Renaissance Astrology Talismans in the British Museum

The permanent collection of the British Museum includes two authentic astrological talismans produced by Renaissance Astrology in 2011: the Mercury Hebrew astrological amulet and the Venus Hebrew astrological amulet. These silver planetary talismans are contemporary examples of the Renaissance astrological magic tradition.

The British Museum catalogue identifies Christopher Warnock as responsible for casting the astrological horoscopes that determined their most propitious times of production. The Venus talisman was created on March 31, 2011, and the Mercury talisman on June 4, 2011.

The Museum describes the talismans as “Twenty-first century version[s] of a silver Hebrew Renaissance style planetary talisman based upon a design first described by Cornelius Agrippa in 1531.” Their inclusion in the British Museum documents the work of Renaissance Astrology in preserving and continuing the practice of traditional astrological magic as a living art in the twenty-first century.

Traditional Astrological Readings

Renaissance Astrology offers written astrological readings using the traditional methods of the European Middle Ages and Renaissance. Available readings include horary astrology, natal astrology, relationship astrology and electional astrology.

Every reading is personally prepared by Christopher Warnock. Modern astrological software is used only to calculate the chart accurately; the interpretation and prediction are performed individually and are not generated automatically. Each client receives a written explanation of the astrological factors, interpretation, prediction and practical implications. Follow-up questions can be discussed by email after the client receives the reading. Readings are in writing not by Zoom or phone.

Horary astrology answers a serious and specific question by interpreting an astrological chart cast for the time the question is received and understood by the astrologer. Horary can determine the likely outcome and timing of concrete events, evaluate choices and provide practical guidance. Christopher Warnock has completed over 4,000 horary readings for clients using the traditional methods of astrologers such as Guido Bonatti and William Lilly. Learn more about horary astrology.

Natal astrology uses the chart of the date, time and location of birth to examine lifelong patterns, strengths, difficulties and spiritual influences. Renaissance Astrology natal readings include:

• Full Natal Reading — a comprehensive traditional analysis of the birth chart.
• Mage's Reading — an examination of the magical and esoteric powers, potentials and challenges shown in the birth chart.
• Spiritual Path Reading — an examination of spiritual influences and the native’s individual spiritual path.

Renaissance Astrology also offers relationship readings, including the Compatibility Reading, Complete Relationship Reading and Soul Mate Reading. These readings use natal astrology, horary astrology or a combination of both to examine relationships and compatibility.

Electional astrology selects an astrologically auspicious date and time to begin an important activity. It can be used for weddings, business launches, property listings and other significant beginnings in order to improve the prospects for a successful outcome.

Browse Renaissance Astrology readings by subject: Sex, Love and Marriage, Childbirth, Job and Career, Curse Detection, Financial Astrology and Event Charts.

Please contact Christopher Warnock with questions about obtaining a Renaissance Astrology reading.

Traditional Astrology & Astrological Magic Courses

Renaissance Astrology astrology and magic courses teach authentic traditional astrology, astrological magic and geomancy using original medieval and Renaissance sources. Historical techniques and philosophy are carefully explained step by step and then applied in practical lessons.

The courses were created and are taught by Christopher Warnock, a professional traditional astrologer and astrological magician with more than twenty years of experience and co-translator of the complete English translation of the Picatrix. Students learn directly from the traditional sources while receiving Warnock’s explanation, guidance and practical experience.

These are self-paced correspondence courses rather than scheduled live classes. They require a laptop or desktop computer with a web browser and are available by download. Courses include written lessons and PDF copies of relevant traditional texts. Some courses additional course texts which are available in paperback or as Kindle ebooks. The paperback course texts can be purchased at a discount when buying the initial course. There are no grades, tests or completion deadlines. Students work through the lessons in order and may ask questions about the material in their current lesson.

Mini-courses provide compact, practical introductions to particular forms of astrological magic and geomancy. They are self-contained, require no previous astrological training and include the necessary specialized software. Students can immediately begin applying the traditional techniques taught in the course.

• Planetary Magic Mini-Course — planetary hours, planetary spirits and planetary talismans.
• Mansions of the Moon Mini-Course — elections and talismans for the twenty-eight lunar mansions.
• Decan/Face Mini-Course — the thirty-six decans or faces and their traditional talismans.
• Green Magic Mini-Course — traditional lunar timing applied to plants, gardening and ecological magic.
• Geomancy Mini-Course — an introduction to traditional geomantic divination.

Full courses provide a comprehensive and systematic study of a complete branch of traditional astrology or astrological magic:

• Astrological Magic Course — planetary, fixed-star, lunar mansion, decan and complete-chart talismans.
• Horary Astrology Course — concrete prediction through the interpretation of question charts.
• Natal Astrology Course — traditional interpretation of the birth chart and lifelong trends.
• Electional Astrology Course — choosing astrologically auspicious dates and times for important actions.
• Mass Magic Course — the symbolic magic of marketing, media and mass psychology.

Explore all Renaissance Astrology traditional astrology and astrological magic courses. Multiple-course discounts are available when registering for more than one course at the same time. Watch this video about taking a Renaissance Astrology course, or contact Christopher Warnock with questions.

Renaissance Astrology publishes original works and new translations of authentic medieval and Renaissance texts on traditional astrology and astrological magic. Foremost among these is the complete English translation of the Latin Picatrix by Christopher Warnock and John Michael Greer. Picatrix is the key grimoire of astrological magic, combining Hermetic and Neoplatonic philosophy with detailed instructions for astrological elections, talismans and ritual.

A major new book is Telesmanica: Advanced Theory and Practice of Astrological Magic is Christopher Warnock’s complete exposition of astrological magic as a living medieval and Renaissance tradition. It explains the underlying theory and worldview of astrological magic, the electional astrology of talismans, talisman design and creation, and the ritual and devotional practices used to consecrate them.

A key text is The Celestial Way: The Spiritual Path of the Stars and Planets presents traditional astrology and astrological magic as a spiritual path, providing its philosophical foundation, preliminary practices and devotional method. Secrets of Planetary Magic is an introduction to the astrological magic of the seven traditional planets, including planetary hours, planetary elections, talismanic images and planetary ritual.

Visit the Renaissance Astrology book page for the complete collection of books and translations. Many titles are also available as e-books. Readers beginning their study can consult the recommended reading list for traditional astrology and astrological magic.

Renaissance Astrology contains more than 600 pages of articles, original source texts, practical examples and historical material on traditional astrology and astrological magic, in addition to its Astrology & Magic Courses and Astrology & Magic Books.

Traditional astrology uses the methods of medieval and Renaissance astrologers to judge planetary condition, interpret charts and predict outcomes. Learn its central techniques through the pages on Essential Dignities and Aspects, Orbs, Accidental Dignities & Perfection. Explore the traditional meanings and uses of the Planets, the 12 Zodiacal Signs and the 12 Houses.

Astrological magic uses electional astrology to choose auspicious times for creating and consecrating talismans that embody celestial influences. The extensive Astrological Magic resources explain the magic of the Fixed Stars, the use of the Planetary Hours and the electional and talismanic traditions of the 28 Mansions of the Moon.

Astrological Talisman Examples

Study more than 50 examples of actual astrological talisman elections in the Chart of the Week Archive. The Astrological Talismans page provides examples and explanations of Planetary Talismans, Fixed Star Talismans, Lunar Mansion Talismans and House-Based Full-Chart Talismans.

Historical Astrologers and Astrological Magicians

The series of articles on Astrology in the Renaissance examines the history, philosophy and practice of traditional astrology. Renaissance Astrology also provides biographies and source material concerning important astrologers, philosophers and magicians from the Middle Ages through the early modern period.

• Thabit Ibn Qurra   9th-century Harranian Sabian philosopher, astrologer and mage
• Al-Biruni   10th–11th-century Persian scholar and astrologer
• Guido Bonatti   13th-century Italian astrologer
• Albertus Magnus   13th-century philosopher and theologian
• Marsilio Ficino   15th-century priest, astrologer, philosopher and mage
• Cornelius Agrippa   16th-century astrologer, philosopher and mage
• Johannes Trithemius   15th–16th-century abbot, scholar and mage
• Paracelsus   16th-century physician, philosopher and mage
• Giordano Bruno   16th-century philosopher and mage
• William Lilly   17th-century English horary astrologer
• William Ramesey   17th-century English astrologer
• Francis Barrett   18th–19th-century English mage

Shams al-Ma’arif: Arabic Letter Magic and Astrological Talismans

T he Shams al-Ma’arif, “The Sun of Wisdom,” is one of the most widely known and influential works of magic in the Arabic-speaking world. Also written Shams al-Maʿārif or Shams al Maarif, it is traditionally attributed to the 13th-century Sufi and master of the esoteric science of Arabic letters, Ahmad ibn Ali al-Buni. Because no surviving version dates from before the 17th century, current scholarship generally considers the work an early modern compilation rather than a text written directly by al-Buni. This question of authorship does not diminish its immense influence on Arabic magic and Islamic esoteric practice.

Shams al-Ma’arif is much more than a collection of talismanic recipes. Its esoteric cosmology understands the universe as created, ordered and sustained by the divine speech expressed through letters, words and the names of Allah. It combines Arabic letter magic, magic squares, Quranic verses, the Beautiful Names of Allah and astrological timing in the creation of talismans. The correspondence between the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet and the 28 Arabic Mansions of the Moon is especially important.

The Renaissance Astrology Shams al-Ma’arif resource page explains its spiritual philosophy, letter magic, astrological talismans and traditional methods of creation. It also includes selected English translations concerning Al-Alim, “The All-Knowing”, the 28 Mansions of the Moon and the 28 Arabic letters, and the Greatest Name of Allah.

Astromagia: A Medieval Astrological Magic Grimoire

T he Astromagia is a less well-known but important medieval astrological magic grimoire translated from Arabic at the 13th-century court of Alfonso X of Castile, the same royal court responsible for the translation of Picatrix. Its only surviving manuscript, Vatican Library Reg. lat. 1283, is fragmentary but preserves extensive instructions for talismans of the 360 zodiacal degrees, decans, signs, planets and 28 Mansions of the Moon. The Renaissance Astrology Astromagia pages provide an introduction, talisman examples and selected translations, including material on the Natal Mansions of the Moon.

Traditional Texts, Philosophy and Spiritual Practice

Further resources include Hermes Trismegistus, the Hermetic Arts & Philosophy and original traditional texts such as Guido Bonatti’s 146 Considerations and the 100 Aphorisms Attributed to Ptolemy. Learn about the Tropical, Sidereal and Constellational Zodiacs and the use of the Hymns of Orpheus in ritual and talisman consecration.

Other subjects include traditional astrological Geomancy and its use in divination, the Not a Practical Guide to Astrological Treasure Hunting, and the Guardian Angel, Almuten Figuris & Perfect Nature. Practical spiritual exercises include Planetary Charity and the Daily Planetary Practice.

Renaissance Astrology Online

Follow and connect with Renaissance Astrology through the Renaissance Astrology Facebook page, the Spiritus Mundi email discussion group and the Renaissance Astrology YouTube channel.