The current astrological charts are two talismans of the
eleventh and twelfth Lunar Mansions. These two
mansions are an interesting illustration of the many cultural traditions that
have contributed to traditional astrology, the astrology practiced between
1200 and 1700 in Europe.
While we tend to regard the twelve Zodiacal and thirty
six extra-Zodiacal constellations as canonical, they are, in fact, only one method
of dividing the fixed stars into constellations known
as the sphaera graecanica, literally the Greek sphere. There were other
methods used in the ancient world, known to the Greeks as the sphaera barbarica,
the non-Greek sphere. While the sphaera barbarica were predominately
Babylonian and Egyptian, the Arabs also had their own constellations.
In his Tafnim or Elements of Instruction in
the Art of Astrology, the tenth century Islamic astrologer and philosopher
Al-Biruni discusses some of the Arabic constellations.
One of the most important was Al-Asad, the Arabic Lion, which contains the
11th and 12th Mansions of the Moon.
Al-Biruni says of the Arabs that, "...their Lion is
fashioned out of some five constellations, only the eyes, forehead, neck and shoulders
and the tail-tuft belong to Leo, while they make the foreleg out of the heads of
Gemini, the other [leg] out of Canis minor, the nose out of Cancer and the hind legs
of the two simaks [Arcturus and Spica]. Tafnim, section 163.
With regard to the Mansions of the Moon, the Arabic lion
extends from the 7th to the 14th mansions. The 7th is the foreleg; the 8th the nose;
the 9th, the eyes, the 10th, the forehead, the 11th, the mane, the 12th, the tip of the
tail, the 13th, Al-Biruni says are dogs barking after the lion, the 14th, the hind legs
of the lion. Tafnim, section 164.
What is interesting about the 11th and 12th mansions is
that they derive from the Arabic constellation of the lion which encompasses the smaller
constellation Leo. The 11th mansion is called Al-Zubrah, the mane, even though it is located in the hindquarters of
Leo. The 12th mansion, is called Al-Sarfah, the tail, and
is also the tail of Leo. Tafnim, section 164.
Not only are their names derived from the Lion, but also
their images, incense and effects. According to the Arabic astrological
magic text, Astromagia,
translated in the 13th century at the court of Alphonso the Wise of Castile, the
image of the 11th mansion is, "...the figure of a lion and a knight [sitting on]
it holding by it by the ears and [inscribe] the name of the lord of the mansion."
and the image of the 12th mansion is, " the figure of a man with a weapon in his hand
[holding?] the tail of a lion, and [inscribe also] the name of the lord of the mansion."
Astromagia (Translation by Jose Manuel Redondo Ornelas,
edited by Christopher Warnock)
The image of the 11th mansion in
Picatrix is almost identical,"...a man riding a lion,
holding a lance in his right hand and holding the ear of the lion with his left
[hand]," but the image of the 12th mansion is, "image of a dragon fighting with a man."
Picatrix, Bk. IV, Ch. 9, (translation by Robert Thomas).
Interestingly, however, the incense prescribed by
Astromagia for the 11th mansion is hair from between a lion's eyes and the
incense of 12th mansion is the hair from a lion's tail, while the
incense prescribed by Picatrix for the 12th mansion
is lion's hair mixed with asafoetida. Perhaps
the image of the 12th in Picatrix was originally a man fighting a lion!
Finally the effects of the talismans of the 11th and
12th mansions are appropriate for their leonine imagery. The 11th mansion according
to Astromagia is for "that kings do what you wish, that it gives you power against
them and against princes and nobles..." Picatrix says that the 11th mansion is to,
"...bring glory to me that I shall be feared by men, and so that
their fear shall cause them to tremble when they behold me; and quiet
the heart of the king and of [his] lords and of [other] men of high estate
that they may grant me honors and dignities." The 12th mansion according
to Astromagia is for the flight of enemies, and according to Picatrix
for discord.
The elected time and date for the
11th mansion is 2:25 pm, EST on
March 21, 2005 for Cleveland Park, a neighborhood of Washington, D.C. 38 N 56 77 W 03.
At this time the Moon rises in the 11th Mansion which
extends from the 8th degree and 36th minute of Leo to 25th degree and the 2nd minute of Leo.
The Moon is waxing and unafflicted. You can find more information from Picatrix
on the talisman of the 11th mansion here.
The elected time and date for the
12th mansion is 3:25 pm, EST on
March 21, 2005 for Cleveland Park, a neighborhood of Washington, D.C. 38 N 56 77 W 03.
At this time the Moon rises in the 12th Mansion which
25th degree 2nd minute and 44th second of Leo, and is completed in the
4th degree 17th minute and 6th second of Virgo.
The Moon is waxing and unafflicted. You can find more information from Picatrix
on the talisman of the 12th mansion here.
Here is further information on
Astrological Talismans
and Astrological Magic, plus my main page on
The Mansions of the Moon,
Listing of the Mansions of the Moon in Picatrix,
Lunar Mansions in the Magus,
Lunar Mansions Talismans and
The Natal Moon in her Mansions
You might also be interested in my
Renaissance Astrology CD Library,
with 52 rare astrology and magic books as well as my Facsimile Editions of unique
Astrology and Magic Books and
my discussion group Spiritus Mundi.
If you
wish to delve even deeper into this fascinating area I offer my
Planetary Magic Mini-Course
and
Mansions of the Moon Mini-Course,
which allow students to immediately start making talismans and elections and are
a great introduction to my longer
Electional Astrology Course, and
Astrological Magic Course.