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Hermes Trismegistus
Christopher Warnock, Esq.
Hermes on the Fifteen Fixed Stars
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HERMES

ON THE

15 Fixed Stars

AND THEIR

15 Herbs, Stones & Figures




Introduction
Hermes on the 15 Fixed Stars


Introduction

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Medievel Trismegistus
De Quindecim Stellis
Hermes on the 15 Fixed Stars
Our primary source for planetary magic and the astrological talismans of the planets is Picatrix, but Picatrix only contains one fixed star invocation. For fixed stars, like the Renaissance mage Cornelius Agrippa in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy, we turn to Hermes on the Fifteen Fixed Stars.
This key source on the magic of the fixed stars circulated in a number of different variant manuscripts, under various attributions, but originally sourced to Hermes Trismegistus. While the extant manuscripts are medieval and Renaissance it likely originated along with the technical and philosophical Hermetica in the late classical period. The "practical" Hermetica of astrology, magic and alchemy, are inextricably linked with the philosophical Hermetica and provide preparatory studies for Hermeticism as Practical Path to Gnosis.
Hermes on the Fifteen Fixed Stars focuses on 15 major stars and provides a wealth of information regarding their magical properties, rulerships of gems and herbs, images and sigils and practical guidance on creating their talismans. All four variant manuscripts, including the Quadripertitus or "Four Part Book", Tabula XV stellarum, "Table of the 15 Stars", Liber Enoch "Book of Enoch" and Liber Thebit "Book of Thabit [ibn Qurra]" plus writings on the fixed stars by major medieval and Renaissance authors like Cornelius Agrippa and Marsilio Ficino are included in the Renaissance Astrology Press Quindecim Stellis: The Comprehensive Translations of Hermes on the 15 Fixed Stars.
Agrippa, following Hermes on the 15 Fixed Stars explains how to use the fixed star listings to make rings or talismans,

Now the manner of making these kinds of Rings, is this, viz. when any Star ascends fortunately, with the fortunate aspect, or conjunction of the Moon, we must take a stone, and Hearb that is under that Star, and make a Ring of the Metall that is suitable] to this Star, and in it fasten the stone, putting the Hearb , or root under it; not omitting the inscriptions of images, names, and Characters, as also the proper suffumigations,

Three Books of Occult Philosophy Book I, chapter 47.





Hermes on the 15 Fixed Stars
Tabula Variant

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Incipit liber Hermetis de 15 stellis tractans et 15 herbis et 15 lapidibus et 15 figuris

Here Begins the Book of Hermes on the 15 fixed stars and 15 herbs and 15 stones and 15 figures

Translated and annotated by John Michael Greer from BM Bodleian MS. 52, ff. 44-47,

as given in Appendix G of Joan Evans’ Magical Jewels of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance,
(New York, Dover 1976)

Zodiacal Longitude accurate as of May 2023


Star Name & Location

Stone

Herb

Character

Usage

Oculi Tauri

The Eye of the Bull

Aldebaran

(10 Gemini 06)

 

Carbuncle or ruby

Milky thistle

Milky thistle seed put under a carbuncle with the character shown [engraved on it], with the Moon conjunct [Aldebaran and] the Ascendant or Midheaven, increases riches and brings great honors.

The Pleiades

(0 Gemini 18)

 

Rock Crystal

Fennel

Fennel seed with frankincense and quicksilver placed under a crystal with the appropriate character [engraved on it], with the Moon conjunct the Pleiades rising or at midheaven, preserves the eyesight, summons demons and the spirits of the dead, calls the winds, and reveals secrets and things that are lost.

Caput Algol

Algol

(26 Taurus 29)

 

Diamond

Black Hellebore

Hellebore juice with an equal amount of wormwood placed under a diamond, etc., brings hatred and courage, preserves the members of the body, and grants vengeance over anyone you wish.

Alhayhoch

Capella

(22 Gemini 10)

 

Sapphire

Horehound

Horehound seed mixed with equal parts of mint, wormwood and mandrake, placed etc., exalts men to honors, and brings them the favor of kings and nobles, and heals toothache, and is very medicinal.

Canis Major

The Greater Dog Star

Sirius

(14 Cancer 23)

 

Beryl

Savine Juniper

One part savine juniper juice with wormwood and bistort and a little serpent's tongue put under a golden beryl, etc., grants the favor of the spirits of the air and the peoples of the earth, and brings peace and concord between kings and other potentates, and between husbands and wives.

Canis Minor

The Lesser Dog Star

Procyon

(26 Cancer 06)

 

Agate

Heliotrope

Heliotrope flowers with pennyroyal flowers placed etc. grants the favor of God and man, gives men the favor of the spirits of the air, gives great power over magic, and keeps men healthy.

Cor Leonis

The Heart of Leo

Regulus

(0 Virgo 09)

 

Granite

Celandine

Celandine juice with wormwood and mastic placed etc. takes away anger and melancholy, makes men temperate, and grants favor.

Ala Corvis

The Wing of the Crow

Gienah / Algorab

(11 Libra 03)/(13 Libra 41)

Onyx

Burdock

Burdock seed, leaves, and roots, with the tongue of a frog, placed etc. makes men angry, hateful, daring, and evil-speaking, causes wicked dreams, drives demons away, and protects men against demons and evil winds.

Spica

(24 Libra 04)

Emerald

Sage

Sage juice with trefoil, periwinkle, wormwood and mandrake placed etc. will increase gold, accumulate riches, bring victory in lawsuits, and free men from evil and anguish.

Arcturus

(24 Libra 33)

Jasper

Plantain

Plantain juice with seeds or rooted placed under jasper, especially green [jasper], carries away fevers and restrains the flow of blood.

Tail of the Great Bear

Sometimes incorrectly given as Tail of the Little Bear or Polaris (28 Gemini 52)

Actually Alkaid

(27 Virgo 15)

Magnet

Chicory

Chicory juice with wormwood and periwinkle flower placed etc. has power against enchantments and against dryness and gives safety in travel, and if it be put together with wolf's teeth it makes hunters proficient.

Corona Borealis

Northern Crown

Alphecca

(12 Scorpio 37)

Topaz

Rosemary

Juice of the herb called rosemary with equal parts trefoil and ivy put etc., makes men chaste, and grants friendship and honor with God and man.

Cor Scorpionis

The Heart of Scorpio

Antares

(10 Sagittarius 05)

Sardonyx and amethyst

Birthwort

Birthwort juice with a little yew placed etc. gives men healthy color, grants good memory and intelligence, makes them appear wise, and banishes demons.

The Falling Vulture

Wega or Vega

(15 Capricorn 39)

Chrysolite

Savory

Savory juice with an equal amount of the herb called fumitory and with a little of the stone called turonso, etc. grants favor with beasts, protects from scabies, that is, against demons, nocturnal phantoms, and fears.

Cauda Capricornis

Tail of Capricorn

Deneb Algedi

(23 Aquarius47)

Chalcedony

Marjoram

Marjoram juice put under a chalcedony with its proper character, the Moon conjunct the tail of Capricorn rising, gives favor in lawsuits, improves the home in which it is kept, keeps it [the home] secure, and increases all manner of riches.







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Specializing in Horary Astrology, Electional Astrology Astrological Magic and Astrological Talismans.

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