What is Astrological Magic?

[This is part of a series of posts for people who are new to astrological magic and astrological talismans to support coming into relationship with the tradition and practices.]

How do we, as magicians and aspirants, think about time?

In the general modern worldview, time tends to be viewed as an empty container in which things happen, or as a finite, linear resource that can be used or wasted. We might think of this as the neutral view of time: “neutral” in the sense that it views time as a framework in which things interact, and not as an interactive factor itself. From this neutral perspective, there might be more or less convenient times in which to do magic, but time would not be seen as a magical factor per se.

Another view might be that time is one magical factor among many. With many factors, one would have to be discerning, selective, or strategic about which factor(s) to emphasize in any given operation. In this strategic view of time, any factor, whether physical or temporal, would have appropriate and inappropriate functions. So, just as one might use graveyard dirt for cursing or protection but not typically for prosperity magic, certain times might be good for some workings but not others.

A Simple Definition of Astrological Magic

A third possible view would be that time is a central factor, or possibly even the primary engine of magic. When we talk about time and magic, we must emphasize that we are not talking about linear time—we are not interested in the numerical hour or minute. Rather, we are talking about astrology: the position of the planets and stars, the planetary days and hours, and so forth.

At a very simple level, astrological magic is just the intersection of astrology and magic. Astrological magic uses principles of celestial timing to enhance and shape magical workings.

Using this very simple definition, we can look at some examples of using astrological factors—that is, timing factors—in magic.

Some Magical Uses of of Time

The Moon probably comes first to mind for many people when thinking about time and magic. With her waxings and wanings and her influence over the tides, Luna has become crystallized as perhaps the primary symbol of time and rhythm in magic as well as natural mundane life. Some magical traditions focus primarily or exclusively on the Moon as an engine or source of magic.

In Wicca, for example, the different phases of the Moon are quite symbolically entrenched. Although we are not experts in Wicca, our understanding is that Wiccans consider certain phases of the Moon as fit for certain workings but not others. For example, wiccans might use New Moons for setting intentions and beginning new workings, waxing Moons for attraction, and waning Moons for purgation and letting go.

We can also look to Solomonic Magic for an example of how time enters into magical workings. In the Key of Solomon, for example, planetary days and hours are observed as a key timing factor:

“When thou wishest to make any experiment or operation, thou must first prepare, beforehand… observing the days, the hours, and the other effects of the Constellations which may be found in this Chapter. It is, therefore, advisable to know that the hours of the day and of the night together, are twenty-four in number, and that each hour is governed by one of the Seven Planets in regular order.”
—The Key of Solomon, S.L. MacGregor Mathers, p. 10

The text goes on to list a number of magical uses for specific planetary days and hours. For example, Jupiter days and hours “are proper for obtaining honours [and] acquiring riches,” while Mercury days and hours “are good to operate for eloquence and intelligence” (ibid, p. 11).

The Key of Solomon also attends to the location, rather than the phase, of the Moon. Again, we see a correspondence of certain functions or purposes to certain timing factors:

“For those matters then which appertain unto the Moon, such as the Invocation of Spirits, the Works of Necromancy, and the recovery of stolen property, it is necessary that the Moon should be in a Terrestrial Sign, viz.: Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn. For love, grace, and invisibility, the Moon should be in a Fiery Sign, viz.: Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius…”
—The Key of Solomon, S.L. MacGregor Mathers, p. 12

The Greater Context of Time in Magic

When we consider these examples, the use of the Moon in Wicca and the planetary hours and days in Solomonic Magic appear to view timing factors as one factor among many. We can point to them to show how the basic definition of astrological magic shows up in practice: various magical traditions attend to astrological factors to guide or enhance their operations.

Thinking about astrology more broadly, what happens if we tinker with these examples, taking them outside of their particular traditional context and thinking about them solely from an astrological perspective?

The Moon, for example, may be of great importance, but is only one of seven traditional planets. Although the Moon is of has enormous magical impact here in the sublunary realm, from an astrological perspective we might consider attending not only to the Moon, but to the more comprehensive picture of what is going on in the heavens—and therefore what is going on here.

Likewise, the planetary days and hours are an important temporal factor and time tested traditional signification. Appearing in the Liber Lunae, the Hygromanteia, and the Shams al Ma’arif among other texts, planetary hours are certainly not to be ignored. However, by themselves, they only track one shade of planetary influence, and do not by themselves attend to the current and evolving configuration of the rest of the heavens.

In other words, from an astrological perspective, these single timing factors could be seen as isolated from the broader and fuller context of the celestial patterns. We are not claiming, of course, that Wiccans or Solomonic magicians should, let alone must, attend to this broader context. There are a functionally infinite number of magical factors that could possibly be considered, and every tradition and personal practice has its own valid way of selecting and approaching various factors.

Rather, we merely observe that if we begin from the assumption that the timing of an operation has a functional impact on the outcome, then in principle, there is no reason why attending more comprehensively to timing factors might not provide even greater enhancements.

Time in Our Models of Magic

How we think about time will, of course, be influenced by our model of magic.

If you approach magic using a psychological or a Victorian European perspective, you will likely view magic as working by virtue of the will of the mage. In such a model, time would perhaps play a symbolic or aesthetic function in the operation. Timing factors might be seen as affecting the consciousness of the magician, or serving as a way to focus their intention. Such a model would very likely, whether implicitly or on purpose, treat time as a secondary or optional factor.

If you approach magic from the perspective of invoking or being in relationship to deities, you will likely view magic as working by virtue of powers outside of the mage. In such a model, time would perhaps play an instrumental function in the operation. Timing factors might be seen as an offering, a way to appeal to a specific spirit, or a specific mode or key of access to a particular spirit. Such a model would likely view timing factors as instrumental: as a means to an end, rather than a source of power in themselves.

The model of magic underlying astrological magic is quite a bit different. Describing it in detail would necessitate its own separate post or series of posts. In short, however, astrological magic views the world as an interconnected cosmic unity, with powers emanating from all-pervading world soul through various layers of reality or “spheres,” including the sphere of the fixed stars and the spheres of the seven traditional planets. The planets, or the Seven Governors, act as cosmic agents and dispositors of astral power. Everything on earth and in the heavens participates in, reflects, and expresses the movements and actions of the Seven Governors.

In the astrological model of magic, time is not a separate, secondary, or superfluous factor. Time, in this model, does not exist apart from the spirits responsible for the magic. In a certain sense, time is the spirits responsible for the magic.

A More Nuanced Definition of Astrological Magic

When most mages speak about astrological magic, they refer to something a little more specific than our simple definition above. Astrological magic in its most essential and powerful form works off of the principle of examining a variety of cosmic timing factors in harmony and unity, not simply extracting single factors in isolation.

Astrological magic, narrowly defined, draws its power from astrological elections. Electing a proper time works off of the principle expressed in Ecclesiastes 3: “to everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” The Renaissance magician Marsilio Ficino adds a little more detail:

“For just as the body is disposed according to the place and time, so motion and action are disposed according to the time. Therefore, just as in various places, certain bodies and their forms coalesce at certain places and times and are preserved; so also certain actions properly achieve efficacy in their own certain seasons.”
—Marsilio Ficino, Three Books on Life, Book III, Ch. 12

In astrological magic, the central ‘engine’ of magical workings is the nature of the astrological configuration during which the working occurs.

Timing Factors in Astrological Magic

Now, since time flows dynamically, the nature of the astrological configuration also changes. Just as with cooking or baking, you need to get the timing right or you won’t be satisfied with the result.

And just as with a cooking recipe, astrological magic supposes that attending to and fine tuning all the factors will result in a better, more satisfactory outcome. If all you knew about a recipe was that it involved flour, you would not know if the end result was supposed to be pancakes, a loaf of bread, fried chicken, or one of a hundred other possibilities. If you knew the recipe involved 2 cups of flour, a bit of baking soda and baking powder, a little sweetener, two eggs, and some milk, you would feel safer assuming it was probably a recipe for pancakes.

Similarly, in astrological magic, since we view time as the essential factor, we do our best to attend to the whole picture. At its best, astrological magic does not just look at the phase of the Moon, but examines its sign, speed, aspects, mansion, and more. Likewise, a fully robust astrological magic does not just examine one planet, but all of the planets together in the chart.

An incomplete list of timing factors in astrological magic would include:

Planetary day and hour;
Sign, house, and essentially dignity of traditional planets;
Angularity and cadency of planets;
Planets, if any, on the Ascendant and Descendent;
Applying aspects, especially of the Moon;
Condition of the Moon’s ruler;
Condition of the Ascendant ruler;

…and more as well. Learning the intricacies of the various factors can be a complicated affair, particularly for newcomers to astrology. Christopher Warnock has a fantastic and accessible course on astrological magic for those interested in learning more.

However, while learning the complex intricacies of astrology can be a boon to anyone interested in performing astrological magical operations themselves, there are a growing number of mages out there (including ourselves) who are making astrological talismans more widely available and accessible. Thus, advanced astrological knowledge is hardly necessary to participate in and enjoy the fruits of astrological magic.

The Tradition of Astrological Magic

As we’ve said before, however, not every magician needs to attend to time in a comprehensive way, and not every magical operation needs to attend to the minutiae of timing factors. Whether and how you attend to timing factors will depend on your model of magic, your worldview, and your aims. For some magicians and practices, attention to one or two factors might help boost or even supercharge a working. For example, people have had success using planetary hours as a way to hone the power and intention of sigil magic.

The practice of using full astrological elections belongs to a specific tradition of astrological magic. The tradition of astrological magic as we have received it blends Hellenistic astrology, Alexandrian syncretic magic, Neoplatonic philosophy, and pre-Islamic paganism into a complex worldview and set of practices. Within this tradition of astrological magic, astrological elections of different kinds are primarily used in the creation of astrological talismans, as well as in petitions to planetary powers.

Elections may be the cornerstone of astrological magic, but they do not exhaust it. In medieval and Renaissance medicine, astrological correspondences played a significant role. The understanding of “natural magic,” in which parts of the mundane sublunary world were instilled with and influenced by specific celestial forces, contributed to medicines based off of elections and confections (that is, combinations of ingredients) alike.

The tradition as we have received and developed it also encompasses a loose set of theurgic and stellar devotional practices that are being reconstructed and adapted in a contemporary framework by many practitioners. This is because many of our texts indicate that astrological magic was not an end in itself for the production of powerful artifacts, but also possessed a soteriological component. That is, astrological magic was one part of a set of practices that aimed at the health, well-being, and ultimately the spiritual development of the practitioner.

Astrological Magic Today

From the late Renaissance into the 20th century, astrological magic went fairly quiet. Rekindled interest in historical texts, as well as new translations of older texts, led to a revival of astrological magic in the English speaking world. In the later 20th century, the astrologer Robert Zoller introduced Christopher Warnock to the medieval Islamic grimoire of astrological magic, Picatrix, also known as Ghayat al-Hakim, which translates to “The Goal of the Sage.” This led Warnock to develop a new translation of the Picatrix and become one of the foremost experts in the so-called Western world on astrological magic. Largely due to his influence, many other practitioners have now become seasoned astromage and have continued to invigorate the tradition.

The worldview of astrological magic permeates many magical practices especially in the so-called West, since the concept of planetary correspondences—that is, herbs, stones, plants, animals, etc. expressing or being “ruled by” one or more planetary influences—has become deeply engrained in contemporary magic. This part of the tradition was never really lost, since medicine and herbalism have been connected to the sources of this tradition, and these elements have not been totally excised by the secular materialistic worldview that has come to dominate.

Similarly, stellar devotion and theurgy have seen a significant resurgence in recent years, fueled by the reinvigoration of textual traditions that had gone dormant. For more on this part of the tradition, you can check out our series of posts on prayer in astrological magic.

Astrological magic is like a tree with many branches and roots. Although the tree went neglected in the so-called West for some time, partly due to the denigration of astrology and spirituality in our science-dominated culture, it has survived the winter and has been coming into full blossom. The connections of astrological magic to religion and spirituality, to health and medicine, and to practical magic and witchcraft are all dynamically alive and developing.

The “tradition” as we are referring to it is not a dead and static body of knowledge, but a complex, living constellation of ideas and practices that are in an active process of rediscovery, revitalization, and evolution. With new translations and editions of key texts continuing to come forth, deeper conversation between practitioners, and many more mages experimenting and innovating, it is an exciting time to be involved in astrological magic.

Much more can be said about the history and contemporary status of this tradition, and we will continue to explore the tradition of astrological magic in future posts.

You can read about our commitment to the tradition of astrological magic on our About Page. We also collect a set of free online resources and a list of relevant books for folks who are interested in studying. We also recommend a number of our blog posts for people interested in learning more about astrological magic and astrological talismans

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