St. Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, Cod. Sang. 756

...as branches emerge from a tree:

The reason why this art was invented is manifold, and the principal reason is the great necessity for obtaining counsel, insofar as you may know the art of astrology according to its surface and doctrine. For the art of astrology is one of the seven liberal arts The core curriculum of medieval education, consisting of the trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric) and the quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy/astrology). through which counsel increased by truth is held, as those properly moved by men. Because man himself was in need of another [art] by necessity, because [astrology] requires its own geometric instruments original: instrumenta geomatalia, many books such as tables, many square tables, and other rules of judgment without which it cannot be practiced. And in addition to that, it requires more than anything else clear weather, so that from the serenity of the air by day the bright sun may be seen and its rays received through the two holes of the plates of the square astrolabe instrument A specialized astronomical tool used for measuring the altitude of celestial bodies to determine time and position., or a fixed star at night. And thus, if these things are otherwise, counsel cannot be obtained through that art. Since the air is often turbulent or the rest of the doctrine cannot bear fruit, therefore the art of geomancy Divination using patterns of points made in the earth or on paper. was invented to be formed and counsel obtained through it at all times, by day and night, whether it be clear or cloudy, and without the impediment of any expense. Nor does it require [long] schooling nor a [specific] hour, but every time a man wishes to propose his question, he can do it, and the tree [the geomantic chart] can be raised and the truth held; the body which it carries appearing? to be of the truth.

For geomancy is the daughter of astronomy, and is joined? to it, and she follows it in all things through its succession?. All things in it are wisely estimated, since in all mysteries and its own entire judgments of the heavens original: coili, a variant of caeli and of those things which now are, they come from the dispersed stars, planets, and the four elements.

A diagram drawn in red ink consisting of a shield-shaped frame. The interior of the shield is divided into a 4x4 grid, creating sixteen rectangular cells. Each cell contains a unique geomantic figure composed of a vertical sequence of one or two dots. These figures represent the traditional sixteen signs of geomancy.

Hec This art of geomancy had its origin from God, because Solomon says wisdom was given to Adam from Him. And John the Evangelist, when he made the beginning [of his Gospel], it was; and elsewhere it says: "I am the Alpha and Omega The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, used here to signify God as the beginning and end of all things., the beginning and the end of all things that are, were, and shall be." However, there is an opinion that it had its beginning through second [causes] and the spirituality of wicked? men from certain angels who fell from heaven when the ruin was properly perpetuated above...