The term “geomancy” refers to the study of and conscious engagement with our Earth’s energies and includes techniques for healing land which has been neglected, damaged and abused, or the site of traumatic events (such as battlefields.) It also includes ceremonies for spiritually preparing and blessing building and worship sites. Geomancy was practiced and understood by our ancient ancestors, as is evident in the great megalithic sites of Callanish and Stonehenge and the deliberate arrangement of Egyptian pyramids. Geomantic consultation and services are a significant part of my shamanic practice.
As a child, growing up in the woods of the state park where we lived, I discovered that the world is filled with spirits: plants, animals, even landforms. As an adult, I now know this belief is called Animism and it’s significant in my practice as a Northern Tradition shaman. My Norse, Germanic and Sámi ancestors shared in common the belief that the very land itself was alive and that even things the modern world considers inanimate, such as trees and stones, have their own unique spirits.
In my tradition, a shaman works by cultivating alliances with other Beings. Not so different from developing collegial business affiliations, really. This recognition that everything is inspirited goes hand-in-hand with a sense of the sacredness of all Creation, and the awareness that our actions have consequences and impact other Beings. This is particularly true when one is preparing a parcel of land for the construction of a home. It makes sense that one might want to cultivate friendly relations with one’s human neighbors and it’s equally appropriate to cultivate a respectful and collaborative relationship with the landvaettir or land spirit where the house is to be built.
When we initially purchased the land we now call TwoTrees, my husband and I spent a lot of time just getting to know our little patch of the Saura Hills, discovering small ecosystems within the larger whole, feeling where the latent energy in the earth was strongest. We took time to observe where Sunna and Mani, the sun and moon, rose and set in their dance through the seasons. We noted the weather patterns, the dominant wind directions and where the storms came from. We’d been blessed to find forested property with a south-east facing hillside, perfect for the small passive solar bungalow we wanted to build, so we studied how to orient the footprint of the house to take advantage of the sun’s warmth while also removing the minimum number of mature trees and also taking advantage of remaining trees’ shade in summer. In other words, we were observant, mindful and intentional.
We were also respectful of the Beings we couldn’t help but disturb, just by our very presence. We prayed and left offerings for the landvaettir, asking Nature to guide us in our collaboration. We were selective in our builder, interviewing several until we found someone who understood and respected our values and priorities. We took steps to minimize the land damage that inevitably accompanies construction by fencing off or flagging fragile areas and being present to insure the work would be done with care. When the time came to clear the house site, we prayerfully released the spirits of the trees that had to go, asking that their life-force transition out into the ecosystem to speed its healing and strengthen the remaining trees.
It is this work that I am often called upon to do for my clients. On a recent afternoon, I was honored to help in the preparation of a wooded lot through ceremony honoring the Beings there and releasing the trees to be cleared. As my client offered milk and honey and tobacco to the spirit of each tree, I offered prayers and songs and used galdr, a resonant toning of certain specific Runes, to free the consciousness and life-force in the oaks, maples, poplars, sweet gums and pines to be cleared where a home will one day stand. It was, as it always is, a deeply emotional process for my client and for me as well. Land has consciousness and carries history. As a shaman, providing such service to the community is rewarding and I am ever grateful for the trust placed in me. It is my heartfelt prayer that we might all become more aware of our impact on our living Earth and learn to engage with her more co-creatively.