Geomancy: Coniunctio, the figure of encounter and union

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Coniunctio, “the conjunction”: two points at the ends, two single lines at the centre. A figure of encounter, of bonds and of the return of what was lost.

Key points

Figure	Coniunctio (the Conjunction)
Points per line	2 / 1 / 1 / 2 (from head to feet)
Element	Air
Planet and sign	Mercury (nocturnal), Virgo
Nature	Mobile
Keywords	Encounter, union, bond, reunion, crossroads

Who is Coniunctio?

Coniunctio, also written Conjunctio, means “the joining”, “the meeting”. Its drawing reads like an encounter: the top and bottom lines are double, the central ones single, and one readily sees two elements meeting in the middle of the figure, or a crossroads, or two hands clasping.

These images are modern memory aids, not historical data: the medieval treatises, heirs of the Arabic texts translated in the 12th century, define the figure mainly by its name and its correspondences. It is the inverse of Carcer: one joins, the other confines. Here are its four lines:

Line	Points
Fire (the head)	• • (two)
Air (the neck)	• (one)
Water (the body)	• (one)
Earth (the feet)	• • (two)

Traditional meaning

In tradition, Coniunctio speaks of encounter, union, association and reunion. It is read as bonds being formed: a meeting, an agreement, the joining of two projects or of two people. Many authors also link it to what returns: an object found again, a person who reappears, a matter one thought closed.

It is mobile and judged neutral in nature: everything depends on what it connects. Joining two constructive forces is a good thing; joining two difficulties is less so. That is why practitioners look chiefly at the neighbouring figures. The figure also serves as a reminder: a bond is always an exchange, not a gift received passively.

Traditional correspondences

Reference	Traditional attribution
Latin name	Coniunctio (the Conjunction)
Element	Air
Planet	Mercury (nocturnal)
Sign	Virgo
Nature	Mobile
Total points	6 (even: impartial figure, which can become the Judge)

The attributions (planet, sign, element) follow the most widespread planetary list today; earlier authors, including Gerard of Cremona, give others, and no full agreement exists on the signs. The spelling Conjunctio is also found.

In a chart: houses and roles

A few classic readings of Coniunctio by house (authors do not all agree):

House I: you stand at the meeting point of several influences or several choices.
House V: shared pleasures, the start of a relationship, creations made together.
House VII: association, marriage, contract: the natural house of the joining.
House XI: friends drawing closer, a network taking shape.
As Judge: the answer comes through bringing things together; it is a matter of uniting, persuading or reconciling.

Neighbouring figures and combinations

Coniunctio shares Mercury with Albus: Albus listens, Coniunctio connects. It also echoes Puella in matters of the heart. Here are some neighbouring pairings:

With	Possible reading
Carcer	The bond is held back: a connection that constrains, or a meeting under constraint
Puella	A tender drawing together, a romantic encounter
Acquisitio	An association that pays off, a fruitful agreement
Rubeus	A passionate encounter, even a conflicting one
Amissio	A separation that prepares a reunion elsewhere

These are avenues of reading, not rules: meaning arises from the question asked and the house concerned.

A reflective exercise

Think of a bond you would like to strengthen, with a person or with a project. Write down what each party brings, then what separates them. Draw Coniunctio and ask yourself which small gesture of connection would be possible this week: a message, an invitation, a question. The outcome is not guaranteed, but the gesture is yours.

Frequently asked questions

What does Coniunctio mean in geomancy?

“The conjunction” in Latin: an encounter, a union, an association. It is a mobile figure associated with Mercury and Virgo.

Does Coniunctio announce a romantic encounter?

It speaks of bonds in general, not only of love. For a question of the heart, it is read together with the neighbouring figures and the house concerned.

Should one write Coniunctio or Conjunctio?

Both spellings exist. Conjunctio is found in English and French works, Coniunctio in classical Latin texts.

What is the inverse of Coniunctio?

Carcer: by replacing single points with double points and vice versa, one passes from one to the other.

Can Coniunctio be a Judge?

Yes: with six points, an even number, it is impartial and can occupy that place.