Ancient Magic: Selected Picatrix Translations and Commentary by Selected Translations (2012)

Author:Selected Translations (2012)
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Spiritual & Religion
Publisher: Renaissance Astrology
Published: 2012-03-02T05:00:00+00:00

COMMENTARY

In this section we reach the height of both power and complexity in astrological magic, the house based talisman. This level of sophistication was attained by the Harranian Sabians, pagan followers of Hermes Trismegistus who survived into the medieval period and transmitted much of their esoteric knowledge to the advanced Islamic civilization of the Middle East. We have seen that in making planetary talismans we seek to elect a time when the particular planet is strong, to get the basic energy of the planet. House based talismans are much more complex and mysterious. A planet and thus a planetary talisman always has the same basic effect for everyone. Houses, however, are divisions of local space and vary depending on the time of day and location. These house rulers are like cast members of a play with various roles to play which they change among themselves depending on the time, date and location. A planet when acting as a house ruler is often very different from its basic nature. Jupiter, for example, the Greater Benefic, when he is the ruler of the eighth house, the house of death, kills just as effectively as the Malefics, Saturn and Mars. Still, his basic nature still comes into play because Jupiter ruling the eighth house gives a death by natural causes, rather than by violent means. 2

A house talisman very emphatically reminds us, as Picatrix states in Book I, Chapter 2, that the creation of a talisman involves the action of spirit on body. The Renaissance mage Cornelius Agrippa says,

But know this that such images work nothing, unless they be so vivified that either a naturall or Celestiall, or Heroicall, or animasticall, or demoniacal, or angelicall vertue be in them, or assistant to them. But who can give a soul to an image, or make a stone to live, or mettal, or wood, or wax? and who can raise out of stones children unto Abraham? Certanly this Arcanum doth not enter into an Artist of a stiffe neck; neither can he give those things which hath them not. No body hath them but he who doth (the Elements being restrained, nature being overcome, the Heavens being over-powered) transcend the progress of Angels, and comes to the very Archetype it self, of which being then made a cooperator may do all things, as we shall speak afterwards 3

The house talisman election, therefore, is the natal chart of a being. Its body being what we consider the talisman, a pendant, ring or statuette, and its soul being infused into it through the appropriate planetary house rulers.

In terms of electional instructions Picatrix gives us many specific and interesting examples of magical technique. One is to make two talismans for a particular purpose and to connect the talismans by making the Ascendant of the talisman for the person to be affected same sign or even degree of sign of the appropriate house cusp of the other talisman. To make a talisman for love, the seventh house of the first talisman becomes the first of the second talisman; they are connected by love.

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