#hermeticism

What Ancient Egypt Can Teach Us

This article by occult historian Mitch Horowitz serves as a short introduction to The Kybalion, a brief but influential book that marries aspects of ancient Hermetic thought with the ideas of the 19th century mind-power (or New Thought) movement. It’s become fashionable to bash the book for its differences from traditional Hermeticism, but I’d argue that it’s a much more practical work — and thus more immediately useful for those with an interest in folk magic — than the mysticism-drenched Corpus Hermeticum.

The Kybalion is in the public domain and freely available online.

This post is intended to give you a list of all of our asks and standalone posts. It serves a few purposes, like making our less-categorized information easy to find, and making sure that if you have a question, it hasn’t already been answered here. This post will be edited and updated on a regular basis, and probably reorganized to make navigation easier as our number of posts and asks grows. If the information you need isn’t here or in any of our series, feel free to ask us, and we’ll ensure that you get a good answer by checking our large private libraries and many other informational resources available to us.

Standalone Articles:

Modality in Astrology (the Qualities)

The Glamour (an Original Study)

The Use of Holy Water in Magic

Asks:

Are the alternatives to animal sacrifice equally effective?

Does one’s personal astrology have any bearing on planetary magick? For instance will magick relating to Jupiter work better for those born under Sagittarius?

I’ve got Saturn in the Twelfth House. Could I petition Saturn to reduce the negative influences it has on me?

If there are constellations in a birth chart (ex. Algol at 26 deg 10’ Taurus), for them to officially apply to that birth chart, do they have to be exactly 26 10 or can it have a couple degree range (ex. Algol at 27 deg or 25 deg)? (Accounting for the Fixed Stars in Natal Astrology)

We hope this post will be a useful navigation tool for you to find any information we’ve posted that doesn’t fit into any of our series. Once again, thank you for reading our work. We will reblog this post occasionally in order to ensure that it stays easy to find as it gets revised and updated.

-Admin

This is a standalone post about modalities in astrology. Each sign of the classical Western zodiac is assigned an element (sometimes also called a triplicity¹) and a modality (sometimes called a quality or quadruplicity²), two traits that, when taken together, describe the most basic characteristics of that sign. The intersection of the four elements and three modalities creates twelve iterations of substance (element) and motion (modality) that give each sign a unique expression.

The four elements– Earth, Air, Fire, and Water– are normally well understood, and information about their symbolism and energy is abundant and accessible.³ But most popular texts on astrology tend to gloss over modality, giving it only a perfunctory explanation, if any is offered at all. We are told that the cardinal signs are the leaders, the fixed signs are organizers, and the mutable signs are the communicators. This is a gross oversimplification of a concept that can lend us a greater understanding of the signs of the zodiac if we take the time to understand it. Throughout this and future posts, I’ll be describing the signs as conscious archetypes, so when I say “Gemini likes such-and-such” or “Virgo wants ___”, keep in mind that I’m referring to the sign itself, not natives of that sign (although certainly, as a native of a sign, those traits are expressed to some degree and in some manner or other).

The word “modality” refers to the way in which a sign’s essence (whose most basic descriptor is its element) is expressed; its energy patterns and the way they flow. The basic concept is this:

• Cardinal energy moves from inside out

• Fixed energy moves from outside in

• Mutable energy goes back and forth

To illustrate this, you can imagine that you’re about to throw a punch. The force explodes outwards in the fist (cardinal) but it is supported and driven and initiated through the shoulder (fixed), and this energy is transferred between them by the elbow (mutable).

Cardinal signs can and certainly do make excellent leaders, but to describe them as the “leadership signs” is a bit misleading; the characteristic of cardinal energy is that it is expressed from the inside out. It is a driving force that explodes forward, initiates things, and pushes its way outward into the world. In Aries, fire is channeled outward. Cardinally directed fire energy is explosive, aggressive, and loud; it is no wonder that Aries is ruled by Mars, the god of war. But, as an Aries myself, I can assure you that these qualities do not automatically a great leader make; the cardinal mode initiates energy in a directed way, a very “me first!” way, and so cardinal energy can just as often be put to use on the front lines as in the captain’s chair; in fact, many natives of cardinal signs prefer it that way. Observe Cancer and its cardinally directed water; the medium of the emotions, when expressed outwardly, becomes a nurturing rather than a bold, directing force. Likewise, Libra directs air to create social networks and connections…something we might associate with mutable air Gemini. But Libra weaves the social fabric together, and its cardinal energy is expressed in directing social flow and relationship dynamics in a way that generally doesn’t interest Gemini. Capricorn’s cardinal earth is especially well-suited to bringing about its traditional associations with career and success; Capricorn excels at directing earth, the element of the real, the material, the tangible, into lasting structures. When you think of cardinal energy, remember that the element of the sign will be expressed outward into the world in a direct, often forceful manner. The progression of cardinal energy through the elements takes us from the most wild and fleeting to the most durable and lasting; the cardinal signs are initiators in the sense that they are the first to experience each element.⁴

Fixed signs are traditionally coded as “organizers,” and yet I find fixed energy has many properties about it that lends itself well to leadership; fixed signs often excel at causing others to act around them, and can thus be very comfortable (and very effective) in positions of power. Fixed signs draw outward energy in and center it. If cardinal signs are out doing things, fixed signs are often creating the places where things happen. They are excellent at conserving and allocating this energy to effect change in their surroundings, often via directing and delegating others. Taurus’s fixed earth pulls in the material comforts of life to create a stable security characterized by luxury and sensual pleasure. Leo’s fixed fire draws the passionate, creative energy of those around it into a circle that resembles a royal court more than Tauran den of hedonism. Scorpio draws water energy around itself to create a vortex of secrecy and power, a whirlpool of deep emotional experience. Aquarius’s fixed air gathers information and fashions it into a new understanding of the human condition; its “circle” is really a lens. So you see that the progression of fixed energy through the signs and their respective elements goes from most concrete to most abstract. So you can see that describing fixed signs as “organizers” is the truth, but not the whole or most useful truth. They fix things into a new organization of reality, based on the material (the element) in which they work.⁵

The mutable signs are AC/DC. They go both ways, transferring energy between cardinal and fixed points of reference, and are therefore traditionally designated as the communicators of the zodiac. Certainly, they excel at communication in all its forms, but again, this is not the whole story; who could accuse Libra of being uncommunicative? Mutable energy, as I mentioned, comprises both cardinal and fixed, and it switches back and forth based on the circumstances. Gemini’s mutable air is certainly communicative, and Gemini as a sign deals with the transference of air-energy; thoughts, words, telecommunications, etc. Observe that at times, Gemini energy is outwardly expressed as if it were cardinal (in a Gemini native or a person with strong Gemini in their chart, this can manifest as chattiness, writing a lot, etc.). But other times, it can withdraw and absorb information from outside itself, processing it internally. Hence, Gemini is not always talkative. Mutable Earth Virgo is certainly intellectual (being co-ruled by Mercury⁶) but concerns itself mostly with transferring its energy to where it’s most needed in order to effect the most good; certainly it is not a fixed sign, and yet no one could accuse Virgo of not being an organizer; when Earth moves, it tends to move in an orderly fashion. Sagittarius’s mutable fire concerns itself with zipping back and forth between ideals and reality, bringing humanity to the stars and the stars to humanity. And finally, Pisces’ mutable water flows wherever it is needed to heal and provide spiritual sustenance.⁷

It can be extremely helpful, when conceptualizing how the elements express themselves through the modalities within the chart, to describe how these forces might interact; a Libra friend of mine with a heavy Scorpio influence to his chart described himself as “a hurricane,”– a very good description of Libra’s cardinally directed air when blended with Scorpio’s fixed, watery cyclone!

I hope that this article has been helpful in shedding some light on a subject that is central to the understanding of astrology, but which is often overlooked or underexplored in popular texts. Getting to know modality and element is an excellent way for a beginner to gain a greater understanding of the signs, as well as illuminating to the more advanced student the spiritual progression that occurs through the twelve signs of the zodiac. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us.

-Benefica

Notes (by the Admin)⁸:

1. The name “triplicity” comes from the fact that there are three signs bearing each element. In a standard circular chart, if you draw a line from the 1st degree of a fire sign to the 1st degree of the next fire sign, and from there to the next, the result is an equilateral triangle. The same is true with any other element.

2. The term “quadruplicity” is similar in implication to “triplicity.” There are four signs of each modality, and if you draw a line from the 1st degree or a mutable sign to the 1st degree of the next, and repeat this until your line connects, you will draw a perfect square.

3. I would venture to say that even this information is often rudimentary in most cases. The elements are a small building block in a fairly complex symbolic hierarchy of constituents of nature, but even then, there are smaller building blocks which build the elements, and they have a close symbolic relationship with the four humors in particular, and if you study them well enough, you’ll also start to understand how elements and other things interact and react without having to put much thought into it.

4. There are further associations with each quality in astrological magic, astrological prediction, and mundane astrology. In those contexts, the cardinal quality generally represents overcoming obstacles, obtaining things, or fulfilling goals.

5. In the contexts of astrological magic, prediction, and mundane astrology, the fixed quality represents an event, work, or trait which will be rigid and have lasting effects. It can also represent endurance or stubbornness in any school of astrology.

6. Some astrologers consider Gemini to be the primary sign which Mercury rules over, and Virgo to be its secondary domain. This appears to be a relatively recent concept, as older sources (especially when there were only seven planets used) give each non-luminary planet two signs which are equally under its rulership. Virgo is not only under Mercury’s rulership, but is also the sign where Mercury is exalted. This means Virgo is Mercury’s highest dignity (where its influence as a planet is most powerful), but not that either sign is more or less “of Mercury” than the other.

7. In the non-natal astrological practices mentioned in notes 4 and 5, the mutable quality represents intangible achievements, mysticism, spiritual revelation, mass enlightenment (especially in mundane astrology), and miracles. It also represents the working of the will of Tetragrammaton (the unpronounceable four-letter name of God). It would also be accurate to say that in addition to adaptability, mutable signs represent things which work effectively with no demonstrable or logical reason why.

8. Benefica requested that I edit this post and add any additional information on this subject that I thought might be useful before it goes up, so aside from some very minor edits in the main body of the text, I did most of this in the form of footnotes to avoid altering her work too severely. I agree with everything she has said about the quadruplicities, but I also have a much more classical approach to nearly all occult practice, so she and I agreed that we would both have some different useful thoughts to contribute to the subject.

This is a standalone post, and an abridgement of an original study of a particular kind of psychic energy field. If you find yourself or another person to be naturally capable of many of the things described here, please act as ethically as possible in everything you do. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us.

To preface my description of this kind of energy and its effects, it is important for me to discuss something which has been widely accepted by occultists and theologians for a long time. There are people alive on Earth who are born under the right celestial conditions (or to the right parents, or in other appropriate conditions) to gain permanent magical properties for their entire lives. This is not to say that each and every person subconsciously exerts magical influence over the world around them (I would argue that some people are born completely devoid of special magical affinities, though this does not mean they can’t effectively use magic), but rather, that some people are born under the right conditions, or to the right parents (incubi and succubi, for example) to manifest as human forms of non-human entities. This can easily be construed as one meaning of many mythological representations of intelligent creatures such as the Fae, Satyrs, Fauns, Imps, Goblins, and many others.

Aside from human manifestations of lesser immaterial beings such as those elementals mentioned above (which generally have very specific and small fields of influence), there are arguably some people who are demigods (a word which we will use to mean mortal half-gods). Demigods tend to be particularly capable of magic without necessarily having the need to consciously focus their energy (one might say that some order of reality voluntarily warps itself to suit a demigod’s needs), but some gain different benefits from their divine condition of being (for example, Heracles was not particularly magically-inclined, but his godlike strength did still afford him a lot of protection from magical and supernatural enemies). These are probably the same people who are called “Nephilim” in Judaism, as the gods of most pagan pantheons are the very same beings who are fallen Jewish angels, those who took human wives (beginning with the Martial Archangel Samael, the Satan who descended and took Lilith as his wife, ultimately causing them both to become demons).

And then, there are finally those people who are manifestations of gods themselves. These people are very uncommon, but we could consider Jesus Christ a good example of this who is widely acknowledged as such in modern western society. Jesus is specifically a manifestation of a Sun-god (it’s irrelevant which one, as we shouldn’t make too much effort to distinguish one Sun-god from another, in my opinion). Hermes Trismegistus (who, like Jesus Christ, is probably a highly-mythologized figure based on a much less-impressive real person) could be reasonably considered to be a human incarnation of Thoth or Mercury. Certainly, I could provide several more examples, but I feel like these are sufficient. One could say of these gods-incarnate that there are versions of them who manifest even to exert their influence in very small (even seemingly inconsequential) contexts, and exerting their influences only there. There is no reason why two different people in different locations and situations at the same time can’t be manifestations of the same god, but it is important to think very critically in your analysis if you suspect someone is of this particular nature. It’s probably never a good idea to tell a person they are or might be a god incarnate.

All of the aforementioned types of people are born with some degree of a radiant energy which surrounds them, and which profoundly affects most of the people who come into proximity with it. Although this energy doesn’t effect all people the same way (some people will react to it with hostility, others will consciously try not to be affected by it, and a few are simply unaffected by it), its most common tendency is to cause all those affected to adore the person who radiates this energy which for our purposes, will be dubbed “the Glamour.”

As opposed to archetypes (which are usually represented by the “normal human” characters in mythology), which a person can switch between as necessary in their lives, incarnations are much more absolute, meaning they must constitute the purest essence of a person, rather than just a situational role. People may take on charisma at various points depending on their archetypal role in a given situation, but those with the Glamour will have their magnetism before, during, and after.

People who have the Glamour often don’t have any idea why they’re so adored, and this adoration can be a source of irritation, annoyance, or even grave danger. They will find themselves badgered by others who want to be seen with them, want to learn the secrets to their “coolness,” want to be validated by them, or even who want to destroy them (this last kind of person being a power-hungry predator). Often, people with the Glamour will be subject to unwanted conversation from people who basically amount to “adoring fans” at nearly every turn, making many parts of life a game of social avoidance. Now I will speak at a little more length about the three aforementioned subdivisions of incarnate supernatural being, and I’ll discuss some of the difficulties their Glamours are likely to bring. As you read this, it’s important to keep in mind that none of these experiences define a person as one of these incarnations, and that there are many more factors that should be considered when trying to identify human forms as manifestations of such (which is not really the subject of this article).

It is especially true that elementals and genii are targeted by malicious magic-users (usually misaligned folk-magicians, high-magic sorcerers who completely lack morality, or witches of a particularly deranged lineage) very often. In this case, the assailant will often take the form of a sexual predator, especially if the elemental is here in the form of a young human, though this does not exempt adults of this nature from that danger. The reason elementals are so often targeted is unclear, but it seems to me like the assailants consciously or subconsciously know that people have forcibly manipulated and harnessed these kinds of powers since the dawn of human history, and they believe it will get them some significant material gain, social status, or at least a microcosmic sense of power. Unfortunately for the elemental, this story does not usually end well. However, it is possible for the elemental to survive and continue, and when they do, they often rise to magnificent social status (in human terms), while their adversaries are usually condemned by their own actions to a life of insignificance or misery.

Demigods are usually subject more to tests of direct violence, especially those involving grossly unfair odds. Those who are physically strong will usually survive by those means, while others will be forced to survive by whichever magical means they are given. Once again, though, we face the issue of knowledge. I can’t emphasize enough that the vast majority of the people we’re talking about have no idea that they’re using magical power, nor do they often know how to focus or control their own magical energy. This doesn’t mean they usually fall in the face of the obstacles that they face, but that they survive and overcome by what seem more like miracles than magic. We could argue that they are either, but because the demigod can learn to harness whatever powers they are born with, I consider those means to be magic.

Gods incarnate can take many, many forms, and the tests they face in human life are almost impossible to accurately quantify. Sun-gods usually have lives which contain many parallels to the life of Jesus Christ, or of Ra (the tragic but necessary surrender to death is vital, even if it is a metaphor). Someone who is Mercury incarnate could have any of a great many different life stories and still be accurately regarded as the same being, so identification of this kind of being takes careful analysis, and if you are trying to identify one, you should never jump to conclusions which you can’t support.

Now, we should further discuss the nature and potential of the Glamour itself. For several years now, I’ve observed and researched this type of psychic energy field. It’s one which is almost always acknowledged by occult scholars, though I have never seen it formally named, or addressed at length. I’ll introduce this idea with a related and slightly more well-known topic. Henry Cornelius Agrippa wrote of something witches can do to a person which he called “fascination.” This magical binding is described as something that effects people through their eyes. In particular, he speaks of the witch affecting men with this (of course, being assumed that the witch is a woman in this case, despite our modern understanding that this is certainly not the only case). Now, knowing that witches are not limited to one gender or another, we can assume that anyone who is attracted to the gender of the witch in question might be susceptible to this type of magic. It is important to keep in mind that witchcraft is a particular category of magic. I will eventually make a post which helps to draw a distinction between various types of magic, and that might give some of you some useful insight.

Cornelius Agrippa specifies that this fascination is brought about by a combination of two things. The first thing is the intent of the witch to so affect anyone susceptible. The second is a sanguine kind of “spiritual vapor” (which I believe he means metaphorically). So then, blood is the humor witches use to fascinate their targets. Ancient occultists acknowledged the fact that the humors weren’t intended to serve as the sole basis of medicine, but rather, as a symbolic guide for physicians (who were often astrologers, too). While we know that the metaphorical association for fascination is blood, and therefore a hot-moist quality, and the Air element, we see that this implies that fascination itself is a somewhat limited magical art.

Fascination is not exactly like the Glamour we’re talking about, and there are a few reasons why. Unlike the Glamour, the art of fascination requires intent in order to work correctly. It is specifically addressed in the Books of Occult Philosophy that in addition to this, direct eye contact between the witch and the target of this magic is essential. He goes on to say that witches are so powerful in this kind of act that even the gaze of the victim can become under their control (the Glamour appears to be capable of this, as well). Finally, he mentions a few additional supplements to this, which are various scents and perfumes to create different effects (again, all of which can be easily achieved by people with the Glamour). Finally, Cornelius Agrippa’s description of fascination strongly implies that it only works on people who are attracted to the witch’s gender. All of this distinguishes fascination from the type of energy field I’m researching, though the two are otherwise very similar in effect.

Because of what we’ve discussed above, we know that if a person has the Glamour, they are extremely well-equipped to gain great things in life, and to be recognized for their achievements. However, one’s equipment does not determine one’s profession. If you were to give a peasant a sword, could he help you much in battle? But if you were to take the time to teach the peasant all the subtleties and skills necessary in combat, and to strengthen his mind and soul, would he perhaps be of more help than before? In this sense, those with the Glamour don’t necessarily have the amount of control over others that they could. They may subconsciously exert some influence over everyone nearby, but the effects they have might be completely unintentional (and therefore unpredictable). However, we know that witches can fascinate a person with little more than eye-contact with intent, so why couldn’t a person gifted with a sort of divine charisma have an even more effective influence over others?

Here, it seems fitting for me to briefly discuss two people whose Glamours I have studied to a small extent. They are of Air and Earth elements, respectively, and I had noted that both of them have a fair level of conscious control over the effects they exert. I have researched numerous others, too, but this article will not be so exhaustive.

The first person whom I recognized to have the Glamour has described it to me as originating from behind her eyes. As per Cornelius Agrippa’s description of fascination, hers was certainly corresponding to the element of Air, meaning that is is likely a sanguine Glamour as well. It was described to me not as a consciously-learned skill, but a slowly acquired mastery over that field of energy which she has always produced. To simplify what she said, I would say that I believe her Glamour functions as a “psychological climate control” to those around her.

A second person whom I studied spoke of a Glamour of the Earth element, which is therefore cold-dry, and melancholic. He said his Glamour largely influences the spatial-cognitive conditions around him, and the force originates in his abdomen. For an example of his influence, he said he has a significant level of control over the gazes of those around him, and that he can usually consciously influence people to look a certain direction or vice-versa. In addition, he said he regularly exerts some influence over people and their physical positions, consistently compelling them to reposition themselves according to his desires. He also reports that in certain situations, using his eyes in the same way as a witch does in the practice of fascination is an extremely helpful skill for augmenting and directing the Glamour.

It is relevant to speak of people who are immune to the Glamour (or at least, who react to it differently than someone with Glamour might intend). Some people have learned their immunity to it, and generally, these people are also bitter and without imagination, though perhaps more intelligent than average (intelligence more often manifests as self-control and self-awareness than it does as analytical skills or logic). Unfortunately, many of those who have learned immunity to it can still recognize it, and react with hostility to those who do have the Glamour. More often than not, a person will have learned immunity to one form of the Glamour (often because a former lover of theirs had a particular Glamour, and they despise it when they recognize it in others), and not others.

There are also those who have complete natural immunity to the Glamour. These people are often completely oblivious to it, and are unable to identify it directly. If this kind of person learns to identify the Glamour, it’s usually because they have determined how other people react to it, rather than how to perceive Glamour itself.

The last thing I should discuss is a trend I’ve noted among some particularly novice magic-users who don’t seem interested enough in their pursuit of these arts to learn how to cast anything of use. Instead of taking the time to learn fascination or similar arts (which are completely within the reach of anyone who takes the time and effort to study and practice them), they will often attempt to manufacture for themselves a Glamour. While humorous to observe from a distance, it isn’t something worth attempting. If you don’t have a Glamour to sharpen, you probably don’t need one. I’d like to reiterate here that all the people I’ve studied who do have Glamours were plagued by that trait for decades. Most people I’ve seen try to artificially create Glamours for themselves have just ended up making mockeries of themselves, but one other has brought a plague of unwanted company into his life through the act, ultimately resulting in fairly extreme misfortunes involving the police (I admit his magic was significantly more effective, but it was clearly not worthwhile). If anyone ever safely succeeds at this, I would love to know more, so I can study and experiment with it, myself. Admittedly, the only ever people I’ve seen believe this pursuit is worthwhile were people I would describe as horrible magic-users (again, perhaps because serious students of the occult know the art of fascination and its purpose).

To summarize, human incarnations of immortal beings are naturally capable of a form of mind-control which I refer to as “the Glamour.” If someone so-gifted becomes skilled enough with their Glamour, it can be used to influence nearly anyone in a consistent and fairly-controlled manner. There are different specific manifestations of this mind-control energy, and the people gifted with it influence people in close proximity to them whether they are aware of their Glamour or not. Some people are immune to it, others react aggressively toward it. Some people (myself included) have learned to observe it, and try not to interact with it one way or another. Hopefully this post has given you some insight into the mechanics of this characteristic of some mythical beings, and will allow you to more readily recognize it and other energies when they affect you. If you can learn to protect yourself from such subtle psychic influences as these, you can gain a much greater level of control over your life. As always, thank you for reading.

-Admin

Benefica’s series on the Court Cards is now complete. There are five posts total, intended to familiarize you with her approach to interpreting these cards. Feel free to ask us if you have any questions. Below is a list of posts in the series.

Introduction

The Pages

The Knights

The Queens

The Kings

Thank you all for reading. We hope this series can help you gain new insights into the interpretation of the Court Cards. If you enjoyed this series, you might like to check out some of our other series. We plan to start our series on talismans and other magical objects soon. Until then, you can also keep an eye on our standalone posts if you’re interested.

-Admin

Hello, all! I’ve been extremely ill this last week, and I apologize for the delay in the last installment in our series on the court cards.  

The final iteration of learning and experience is the King. I like to interpret King cards as representing outwardly-expressed mastery of a skill or topic. As we discussed earlier, I dislike privileging the Kings over the Queens; first, it assumes a gendered hierarchy, and second, it places learning and growth on a linear path.

Although there are distinct phases of learning, the process of mastering a skill or assimilating information is rarely a direct, step-by-step procedure that goes from point A to B to C. Rather, it is cyclical, sometimes scattered, and switches gears frequently.  

This is an important point to understand when interpreting the Kings as “mastery” level; recall that a true master will likely spend every day practicing or rehearsing skills in the manner I like to associate with the Knights. The level of automaticity (the ability to do things without having to think about them) is vastly different, but the form of the daily work is the same. The King is a Knight who has practiced an activity for the much-lauded ten thousand hours. Contrast this with the Queen, whose counterpart might be the Page. The Page’s first glimpse into a topic has matured into insight and understanding. It is possible to have one type of mastery and not the other. For example, a professional dancer with outstanding technique has King mastery, even if they lack musicality, expressiveness, or a knowledge of the history of their style; an astute, brilliant dance scholar or critic who nonetheless can’t dance a step has a Queen style mastery. For this reason, Kings style skills are project are more often outwardly presented (published, performed) than the Queens’ esoteric understanding, which lends itself to being learned, taught, and often written about (descriptively, or critically). You can, of course, have a Queen style understanding of a topic (as an academic, for example) and produce work (such as presentations, papers, books, or research projects) that could be associated with a King-style outcome. As always, use your intuition and take this as food for thought.  

The following, as per usual, is a breakdown of the Kings in their suits, with example scenarios of the kinds of situations to which I like to apply my theory.

King of Wands

The King of Wands has achieved mastery over the forms of a creative endeavour. In A King of Wands situation, all your neurons are firing in such a way that the learned forms of the exercise at hand is potentially loaded with expressive potential. The coloratura singing passages skip effortlessly after thousands upon thousands of hours of scales and hundreds of hours of rehearsal; the gymnast nails the routine without a flaw. I often get a sense of athletic prowess from this card, more about power and energy than agility (which might be swords) stamina (coins, perhaps) or flexibility (cups). Although I distinguish content and form and designate them as Queens and Kings, I find that the forms of the Kings are usually the channels of tremendous emotion, passion, and energy. Some kinds of situations in which the King of Wands could present itself are: the querent’s novel is ready for publication; an actor gives a brilliant, passionate performance; the athlete is in “the zone.”

The King of Wands Reversed

This position can indicate a creative block, a loss of energy, or problems with motivation. It can also call attention to these topics and encourage more introspection on the querent’s part in cultivating their “fire.” When this card comes up in a reading reversed, I always ask my querent “What is your passion in life? What lights you up?”. Often, they have difficulty identifying or remembering this feeling, and the rest of the reading helps develop strategies for cultivating it. I also associate the reversed King of Wands with professional artists and creative types who have hit a career slump or setback (such as a poor market for their work, an injury, etc.), frequently when they are considering a return to a more normative job market after having worked as a professional artist full-time for some while. The concerns surrounding the reversed King of Wands usually has to do with trying to light your fire again. Some situations in which the King of Wands may pop up reversed could be: The querent’s novel is finished, but they are having difficulty shopping it around, finding an editor, or a publisher; the querent is required to rebuild or revise a skill or skill set from the ground up after an injury, or in response to having to perform a skill in an unfamiliar style or context; the querent is stalled after a successful project, but out of ideas for the next.

The King of Swords

The King of Swords shows mental mastery, the kind of understanding of forms such as paradigms, theories, and especially anything that involves communication. I associate the King of Swords rather strongly with language ability, whether this represents an advanced state of grammatical competence in a foreign language (as opposed to cultural and communicative competence, which I would designate as a Queens theme) or a mastery of literary or poetic forms, for example. This can also show someone who has a mastery over their thought patterns and mental and verbal habits; the King of Swords has a full understanding of the interrelated patterns formed by our words.  Some situations in which the King of Swords might apply are: the querent has achieved a level of mastery in their interpersonal communications, possibly as a result of work or therapy after experiencing difficulties in this area; the querent has achieved a similar state in regards to their mental health, that is, they have gained mastery over their negative thought patterns; the querent’s novel is undergoing revisions and copy editing from an external source.

The King of Swords Reversed

The reversed King of Swords has a Mercury retrograde feel to it sometimes; prior patterns and situations involving words and mental constructs must be reevaluated and revised. This can literally involve major revisions (of any kind of text in the broadest possible meaning); I tend to associate upright King of Swords as involving copy editing and putting the final polish on something that is complete but not yet perfect; reversed, I tend to see the kind of major structural revisions that involve extensive tearing out and rearranging a lot of material. Situations in which the King of Swords reversed can apply are: the querent’s script has to be rewritten to exclude a major character or event from the story; the querent has had a traumatic or stressful event that has shaken their ability to communicate or process information; the querent is in a period of deep reflection about their patterns of communication.

The King of Cups

The King of Cups has achieved mastery over the heart and all things involving emotions and the psyche. This is often the card of a mature person who is in touch with their feelings and able to master their expression; this is not the mental acumen or verbal precision of the King of Swords’ ability to communicate. Rather, it is a state of emotional openness and willingness to share that represents a healthy and happy mental state. People who have arrived at a King of Cups phase in life are often those who are finally learning what they need to be happy, particularly in their spiritual life and their interpersonal relationships. The King of Cups shows us someone who has experience in being a good partner and friend, or someone who is deeply in touch with their spirituality. Situations in which the King of Cups could apply might be: the querent has reached a higher level on their spiritual path; the querent is in a good place in their relationships, or a particular relationship, and is ready for a serious commitment if desired; the querent has become more adept at cultivating their own happiness and mental health.

King of Cups Reversed

Although the reversed King of Cups can certainly reveal blockages in the kinds of emotional currents described by the upright King, my intuition normally guides me to interpret it more as a period of introspection and reflection that resolves those kinds of issues; rarely do I encounter a querent who is in complete denial of their emotional state and needs by the time the King is in the picture, reversed or no. A reversed Knight or Page can indicate such denial, and a reversed Queen of swords can certainly indicate being out of touch with one’s inner life. But the King in reversed shows us a need to retreat and withdraw, and I usually find that querents are aware of this on some level, and only need to be encouraged to prioritize the process. I often find that a reversed King of Cups appears in a reading right before someone is about to embark on a deep, personal spiritual journey. This is especially true if it comes up near the Hermit, the Hanged Man, or the High Priestess (especially if she is reversed, a position I usually interpret to be relating to working with the unconscious). Situations in which the reversed King of Cups may apply are: the querent has recently ended a major relationship and is in a period of grieving and reflection on the matter; the querent has become dissatisfied with their career path or other elements of their life they find unfulfilling or emotionally and spiritually empty; the querent is about to take a sabbatical or other period of time to work on personal issues and to get in touch with their inner voice.

The King of Coins

The King of Coins is in his element as mastery over external forms, for he has achieved expertise in physical endeavours. This is the card of the master craftsman, the artist with impeccable technique, and particularly those who have some level of commercial success at what they do. (Though not necessarily, of course!) The King of Coins understands the material world and uses of material things on an expert level. This is often a very simple and straightforward card to interpret, but be mindful that the King of Coins’ themes are not without abstract concepts, and also encompass things like our values or priorities. Situations in which the King of Coins may be applicable could be: the querent has achieved expertise in a craft such as wood carving, sewing, or glass blowing; the querent is considering going professional with their skills; the querent is currently evaluating how much material security and wealth they need to feel comfortable and happy in their life; the querent is wondering whether to quit their job and go freelance.

King of Coins Reversed

The reversed King of Coins frequently refers to a situation in which the querent is undergoing a major reevaluation of their values and understanding of their material needs. I sometimes see this card with retirees or others whose source of income or status in the world has shifted. The King of Coins reversed calls on us to question the primacy that financial success has as a measure of our self-worth and identity. He can also serve as a reminder of the importance of doing things that we love without thought of what material benefit we will gain from it. People undergoing reversed King of Coins situations seem to be ripe for finding a kind of joy independent from the “rat race,” and uncovering what truly makes them feel wealthy and comfortable in life. Example situations of reversed King of Coins energy could include: the querent has recently lost their job and is feeling driftless without a specific task to accomplish; the querent despises their job but is hesitant to quit and go freelance because of (understandable!) material concerns; the querent is enjoying a physical activity for its own sake and is learning to let go of perfectionist habits.  

Well, there you have it, the last installment of our series on the court cards. Again, I apologize that illness has prevented me from finishing this series earlier! I hope that this series has given you some food for thought and that it has been helpful in your practice.  

-Benefica

This is a standalone post about holy water and some of the history and potential of its use in magical practice. There are several religions and sects which make use of water which has been consecrated by its clergy, and I am certain that these variants of holy water are not all the same. For now, I will be talking about Catholic and Orthodox holy water in particular. In Catholic and Orthodox traditions, it is traditionally used to spiritually cleanse places, people, and objects from evil, and as an aid in the consecration of many places and things for specifically holy purposes. The magical functions of holy water don’t usually differ greatly from traditional uses, though most Christian clergy members would certainly discourage this kind of application for non-Christian purposes. I hope this post can give you some insight into its practical applications. You are always welcome to ask us if you have questions.

In the future, I also intend to do some research and experiments to determine the difference between the effects of Christian holy water from different sects. So far, I’ve only had access to that of the Catholics, Anglicans (Church of England, who do not refer to their consecrated water as “holy water,” but otherwise employ it for similar ceremonial purposes), and Episcopalians (who differ from the Church of England in numerous ways). I have not collected holy water from the few other Christian denominations whom I understand to use it (such as the Eastern Orthodox Church, whose inclusion in my experiments is essential), but when I do, I intend to begin these experiments, and I may document the results here when my tests are complete.

The history of holy water’s usage in magic goes back at least as far as the dawn of its usage in Christianity. This was so common that by the 15^th century, many witch-hunting manuals made mention of this. In addition, some of them mentioned uses of holy water to counteract witchcraft and demonic influence, though they acknowledged that in that context, one would often need to accompany such a blessing with prayers such as the Angelic Salutation (Hail Mary), Lord’s Prayer, or the seven Penitential Psalms. Despite the aversion toward magic the authors of these books had, we could reasonably consider these uses to be high magic of the Roman Catholic Church, which has many practices in that category. To begin, I will discuss some of this high magic advocated by inquisitors involving holy water.

In the Malleus Maleficarum, it is stated that men who perform Catholic exorcism rituals such as the aspersion of holy water are impervious to the works of witches. They were to sprinkle holy water in any place where people or animals lived in order to protect them from harm. They were also expected to say the Lord’s Prayer, ten repetitions of the Angelic Salutation, and the Glory be to the Father during this ritual. In addition to sprinkling the rooms or houses, exorcists would sometimes further bless a home by consecrating candles by sprinkling them before lighting them and burning some consecrated herbs in the dwelling.

There is also great emphasis on the belief that holy water is very useful for cleansing livestock and cattle who have been harmed or tainted by witches. It provides many methods for this, the simplest (and probably most reliable) being the act of crossing one’s cattle with holy water.

The same book also mentions that in many cases of demonic possession or influence, it is possible to drive the demon or evil spirit away by using holy water and making the sign of the cross. However, it details one case involving an incubus where this method was completely ineffective, and later says that the same victim tried this again, and it appeared effective at first, but was later shown to have failed. The book specifies that incubi and succubi can’t always be driven away with holy water, while it is sufficient for driving away many other forms of harassing or malicious spirits.

The last use of holy water detailed in the Maleficarum is an exorcism ritual intended to expel demons from a human host. I won’t recount the details of the ritual, here, but I will discuss the role of the holy water. In this ritual, for the duration of a great deal of theatrical ritual movements, prayers, and incantations, an exorcist is expected to continually sprinkle holy water onto the possessed person. According to the authors, this is the most recommended method of exorcism, and the holy water appears to play a very important role in its effectiveness.

Compendium Maleficarum contains an entire section describing the use of holy water as a method of counteracting or preventing witchcraft. In particular, it contains the story of a Catholic priest whose house was gravely haunted by a poltergeist. This spirit would extinguish lights, smash things, and move furniture very suddenly and violently. Apparently, he requested that the Church appoint another priest to protect him from this evil spirit, and the appointed priest ultimately succeeded by sprinkling the home with holy water and saying the appropriate rites (probably the same prayers mentioned in the Malleus Maleficarum, though the particular prayers used are not specified in the Compendium). There is a similar case mentioned later in the same section which details another haunted house in which doors are ripped from their hinges, and people sustained serious head injuries. Again, a priest sprinkling holy water and saying the appropriate prayers successfully solved the problem.

TheCompendiumalso refers to cases when people have been transmuted into animals by witches. In that case, it says sprinkling their foreheads with holy water is usually sufficient to reverse this kind of curse.

Marcellus, the Bishop of Apamea around the 5^th century used holy water to destroy a temple of Jupiter. According to the accounts of this event, a demon was preventing the wooden parts of the temple from catching fire, and he threw holy water on the demon, which caused the flames to erupt and consume the temple as if an accelerant had been poured on it.

There is mention of a St. Theodore who cured all manner of sicknesses with his holy water, and who could drive away demons. I believe this to be the same St. Theodore who was the Archbishop of Rostov.

There is a story of a man who made holy water and used it to cure an epidemic of tainted meat and livestock, and prevent disease from unclean food.

St. Hubertus had his home invaded by armies of demons. He called on one of his men to get him holy water with consecrated salt, and holy anointing oil (probably of the kind described in Exodus 30) blessed by a priest. These appear to have been extremely effective tools for him to use to get rid of the invading devils.

TheCompendiumalso speaks of an indigenous Mexican child who was gravely afflicted with a fever which had similar symptoms to malaria. Apparently, his mother brought him to the church, and the holy water and prayers the clergy used cured his illness entirely.

There are brief mentions of some other cases of holy water treating demonic possession, magical poisonings, and other afflictions. Most of these cases are so briefly described that it isn’t worth detailing them here.

In addition to the use of holy water by the church, there is some record of medieval witches making use of it in various situations. Not all of these have documented purposes, but I will try to discern them based on what I do know. In particular, I have found one mention (in Nicolas Remy’s Demonolatry, another witch-hunting manual) of soothsayers writing the names of thieves on parchment and submerging it in holy water. The purpose of this practice isn’t specified, but it might be to cause thieves to return with their stolen goods and confess, or to “drown” them in their guilt.

TheMalleus Maleficarum does not seem to detail any malefic uses for holy water (probably to prevent people from learning of such uses), but there is mention of a man being tempted into the service of demons, and it is relevant that this happens on a Sunday, before church services start, and specifically “before the holy water is consecrated.” Here, he has to renounce his faith in front of God and everyone, and this is the primary part of his initiation into witchcraft.

Aside from inquisitors describing witchcraft involving holy water, there are a few well-respected magicians who mention the use of holy water. For example, Pietro D'Abano advocates the use of holy water to aid in consecrating a magic circle of protection.

Henry Cornelius Agrippa writes about a Rabbi named Hama, and says this Rabbi recommends using holy water as an ingredient of a special ink, which is made after undergoing many acts of purification (in addition to making an animal sacrifice). This ink is for making talismans and sigils against disease. I believe it is unlikely that this Hama was truly a Rabbi, but his ritual cleansing and symbol-making method appears to be theoretically sound (though demanding) and extremely thorough.

In addition to the above, Cornelius Agrippa says that it is proper to sanctify corpses of the dead with holy water, in addition to several completing several other steps in order to cleanse it, and ensure that it properly returns to the earth in order to protect the flesh from devils, and properly deliver it back into the hands of God (Cornelius Agrippa often had to disguise his practices as monotheistic and Christian, due to the attitudes of people in power during his time). Consistent with accepted uses, he also recommends sprinkling holy water to cleanse the mind, and to bring tranquility to other types of places and things.

TheThree Books on Occult Philosophy also mention that holy water can be sprinkled to give reverence to “the gods,” which clearly implies that its power isn’t limited to monotheistic situations, though it is also sure in this writing that the holy water in question is that of the Catholic Church.

InOf Magical Ceremonies, Cornelius Agrippa says that all tools used in your magic can effectively be consecrated with holy water, incense, the anointing oil described in Exodus 30 (he simply says “holy Oyl,” but this is the most likely meaning), the proper symbols, prayers, and mentions of relevant verses from scriptures. He also recommends, in addition to particularly strict adherence to religious (probably Jewish) morals for many days in advance, confession, and kindness, that we should wash ourselves with holy water before performing certain kinds of (non-Christian) high magic. In addition, he says the place (particularly, I believe he is suggesting rooms as the type of place you should work) in which you perform your work should be sprinkled with holy water after you enter.

In a more folk-magic context, we can use holy water in very simple miniature rituals simply to drive out everyday negative forces from our homes, or if we are to make a bit more of an ordeal of it, to consecrate our altars, saying as thorough and powerful of a blessing as we can muster (the consecration of a home altar should probably be given a lot more energy than many people will afford it). Here, it is again worthwhile to note that holy water’s function is not at all lost when dealing with non-monotheistic systems. Its usefulness is extremely durable, and our intentions can play a significant role in the nature of its effects. Aside from the fact that this is not a Christian application, there is very little about this use which would actually be frowned upon by clergy.

Finally, it’s important to note that in situations of devil-worship (which we should note is not limited to Satan-worship), there are such ceremonies as Black Mass, which are often designed as deliberate and direct parodies of the Catholic Mass, and these often employ Catholic holy water (among other stolen implements of the Catholic Church, if possible) in order to have a greater psychic impact on the world (the theory behind this is completely sound, as a parody of an important Catholic ritual which employs actual Catholic ritual instruments will, at the very least, affect the immaterial nature of the concepts it parodies through these physical connections).

I hope this post has been helpful and informative to you. Remember that the “acceptable” uses of holy water are completely capable of being adapted for similar or identical uses by non-Christian magic users, and that none of these practices are intended to replace proper medical treatment (though they may still be beneficial to the process of recovery from ailments). As always, thank you for reading.

-Admin

If any of you followers found my master post of things ruled by the planets and other celestial powers useful or interesting, you might like to know that I have thoroughly revised it. Now it contains quite a bit more information, and the information that was already there has been organized in a far more consistent manner. Hopefully this will make it easier to navigate.

-Admin

Hello, all! Welcome to the fourth post in my series on interpreting the court cards of the Tarot.

The Queens of the tarot take us back from the practical to the esoteric. Pages and knights encounter subjects in theory and in practice, but the Queens deal with meaning. They represent a stage of deeper understanding in which we begin to synthesize what we are learning into something with internal consistency. I tend to interpret the Queens as a phase of learning that begins when a subject first starts to gel, and, like the practices represented by the Knight cards, might not necessarily ever end.

I don’t draw a hierarchical distinction between Queens and Kings.The Pages definitely precede the Knights as beginner and intermediate. But after that, phases of learning tend not to be linear. I find it more useful to treat Queens and Kings as different ways of engaging with a subject. Whether one represents a higher stage of mastery than the other depends on the subject and the perspective of the querent. Instead of the beginner/intermediate progression, the Queens and Kings represent mastery of meaning versus mastery over form. In this way, I often associate Queens with teaching, with theory, and with a deep amateur love of a subject. Unfortunately, these ways of approaching knowledge are often devalued, especially as they are not usually geared towards professional development in a given area. For this reason, it is quite common for querents to have a significant amount of anxiety surrounding Queen material. But the Queens teach us the emotionally satisfying dimensions of their subject areas; they teach us the love of learning for its own sake

It is important, then, to emphasize that the Queen-King relationship is not a progression from intermediate to advanced, but a polarity. In subjects or disciplines which emphasize form, one might achieve a “King” stage of mastery well before gaining the deep understanding of the Queens. A musician with bravura technique (King) may have underdeveloped musicality (Queen). Someone who reads voraciously about the history of fencing but rarely gets a chance to (or doesn’t care to) pick up a foil and practice has developed a Queen-type understanding of a subject in favor of a King-type mastery. Theoretically, if one has achieved absolute mastery over a subject, one would have equally strong skill sets in both. Practically speaking, true expertise requires mastery over both modes; for most subjects, this will mean that everyone spends significant time going back and forth between the two.

Queen of Wands

The Queen of Wands is the card of the skilled amateur, the person for whom love of a subject outweighs any practical benefits they may gain from it. Although people can and do engage professionally in areas where this card applies, it is far more likely to be a “labor of love” or a sideline done mostly for the fun of it. I find that this card comes up especially often with amateur artists. Emotionally speaking, the Queen of Wands represents a healthy engagement with our passions; in readings that center on emotional growth, the upright Queen of Wands rarely carries with her the connotations of recklessness or immoderation that can sometimes come with the Knight of Wands. Rather, she represents an avenue of expression that channels the fire of the Wands in a way that is tempered by the Queen’s maturity and wisdom. Hypothetical Queen of Wands situations might be: The querent’s novel is starting to gel; the querent is (or needs to go back to) engaging with an area of creative fulfillment; the querent has made great strides in controlling their naturally fiery temper.

Reversed Queen of Wands

In my experience, the reversed Queen of Wands almost always indicates that the querent (or other person represented) has difficulty expressing anger. It can also sometimes refer to a period of depression (as if the fires are banked) or lack of creative fulfillment. However, even when reversed, she still represents a kind of growth. People often find themselves here when they are still learning to express their feelings openly and constructively. Situations to which the reversed Queen of Wands might apply could be: The querent’s novel is stalled with no end in sight; the querent harbors a great deal of resentment and anger, but does not express it for the sake of appearing “nice”; the querent needs to take an emotional break from a stressful situation in order to cultivate their emotional energy.

Queen of Swords

The Queen of Swords is a card of great strength and decisive energy. The Queen of Swords knows who she is and what she wants, and gets it with minimal beating around the bush. The unfocused energy of the Pages and Knights has been transformed into an efficient, direct line of thought. The Queen of Swords embraces order and precision. Although people (particularly women) with a great deal of Queen of Swords energy can appear brusque to others, at its core this energy is merely assertive and direct. It is especially favorable in situations involving negotiations of any kind. The Queen of Swords is also a heavily academic card, representing complete understanding of theory and criticism. Hypothetical Queen of Swords scenarios could be: The querent is editing their novel; the querent has reached a level of maturity marked by straightforward, assertive communication; the querent can understand almost anything in their target language, but still makes mistakes in speaking and writing; the querent is acting as a whistleblower or otherwise using their words in service of a cause.

Queen of Cups

The Queen of Cups is a card of great emotional and spiritual wisdom. She often pops up when the querent is about to start a relationship that is deeply fulfilling; although this is not strictly about learning, I often read these relationships as learning experiences of a sort. The Queen of Cups appears when the querent has or is about to achieve a new level of satisfaction in their lives; the thing they are gaining mastery over is their own happiness and how to cultivate it. I get this card especially often in the readings of those who are quite adept at caring for others, but who habitually neglect their own emotional needs. However, the dimensions of the Queen of Cups extend to spirituality, and to any kind of activity that brings a deep sense of joy and contentment. Situations for which this card might apply are: The querent is about to gain new spiritual understanding; the querent has internally resolved their emotional baggage, but has not yet necessarily effected this in their relationships with others; the querent is about to begin an important relationship, often a love affair; the querent’s depression is reversing.

Reversed Queen of Cups

The Queen of Cups is so naturally giving and nurturing, that even more than the upright card, the reversed Queen often represents a need to focus on self-care. Reversed Queen of Cups can indicate a tendency to overdo self-sacrifice, and to have a difficult time filling one’s own emotional “cup”. The reversed Queen can be a red flag for codependent or otherwise unhealthy emotional patterns. It may also be a card of loneliness and isolation. However, it is not fundamentally a negative iteration of the card. Depending on the context, the Queen of Cups reversed can indicate a need for retreat and solitude in order to cultivate peace and relaxation. Because the emotional content of the cups is already a very interior matter, I have found that the reversed Queen of Cups turns up most often when querents are having a difficult time expressing, or even identifying their feelings. Situations in which the Queen of Cups may show up reversed might be: The querent is depressed or isolated; the querent is considering a spiritual path or other life decision that will lessen their contact with the outside world; the querent is in a relationship that is restrictive or oppressive; the querent needs more time to examine their feelings about a particular matter.

Queen of Coins

The Queen of Coins knows her own worth and revels in it. She represents a kind of mastery over practicalities that frequently manifests itself as a simple feeling of confidence and competence in daily life on the part of the querent. She also comes up often when the querent has a level of practical mastery over a subject (which I would designate as a King-type mastery), but has no desire to develop it evenly across all areas. The paradox of the Queen’s esoteric knowledge combined with the practical Earth nature of the coins means that the Queen’s area of expertise is in the value of things. Look for the Queen of Coins to appear when the querent needs to question or return to their values. She can also come up when a querent is too caught up in the financial risks or rewards associated with a given venture, and needs to return to the subject for the simple love of the thing. I also designate those activities which bring to us a sense of luxury or nobility (for example, tending one’s own garden and deriving a sense of satisfaction and ownership of it) as falling under her jurisdiction. Example situations dealing with the Queen of Coin’s territory might be: the querent has recently retired and is looking for a new activity to pass the time, especially things like gardening or the arts; the querent is beginning to enjoy some material success in life and is navigating new feelings of maturity, responsibility, and self-worth; the querent has an idea to monetize a skill they have mastery over, but is uncertain about whether they want to deal with the professional demands of doing it for money.

Reversed Queen of Coins

If the upright Queen represents value from its most tangible to most abstract, the reversal of this card often shows us when we are cut off or diverging from those values in some way. The reversed Queen can frequently call on the querent to take a step back from the rat race and to cultivate a slower, more relaxed pace in life. This card can come up for querents who, after attempting to make a living at the pursuit of a passion or skill, found that the professional demands associated with monetizing the activity killed their enjoyment of it. This card also comes up often when people feel undervalued or worthless, and can also indicate anxiety about financial matters. However, depending on the context, it can carry with it the positive connotations of having rejected materialistic ways of ascribing value to things. Situations in which the Queen of Coins might appear reversed could be: the querent is feeling disillusioned about a career path; the querent has anxiety surrounding their body image; the querent feels that they have had to sacrifice their values for the sake of making a living; the querent is feeling dysphoria and is not deriving the same kind of pleasure from activities they enjoy as usual.

As you see, the Queens are more complex than the preceding KnightsandPages. However, stages of learning and personal growth are rarely simple or linear, and the many nuanced interpretations of the Queens reflect the cyclic and interior nature of learning. Remember that the Queens teach us about how to approach the understanding of a subject and how to orient ourselves in relation to it.

-Benefica

My series on astrological magic is now complete. There are thirteen posts total, each of them thoroughly discussing different concepts which are important to the effective practice of these arts. They don’t proceed in exactly the order you’ll need the information in, and I apologize for that, but I also don’t think it will be a problem. You should really make sure to carefully read the information in each of these posts before attempting to carry out this kind of work, in order to be sure that you’ve covered your bases and taken the appropriate precautions. Below is a list of all the posts in the series. I hope they are helpful to you. You’re welcome to ask us if you have any questions at all.

The Moon (and Sun)

Saturn and Mars

Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury

The Ascendant

Uses of the Decans

Parts (also known as Lots)

Image Theory I

Image Theory II

Master List of things Ruled by the Planets, Signs, and Fixed Stars

Lunar Nodes, Planetary Days and Hours, Names and Spirits of Times and Bodies

A Very Effective Method of Drawing a Circle

Consecration, Prayers, and Ritual Theory

Conclusion (Aspects, Other Loose Ends, and a Step-By-Step Walkthrough)

Thank you very much for reading. If you found this series interesting, please consider checking out Benefica’s series on the court cards in Tarot, and if you’re interested, check back soon for our upcoming series on the creation and use of talismans (which will be a collaboration between Benefica and myself).

-Admin

This will be the thirteenth and final post in my series on astrological magic. Since I’ve gone over most of the basic knowledge you need in order to successfully use astrological magic, this post will contain some additional tips and little bits of information that didn’t fit neatly into any of the other posts. Remember that none of the individual posts in this series contain enough information to give you complete results. Please be careful, and feel free to ask us if you have any questions.

The Ruler of the Chart:

I haven’t clearly explained the concept of a chart’s ruling planet yet, but it is fairly simple. Most astrologers just consider the planet which rules over the ascendant to be the ruler of the chart as a whole. It’s important to consider that when a planet rules over a chart, its power is augmented. This means you should think of the planet as dignified when it is in any normal location, and that when it’s in its detriment, it is reduced to its normal power, rather than below it. Naturally, then, when the planet ruling over the chart is exalted, it is particularly powerful, even more so than its exaltation usually allows.

The Chaldean Order:

I’ve talked about the Chaldean order a little bit before, but here I’ll give you a brief explanation as to what it is exactly, and then I’ll list the planets in that order for an easy reference. The Chaldean people ranked the seven traditional planets based on their apparent speed of motion in the sky. They considered the slower moving planets to be more powerful, and the faster planets to have less power, but more adaptability. Over time, they adapted a very complex system of symbolism based on their ranking of the planets. By incorporating the Chaldean order into sacred geometry and other systems of symbolism, they were able to determine how the planets rule over the days of the week, the hours of the day, various parts of the world, various religious practices, types of clothing, metals, plants, and animals. This system (which has steadily expanded since it was created) is still important in Hermeticism and many other occult traditions today.

The Chaldean order of the planets is as follows:

Saturn

Jupiter

Mars

The Sun

Venus

Mercury

The Moon

Rising and Descending Planets (and the Effects of their Hierarchies):

There is a fairly important concept which is rarely discussed in astrological texts, but which is very useful to understand in astrological magic. When a planet is rising, it’s useful to note that it has effects which are in accord with the planet above it in the Chaldean order. This means Saturn in particular carries the influence of the fixed stars when it’s rising. When a planet is descending, its influence is more in accord with the planet below it in the Chaldean order. For example, Saturn descending is very beneficial to Jupiter’s influence. The Moon is a fairly unique case, then, since while rising it is concurrent with Mercury, but while descending, it works in accord with some of the more earthly forces below it. In astrological magic, the Moon can usually be thought of as the focusing lens through which the powers of the other celestial bodies are projected down to Earth (this is why its position is considered particularly important in many magical traditions).

Reception:

I feel like should explain the concept of reception, since I mentioned it fairly often in some of the earlier posts in this series. In the simplest terms I can use, a reception occurs when a planet is at a favorable aspect with the planet which rules over (or is exalted in) the sign where it sits. It also occurs when a planet is at a favorable aspect to the ruler(s) of two of the following (which are considered lesser dignities): the term, triplicity, face, or decan where it sits.

For example, if Mercury sits in Leo while at a trine aspect to the Sun, then Mercury is being received by the Sun. This is the most basic kind of reception, and it’s called reception by sign. When a planet is received by another planet, it is given power and protection in accord to the powers of planet which is receiving it. In this hypothetical case, Mercury is given a much greater affinity for intellectual communications between the common people and those in positions of power, and it might also take on a much more financially adept nature than normal, allowing Mercurial energy to be directed in a way that allows it to help a person generate great profits (especially since Mercury rules over commerce, and Leo rules over wealth and riches).

There are also situations where two planets are in mutual reception to each other. This kind of astrological condition usually represents the mutual benefit of both of the celestial bodies involved.

A good example of two planets which are in mutual reception to each other is a chart where Venus is in Leo while at a square aspect with the Sun, which sits in Taurus. Despite the fact that a square is generally considered an unfavorable aspect, when both of the planets involved in the aspect are also in each other’s greater dignities, any aspect they share will usually become favorable, no matter how hostile or difficult the aspect is usually considered to be.

A slightly different example of mutual reception is a chart where the Moon sits in Pisces at a sextile aspect to Jupiter, which sits in Taurus. The primary difference here is that the Moon doesn’t actually rule over Taurus, but is just in its exaltation there. There aren’t any notable differences in the overall effects of a reception by exaltation as opposed to a reception by rulership, but it’s important to always be aware of the exaltations of the planets, and the effects they can have on a chart. Forgetting something which seems like a minor detail, like the fact that a planet is exalted or in reception, can lead to significant errors when you’re calculating a chart. When you’re looking at the astrological conditions of future days in order to determine the best time to work, it’s very important to look over the charts thoroughly, so you can use their powers efficiently, effectively, and accordingly.

The aspects are a fairly difficult area of astrology for many people to get comfortable with, although when you become familiar with them, they will prove to be very useful.

I’ll be using the word “perfect” fairly often in this section, and I want to clarify what I mean. In this context, as a verb, “to perfect an aspect” is to have two planets which are applying to an aspect with each other reach the point where they are in their aspect exactly, with 0ºdeviance from the exact distance of that aspect. For example, if two planets are applying to a trine aspect with each other, and they are about to perfect the trine, this means the two planets are arriving at the point where they are exactly 120º apart.

As an adjective, the meaning of a “perfect aspect” follows along the same reasoning. When an aspect is perfect, it is exact. A perfect trine aspect occurs when the two planets involved are exactly 120º apart. A perfect conjunction occurs when the two planets involved are exactly 0º apart.

To familiarize you with the basic properties of the various types of aspect, I’ll go into some detail about how they work, below.

Applying and Separating:

When two planets are at an approximate aspect with each other (most astrologers consider an approximate aspect to be anything within 10º of the perfect aspect), and they are moving closer to perfecting their aspect, it is usually said that the faster planet is applying to the slower one at whatever aspect is occurring. For example, if Venus and Mercury are 118º apart, and they are getting closer to a perfect trine aspect with each other, you could say that Mercury is applying to Venus at a trine aspect, since Mercury is the faster planet of the two, and it is “gaining ground” on Venus (there are also some contexts where it doesn’t matter which planet is moving faster, and they would both be said to be applying to the aspect).

When two planets have completed their perfect aspect, and are now starting to move away from the aspect they shared, it is usually said that the faster planet is separating from the slower one at whatever aspect is occurring. For example, if Mercury and Venus had just completed their perfect trine aspect as I described in the example above, and Mercury is now moving past the perfect trine so the two planets are now 122º apart, you could say that Mercury is separating from a trine aspect with Venus. Since Mercury is the faster planet of the two, it is the planet which is increasing the distance between Venus and Mercury’s trine aspect. This is why Mercury is said to be separating (though as above, there are some contexts where it doesn’t matter which planet is moving faster, and you would simply say that both planets are separating from the aspect).

Conjunction:

A conjunction is probably the most influential aspect which can occur in a chart. When two planets are conjunct, their energy is blended, and the conjunction is considered a single source of energy, rather than two separate planets exerting their influence. Depending on the planets involved, this can be good or bad. It’s also important to understand that some planets are more powerful than others, meaning a conjunction isn’t necessarily an equal blend of two planets. Some texts on astrological magic say that conjunctions can have three basic properties. These properties are increases, decreases, and balances. In astrological magic, it’s generally accepted that the power of a planet in conjunction is usually determined by its place in the Chaldean order. This means Saturn’s influence is generally the most powerful, while Jupiter’s power is almost always equal to it (except in a few cases). To help illustrate the way a conjunction works, I’ll briefly describe some conjunctions involving Saturn.

Saturn and Jupiter are almost always equal in power when they are conjunct. If both planets are somehow dignified, then Jupiter will be more powerful than Saturn in the conjunction. If Jupiter is dignified, but Saturn is direct and exalted, Saturn will usually be equal. If Jupiter is weakened or in its detriment, and Saturn is not, then Saturn’s power will be dominant in the conjunction, especially if Saturn is dignified or exalted.

Saturn and Mars are an interesting conjunction, because although Saturn is the most powerful planet involved, the martial influence will almost always be prominent and noticeable here. This is because Mars and Saturn are generally “friendly” toward each other. If Saturn is direct and dignified or exalted, you may not see as much influence from Mars in this kind of conjunction. If Mars is in a similarly powerful position, and Saturn is weakened, you may see Mars dominate this conjunction, though Saturn’s influence is never obscured by Mars.

When Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun, this is generally considered a difficult position, unless they are in a sign ruled by Saturn, in which case they can be very powerful and agreeable to each other. As with any planet besides the Moon, if Saturn is close enough to the Sun to be in combustion, its effects are completely negated or obscured, and it you might not be able to find any Saturnine effects whatsoever in the chart.

Saturn conjunct Venus generally favors Saturn. If Saturn is weakened or in its detriment, while Venus is exalted or in a sign where it rules, you may see their influences manifest fairly equally. In nearly any other situation, though, Saturn is easily the most powerful influence of the two, taking very little influence from Venus.

Saturn conjunct Mercury is an easy situation for Saturn. It is extremely rare for Mercury’s influence to be prominent in this situation. Usually, you’ll see Mercury’s effects severely inhibited in this position. For any work involving language, communication, travel, math, trickery, or intelligence, this conjunction will cause great difficulty. If Mercury is exalted and Saturn is weakened significantly, you might see some more influence from Mercury here, but Saturn will invariably remain dominant, since Mercury’s role in a conjunction almost always serves to further intellectually articulate the influence of the planet it is conjunct with. This basically makes a conjunction between Mercury and Saturn function just like Saturn, but with a greater affinity for situations concerning intelligent thought, communication, and logic. When this conjunction is taking place, the things people say might generally tend toward the emotionally heavy.

Saturn and the Moon are an important conjunction to understand. Clearly, since Saturn’s effects are more powerful, it is by far the most dominant force in this conjunction, though the Moon’s influence is still present to some extent. However, there are times when the Moon’s influence is not so obscured. If Saturn is in a weakened position or its detriment, and the Moon is dignified, then the Moon’s influence will be greater than that of Saturn. If the Moon is not dignified, though, Saturn’s influence will almost always outweigh that of the Moon, even if Saturn is weakened. If Saturn is dignified, and the Moon is in a weakened position or its detriment, then the effects of the Moon in a conjunction will be nearly impossible to identify, and the conjunction will work almost as if it were just an augmented Saturn. In some rare cases, the Moon is slower than usual in its motion. If the Moon happens to be moving at a similar speed to Saturn, their effects will be fairly evenly balanced. In conjunctions between Saturn and the Moon, it’s important to note that the Moon’s most powerful position is when it is rising, and Saturn’s most powerful position is when it is descending.

Stellium:

When more than two planets are conjunct to each other, and they are all in the same sign, this is called a stellium. When this occurs, you should think of all three of them as one combined energy, and you should be especially aware of the nature of the celestial bodies involved, since a stellium will almost always be one of the most powerful forces in a chart. If a particularly favorable stellium is occurring, it is probably a good idea to carry out certain things while you can (perhaps charge some talismans), so you’ll be able to harness the power of such an event before it’s over. Even if you don’t necessarily need a specific power when a potentially useful stellium occurs, I highly recommend that you try to store it for future use. Foresight is an extremely useful tool in any magical art.

Good aspects:

The “good” or “favorable” aspects in astrology are the trine and sextile aspects. A trine aspect occurs when two planets are approximately 120° apart from each other, and it is considered the most favorable aspect possible. A sextile aspect occurs when two planets are approximately 60° apart from each other, and though not as good as a trine, is considered to be a favorable aspect.

A trine aspect is the most naturally manifested positive aspect. When two planets are at a trine aspect with each other, they are each lending beneficial energy to the other. Consider that in most cases, this is even considered positive if one of the planets involved is considered unfortunate. For example, Venus at a trine to Saturn does not harm the influence of either planet, but rather, Venus is strengthened and given greater emotional depth and responsibility, while Saturn benefits by gaining more expressly benevolent properties, and becomes generally more cheerful. Keep in mind that there are still plenty of situations where any two given planets are better off without any aspects at all, regardless of whether they are good aspects such as trine (this is briefly discussed in some of the earlier postsof this series,where I discussthe placementof the planetsand other influences).

A sextile aspect is the lesser of the good aspects. When two planets share a sextile aspect, they are only beneficial to each other if we go to the effort to cultivate the connection between them, and to consciously work toward fulfilling the potential of their aspect. Otherwise, we should consider the nature of this aspect basically the same as a trine, but altogether capable of being less powerful.

Bad aspects:

The “bad” or “hostile” aspects are the opposition and square. An opposition occurs when two planets are approximately 180° apart from each other (hence the name, implying they are opposite to each other in the chart), and is considered the most hostile aspect which can occur. A square aspect occurs when two planets are about 90° apart from each other, and is not as dire as opposition, but is still considered unfavorable and difficult.

An opposition is the most universally unfavorable aspect which can occur. Any two planets opposing each other causes a severe affliction to them both. Other factors are important, including whether either of the planets involved are at all dignified or in their detriments, and how powerful the concerned planets are on their own (based on the Chaldean order, as discussed above). Generally, it is considered extremely difficult (if not impossible) to reconcile an opposition between two planets, and when there is an opposition occurring, you should probably avoid trying to use the power of any of the planets involved.

A square is considered the lesser unfavorable aspect. The name is fairly indicative of the nature of this aspect. You could say that the planets involved are “squaring off,” or preparing to fight each other. Generally, this means that the relationship between the two celestial bodies involved is very volatile, and that making the wrong decision or move can cause major problems. Despite the volatility of the square, it can also be reconciled a lot more easily than an opposition. Think of it like a tense situation that you can defuse if you deal with it properly (as if you were mediating between two people who were about to fight).

Prohibition:

At some earlier point in this series, I have briefly mentioned a condition called prohibition which can afflict a planet. There are two kinds of prohibition. The first kind is called a bodily prohibition, or a conjunctive prohibition. A bodily prohibition occurs when two planets are applying to a conjunction, when a third planet swiftly overtakes both of the others, and completes a conjunction with the second planet (after also perfecting and separating from a conjunction with the first one in the process of overtaking it, of course) before the first two planets have had time to perfect their conjunction with each other. When this happens, the prohibiting planet is effectively stealing the prize of conjunction from the planet which gets left out, or prohibited. I’ve heard a bodily prohibition be described as a “planetary cock-block,” and I thought this was a fairly accurate way to simply and clearly express the nature and mood of this type of astrological condition. To be sure I’ve effectively explained how a bodily prohibition works, I’ll describe an example below.

When two planets are in the process of applying to a conjunction which, if perfected, promises the favorable or ideal ending of a thing (such as a magical work, a difficult time, or an event of any kind), all appears to be won. Consider, for example, that if the planets applying to their conjunction are, say, Mars at the 7º of Aries, and Saturn at the 12º of Aries, and they are ready and moving toward becoming perfectly conjunct (0º apart from each other, which we will say is the ideal astrological resolution to whatever hypothetical work we are carrying out). Now, just for the purpose of demonstration, let’s say that we hadn’t been paying attention when we were planning out the astrological conditions of the present time, and it just so happens that the Sun is very close behind Mars, currently at the 6º of Aries. Since the Sun moves significantly faster than both Mars and Saturn, we can predict that it will catch up to Mars, and form a perfect conjunction (which, when involving the Sun, is called combustion, and is considered a particularly unfortunate conjunction for whichever planet the Sun is incinerating) with it long before the desired Mars/Saturn conjunction can come about. But we also know that the Sun won’t just stop at that. It will completely overtake Mars, separating from it, and applying to a conjunction with Saturn, reaching full combustion of Saturn at 0º conjunct before Mars has a chance to do anything at all. When the Sun reaches Saturn after fully overtaking Mars, it is prohibiting Mars from uniting its energy with Saturn as planned, and it is prohibiting Saturn from exerting any power at all. When a prohibition of this kind occurs, you should basically consider the prohibited planet’s power negated for the duration of the prohibition, meaning the planet basically “loses a turn,” and does not get to express any power until it is free from the other celestial bodies involved in the prohibition.

The second type of prohibition is called prohibition by aspect, and it occurs when two planets are applying to a conjunction, and a third, faster planet located elsewhere in the chart overtakes any aspect (meaning this kind of prohibition is possible with trine, sextile, square, and opposing aspects) of one of the planets (perfecting the aspect in the process, and continuing on to separate from it, while beginning to apply to the same aspect of the next planet in the potential conjunction), and then proceeds to perfect the same type of aspect with the other planet, effectively prohibiting the two from achieving the power of their perfect conjunction. Below, I will describe an example of a prohibition by aspect, just to be sure I’m being articulate in my explanation.

Let’s imagine that Mars is at the 7º of Aries again, while Saturn is found at the 15º of Aries. As you can see, the two are applying toward a conjunction, just as in the example above. Remember that in our hypothetical work, we’re hoping for Mars and Saturn to perfect their conjunction, because that conjunction will bring about the ideal astrological conditions for the exact resolution (of whatever hypothetical event or work you wish to imagine here) we are praying for. But again, we failed to pay proper attention to the chart. This time, it’s a little less obvious of a mistake. Now, we may know not to plan for this conjunction when the Sun is so closely rapidly approaching the planets involved, but the problem here isn’t an actual celestial body prohibiting the conjunction. You see, the Sun is at the 5º of Gemini, which is a seemingly harmless location, right? Unfortunately not. Since the Sun moves faster than both Mars and Saturn, and it is approaching a sextile of Mars, it will perfect a sextile aspect with Mars, and then separate from it, long before the Mars/Saturn conjunction has even come close to completion. But of course, just like the example I described before, that isn’t all it takes for a prohibition to occur. Now, the Sun will overtake Saturn’s sextile as well, perfecting it before Mars and Saturn manage to complete their conjunction at all. Once again, this prohibition negates the potential power of the conjunction between the two planets involved, in addition to temporarily voiding their individual energies. Neither of the prohibited planets are able to exert any influence until they are each free from the other’s sphere of influence, and they have separated from the influence of the planet which prohibited them.

Now that I’ve spoken about those loose ends and tips, I can give you a basic step-by-step walkthrough of how to approach astrological magic if you’re using the methods I’ve discussed in this series.

First, you need to know exactly what your intentions are. If you don’t have a clear and thorough understanding of your goals in a work of magic, you might not get very good results. If you are precise enough in engineering the symbolism you use in a work, you will be able to get very precise control of your results.

Once you know exactly what your intentions are, you should decide which planets or signs you need to draw power from. Do this based on the things which each planet and sign rules over. Whichever planets or signs most influence the things your goals are concerned with are the ones you should use. It’s not necessarily a bad idea to combine the influence of more than one celestial body or sign, so long as you can elegantly represent the two of them together as a magical image, and provided you can also get them both in favorable positions at one time. It’s important to take care in choosing the ascendant, because that decision also determines which planet rules over the chart.

Now, look at astrological charts for upcoming days and times (it doesn’t really matter how far in advance you plan these) to find the most favorable time to carry out your work. You can refer to some of the earlier posts in this series to determine whether the planets in question are in a good place or not. If the Sun or Moon rules your chart, you should prioritize their positions.If Saturn or Mars rule your chart, focus on finding them a good position.If Jupiter, Venus, or Mercury rule your chart, consider their locations the most important.It’s also good to make sure that the planets in question are in favorable decans for your purpose.

Make sure the particular Arabic Parts which are important to your work are favorably placed, so that the intangible factors of the chart are not working against you.

After that, it’s time to decide if the lunar nodes are in acceptable places for you to carry out your work, and to choose the right planetary day and planetary hour to proceed in.

Now, you should be sure to derive an effective image from the stars,signs, or planets you’re using in order to create an effective visual representation of your desired effect. This doesn’t have to be based on any rigid symbolic foundation, but we should take special care to make our images properly represent the powers they are designed to conduct.

Once we’re actually about to perform our ritual, we need to draw our circle. After that, we need to consecrate it and carry out our ritual, saying all the necessary prayers. Then, we can safely conclude our work. Many people choose to include a banishing ritual or dismissal of the spirits at the end of their work (if any of us writes a post about these practices, I will edit this post and add a link to it at that time).

This concludes my series on astrological magic. I hope it has been helpful to you. If you have any questions for us, feel free to drop us an ask. If there’s any important information which seems to be missing from this series, please don’t hesitate to request it. Thank you for reading. If this is the first post you’ve come across in the series, and you found it interesting, useful, or enjoyable, please check out the rest. If you’ve finished this series and you’d like to see more of our work, you should check out Benefica’s series about the court cards in the Tarot. Very soon, she and I will begin to collaborate on a new series on the creation and use of talismans. Thank you for reading. We hope you will continue to enjoy our work.

-Admin