At the heart of geomancy—Ilmu Raml, the Science of the Sand—are the 16 spiritual stars. These are not stars in the sky, but sacred symbols made from dots and lines. Each one represents a different spiritual force, and together they form the complete language of geomancy.
But did you know that these 16 stars are more than just symbols? They carry within them layers of meaning—256 meanings each, to be exact.
Let’s explore what makes these stars so powerful and how they reflect divine light and knowledge.
What Are the Spiritual Stars? The spiritual stars are created using four rows of either one or two dots. Each row represents one of the four elements:
Fire
Air
Water
Earth
By combining these rows in different ways, you get 16 unique patterns. These are the stars. Each star has its own name, personality, and spiritual identity.
For example:
Laetitia, also known as Adam, symbolizes joy, success, and light.
Rubeus (Umar) often represents emotions and danger.
Albus (Idris) is linked to purity, healing, and wisdom.
Tristitia (Ayyub) symbolizes grief or endurance.
These are just a few of the 16, and each star has a wide range of meanings that can be interpreted depending on the situation.
256 Meanings in Every Star Each star isn’t limited to one or two meanings. In fact, every single star has 256 meanings.
Why 256?
Because 16 × 16 = 256. This shows that each star is like a universe of knowledge—deep, layered, and full of wisdom. These meanings cover everything from physical matters like money, health, and relationships, to metaphysical insights such as spiritual growth, hidden knowledge, and divine guidance.
Take Laetitia (Adam), for example. While it’s often seen as the star of joy or luck, it also holds meanings related to:
Sight
Clarity
Blessings
Beauty
Growth …and so much more—256 in total!
Light and the Divine Connection Here’s where it gets truly spiritual.
The number 256 is also the numerical value of one of Allah’s Divine Names: Nur (Light). In Arabic, Nur (ن و ر) adds up like this:
ن = 50
و = 6
ر = 200 Total = 256
This means that each star carries not only knowledge but also divine light. It’s as if every star is a beam of Nur—a light that helps guide the children of Adam in their lives.
And it all connects beautifully with this verse from the Qur’an:
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth… Light upon Light.” (Qur’an 24:35)
The Purpose of the Stars These stars are not just used to “predict” things. Their real purpose is to help human beings understand themselves and their journey. With the stars, a person can:
Discover their personal spiritual star
Receive insight into dreams and decisions
Know what kind of Sadaqah (charity) will help remove a problem
Understand which times are good or risky for action
Gain deep self-awareness and spiritual direction
The knowledge behind these stars is sacred. It’s believed that, with permission from God, geomancers can tap into these stars to receive guidance—not from themselves, but from the spiritual forces created by God.
A Science for the Children of Adam This science belongs to all of us. As the Qur’an says:
“And He taught Adam the names—all of them…” (Qur’an 2:31)
The “names” here are more than just labels—they represent knowledge of all things, including the stars of Ilmu Raml. These stars are a legacy passed down through the prophets to the sages of every era.