Attuning to Astrological Talismans Part III – Timing Considerations

In Part I of this post series, we took a look at our historical texts to argue that what we call attunement or introduction to astrological talismans is a modern addition to the tradition, and not an essential feature of the practice. In Part II, we explained why we recommend a ritual of attunement or introduction, and made some general suggestions based on some of our best practices for introducing oneself to talismans.

In this third part of our series on attuning to astrological talismans, we offer members of the Inner Sanctum detailed and nuanced suggestions on how to find a good time to introduce yourself to a talisman.

Why Elect a Time to Make an Introduction?

As astrological magicians we are always focused on timing. It’s no surprise that we generally consider it best to pick an appropriate time to introduce yourself to your talisman. Although picking a specific time for an introduction is not necessary, we see it as a way to offer respect and consideration to the spirit.

First impressions matter. Think about your relationships with people. Most people would not appreciate you knocking on their door at 3am to say hello, especially if they’ve never met you before. Going up to shake someone’s hand while they’re busy with a difficult task, on the toilet, or deep in prayer will not endear you to them in most cases.

Although in our estimation the risks of offending talismanic spirits by choosing the “wrong” time to make an introduction are not particularly high, we do think it’s a nice gesture to elect an auspicious time. This can also be an offering for yourself, if choosing the right time helps you get in an appropriate mindset or heightens your intentionality about the ritual. For those of us raised in cultures dominated by secular materialist worldviews, attending to timing can be a way of tuning into the world in a different way and deepening our magical worldview.

However, we also recognize that electional astrology is a highly technical and difficult subject, and not everyone has the knowledge, time, or energy to elect a time to make an introduction. That’s fine! As with all aspects of attunement, we are talking about “nice to have” rather than “strictly necessary.” What matters most is your good will and sincerity, not your technical knowledge.

That said, if you would like to find a good time to make an introduction to a talisman, read on! Note too that these instructions also serve as more general advice for finding times to make connections to the celestial spheres through prayer or ritual. Also, in case it does not go without saying, the following guidelines are not sufficient instructions for electing astrological talismans or Picatrix-style petitions.

The Bigger Picture of Timing

For those not well-versed in electional astrology, the considerations delineated below may seem like a stew of arcane details. From down in the weeds it can be hard to see the bigger picture.

Remember that the whole point of electing a time for a ritual is to intentionally choose a time that’s likely to be better than any random time is liable to be. From a zoomed out perspective, we’re basically trying to do three things, which almost any astrological magician will agree with (Christopher Warnock and Clifford Low have laid out similar guidelines, for example):

Center the celestial entity we’re working with. We do this by choosing times that focus on that celestial entity. For planets, this involves planetary hours. For lunar mansions and fixed stars, it involves making sure the Moon is in the right place. For all of them, we can pick times when the relevant celestial entity is on one of the angles that are most central to astrological magic—the Ascendant or the Midheaven.
Reducing afflictions to the celestial entity we’re working with. This just means avoiding (or sometimes, mitigating) negative factors in the chart.
Maximizing positive factors. In the considerations below, we do not so much focus on this point, but you can always try to have the relevant celestial entity in contact with benefic planets, or making harmonious aspects to luminaries, for example.

At a very abstract level, any ritual aimed at any spirit will try to accomplish similar goals: the ritual will focus on the spirit, for example by using an image, sigil, or statue of that spirit, or by constructing an altar dedicated to the spirit (point one); avoid or not include things the spirit doesn’t like, for example by making sure the space is clear and clean (point two); and include or offer things that the spirit does like (point three). The following considerations about electing a time to make an introduction simply apply these general principles to time rather than to space and objects.

Specific Timing Considerations

How to select a good time for introduction will vary depending on the type of talisman you are working with. Below, we offer specific considerations for planetary talismans, fixed star talismans, and lunar mansion talismans (constellation talismans use basically the same considerations as fixed star talismans).

Please note that in electional astrology, we are always trying to find a good enough time, not a perfect time—there is no such thing! If the conditions below are confusing or you cannot find a time that suits all of them, feel free to ignore the complexities and simply meet the conditions that make sense or that you conveniently can. Remember that as with relationships with people, an attitude of sincerity and connectedness can be more valuable than the technical details of timing.

For Planetary Talismans:

For planetary talismans, we are looking to make the relevant planet as prominent and unafflicted as possible. You can think of this as trying to get as clear and direct a path to the planet as you can so the introduction is as smooth as possible.

At the most basic level, aim for the planetary hour that corresponds to the planet of your talisman. Planetary day is nice, but a secondary consideration.
If you want to go one step further, try to ensure that the relevant planet does not have poor essential dignity. For introduction, we look at signs of exile and signs of fall: that is, signs opposite the planet’s signs of domicile and exaltation. For slower planets like Saturn and Jupiter, you may decide to ignore this consideration if it means waiting months or years. For reference, this consideration would mean avoiding times when:
1. The Moon is in Capricorn or Scorpio;
2. Mercury is in Pisces or Sagittarius.
3. Venus is in Aries, Virgo, or Scorpio;
4. Sol is in Aquarius or Libra;
5. Mars is in Taurus, Libra, or Cancer;
6. Jupiter is in Gemini, Virgo, or Capricorn;
7. Saturn is in Cancer, Leo, or Aries.
Moving beyond essential debilities, you can also look to minimize accidental debilities such as aspects that would count as afflictions. At this level, try to ensure that the relevant planet is not applying to a hard aspect (square, opposition, or conjunction) with either of the malefic planets and is not applying to conjoin the South Node. Separating aspects are fine in our book.
Ideally, the relevant planet would be rising on the Ascendant or culminating on the Midheaven.

Anything beyond this (e.g., the planet being especially essentially dignified, making aspects to benefics or to the Moon, etc.) is icing on the cake.

For Fixed Star Talismans:

The fixed stars exist in a sphere beyond the traditional planets, and therefore are by their very nature more remote from us. For making an introduction, we can use the Moon, in her role as transmitter and translator of light, to our advantage, looking for times when the Moon is ‘activating’ the relevant fixed star by conjunction or soft aspect.

Try to find a time when the Moon is applying to the relevant fixed star by conjunction, sextile, or trine aspect.
It’s best to try to ensure the Moon is not afflicted either, so try to avoid times when the Moon is in her sign of exile (Capricorn) or fall (Scorpio). For fixed stars in these signs, such as Vega, this consideration can be safely ignored.
Avoid times when either of the malefic planets or the South Node is applying to conjoin the relevant fixed star within 5 degrees (8 to be really safe) for malefic planets and 10-15 degrees for the South Node. Separating aspects are fine in our book.
Ideally, the relevant fixed star would be rising on the Ascendant or culminating on the Midheaven.
You can also use timing to acknowledge that each fixed star is associated with two of the traditional planets (except Sirius, who for some reason is only associated with one), and aim for making an introduction during one of the planetary hours of these planets. For reference, the 15 Behenian fixed stars have the following planetary associations according to the Quadripertitus version of Liber De Quindecim Stellis:
1. Algol: Saturn & Jupiter;
2. Aclyone: Moon & Mars;
3. Aldebaran: Mars & Venus;
4. Algorab: Saturn & Mars;
5. Alkaid: Venus & Moon;
6. Alphecca: Venus & Mercury;
7. Antares: Mars & Jupiter;
8. Arcturus: Mars & Jupiter
9. Capella: Jupiter & Saturn;
10. Deneb Algedi: Saturn & Mercury (Jupiter is a modern association);
11. Procyon: Mercury & Mars;
12. Regulus: Jupiter & Mars (Sol is a modern association);
13. Sirius: Venus;
14. Spica: Venus & Mercury;
15. Vega: Venus & Mercury.

If you do not have much astrology knowledge or have trouble reading an astrology chart but still want to use some timing consideration, we would recommend using an appropriate planetary hour or day as the simplest method.

For Lunar Mansion Talismans:

Lunar Mansion talismans are inherently tied to the cycles of the Moon, and so for an introduction we mostly want to be looking at the location and condition of the Moon. We recommend the following timing considerations for introductions:

At a basic level, you can aim to make your introduction during the planetary hour of the Moon.
Ideally, you would also like the Moon to reside within, and thus be activating, the relevant Lunar Mansion. We use the tropical bounds of the Lunar Mansions.
It’s best to try to ensure the Moon is not afflicted either, so try to avoid times when the Moon is in her sign of exile (Capricorn) or fall (Scorpio). If you have the Moon within the relevant mansion (i.e., you’re attending to consideration #2 above), you can ignore this consideration.
It is also nice to try to reduce accidental afflictions to the Moon. We recommend avoiding times when the Moon is applying to a hard aspect (conjunction, square, or opposition) with either of the malefic planets, Mars and Saturn. We also recommend avoiding times when the Moon is applying to conjoin the South Node within about 10-15 degrees. Separating aspects are fine in our book.
In the best case, the relevant Lunar Mansion and/or the Moon would be rising on the Ascendant or culminating on the Midheaven.

Having a benefic planet within the mansion or making an aspect with the Moon would also be a nice bonus.

Concluding Thoughts on Timing

Again, we want to emphasize that the timing considerations above are not necessary. They are not required by ancient texts. The Picatrix does not threaten your life, wealth, or health if you don’t initially touch a talisman at the most auspicious time imaginable—in fact, these sorts of timing considerations are only mentioned for the creation of talismans, not for introducing yourself to them.

Timing considerations are simply a way to offer additional respect and gratitude to the talismanic spirit, as well as to augment the intentionality, thoughtfulness, and connectedness of your own ritual approach. If you find these considerations stressful or onerous, by all means, choose your own adventure!

We also mention in closing that after each Idola Stellarum collection release, we try to send out some times in the near future for making an introduction for people who acquired talismans from the collection. If you ever miss out on these instructions, or if you’re not sure how to apply these considerations on your own, please feel free to get in touch with us about good times to make an introduction to your Idola Stellarum talisman.

In the fourth and last part of this series, we offer broader considerations for introduction rituals and provide some suggestions on how to structure such a ritual. Part IV is available for Inner Sanctum members here.

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