The word talisman comes from the Greek telesma
meaning a sacred or consecrated object. An amulet, on the other hand is
from the Latin amuletum which is a more narrow classification of
objects with a protective function. A key part of astrological talismans and amulets
that that their creation must be precisely timed by traditional
electional astrology.
If talismans and amulets are not an astrologically appropriate time and ritually
consecrated they just pieces of jewelry with
astrological designs, without magical power.
Planetary talismans are an important subset of the larger subject of
astrological talismans.
Talismans, which rely on spiritual causality
are logical under a spiritual worldview and have played a rold Western culture for many
centuries. Magi of the like Marsilio Ficino
and Cornelius Agrippa envisioned the Cosmos as one great,
unified Being, with all things in it connected by harmonies, sympathies and correspondences,
both spiritual and material. Astrology, Magic and Alchemy, the Hermetic Sciences,
were seen as studies in preparation for
Hermetic Gnosis, and as a hands on
method of experiencing the unity of the Cosmos.
Here on the Renaissance Astrology website are
resources for both practitioners and students of authentic Renaissance and medieval
astrological magic. The information here has been carefully
researched out of sources actually written and published before 1700
and cited to author, title and page of these sources for
further reading and study. If you find your interest aroused and wish to
proceed beyond study in this fascinating area, you can look at the authentic
Astrology and Magic Courses on offer.
You also can obtain talismans created according to the authentic traditional methods at
Currently Available talismans.
The key printed sources for Renaissance astrological
magic explaining the authentic method of construction of talismans
are Cornelius Agrippa's
encyclopedic Three Books of Occult Philosophy
and Marsilio Ficino's lyrical
Three Books on Life. That astrology and astrological
magic were associated with evil spirits created concerns about the publication of texts.
However, despite this there are several interesting
printed sources available including The Supreme Mysteries
also known as the Archidoxes of Magic attributed to
Paracelsus and Mysterium Sigillorum
by Israel Hibner.
A large number of astrological magic
texts circulated in manuscript during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Frank Klassen,
a scholar of magic, has a useful list of library holdings of
Manuscripts of Astrological Image
Magic. Probably the most important astrological magic manuscripts was the
Picatrix or Ghayat al Hikam, "the Aim of the
Wise". Written around AD 1000 and translated into Latin in 1256 at the court of
Alphonso the Wise of Castile, Picatrix was probably the most influential of
all texts on astrological magic. Agrippa and Ficino both cite the Picatrix
at length. Here are Agrippa's
Planetary Talismans which
derive very closely from Picatrix.
It is important to understand that
Astrological Magic used in making
Astrological Talismans depends to a great
degree on the cycles of the stars and planets. Thus it is essential that we chose
an auspicious time to make talisman. I watch carefully and chose just the right
time for my jeweler to cast these unique works of magic and art.
These authentic talismans are available in only in limited editions, hand cast,
and each is unique. Here are the
Currently Available Talismans.
By choosing the planet or other astrological factor
the mage can capture particular energies and cause particular effects.
In traditional Western astrological
magic, as opposed to modern Vedic practice, this choice appears to have been task oriented.
Rather than looking at a birth chart initially, the mage asked the client what effect
they wished, for example, wealth, love, health, etc., and then chose a talisman that
would produce that effect.
The mage would then look at the state of the
Heavens to see if it is auspicious for a particular talisman. The mage may also base
a talisman on the birth chart of the client, a horary question
or even the horoscope of a city, region or country, to base a talisman.
To be an astrological magician requires a mastery of of the theory and practice of
traditional
Electional Astrology. Using
electional astrology, the mage chooses a time when the particular astrological
factor is dignifed and properly positioned.
Aafter choosing an auspicious time, the magician
gathers the appropriate materials to make the talisman. Each planet rule
particular metals and gemstones. At the elected time the magician makes
the talisman. All of my talismans are cast from precious metals, but talismans
can also be engraved, inscribed or stamped or even written onlast longer
as the Renaissance philosopher Marsilio Ficino
says, "gems and metals, though they seem too hard for accepting a celestial
influence, nevertheless retain it longer if they receive it." Three Books on Life,
Book III, chapter 14.
After the talisman is made using the sigil, signs,
images and characters prescribed by our authentic texts, the magician then uses a
ritual to consecrate the talisman. This both charges the talisman with the energy of the
chosen and invokes the spirit ruling the chosen astrological factor
who infuses the talisman with its powers. Then the talisman is either worn
or put the magician wishes the effects of the talisman to manifest.
The most popular form of talismans are the
talismans of the seven traditional planets. We use the
Natures
of the Planets each of which, Saturn,
Jupiter, Mars,
the Sun, Venus,
Mercury and the Moon each of which
has different
effect and rules different activities and things.
Below are examples of planetary talismans with charts for their creation below.
I also provide a
Planetary Magic Mini-Course
which teaches how to make the traditional talismans of the planets.
We first look atSaturn
the Greater Malefic. Saturn, like Mars, the Lesser Malefic,
has an energy that is necessary, but often
difficult to deal with. He is associated with melancholy and death as well as
agriculture, construction, occult studies, solidity and discipline. Until
approximately 2010 Saturn will not be in a state that is appropriate
for talismans. Here is an example of a Saturn
talisman from the encyclopedic book of astrological magic,
Picatrix.
Jupiter
Next isJupiter
the Greater Benefic who is perenially popular being associated with
good fortune, justice, prosperity and authority. Here are examples
of Jupiter talismans, with actual horoscopes for their creation.
Next isMars
the Lesser Malefic, who is rules courage, strength, fortitude, victory
as well as war. Here are examples
of Mars talismans, with actual charts for their creation.
Next isthe Sun,
who rules fame, healing, authority and nobility.
Here are a number of examples of Sun talismans, with actual charts
for their creation.
While the following are called talismans of the signs,
they are more appropriate called Sun talismans, because they are prepared when
the Sun is placed in their signs. They come from the
The Supreme Mysteries
also known as the Archidoxes of Magic attributed to
Paracelsus.
Next isVenus,
the Lesser Benefic, ruling friendship, love, art, beauty. and music.
Here are examples of Venus talismans, with actual charts
for their creation.
Next isMercury,
ruling business, communication, eloquence, memory and learning.
Here are examples of Mercury talismans, with actual charts
for their creation.
Next isthe Moon,
ruling messages, travel, communications, prophecy and divination, a
nd the the birth, life and death of all things in the Material World.
Here are examples of Moon talismans,
with actual horoscopes for their creation.
If you are interested in astrological
magic and astrological talismans the Renaissance Astrology website contains
over 400 pages of research on traditional astrology
and magic. This is a useful page of
Astrology and Magic Books some of which are available directly from
Renaissance Astrology, while links are given for other useful book sources.
If you are interested in discussing and learning about
Renaissance Astrology, particulary Astrological Magic, the construction of
talismans and the magical use of
Electional Astrology , you may wish to
subscribe to
Spiritus Mundi my e-group
devoted to traditional (pre-1700) astrology.
For those that desire to delve deeper into Astrology and magic
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.
Please Contact me with any questions.