Decorative floral printer's ornament at the head of the page.

Chapter 1.

On the Origin and Foundation of Geomantiæ Geomancy.

A large ornate drop cap "O" begins the first paragraph. Although Adam brought the curse of God upon himself for eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, a certain Vor-Haut remnant or outer layer remained in his soul and understanding because he was created in the image of God. Through this, he was able to recognize and name everything in heaven and on earth. From this remnant, driven by the spirit, he learned and discovered many glorious sciences and passed them on to his descendants, among which the noble Stern-Kunst art of the stars, or astrology may have been included. That many glorious arts and sciences perished and were obscured because of the world's ingratitude and wickedness can be seen in the Great Flood of the first world. In that destruction of all flesh, Noah and his household were preserved. He later rebuilt the world with his sons and brought forth all sciences anew. The arch-fathers and Patriarchen patriarchs practiced these arts in part, as can be proven further from Scripture. However, because much is required for the noble art of the stars, and learning it is not a task for everyone.