With all the interest shown in the faces I decided to
feature one of their images as this week's chart of the week. The faces or decans
are 10 degree subdivisions of the signs. There are two methods of determining
their planetary rulership. The first, commonly used in traditional
horary, electional and
natal astrology uses the Chaldean Order of the planets, beginning with Mars ruling the
first face of Aries. Thus the second face of Aries is ruled by the Sun and the third
by Venus. The first face of Taurus is thus ruled by Mercury and so on throughout
the rest of the Zodiac.
The other method makes the ruler of the first decan of a
sign the planet that rules the sign. The next decan is ruled by the ruler of the next
sign in the triplicity of the sign. Thus the first decan of Aries is ruled by Mars.
Since Aries is a fire sign, the next fire sign is Leo and thus the second decan of Aries
is ruled by the Sun. The next fire sign is Sagittarius and thus the third decan of Aries
is ruled by Jupiter. Here is a listing of the
decan lords under both systems.
The faces are very ancient and from their earliest use they
have been associated with particular gods and spirits and their images. This images
have also long been used in astrological magic.
The image descriptions for this week's talisman come from
Cornelius Agrippa'sThree Books of Occult Philosophy
and Picatrix, an encyclopedic work of
medieval Arabic astral magic. We are fortunate to have the
new English translation from Arabic of the Picatrix from
Ouroboros Press which we can
compare to the Latin Picatrix edited by David Pingree which is
available from the
Warburg Institute.
We turn to page 145 of the
Ouroboros translation of Book Two, Chapter Eleven of Picatrix.
The Faces of Aries
Furthermore, the image of an angry reddish man with
reddish hair, unyielding look, holding a sword and wooden bracelet in his hand,
wearing red clothes, skillful in iron fabrication and wants to do good, but cannot,
is the [face] for Venus.
Here is the corresponding talisman from the Latin
Picatrix
Et in tercia facie Arietis ascendit vir inquietus, in manibus auream armillam
tenens et pannis rubies indutus, cupens facere bonum et non potest. Et hec
facies subtilitis et subtilium magisteriorum et rerum novarum et
instrumentorum et istis similium. Et hec est eius forma.
And in the third face of Aries there ascends a restless man, in his hand a golden
bracelet and wearing red clothes, wishing to do good, without the power to.
And this is a face of subtlety, subtle instruction and new things.
And this is its form.
Translation by Christopher Warnock, Esq.
Here is the corresponding talisman from Agrippa's
Three Books of Occult Philosophy
Of the Images of the Faces
[I]n the third face [of Aries] ariseth the figure of a white man,
pale, with reddish hair, and cloathed with a red garment,
who carrying on the one hand a golden Bracelet, and holding
forth a wooden staff, is restless, and like one in wrath,
because he cannot perform that good he would.
This image bestoweth wit, meekness, joy and beauty.
Book II, Chapter 37.
The Picatrix gives instructions for
making talismans of the faces at Book II, Chapter 11,
"Accordingly make the images of the faces
when their rulers are present in them as this will perfect their effects in the
World. And if by chance the Sun is rising in the hour of the planet or [is
in aspect] the work will be stable and strong.
Translation by Christopher Warnock, Esq.
The election for this talisman is
May 9, 2003 at 6:07 am EDT (+4) for Cleveland Park,
a neighborhood of Washington, D.C., 38 N 56, 77 W 03.
Venus is at 21 Aries and thus in its third face.
It is the day and
planetary hour of Venus. The Sun rises.
At the top of the page is the image of the third face of
Aries from the frescoes of the months in the Palazzo Schifanoia at Ferrara
by Francesco del Cossa. It would be an appropriate image for the decan talisman.
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.