The Logic of Geomantic Houses

[sdi]

In The Art and Practice of Geomancy, Greer writes that the houses follow a subtle but definite logic; true though this is, I've spent a lot of time trying to puzzle out what, exactly, that logic is.

Here is my best guess so far:

1. Me
2. Closely held things (possessions, money, self-esteem, close advisors, secrets you keep from everyone else, etc.)
3. Nearby things (the local environment, neighbors, communication, common knowledge, etc.)
4. Things beneath (things relating to the earth (agriculture, real estate, etc.), one's roots, the past, etc.)
5. Nearby benefits (pleasures, made things, etc.)
6. Nearby limitations (the body, diseases, hired help, etc.)
7. You (partners, opponents, "the other party", etc.)
8. Things let go of (death, wills, legacies, magic, etc.)
9. Distant things (faraway places, dreams, specialized knowledge, religion, etc.)
10. Things above (things related to the sky (weather, astrological forces, etc.), authority, gods, one's ambitions, the future, etc.)
11. Distant benefits (friends, benefactors, hopes and wishes, etc.)
12. Distant limitations (societal hindrances, things hidden from you, the unknown, fears, etc.)

Obviously, the opposite houses have complementary meanings. But there's also relationships to the four triplicities of the shield chart here (I+II=IX, III+IV=X, V+VI=XI, VII+VIII=XII). I am still grappling with these for the moment.

Comments

[emmanuelg]

I think we already discussed the axes of the house chart;
Generally Houses I thru VI are nearby, and Houses VII thru XII are distant.
Pairing the houses;
I Me VII You
II Closely held stuff/Money VIII Things let go of/Death
III Local/Neighborhood/At Home IX Far Journeys; Geographical, Philosophical or Religious
IV Things beneath/roots/earth/Mother X Things above/Sky/Built Reputation/Father
V Fun/Sexuality/Crops/Reference Sources XI Hopes/Wishes/Dreams/Friends/Promises/Unmentionable
VI Professions/Diseases/Hired Help XII Government/Limitations/Quarantines/Rulers.

I wonder if assessing the Axis-pair of significant figures, such as figures that pass to other locations, would give additional information.

[sdi]

I wonder if assessing the Axis-pair of significant figures, such as figures that pass to other locations, would give additional information.

Ah, as if assessing company? That's a good question. I've noticed Puer/Puella oppositions with significance before...

[emmanuelg]

Yes--
Also, just meditating about the opposite houses gives me a better characterization of both houses. Like VI vs XII
Opposite of Professionals? Politicians
Opposite of Employees? Rulers
Opposite of Disease? --That's worth pondering... Cures perhaps?

or V vs XI

Good crops, fun, accurate references, rain--All things that could be unfulfilled wishes in XI...

[sdi]

When I think of the VI/XII, I think the house logic is more about opposites in scale:

What is the opposite of an acute disease? A chronic disease!
What is the opposite of a person working for you? A person working against you!
What is the opposite of my body? Society as a whole!

So the VI is kinda about impediments one has in the immediate sense—things you need to work with or around to accomplish your goals, while the XII is about one's overall limits—things you're stuck with and need to work within the bounds of.

That is, another way to put this, I think, it's that it's an "in/out" sort of opposite, rather than a "left/right" sort of opposite. A point vs everything outside it, rather than two directions opposed on a line.