Planetary Rings from The Book of Treasure of Alexander

The planetary rings from
The Book of the Treasure of Alexander are very interesting and quite characteristic of astrological magic. We note that they are created when the planets are in the degrees of their exaltations, translated here as the degree of their honor.

The tenth century Islamic astrologer Al-Biruni notes that there is some controversy as to whether the planets are only exalted in their particular degrees or in the whole sign. In traditional astrological practice we use the entire sign, however, the degree of exaltation is considered to be particularly powerful.

Here are the exaltations of the planets:

Saturn-Libra
Jupiter-Cancer
Mars-Capricorn
Sun-Aries
Venus-Pisces
Mercury-Virgo
Moon-Taurus

The Book of the Treasure of Alexander has some variations from both Al-Biruni and the medieval Jewish astrologer Abraham Ibn Ezra as far as the degrees of exaltation:

Saturn-all sources say 21 Libra
Jupiter-all sources say 15 Libra
Mars-Al-Biruni & Ibn Ezra say 28 Capricorn, TA says 21 Capricorn
Sun-all sources say 19 Aries
Venus-Al-Biruni & Ibn Ezra 27Pisces, TA says 28 Pisces
Mercury-all sources say 15 Virgo
Moon-all sources say 3 Taurus

A very interesting point is the instructions given for construction of the rings. Here is the Sun ring, "You need to labor to make sure that the beginning of your effort is when the Sun enters this degree, and so is completion of the etching and the construction so that all your work is completed within that degree. If it isn't completed then stop the work until the Sun enters this degree again." I have always felt that this was implicit in the construction of talismans and that they should not only be started, but also completed while the selected astrological factor was in operation. The suggestion to finish when the factor occurs again is logical and perhaps some opportunities for recharging talismans are possible.

Also very interesting are the "activation" instructions. For example, after making the Jupiter ring one is advised, "You keep the ring until Jupiter is conjunct the Moon in Cancer is the fifteenth degree or somewhere close to it then wear and what was mentioned will occur." After making the rings under particular conditions, then we must wait until the happening of another astrological condition for it to be fully activated. Generally this second condition involves the Moon.

This is also quite logical since Picatrix, the premiere grimoire of astrological magic says,

"And draw your attention to the Moon in all works [of magic] as if it were the chief of all the other planets because it brings about evident manifestations and judgments in all things in the world and it pertains to the power of generation and corruption and she is the mediatrix [female intermediary] in the advance of your work, receiving the influences and impressions of the stars and planets and pouring them out to the inferiors of this world. "

Picatrix Book II, ch. 3

Again, I have felt that the importance of the Moon was implicit in all elections and have attempted, whenever possible, to have the Moon aspecting the planet or fixed star in question.

The metals are what we would expect, with interesting example of the ring of Mercury which is made of mixed iron, gold and silver. Mercury as signifying mixed things is typical of traditional sources, Cornelius Agripa noting that Mercury rules "divers" and mixed colors. Three Books of Occult Philosophy Bk I, ch 29.

The effects of the rings are quite in line with the traditional planetary attributions. All in all, very interesting and clearly in the tradition.

Magic, Fate & Free Will

I have been asked how I can do magic, when it is possible that the magic may interfere with someone else's free will. This often comes up in the area of love magic.

First, I would begin by saying that Renaissance astrologers did not subscribe to the Stoic idea that all things were absolutely fated. They were generally Christians and fairly orthodox and accepted that Free Will existed. However, they saw the body and passions as under the rule of the stars and only the divine part of humans (soul or spirit) as capable of exercising free will. Thus both Fate and Free Will operate simultaneously.

My experience, both astrological and personal, tends to support this. I frankly don't see many people, myself included, exercising free will. Think about it. Free Will is not choosing Coke over Pepsi or a BMW over a Porsche. This is merely choosing to a method to satisfy our passions and desires. One of our modern archetypes, a strongly held belief, is that we are rational, logical individuals, that we can make our own fates. If this were so, then we could not predict even a person's character or psychology from their chart, let alone make the sort of precise prediction that traditional natal and horary are capable of.

So, as a preliminary matter, I question whether people have that much free will in the first place that can be interfered with. Essentially we must go with the flow as astrological magicians. We can make use of the natal chart of the person we wish to affect, but that just tells us what they are fated to do and what sort of lures they are susceptible to.

Now I do not do any form of malefic magic. I will not assist in magic or elections to cause any sort of harm or damage. I will not even do breakup spells. However, if I refused to do any magic that influenced others I could not do any magic at all!

Secondly, I have noted that moderns are extremely squeamish about the idea of using traditional supernatural or spiritual powers to influence others. They are not at all concerned about other methods of influence. I have never been condemned for advertising, marketing or public relations, but these are, in fact, extremely powerful techniques of mass magical mind/consciousness control.

Let's look at mind control and influence on a more personal level. Do we condemn a woman wants to seduce a man and asks his friend about his likes and dislikes, changes her style and clothing to suit him, wears makeup and perfume, makes frequent eye contact, laughs at his jokes, puts her hand on his arm, all with the intent to influence and inflame him? Much of this seduction is taking place on an unconscious level for him, he is only aware that he is enthralled by her.

So while this has been a rather long answer to the question, the bottom line is that there can be no doubt that magic is an attempt to influence and control the will of others. If the potential user does not wish to do this, one should not practice magic. But to be consistent one should not advertise, market or use public relations. One should show up for dates, interviews and public occasions unshaven and unshowered, when asked "am I too fat?" one should honestly answer "Yes!" etc., etc.

Indeed, isn't counseling an attempt to influence and change the will of the patient? Certainly the therapist may have the best intentions, but aren't they trying to change the patient, to influence them to be what the therapist believes to be a better way to think, feel and live?

More on Astrological Magic and Astrological Talismans

Talismans in the Arabian Nights

I was recently reading a complete translation of Alf laylah wa laylah or The Thousand and One Nights, also known as the Arabian Nights. There are many variants, but this is basically a medieval Arabic text.

I came across this interesting discussion of talismans. In this story, "the Wisdom beneath the Severed Heads" a young man is being tested on his knowledge.

"You have escaped death a second time, young man" said the princess, "Now tell me to what [do] talismans own their virtue?"

The young man answered from his horse: "O, princess, they owe their sublime virtues and miraculous effects to the letters which compose them; for there is no letter in the language which is not governed by a spirit, ray or emanation of the virtue of Allah. The spirits of the intellect communicate with those of the soul and the those of the soul with those of the senses. Letters form words and words form sentences; and the sentences written on talismans are nothing but a collection of spirits which, though they may astonish the ordinary man, do not trouble the wise; for the wise know the power of words and are aware that words govern the whole world. Whether they are written or spoken, words can destroy kings and ruin empires. "

Mathers translation, Vol IV, page 85.

More on Al-Biruni & Islamic Astrology.