Our main source for
astrological magic and
astrological talismans is
Picatrix, a 10th century encyclopedia of
astral magic and philosophy compiled from
many earlier works. However, we should remember that Picatrix, while definitely the
most popular and well known in Europe, was only one of many astrological magic works in Arabic
Like Picatrix, Astromagia and other
astrology and magic texts were translated in the 13th century
at the court of Alfonso X of Castile, known
as the Wise. The portions of Astromagia dealing with the
lunar mansions are available as part of the
Mansions of the Moon Mini-Course.
The Book of the Treasure of Alexander was written
in Arabic in the tenth century A.D. and appears to have significant influence derived
the the Harranian Sabians, who preserved Neo-platonic thought and the teachings
of Hermes Trismegistus into the medieval period.
The figure of Alexander the Great exerted significant
influence over not only the West, but also India and the great
Islamic civilization of the Middle Ages. Alexander, under
the guise of Dhu'l Qurain, the Horned One, possibly deriving from his portraits
as Zeus-Ammon, appears in the Quran, in sura 18 as a great ruler who raised a great
wall of brass and iron against the oppressors, Gog and Magog. The Alexander
Romance includes tales of Alexander's descent into the depths of the sea,
ascent in a flying machine and journey to the Water of Life, aka, the Fountain of
Youth.
The fact that Aristotle, known in the medieval
period simply as "the Philosopher" tutored Alexander gave rise to a whole genre of
magical and astrological texts. The 14th century philosopher and
mage Albertus Magnus writes in his
Speculum Astronomiae, the Mirror of Astronomy, of the worst of all
necromatic texts, "...which begins Dixit Aristotles Alexandro regni: Si
vis percipere etc." ("Aristotle said to Alexander the King: If you want to perceive,etc.)
This is the one some call Mors animae (the Death of the Soul)". Speculum
Astronomiae, ch. 12.
The planetary rings described in the Book of the
Treasure of Alexander seem firmly within the tradition of Sabian Hermetic
astrological magic. Despite some idiosyncracies, the metals, images and effects
attributed to the planets seem quite familiar to those steeped in Picatrix.
One interesting feature of the rings is
that their elections are based upon the
exaltations of the planets, rather than their signs. According to tradition,
the exaltations of the planets reveal the original position at the time of Creation.
Note that while traditionally the planet was considered to be exalted throughout
the sign of its exaltation, originally the planet was exalted at a particular degree
in that sign. Even in later practice being in the degree of its exaltation was
considered to increase the planet's dignity.
Planetary Rings from the
Book of the Treasure of Alexander
The ring of Saturn is for quelling
the passions [lacunae] and exorcising evil spirits and ghosts. The owner of the ring
will cause his enemies to fear him and he will be respected by the populace and he
will be without challengers due to their fear of him. Beware of too frequently
carrying the ring of Saturn for it quells the passions.
Make this ring when Saturn reaches
the twenty-first degree of Libra or the tenth degree of Aquarius.
The Moon should behold Saturn and if Saturn is in Libra, then the
Moon should be in Aquarius and if Saturn is in Aquarius the Moon should
be in Libra. Mars should be in cadent to Saturn.
When this configuration is reached then make
a ring of one ounce of lead with a square signet. Inscribe on the signet
the image of an old man wearing a helmet and riding a black horse.
He is holding in his left hand a sword raised above his head and on his
left he holds a shield. Anoint the signet with the blood of a black ox.
Complete the ring while Saturn is in or returns to
the aforementioned degree. If you cannot finish it in the aforementioned
configuration wait until the Moon again returns to the aforementioned aspects
and signs or is in Cancer.
The ring of Jupiter is for the strengthening of
the heart and the alleviation of heart pains, fainting and [lacunae].
He who carries the ring of Jupiter will be popular, well respected and
praised. He will be victorious in his disputes and his endeavors will be fruitful.
Make this ring when Jupiter reaches the fifteenth
degree of Cancer with the Moon in Cancer making a [favorable] aspect.
When this configuration is reached make a ring of one ounce of tin with a
square signet. Inscribe on the signet the image of a man riding a lion and
with a sword in his right hand and a bow in his left hand.
Do not wear this ring until Jupiter conjoins
the Moon in Cancer, preferably in the fifteenth degree [of that sign].
If you carry it then the aforementioned will take place if the wearer
of this ring remains personally pure and does not enter impure places
Anoint the signet of this ring with the blood
of a fish and the ring will make the wearer brave and valiant and preserve
him from thieves and injuries in battle.
The ring of Mars is for victory over opponents
and the removal of fears if worn by night as well as protection against serpents,
stinging insects and wild animals who will avoid whomever carries this ring.
Make this ring when Mars is in the twenty
first degree of Capricorn with the Moon making a [favorable] aspect from Scorpio.
This ring should be make of one ounce of iron with a square signet. Inscribe on
the signet the image of a helmeted warrior riding a horse with a spear
in his left hand tipped with a scarlet flag.
Anoint the signet with the blood of a lion and
the wearer will be protected from paralysis, fear, fevers and
those illnesses arising from cold.
Take two ounces of pure gold and when
the Sun is in the 19th degree of Aries, which is the degree of his
exaltation, irregardless of whether [the Sun] is in the Ascendant, and
mold a ring with signet of one ounce. Inscribe on the signet the image of
a seated and crowned man with a long spear in his hand.
Do not
begin your work until the Sun enters [the appropriate] degree
and ensure that the work is completed while the Sun is in this degree.
If the ring is not completed then wait until the Sun enters this degree again.
Once the ring is finished retain it until
the Moon conjoins the Sun in Leo.
Whoever carries this ring will be exalted and honored by kings and all who
behold him will be in awe and no one will [wish] to harm him.
The ring of Venus is for mercy, the love of women
and passion and whomever wears it will be cheerful and contented.
It is for the relief of difficulties attending birth and pregnancy in women.
Make this ring when Venus enters the
twenty-eighth degree of Pisces
and makes a sextile to the Moon in Taurus and Mars is in Scorpio.
When this configuration is present make
a ring of one half ounce of copper with a square signet and inscribe
on the signet the image of a seated women with her hair undone being
watched by a woman to her right who is bejeweled and wearing a gown of green cloth
Do not wear this ring until the Moon and
Venus conjoin in Pisces, preferably in the twenty-fifth degree [of that sign]
or when the Moon is in Cancer and aspecting Venus with a sextile or trine.
The ring of Mercury is for [success] as a
counselor, clerk or scribe and for rhetoric, knowledge and wisdom, as
well as divination by dreams. It is for the relief of melancholy and
for the ailments of the blood and liver. The ring of Mercury will
make one who is flighty and capricious serious and sedate.
Make this ring when Mercury is in the
fifteenth degree of Virgo and in conjunction, sextile or trine of the Moon.
When this configuration is present mix iron,
gold and silver and from this mixture take a half ounce and make a ring
with a square signet.
Then, when the Moon conjoins
Mercury in Gemini or Virgo, preferably in the fifteenth degree of
that sign, inscribe on the signet the image of a crowned man,
clothed in green and yellow, seated while reading a book
Do not wear the ring until the Moon
is cadent from Gemini or Virgo and making a positive aspect to Mercury.
The ring of the Moon is for pacifying
the uproars of the populace and dispersing rioters. Whoever carries
[the ring of the Moon] will
always be successful in farming and gardening and that which is
planted by his hand will be fruitful.
A traveler who carries [the ring of the Moon]
will always be protected when voyaging by sea or on
water. Lowered into the water, [the ring of the Moon]
will make storm stormy seas or tides calm [lacunae].
Make this ring of one ounce of pure
silver when the Moon enters the 3rd degree of Taurus [her exaltation]
when she is applying to a sextile or trine of Venus and is more than
sixty degrees distant from the Sun.
The signet [of the ring] should be
circular and inscribed with the image of a crowned man holding a
spear in his right and a string knotted thirty times, such as those
that are used for measuring, in his left hand, riding in a chariot
drawn by four horses.
Do all of the work [on the ring]
while the Moon is in Taurus. If you are unable to finish during this time,
begin again when the Moon next returns [to this degree and aspect].
