On the Talismanic Gifts of Mars: Astrological Magic of the 5th Sphere

For folks just starting down the starry path—for instance, anyone who only has only recently discovered that astrological talismans exist—the question often arises: which talisman should I get? For more experienced enthusiasts or even seasoned practitioners of astrological magic, keeping the variety of talismans and wealth of sources straight can be a challenge.

This series of posts on the talismanic gifts of the seven spheres aims to provide a comprehensive and comprehensible resource that lists and explains the types of talismans and their various possible effects. In this post, we explore the variety of Mars talismans attested in source texts on astrological magic.

Mars has a particularly fearsome reputation in astrology. Although considered the Lesser Malefic, Mars foments conflict, hostility, and all manner of ills. Nevertheless, despite Mars’s capacity to cause strife, the Picatrix assures us that the mage “may make use of the infortunes [i.e., Mars and Saturn], and help yourself with them to achieve your desires, just as physicians are helped by carefully making use of poisonous substances in combination with others” (Book IV, Chapter 4). This echoes the ancient toxicological adage sola dosis venenum facit—”the dose makes the poison”: although Mars talismans can indeed be geared toward malefic ends, a properly constructed Mars talisman can also bring a variety of powerfully life-affirming effects.

The Purposes and Effects of Mars Talismans

Texts of astrological magic frequently contain what get referred to as ‘recipes’ for talismans. These recipes usually list a talismanic image (i.e., a picture, sigil, or design), the purpose or intention of the recipe, and often some prescribed materials such as a metal or gem, and sometimes herbs or incense to use. Much gets left to the reader, just as how cooking recipes often contain a list of ingredients and some general instructions but then rely on one’s general understanding of food and cooking (e.g., knowing what ‘medium-high heat’ means, how to dice onions, how to fry something in a pan, and even how to obtain ingredients in the first place). Similarly, talisman ‘recipes’ are often written with seasoned mages in mind, and contain bare minimum ‘ingredients’ that assume the reader will be able to fill in the blanks.

This post does not contain complete recipes, let alone instructions on how to cook, so to speak (i.e., how to make talismans), but rather a sort of cookbook table of contents: that is, what sorts of Mars talismans can be made.

Recipes for Mars talismans provide a variety of significations. Although these will be spelled out in significant detail below, here is a summary of the attested uses of Mars talismans:

victory over one’s enemies
triumph in battle
success in war, conflict, & quarrels
power (most especially but not necessarily toward evil ends)
instilling fear in others
boldness
spiritedness
courage
fearlessness
protection from enemies
protection of buildings
preservation from fire
aversion of death from brawls, battles, epidemics, and fevers
influence over martial creatures
defense against serpents, stinging insects, & wild animals
empowering martial creatures like dogs and horses
reducing risk from epidemics
warding against martial illnesses, e.g., fevers
easing of ulcers
staunching bleeding

Not every Mars talisman will have all or even most of these effects. Rather, specific talismanic recipes list one or a handful of these significations corresponding to a particular talismanic image. As can be seen, although Mars has a reputation for aggression and conflict—and such purposes are well-attested for sure—martial talismans can and frequently do go in the opposite direction, affording protection as well as several other virtues. For source material and explanation of the various effects of Mars talismans, read on!

Mars Talismans in the Picatrix

Several recipes for Mars talismans are given in the Picatrix. The first is the “ring of Mars,” described toward the front of Book II, Chapter 10 in a list of images of the planets. Six planetary rings are described in this section—one for each of the seven traditional planets except the Moon, whose omission remains a mystery. The effects of the ring of Mars are rather straightforward:

“whoever carries it will subdue warriors and triumph over them, and will be served by elephants, lions, and vultures, and all the workings of Mars will assist [them]”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book II, Chapter 10 (tr. Greer & Warnock)

As with other Picatrix planetary rings, the effects for the ring of Mars lists creatures that will serve the bearer, although, like the ring of Jupiter, the list given seems somewhat unorthodox. Though in modern times we typically associate lions with the Sun, they were also given as a signification of Mars by Al-Biruni. Vultures do appear as listed under the rulership of Mars, though as far as we are aware, not until significantly after the writing of the Picatrix (William Lilly lists vultures, as does William Ramesay, whose significations largely follow Lilly’s). Elephants, however, do not appear in any lists of planetary correspondences for Mars within the tradition of astrological magic that we are aware of—Al-Biruni attributes elephants to the Moon, whereas later authors (Agrippa, Lilly, Ramesay) give them to Jupiter. Picatrix was possibly drawing upon Indian sources or traditions, as elephants were widely used in warfare in ancient India (though of course not exclusively, as they were also used in other parts of southeast Asia, north Africa, the Mediterranean, etc.).

Significations of victory and triumph seem rather straightforward for a Mars talisman, as well as general affinity and success with the sphere of Mars.

As with the other planetary rings, the description of the ring of Mars suggests by way of examples that the overall purpose of this talisman is to establish its bearer as something like nobility within the hierarchy of Mars.

“Whoever carries this stone will be powerful in good and evil, but more powerful in evil”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book II, Chapter 10 (tr. Greer & Warnock)

Ah, power. Power can be leveraged toward generation or corruption per one’s intent, though the malefic flavor of Mars comes through in this talisman description. The phrasing bears some notice, though, particularly for what it does not say. The description gives no indication that the talisman itself is inclined—or that it will incline the bearer—to perform works of evil. The nature of the talisman, and the aim or intent of its spirit, seem perfectly neutral: it will grant power for whatever end the bearer chooses. It is simply that there will be more oomph behind it if the intentions happen to be evil. This serves as a reminder that talismanic magic itself, descending as it does from celestial spirits who play a role in the founding structure of creation and therefore everything within creation, is beyond good and evil. It is up to us to choose to wield whatever power is granted to us toward moral and life-affirming ends.

“anyone who carries this stone will cause fear in everyone and no one will approach them”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book II, Chapter 10 (tr. Greer & Warnock)

This martial talisman is best suited for all of the Machiavellians out there who believe, with The Prince, that “love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved” (Chapter 17). Though likely best situationally rather than as an every day carry, this talisman could certainly have its uses when we need to crank up the intimidation factor.

“If someone carries this image, the flow of blood out of any part of their body [that they wish] will immediately be stopped”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book II, Chapter 10 (tr. Greer & Warnock)

Although medical talismans might not be the first to spring to mind when people imagine a Mars talisman, it bears noting that Mars rules surgeons and physicians according to a wide variety of medieval and Renaissance sources (see Picatrix, al-Biruni, Agrippa, and Lilly), as well as “the treatment of wounds” according to Abu Ma’shar. Blood is also a common signification under the rulership of Mars, and so control of the blood would fall under this heading as well.

Mars Talismans in Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy

Agrippa also describes a talisman based on the planetary table or kamea of Mars:

“[This table is] carved while Mars is fortunate in an iron plate or a sword making one powerful in war, judgments, and petitions. [It makes one] frightful to enemies and is excellent for victory against enemies, but if carved in the stone cornelian, it draws blood and menstrua [as a styptic]. However if Mars is unfortunate and carved in red copper plate, it hinders buildings and overthrows powerful men from dignities, honors, and wealth. It generates discord, quarrels, and hatred in men and beasts, chases away bees, pigeons, and fish, hinders mills, makes hunting and battles unfortunate, and generates sterility in men, women, and other animals. It strikes fear in all enemies and compels them to exhibit respect.”
—Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Book II, Chapter 22 (tr. Eric Purdue)

This recipe provides a two-for-one: typically, talismanic recipes are either for positive effects or negative effects, but rarely are alternative uses described in a single passage. This talisman provides some effects we’ve seen before—victory and medical effects having to do with blood—and also shows the negative, maleficent ends toward which a Mars talisman can be seen as well.

“a man carrying this kind of image becomes powerful in good and evil, thus he will be feared by all; and thereby the bearer of this has the power of enchantment, thus frightening men by his appearance when angry, and binding them in a stupor”
—Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Book II, Chapter 40 (tr. Eric Purdue)

This recipe seems to have Agrippa combining two of the Mars talismans that we saw documented above in Picatrix, making the bearer powerful across the board but more powerful in evil works, and intimidating others and driving them away with the bearer’s terrifying visage. It would be intriguing to know where along the path these two talisman recipes became conjoined into one, but we likely lack sufficient information about the textual heritage of Agrippa’s talismanic recipes to determine this for sure.

“for bringing boldness, animosity, and fortune in war and quarrels”
—Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Book II, Chapter 40 (tr. Eric Purdue)

This talisman provides some familiar martial virtues such as boldness and success in martial endeavors (i.e., fighting and conflict). ‘Animosity’ is surely a curious addition to the repertoire, and it seems strange to think that anyone would seek out a talisman to make themselves more hostile or full of hatred. For particularly meek individuals we might conceive that such a talisman could bring their personality more into balance, but thankfully, another interpretation lends itself. A less common meaning of ‘animosity’ is spiritedness or courage, and it seems more likely that a beneficent Mars talisman would bring such valorous qualities rather than the blunter instruments of hostility and hatred.

The Book of the Treasure of Alexander’s Degree of Exaltation Mars Talisman

The Book of the Treasure of Alexander provides a recipe for the Mars degree of exaltation talisman purported to have the following effects:

“for victory over opponents and the removal of fears if worn by night as well as protection against serpents, stinging insects and wild animals who will avoid whomever carries this ring… Anoint the signet with the blood of a lion and the wearer will be protected from paralysis, fear, fevers and those illnesses arising from cold.”
—Book of the Treasure of Alexander, quoted from Christopher Warnock’s Renaissance Astrology website

This talisman bears two major structural similarities with the degree of exaltation talisman for Jupiter. First, as with Jupiter, Mars talismans do not, generally speaking, grant health benefits, with the exception of staunching blood flood. Second, as with the degree of exaltation Jupiter talisman, this talisman provides an intriguing instruction that implies that secondary ingredients can alter or bring out different effects of a talisman. In this case the effects will probably be left to the realm of speculation given that almost all human beings possess no legal or ethical way to anoint such a talisman with the blood of a lion.

In any event, the primary effects of this talisman are related to those of the ring of Mars attested in Picatrix, in that they seem to grant the bearer noteworthy status within the realm of martial creatures. Victory over opponents and protection from martial creatures would suggest that this talisman grants a kind of lordship within the sphere of Mars.

The removal of fears seems of a piece with the other boons, lifting a martial liability from the bearer. The instruction that this is only when the talisman is worn at night is particularly interesting, however, since it seems to imply that at least some of the time, the benefits of talismans are situational. Although sect is not a significant consideration in the medieval and Renaissance technical astrology that contributed to astrological magic, it is tempting to point toward Mars being a night sect planet as a partial explanation for this contingency.

A Mars Talisman from Marsilio Ficino’s Three Books on Life

Marsilio Ficino’s Three Books on Life is a gold mine for understanding the nature and philosophical background of astrological talismans, but it does not carry a reputation as much of a practical manual. In part, this is because Ficino valued consumable astrological medicines (“confections,” which would today be known as talismanic materia) over more permanent talismans. Nevertheless, he does list a handful of talismanic images, including a Mars talisman:

“against timidity”
—Three Books on Life, Book III, Chapter XVIII (tr. Kaske & Clark)

A bread-and-butter Mars talisman signification: courage, valor, bravery, fearlessness, lack of timidity—all of these point to one of the signature themes of the martial sphere.

A Mars Talisman from A.E. Waite’s The Occult Sciences

A text from A.E. Waite documents several protective benefits of a certain Mars talisman:

“This talisman passes as a preservative against all combinations of enemies. It averts the chance of death in brawls and battles, in epidemics and fevers, and by corroding ulcers. It also neutralizes the peril of a violent end as a punishment for crime when it is foretold in the horoscope of nativity.”
—The Occult Sciences, A.E. Waite, p. 115

For the most part, this talisman attests to significations we have seen before: protection from enemies, defense against a particularly martial end, and warding against illnesses pertaining to heat. We do see here the addition of ulcers in the list of physical maladies protected against. Protection from epidemics and fevers is an unfortunately quite timely concern.

The most curious part of this description, though, is the final line, which at first blush might not stand out to those not deeply steeped in the talismanic lore of the tradition of astrological magic and especially the developments and experiments in its contemporary revival. On its face, the signification is not surprising: the talisman promises protection against particularly martial consequences. What is of deeper interest, though, is that no other source we can immediately put our hands on attests to a talisman protecting against fates foretold in the nativity. This looks an awful lot like natal chart remediation. In a talk on the subject, Clifford Low has gone on record as stating that many years of experiments by himself and Christopher Warnock that astrological talismans in this tradition do not, in general, remediate natal chart afflictions. This talisman seems to suggest that certain talismans might provide boons that alleviate certain specific natal chart afflictions—and this one is pretty narrow!

Israel Hibner’s Mars Talisman from Mysterium Sigillorum

Finally, Israel Hibner documents a talisman based on the planetary square or kamea of Mars that purports to cure a number of ailments:

“When this sigil is prepared in the influence of Mars, and put in a red bag of silk, it serves against all martial sicknesses.”
—Mysterium Sigillorum, Israel Hibner, p. 168

Hibner lists as “diseases of the nature of Mars” the following: a burning dissentery in children, lice, falling of the hair, pimples and red spots in the face, (afflictions of) the left ear, (afflictions of the) spleen, all sorts of swellings, intermitting fevers, quotidian fevers, tertian fevers, gall, (afflictions of the) kidneys, veins, “secrets” (p. 4).

In addition, in a later section of Mysterium Sigillorum, Hibner boasts a laundry list of positive effects from the same Mars talisman, if properly prepared:

“This sigil of Mars has strange operations, it gives victory in all battles; it overthrows enemies in words and deeds; it gives a man a heart like a lion; it serves in all secret counsels of war; if it be buried in a fortress, it [i.e., the fortress] becomes invincible; it preserves the bearer from all iron and gunshot; this sigil hath great virtue in horses, dogs, and other fighting animals, and he that carries it about him, may with an indifferent horse outride a good one; if he puts into the horse’s mouth the constellated root of chamaelion [most probably, a variety of thistle common to the Mediterranean with variable flower colors], and if the bearer in the constellation of Mars throws bullets, he kills all things that he sees; this sigil of Mars preserves from all fire; if it be bound on the shoulder it stops all bleeding; he who will make a fine light red-colour, must observe the influence of Mars, and then he will not be at so great expense.”
—Mysterium Sigillorum, Israel Hibner, pp. 185-6

Many of these significations are common to Mars talismans that we have seen thus far, though some of the gifts of this Mars talisman stand out as particularly intriguing. Notably, this talisman promises benefits not just to the bearer, but to nearby martial animals and possibly even to buildings. This stands as a good reminder that the implicit theory of talismans, as can be seen all over the place in Book 2, Chapter 10 of Picatrix, is that they operate by proximity: simply being near a talisman or having it in one’s house can lead to magical effects. In other words, talismans were not historically thought to function through belief or any other kind of intentional relationship with the talisman.

Protection from “all fire” is also quite intriguing. This is the only talisman we have run across that claims to protect against an entire element. Given the logic of protection for buildings, one also wonders whether something like a forest could be protected from fires with a properly made Mars talisman.

The final line of these described effects probably refers to a person’s complexion as an indicator of health, as with Antares talismans that are attested to “grant a good color” (De Quindecim Stellis, tr. Regulus Hess). For readers in the United States this passage may feel particularly relatable—it’s not often we see a talisman promise to reduce medical bills!

Selecting a Mars Talisman

Some may be wary of Mars talismans due to Mars’s reputation as the Lesser Malefic, though as we have seen, the vast majority of Mars talisman recipes are for quite life-affirming and protective purposes. Although we would generally not recommend that most people’s first talisman be one of one of the malefic planets, there is no necessary reason to fear Mars talismans so long as they are made during an effective and safe astrological election and clearly follow traditional sources in their construction.

Whenever anyone is choosing a talisman, we by and large recommend selecting based off of your goals and intentions rather than on the nature or reputation of the celestial body represented by the talisman. So, if you are looking for a talisman for courage, victory, or protection, a particular Mars talisman might be a good choice for you; if you are looking for a talisman for love, wealth, or occult knowledge, we can see that our traditional sources do not describe Mars talismans with these effects.

As we can see from the above list of purposes and effects of Mars talismans, even the most multipurpose Mars talismans are not purported to carry every possible martial benefit. Thus, we think it wise not to think in terms of selecting or obtaining ‘a[ny] Mars talisman’ in a general sense, but rather in terms of identifying which particular type of talisman—whether of the nature of Mars or otherwise—would be most useful to you.

If you are interested in forging a relationship with Mars but are unsure about making a commitment to a Mars talisman, we also provide resources on Mars devotion, prayer, and veneration on our page on the Orphic Hymn to Mars and other prayers.

Here at Idola Stellarum, we release quarterly collections of astromagical talismanic jewelry, which have included some powerful Jupiter talismans. Get on our mailing list below to receive word of new resources, collections, and when our Inner Sanctum opens next.

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