I’ve been wanting to start a daily routine of doing three-figure readings for general well-being, largely inspired by some of the Tarot and rune practitioners in the online multi-tradition divination group I recently joined. After a few weeks of pondering and consulting with others, I finally arrived at an interpretative framework that I feel will work well for this purpose, more so than the past-present-future approach prescribed by John Michael Greer to interpret the Court and Four Triplicities in the traditional shield chart.1

For starters, casting a triad merely entails that you construct two figures using any hands-on method of randomly generating binary values (e.g., dice, stick-and-surface, coin, etc.), then use geomantic addition to produce the third figure. Those entirely new to geomancy are encouraged to read Part I and Section 2.2 of the FNG for an overview of the figures, their construction, and geomantic addition.

While it took me some time to develop a query that captures the type of insight I’d like the triads to convey, I eventually settled on the formulation: “What should I do, keep in mind, or try to feel to improve my overall well-being today?” Subsequently, I developed the following interpretative framework:

  • 3rd figure – the main action to be taken, whether that’s something you do, call to mind, or try to feel.
  • 1st figure – the person, place, or thing that the main action should involve or be directed towards.
  • 2nd figure – the primary challenge to the main action you need to take, i.e., something that’ll make the main action difficult to accomplish.

Three examples are provided below to demonstrate how I’ve been interpreting these triads thus far using this framework. However, practitioners experimenting with this system are free to express or present their interpretations differently.

Tristitia, Caput Draconis, Conjunctio: Connect with someone around the topic of sorrow or ill health; the recent beginning of something, or a new opportunity in your life or theirs, will make this interaction challenging.

Amissio, Rubeus, Cauda Draconis: Stop wasting or depleting something; your vices and overindulgences will make this a challenging endeavor.

Caput Draconis, Fortuna Minor, Puella: Love and care for something just beginning in your life; the short-term support you’re now giving or receiving from somewhere/someone will make this difficult in some way.

In these examples, I’m interpreting the figures with relatively little inference—as though I were conducting a blind reading for someone else—primarily to demonstrate a conservative approach to deciphering triads in this context. I should note, however, that in several readings I’ve done for myself, I immediately recognized which aspect of my life the triad seemed to be addressing, which necessitated a more personalized interpretation.

Please feel free to share your experiences with this practice in the comments section below, as I’m eager to see how it performs in the hands of others.

Note
  1. John Michael Greer, The Art and Practice of Geomancy: Divination, Magic, and Earth Wisdom of the Renaissance (Newburyport: Weiser Books, 2009), 96–99.