Aldebaran Talisman
for Riches and Honor from Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy
And at that time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth up
for the children of my people; and there shall be
a time of trouble, such as there never was since there
was a nation even to that same time, and at that time
the people shall be delivered...
Daniel 12:1
This week we again turn to
Cornelius Agrippa'sThree Books of Occult Philosophy
for our example of
Astrological Magic and
Astrological Talismans.
This week's talisman is another example of the use of fixed stars in astrological magic
utilizing the star Aldebaran.
Aldebaran comes from the Arabic Al Dabaran "the
Follower" as it follows the Pleiades. Aldebaran is also known as Alpha Tauri as
the brightest star in the constellation Taurus and Oculus Tauri the Bull's Eye.
Aldebaran is a first magnitude star and one of the brightest in the Heavens.
Aldebaran is a red giant and is described as having
a pale rose color. Ptolemy, in his says that Aldebaran is of the
nature of Mars. Tetrabiblos Bk. I, Chapter 9 (Loeb, 1940)
page 47.
Robson says that Aldebaran is one of the four Royal Stars
or Watchers of the Heavens. Fixed Stars & Constellations in Astrology (1923) page
119. These stars were later associated with four archangels: Aldebaran with Michael,
Fomalhaut with Gabriel, Regulus with Raphael and Antares with Uriel.
Agrippa says that, "Under Aldebora [Aldebaran] they made
an image after the likeness of God, or of a flying man; it giveth riches and honor."
Three Books of Occult Philosophy Bk. II, Chapter 47,
(Tyson ed.) page 395.
Interestingly enough the name of Michael, the archangel
associated with Aldebaran, means "he who is like God". The association of Michael with
Aldebaran, a Martial star, is also appropriate as Michael is the archistrategist, the
general of God. In the Book of Revelations it says, "And there was war in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels..."
Revelation 12:7.
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 November 30, 2001 at 4:45 pm EDT (+4)
in Washington, D.C. 38 N 55, 77 W 03, Aldebaran, located at 9 degrees
and 47 minutes of Gemini is rising. We note that
the Moon is applying to a partile (exact to the degree) conjunction of Aldebaran
on the Ascendant. We would also note that Saturn, retrograde, is conjunct the Ascendant.
Another example of the maxim that it is difficult to find a perfect election!
Agrippa says, "...Aldebaran, which hath under it,
among stones, the carbuncle and ruby; amongst plants, the milky thistle
[Carduus marianus], and matry-silva [woodruff, Asperula odorata]."
Three Books of Occult Philosophy Bk. I, Chapter 32, (Tyson ed.) page 98.
Agrippa also gives the characters for some of the
most important fixed stars, including Aldebaran, 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.
