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Are Astrological Talismans Safe? Part II: Safety & Quality Control
In the first post of our series on safety in astrological talismans, we explored the question whether astrological talismans are safe from a technical astrological perspective and a relational perspective. We established that real and consequential magic is alive and astrological talismans are sentient beings, and therefore, astrological talismans are always to some extent unpredictable because they operate under their own agency and authority.
In this second part, we examine risk from a more individual perspective, examining the relationships between a particular person’s natal chart and the electional chart of the talisman. We also lay out the safeguards and cautionary protocols that we abide by at Idola Stellarum to ensure quality control and mitigate any potential risks to ourselves and our customers.
Risk from an Individual Perspective
What we laid out in Part I of this post series was quite general. Any individual person’s relationship with a given talisman will, however, necessarily be highly individual. One person will relate to a given talisman differently than another person, because each has a different natal chart, different magical experience, different spirit allies, and different relationships with the celestial hierarchy.
We each have different qualities, capabilities, and potentials, and these will interplay with our talismanic relationships. As with people, some talismans will simply get along with us better than others. Looking at your natal chart can give you some insight into the types of spirits you’re likely to relate to better or less ideally than others.
In broad brush strokes, people will tend to relate more easily to planets that have essential dignity in their natal chart (e.g., planets in their signs of domicile or exaltation, or dignified by triplicity, term, or face). People will tend to relate less easily to planets that are essentially debilitated (e.g., planets in their signs of detriment or fall). Other factors that can play into baseline ways of relating include accidental dignities (e.g., angularity, aspects to benefic planets) and accidental debilities (e.g., cadency, aspects to malefic planets, and especially combustion) in a person’s natal chart.
Magical and devotional experience and practice can shift these baseline natal relationships. Coming into relationship with astrological talismans can help achieve such shifts. Other mages have reported going through difficult adjustment periods when attuning to talismans of planets not well positioned in their natal charts. These issues have been discussed elsewhere and by other mages, for example by Clifford Low, Christopher Warnock, and others on the Stellar Sorcery discussion group. These sorts of trials can be initiatory in the sense of high risk and high reward: the troubles can be significant, but the payoffs can be as well.
For these reasons, like other astrological magicians, we generally recommend for people with less experience with astrological talismans to steer their first talismanic experiences toward planets that have good or neutral dignity in their natal chart, and to start off avoiding talismans of planets that have serious afflictions in their natal chart—especially planets that are combust. Bear in mind that this recommendation is provisional, since one’s personal or magical goals may trump these considerations.
It bears note that imbalances in any direction can be disorienting. Consider concepts such as ‘too much of a good thing,’ or the ancient notion of ‘sola dosis facit venunum’—the dose makes the poison. Perhaps even a talisman that anyone would consider positive in a vacuum might have mixed or risky results for a given person.
For example, if someone with Venus exalted in their natal chart chose a Venus in Pisces talisman for their first and only talisman, a risk exists that in addition to getting the benefits of such a talisman, there might be side effects that could be experienced as negative, especially by others around them. Again, none of this is cast in stone: this will depend on the other placements in the chart, the nature of the particular talisman, and a host of other actors. Also, for different charts and placements, different considerations may apply, as this is just one theoretical example.
Every person is unique and has unique experiences (both mundane and magical). Every talisman is unique as well. No general formula will be able to predict with certainty how a given person will interact with a given talisman. As with any relationship, some leap of faith is required into the otherness of the other. As with any relationship, relationships with astrological talismans call for exploration, curiosity, and vulnerability, with no absolute guarantee of certain payoff.
Finally, it is worth noting that these issues are complex and assume some familiarity with traditional astrology. If you are not sure or do not understand these ideas or recommendations, we encourage you to consult with a natal astrologer who is familiar with traditional astrology and preferably with astrological magic.
Idola Stellarum’s Approach to Talismanic Safety
Real magic is wild, and nothing wild is ever truly safe. That said, astrological mages have a responsibility to do what they can to mitigate the possibility of harm, especially if they are giving or selling talismans to the public. At Idola Stellarum, we take a many-layered approach to ensuring that our astrological talismans are as generally user friendly as possible.
First, we scrutinize our elections thoroughly. This includes at least triple checking our elections from a technical standpoint, paying special attention to major factors that have more potential for causing difficulties for the wearer (e.g., condition of the significator planet, malefic planet aspects and presence on angles, condition of the rulers of the Moon and the Ascendant). Moreover, we always seek to validate the safety and efficacy of elections through divination prior to committing to any particular working.
Second, we pay close attention to the energetics and omens in the leadup to an election. Signs and synchronicities serve an important though always uncertain function in validating the nature of the magic. Our general approach is that everything leading up to the working is part of the working, and so we cast a wide net when thinking about relevant factors to consider.
Third, we assiduously abide by the time boundaries of our astromagical rituals, ensuring that all ceremonial actions are taken strictly within the effective and auspicious time window of the election. Astrological timing forms the essential core of this art: without it, there is no essential distinction between astrological talismans and mundane jewelry. We therefore approach the requirements of astrological elections with absolute sincerity and deeply respect the temporal limitations of the art so as to produce talismanic jewelry to the highest standards.
Fourth, we keep all talismans in house for a minimum of six months (and often significantly longer) before even considering releasing a batch of astrological talismans in a collection. This substantial waiting period exists to allow time for any possible defects in the election or side effects of the talismans to come to light.
Fifth, at least one astrological talisman from each and every Idola Stellarum working gets personally tested by one of our mages. From a safety perspective, our bottom line is that we never release astromagical talismanic jewelry to the public that we would not wear ourselves. More generally, since our practice and understanding of talismanic spirits is founded upon relationship, we consider it necessary to enter into and feel out what those relationships are like for ourselves, so that we can better communicate our understanding of the spirits to our customers.
Sixth, when describing our talismans and writing up the elections, we aim for transparency about the good and the bad. No election is perfect, and we aspire to provide as much clarity as possible so that people can enter into talismanic relationships with as much information as possible. Informed consent is a basic principle of care work, and we strongly believe in empowering people to make their own autonomous and informed choices.
Final Thoughts
We encourage you to read more about our guarantees when it comes to the astrological talismans crafted at Idola Stellarum. While we cannot guarantee absolute safety, we can guarantee that we do everything we can to respect the dignity and autonomy of our spirits and our customers.
Deep and consequential magic always entails risks. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say. That said, by approaching astrological talismans with prudence, care, and respect, we can do a great deal to protect ourselves and feel more secure in our relationships with talismanic spirits.
As stewards of the tradition of astrological magic, it is our privilege to bring the wonder of astrological talismans to others. Sign up to our mailing list for word of our upcoming talismanic collections and workings:
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