Learn to cultivate a traditional, beneficial relationship with the land by embracing the forgotten practices of our ancestors
• Details the ancient art of geomancy and Earth magic, including how to work with ley lines, astrology, and the four directions to honor a space and make it a place of power
• Explores the magic of the land around us and how our ancestors interacted with Earth energies and the forces of Nature
• Discusses the power of boundaries and magic circles, the proper "feng shui" of graveyards and cemeteries, and magically powerful places such as crossroads, fairgrounds, and the mystic triangles found in "no-man's lands"
Our ancestors were deeply aware of the magical power of their local landscape, no matter where they lived. Every interaction with their environment--from building to farming to the layout of ancient cities--took into account terrestrial energies, ancestral memory, and the many seen and unseen presences in Nature. They developed sophisticated procedures for orienting their living spaces and respectfully working with the magic of the landscape. Yet, much of the art of geomancy and of working with the forces of Nature has been forgotten by modern builders, architects, foresters, gardeners, and homeowners. The treatment of land as mere property has led to a loss of its meaning for those who dwell upon it. Our landscape has become disenchanted.
In this book, geomancy expert and scholar Nigel Pennick details the ancient and sacred practices of geomancy and Earth magic and reveals how we can reenchant and reconnect to the sacred landscape that surrounds us, whether you live rurally, in the suburbs, or in cities. Pennick begins with a vivid look at our modern "wasteland" and what he calls "the ensouled world," with specific examples from Britain and Iceland of our ancestors' way of perceiving the world they lived in. Exploring the art of geomancy, he examines how its techniques work with ley lines, astrology, and the old understanding of the four directions and the eight winds to honor a space and make it a place of power. He looks at the power of boundaries and magic circles, including laying ghosts and dismissing spirits, as well as the proper "feng shui" for cemeteries and graveyards. The author then takes the reader back into the traditional landscape to discuss magically powerful places, such as crossroads, the occult nature of the "fairground," and the mystic triangles found in what are popularly known as "no-man's lands."
Revealing how the landscape can be reenchanted, Pennick shows how the magic of place is a living system that each of us can interact with. Nigel Pennick is an authority on ancient belief systems, traditions, runes, and geomancy and has traveled and lectured extensively in Europe and the United States. He is the author and illustrator of more than 50 books, including The Pagan Book of Days. The founder of the Institute of Geomantic Research and the Library of the European Tradition, he lives near Cambridge, England. Chapter 7: Boundaries
Boundaries are primarily about ownership. Property rights, whether private, public or sacred, define the meaning of areas in culture and in law. Those who claim ownership to areas, which can range from a few square meters to a nation-state, essentially bar access to those areas by those whom the owners consider have no right to be there. This principle applies to areas deemed property as well as those deemed in the ownership of spiritual beings.
Boundaries are conceptual or physical lines of division between perceived areas, invisible or visible lines of demarcation that separate and define relationships between separated areas in contact with one another. Boundaries can be natural or artificial, passable or impassable. Natural boundaries like rivers, unclimbable ridges, mountains and seas are obvious to everyone; they create barriers to all that walk; only flying creatures may cro
