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Earth Wisdom – Mythology – Cosmology

Background Information Related to World Traditions of Geomancy

CROSS-CULTURAL OVERVIEWS

  • The Mystic Spiral: Journey of the Soul—Jill Purce (1974, 1987)—traces the significance of one of humanity's oldest archetypal symbols–as image of cosmic forces, the generating pattern of organic growth, and the hero's journey and the soul's progress toward eternal life. The spiral as tool for contemplation and conscious evolution is illustrated in its many cross-cultural forms and interpreted as a representation of the expanding-contracting dance of ch'i and the still center where the secret of life is found. Shows the unity of meaning in the tai ch'i or yin-yang symbol, Neolithic double spirals, Celtic crosses, dervish dances, the physicist's spherical vortex and sine wave, etc. Facilitates a reorientation to a geomantic worldview. 128 pp., pb.

  • The Tree of Life: Image for the Cosmos—Roger Cook (1974, 1988)—surveys the multiple forms and meanings of this universal symbol found in all world religions and ancient mythologies. The tree represents the center of the world and the dynamic flow of forces between heaven and earth/energy and matter, the perpetual renewal of the cosmos from a sacred source at that center, the manifestations resulting from the channeling of cosmic forces between heaven and earth, the source of knowledge, and the inner process of directing life forces to center and unite oneself with the world. A geomancer's sacred role in balancing the realms of heaven, earth and humans draws on the tree's image and processes. 128 pp., pb.

  • Creation Myths: Man's Introduction to the World—David Maclagan (1977, 1989)—reveals the purpose of creation myths as providers of a framework to account for the origin of the universe and to understand the order of the universe, the laws of nature and the customs of humanity. Shows the parallels between modern physics and cosmology and the metaphors of primal myths. Because creation myths describe the cosmos in human terms and humans in cosmic terms, they provide a way to heal the split between humans and nature, spirit and matter–essential for the practice of geomancy. 96 pp., pb.

  • The Dragon: Nature of Spirit, Spirit of Nature—Francis Huxley (1979, 1989)—explains all the traditional meanings of the dragon, as the animating spirit of the earth and every natural form. Since either the dragon or serpent is the primary representation of the living earth in every culture, a huge amount of geomantic lore is contained in dragon myths, including the reading of the forms of the landscape and the creation and sustaining of the world, weather and seasonal cycles. 96 pp., pb.

  • The Androgyne: Fusion of the Sexes—Elemire Zolla—96 pp, pb

NATIVE AMERICAN GEOMANCY

  • Seven Arrows—Hyemeyohsts Storm (1972)—still the best introduction to the Plains Indian medicine wheel as a meditative, healing, cosmological device. Valuable resource for utilizing Native American knowledge about the significance of your orientation to the four directions, and the development of those archetypes within your psyche. 374 pp., pb.

  • Book of the Hopi—Frank Waters (1963. 1977)—the first book to reveal the spiritually-based, earth-centered Hopi way of life. Hopi elders themselves relate and explain their creation myths, prophecies, legends of emergence and migration to the Four Corners area, annual cycle of religious rituals which dramatize the laws of life and attune them to the rhythms and balance of nature, and the story of how they have tried to maintain their peaceful way of life since European incursion. The Hopi, as the oldest inhabitants of Turtle Island and keepers of its sacred center, give us a foundation for exploring native American geomancy. 345 pp., pb.

  • The Voice of the Great Spirit: Prophecies of the Hopi Indian—Rudolf Kaiser (1989)—143 pp, pb

  • Dancing with The Wheel: A Medicine Wheel Workbook — Sun Bear, Wabun

  • Earth Medicine — Kenneth Meadows

  • Other Council Fires Were Here Before Us— Jamie Sams/Twyla Nitsch—Seneca creation myths and associations with the Law of Seven.

  • The Sacred: Ways of Knowledge — Beck/Walters

  • The Sacred Tree: Reflection on Native American Spirituality—collaboratively produced by Judie Bopp, Michael Bopp, Lee Brown and Phil Lane (1989)—87pp, pb

  • Sacred Path Cards: The Discovery of Self Through Native Teachings—Jamie Sams (1990)—304 pp, hb plus 44 cards

  • Shamanic Healing Within the Medicine Wheel—Marie Lu Lorler— See Self-Cultivation Section

  • Living Life's Circle: Mescalero Apache Cosmovision—Claire R. Farrer (1991)—273 pp, hb

CELTIC & EUROPEAN GEOMANCY

  • Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales—Alwyn and Brinley Rees (1961, 1989)—the best single source for comprehending the hidden meaning of Celtic myth, symbolism and cosmology in relation to Celtic geomancy, sacred kingship and the five provincial divisions of Ireland's sacred landscape. 427 pp., pb.

  • Celtic Mysteries: The Ancient Tradition—John Sharkey (1975, 1987)—introduction to the love of Nature and mysteries of life, death and rebirth as developed by the earth-centered cultures of Old Europe and preserved by the Celts, the last tribal culture of Europe. Reunifies remaining pieces of Druidic traditions: the triple goddess, horned god, mystical connections between heroes and gods, rituals of bonding between humans, animals and earth, tree lore, prophecy, cyclical change, the Otherworld and perception of the mysteries through in-between states. 96 pp., pb.

  • Women In Celtic Myth: Tales of Extraordinary Women from the Ancient Celtic Tradition - Moyra Caldecott (1988)—Goes beyond a mere repeating of ancient myths and instead retells the stories from a women’s and psychological perspective, providing useful interpretive commentary on the meaning of the metaphors and mythical motifs, so that we can understand the deeper wisdom and apply it afresh for our own inner transformation. 215 pp., pb

  • The Mists of Avalon—Marion Zimmer Bradley (1982)—restoration of the lore of the earth goddess and sacred kingship to the Arthurian legends, which allows us to see the geomancy in the myth. 876 pp., pb.

  • Eclipse of the Sun: An Investigation into Sun and Moon Myths — Janet McCrickard—300 pp. pb

  • Celtic Christianity: Ecology and Holiness—anthology edited by Christopher Bamford & William Marsh (1982)—142 pp, pb

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINE GEOMANCY

  • The Songlines—Bruce Chatwin (1987) — a glimpse into Australian Aboriginal geomancy and how it provides the people a vision of their place in the world. Story of the author's walkabout to discover the meaning of the song that is also a physical line, or dreaming-track, in the landscape. Someone in each tribe holds part of the songline and is able to recognize the other pieces when someone else sings it. No one person knows the whole songline. 394 pp. , pb.

  • Voices of the First Day: Awakening in The Aboriginal Dreamtime— Robert Lawlor