Talisman for a Slave to Gain Sympathy from his Master
from Book One, Chapter Five of Picatrix
This week's talisman continues a series of comparisons
of the new English translation from Arabic of the Picatrix from
Ouroboros Press and the Latin Picatrix
edited by David Pingree which is
available from the
Warburg Institute.
The Picatrix
is an encyclopedic work of medieval Arabic
astrological magic. It had great influence on
Renaissance mages like Cornelius Agrippa and
Marsilio Ficino and was unpublished, in any language, until
modern times. We are therefore fortunate to have the Ouroboros translation of the
first two books of Picatrix. Comparison between the Latin and Ouroboros
Picatrix, however, makes the Ouroboros translation clearer.
While the election for the week of
October 7-13 involved the
Commanding and Obedient signs
this week's election makes a similar use of the
Superior and Inferior planets.
We turn to the first complete talisman on page 34 of the
Ouroboros translation of Book One, Chapter Five of Picatrix.
A talisman for a slave to gain the sympathy of his master
Make two talismans: one in the hour of a high planet whereas
the ascendant is high and the Moon is increasingly bright and let the ascendant of
Al-Ras be with the ascendant or in one of the poles; the other in the hour of a lower
planet and the ascendant and Al-Ashir of the first ascendant and the tail are either
in the above ascendant or one of the poles. Combine them and bury them in the location
of the person for whom you wish to create sympathy and his master will have total
sympathy for him and give him whatever he wants, Allah willing.
Here is the corresponding talisman from the Latin
Picatrix
An image that slaves might love their master.
Let there be two images, of which one should be made in the hour of any of
the superior planets and with the Moon increasing in light, with the North Node
in the First, Fourth, Seventh or Tenth House. And fashion the second image in
the hour of any of the inferior planets, and let the Ascendant [of the second image]
be within the Tenth house of the first image, and let the South Node be placed
in the First, Fourth, Seventh or Tenth houses. And when these two images have
been made in this fashion, join them together face to face and bury them in
the place of those whose love is desired.
Translation by Robert Thomas
Based on the Latin Picatrix we would alter the
Ouroboros translation as follows,
Make two talismans: one in the hour of a [Superior]
planet and the Moon is [waxing]
and let [the North Node be in the Ascendant or another angular house];
[Make] the other [talisman] in the hour of [an Inferior]
planet and [let the Ascendant of the second talisman be in the 10th house of
the first talisman] and [let the South Node be in the Ascendant or another angular house]
Combine them and bury them in the location
of the person for whom you wish to create sympathy and his master will have total
sympathy for him and give him whatever he wants, Allah willing.
Note that the Ouroboros translation says that this set of
talismans is for a master to love his slave, while the Latin says that it is for
a slave to love his master.
This set of talismans calls for two separate elections.
The first is for October 15, 2002 at 8:40 pm EDT (+4) for Cleveland Park,
a neighborhood of Washington, D.C., 38 N 56, 77 W 03.
It is the
planetary hour of Mars, a Superior planet. The North Node is in the Ascendant.
The Moon is waxing.
The second election is for October 16, 2002 at
3:37 p.m. EDT (+4) for Cleveland Park, a neighborhood of Washington,
D.C., 38 N 56, 77 W 03. It is the planetary hour of the Moon, an Inferior planet.
The Ascendant of the second chart is 16 degrees of Aquarius which is in the 10th
house of the first chart. The South Node is in the 10th house, an angular house.
Here is further information on
Astrological Talismans
and Astrological Magic. If you
wish to delve even deeper into this fascinating area I offer an
Mansions of the Moon Mini-Course and
a Astrological Magic Full Course
as well as a traditional astrology and astrological magic discussion
group Spiritus Mundi.