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On Offerings in Astrological Magic – Part I
The historical tradition of astrological magic is not complete. We have a technical knowledge base in the form of rules for astrological elections. We have a rough philosophical framework with many variations from individual authors in their historical context. We have a patchwork of guidance on what materials to use and how. And we have…
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Talismanic Gemstones are Neither like Birdhouses nor Birdcages: An Ecological Spirit Model Perspective On the Essential Freedom of Celestial Spirits (Part III)
In Part I of this post series on the freedom of celestial spirits, we used traditional sources to reject the idea that talismans are like birdcages that trap spirits inside them. In Part II of this post series, we deepened this idea by proposing another metaphor: that a talisman could be thought of as more…
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Orphic Hymn to Mercury: Empower Your Mercurial Prayers & Magic
Ah, Mercury, blessed spirit of ambivalence! All the other planets line up neatly into pairs, with one planet belonging to the day sect and one to the night sect: Sol and Luna, Jupiter and Venus, Saturn and Mars. Mercury, as the non-binary outlier, swings both ways, all ways, and everything in between. Having a good…
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Materials Matter: Why We Consider Our Attention to Ingredients as Prayer
Not too long ago, we were in a retail outlet browsing the kitchen and home aisles, and beside the myriad discount scented candles sat a shelf of amethyst chunks, unnamed geodes the size of your palm, and a bundle of selenite wands. Divorced from all historical context and subjected to the violence of corporate supply…
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Talismanic Gemstones are more like Birdhouses than Birdcages: On the Essential Freedom of Celestial Spirits (Part II)
In Part I of this post series on the freedom of celestial spirits, we examined source texts in the tradition of astrological magic and compared the methods of astrological magic to the methods of Solomonic magic to reject the idea that talismans are like birdcages. That is, celestial spirits do not become trapped or imprisoned…
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Talismanic Gemstones are not like Birdcages: On the Essential Freedom of Celestial Spirits (Part I)
When those who are less familiar with astrological magic discover astrological talismans, a natural and understandable question arises: if making astrological talismans brings down a spirit of the stars inside of a gemstone (or metal), does the spirit freely reside there or has it been trapped there? This question could really worry us. We could…
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Orphic Hymn to Jupiter: Empower Your Jovial Prayers & Magic
Jupiter, known in traditional astrology as the Greater Benefic, would be an excellent place for many people to start building relationships with planetary spirits or beginning a devotional practice. The Renaissance magician-physician Marsilio Ficino advised as a general rule for people “to increase the influence of the Sun, of Jupiter, or of Venus.” Invocations, prayers,…
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Orphic Hymn to Venus: Empower Your Venusian Prayers & Magic
The ‘laughter loving queen’ Venus, known in traditional astrology as the Lesser Benefic, would be a great place for many people to start building relationships with planetary spirits or beginning a devotional practice. The Renaissance magician-physician Marsilio Ficino advised as a general rule for people “to increase the influence of the Sun, of Jupiter, or…
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“The Spirit is Made Luminous by Luminous Things”: Astrological Talismans as a Vehicle for Self-Transformation
Many people turn to magic for power and influence. They want to get things in life that they feel like they can’t get on their own, whether that be money, status, creative achievement, sex, love, and so on. Those aims are perfectly understandable, and astrological talismans can help achieve such practical ends. Consideration of exactly…
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Orphic Hymn to Mars: Empower Your Martial Prayers & Magic
Although Mars may have a fearsome reputation, building a relationship with Mars can be approached the same way one would build a relationship with any spirit. Invocations, prayers, and offerings to a planetary spirit can help you attune to and come into rhythm with that planet. There are many ways to pray to or invoke…
