Love Talisman from Book One, Chapter Five of
Picatrix
This week's talismans begin 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Marsilio Ficino and was unpublished, in any language, until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.
We begin with the first talisman on page 31 of the
Ouroboros translation of Book One, Chapter Five of Picatrix.
A talisman for two lovers to get together and to have a long-lasting relationship
Talismans of this type are made when the ascendant is in the
hour of Jupiter and Al-Ras and the Moon together with Venus are conjunct to them or
facing them and when the sign of Al-Sabi is connected to the sign of the ascendant in
a triangular or a hexagonal form. Combine them side by side and bury them in the
location of love. A talisman of this type is also made for a man who leaves his
family whom you wish to have return.
Here is the corresponding talisman from the Latin
Picatrix
Cum ymaginem facere volueris ad amorem inter duos ponendum et quod eorum amor et
dilectio habeat roboris firmitatem, facies ymagines amborum in suis similtudinibus.
Et fiant in hora Jovis vel Veneris, et Caput Draconis sit in ascendente, et
Luna sit sum Venere vel eam aspiciat bono aspectu, et dominus 7 domus aspiciat
dominum prime domus trino aut sextili aspectu. Et postea dictas ymagines insimul
iunge amplexatas et subterra eas in loco alterius eorum -- illius scilicet quem
vis ut magis diligat alium. Et fiet quod volueris.
Here is the translation this passage
of the Latin Picatrix
If you desire to fashion images to place love between two people, and that of
them love and affection should be made strong and strengthened,
fashion images of the two [people] in their likenesses. And let this be
done in the hour of Jupiter or Venus, and let the North Node [be] placed in the
Ascendant, and let the Moon [be] with Venus or aspecting her with a good aspect,
and let the lord of the 7th house aspect the lord of the Ascendant with a trine
or sextile aspect. And after this, I say join the images together face to face,
and bury them in a different place - that is to say, [the place] of that other
who is beloved by the magician . And it shall be as you desire.
Translation by Robert Thomas
Based on the Latin Picatrix we would alter the
Ouroboros translation as follows,
Talismans of this type are made [in the hour of Jupiter]
when [the North Node is in] the ascendant and the Moon [is beholding or conjunct] Venus
and when the [lord] of [the 7th house] is connected to the [lord] of the ascendant in
a [trine or sextile]. Combine them side by side and bury them in the
location of love. A talisman of this type is also made for a man who leaves his
family whom you wish to have return.
The election for this mansion illustrates why we do
not try to satisfy very many factors in Electional
Astrology as the first election I could find that fits in is 2010!
In this election for August 3, 2010
at 5:53 pm EDT (+4) for Washington, D.C.
38 N 56, 77 W 03, 2 degrees of Capricorn rises and the North Node is
at 11 degrees. This is a little far from the Ascendant, but we will take it!
With 2 degrees of Capricorn rising, Venus is the almuten (co-ruler)
of the Ascendant and the Moon is the ruler of the 7th house.
The Moon applies to
a trine of Venus. Thus we
can double up on the requirement of a positive Moon/Venus aspect and
a positive 1st/7th ruler aspect. It is also Venus hour. If anyone
can come up with an election closer in time that fits the bill I'd be
interested in seeing it.
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.
