Spica is the brightest star in the constellation
Virgo and thus is also known as alpha Virginis.
It is located in the sheaf of wheat held by Virgo. Bernadette Brady says that Spica
was considered a symbol of the gifts of harvest and bounty to mankind. Brady's
Book of Fixed Stars (Weiser, 1998) page 273. Ptolemy says that Spica is of the
nature of Venus and to a lesser extent
Mars. Tetrabiblos Bk. I, Chapter 9 (Loeb, 1940)
page 51.
Agrippa says that, "Under the Spike [Spica] they
made the image of a bird, or a man laden with merchandise; it conferreth riches,
and maketh one overcome contentions, it taketh away scarcity and mischief."
Three Books of Occult Philosophy Bk. II, Chapter 47,
(Tyson ed.) page 395.
So onto our talisman.
Agrippa discusses the construction of rings using
astrological magic and his instructions are applicable to talismans as well,
"...when any star ascends fortunately, with the fortunate aspect or conjunction
of the Moon,
We must take a stone, and herb that is under
that star, and make
a ring of that metal that is suitable to this star and fasten the stone, putting
the herb, or root under it; not omitting the inscriptions of images, names and
characters, also the proper suffumigations..."
Three Books of Occult Philosophy Bk. I, Chapter 47, (Tyson ed.) page 140.
On February 6, 2002 at 10:58 am EST (+5)
in Washington, D.C. 38 N 55, 77 W 03, Spica, located at 23 degrees
and 50 minutes of Libra is rising. We note that
the Moon is applying to a sextile of Spica.
Agrippa says of the fixed stars,
"The tenth is called Spica, which
hath under it, amongst stones the emerald; amongst plants, sage, trifoil, periwinkle,
mugwort and mandrake."
Three Books of Occult Philosophy Bk. I, Chapter 32, (Tyson ed.) page 98.
Most of these herbs are available from the
Lucky Mojo Curio Company,
the finest on-line source for hoodoo and rootwork supplies.
Agrippa also gives the characters for some of the
most important fixed stars, including Spica, whose character is shown to right.
Three Books of Occult Philosophy Bk. II, Chapter 52, (Tyson ed.) page 410.
Here is further information on
Astrological Talismans
and Astrological Magic. If you
wish to delve even deeper into this fascinating area I offer an
Astrological Magic Web Course and
my discussion group Spiritus Mundi.