Renaissance Astrology Home Page TALISMANS HORARY READINGS COURSES BOOKS CDs SOFTWARE PAYMENT CONTACT SEARCH

Astrological Chart of the Week
Christopher Warnock, Esq.
Current Astrological Chart
For March 2009
HOME


Chart of the Week Archive
January 2009: Love/Wealth Talisman
Astrological Talisman
Currently Available Talismans
Astrology and Magic Courses
Astrological Magic Course
Planetary Magic Mini-Course
Lunar Mansions Mini-Course
Geomancy Mini-Course
Electional Astrology Course
Horary Astrology Course
Astrology and Magic Books
Renaissance Astrology
CD Library
Renaissance Astrology
Facsimile Editions
Web Site Search
Web Site Search
Joseph Smith

Jupiter Talismans

AND

Jupiter Pentacles

from the

Greater Key of Solomon


The current chart is a fascinating dual use election. We will be using it to cast both the "Joseph Smith" Jupiter talismans and complete sets of all 7 Jupiter pentacles from the Greater Key of Solomon. Here is a separate page on the Greater Key Jupiter Pentacles.
The Joseph Smith Jupiter talisman is actually a talisman design from early 19th century esoteric author or rather compiler, Francis Barrett. Barrett's The Magus was published in London in 1801 and is made up of selections from Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy, the Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy attributed to Agrippa and the Robert Turner's 1655 translation of the Heptameron of Peter of Abano. Barrett made a few modifications and modernized the spelling and syntax of these selections.
Francis Barrett's Jupiter Talisman
Nevertheless, as the modern scholar of religion and magic, D. Michael Quinn notes the Magus had a great influence despite only one printing,

"Barrett's book was not reprinted until 1875. Nonetheless, Francis King's study of the Western tradition of magic noted that the first edition of the Magus, 'played an important part in the English revival of magic'. Antoine Faivre has also emphasized Barrett's book in the general European revival of magic during the first decades of the 1800's."

D. Michael Quinn, Early Mormonism and the Magic World View (Signature, 1998) page 21.
Joseph Smith's Jupiter Talisman
Barret's book also played a significant role in one of the most interesting discoveries and subsequent controversies involving Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormons or Church of Latter Day Saints.
In 1974 Dr. Reed C. Durham, a Mormon and noted scholar of Mormon history gave a lecture entitled, "Is there no help for the Widow's Son?". Durham revealed a medal worn by Joseph Smith and long thought to be a Masonic emblem was, in fact, a talisman of Jupiter. Smith's talisman appears to left.
What is interesting to note is that Smith's Jupiter talisman is almost identical to the example given by Barrett above and to the right. This format is not provided in either Agrippa's Latin original nor the English translation of 1651 by John Freake. The illustration in the English translation appears below to right. Note the break in the seal which seems to be a printer's error and does not appear in the Latin original though it is faithfully copied in the Magus and Smith's talisman.
1651 J.F. translation Jupiter seal
Not surprisingly this discovery caused an immense amount of controversy as opponents of Mormonism seized on it to attack the LDS Church with charges of occultism and magic and LDS adherents attempted to undermine the significance and provenance of the talisman. As a practitioner of occult philosophy I had a somewhat different reaction to the talisman. Rather than seeing the use of magic and astrology as evidence against Joseph Smith I had greater respect for him and the coherence of his world view.
That being said I have no desire to be drawn into the battle that still rages concerning Joseph Smith, occult philosophy and the Church of Latter Day Saints. My interest here is in the diffusion and survival of talismanic magic after the Enlightenment.

Chart produced by Solar Fire 5

The election is for 4:47 am MDT, March 27, 2009 for Boulder, Colorado, where the talismans will be cast. Jupiter rises, it is Jupiter day and the planetary hourof Jupiter. Jupiter is the mixed triplicity ruler of air and the Moon sextiles Jupiter.
You might also be interested in my Renaissance Astrology CD Library Series, with over 120 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, Horary Astrology Course and Astrological Magic Course.




TOP


HOME



Please Contact me with any Questions & Comments

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

Copyright 2008, Christopher Warnock, All Rights Reserved.