinese philosophical tradition|Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)}}
[[File:Ghoreh 001.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Geomancy tool]]
[[File:Geomantic instrument Egypt or Syria 1241 1242 CE Muhammad ibn Khutlukh al Mawsuli.jpg|thumb|Geomantic instrument, [[Egypt]] or [[Syria]], 1241–42 CE, by Muhammad ibn Khutlukh al Mawsuli. When the dials were turned, random designs of dots would appear, which were then interpreted. [[British Museum]].]]
'''Geomancy''', a compound of Greek roots denoting "earth divination", was originally used to mean methods of [[divination]] that interpret geographic features, markings on the ground, or the patterns formed by [[soil]], [[rock (geology)|rock]]s, or [[sand]].<ref>“Geomancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geomancy . Accessed 26 Jan. 2023.</ref> Its definition has expanded over time (along with the recognized definition of the suffix ''-mancy''), to include any spiritual, metaphysical, or pseudoscientific practice that is related to the Earth. In recent times the term has been applied to a wide range of other occult and fringe activities, including [[Earth mysteries]] and the introduction of [[ley lines]] and {{interlanguage link|Bau-Biologie|de|Baubiologie}}.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

Geomancy was one of the forms of divination throughout Africa and Europe in premodern times,<ref name=Hartlieb/> but was considered a forbidden practice by Christians in medieval Europe.<ref name=Hartlieb>[[Johannes Hartlieb]] (Munich, 1456) ''The Book of All Forbidden Arts''; quoted in {{cite book|access-date=9 February 2025 |first1=Benedek |last1=Láng |pages=124, 125 |quote=Hartlieb wrote his handbook between 1456 and 1464 in Munich, and described the divinatory methods of the seven forbidden arts—geomancy, hydromancy, aeromancy, pyromancy, chiromancy, scapulimancy, and necromancy—in great detail, illustrating his descriptions with exhaustive reports on concrete practices. .... Theologians saw in every branch of divination first of all a demonic enterprise, and the abuse of divine privileges (that is, foreknowledge of the future). They did not allow themselves to be persuaded that most of these branches, such as palmistry and geomancy, could function without any visible application of demonic help. |title=Unlocked Books Manuscripts Of Learned Magic In The Medieval Libraries Of Central Europe (Magic In History) By Benedek Lang |url=https://archive.org/details/unlocked-books-manuscripts-of-learned-magic-in-the-medieval-libraries-of-central/page/123/mode/2up |publisher=Penn State Press |date=2010}}</ref> In other regions and cultures, geomancy practices include ''Sikidy'' and ''[[Ifá]]'' (found in Africa), [[I Ching]] and [[Feng shui]] (found in China), [[Kumalak]] (found in parts of [[Central Asia]]), [[Vastu shastra]] (in India), [[Kahuna]] kuhikuhipu'uone (in [[Ancient Hawai'i]]).