Welcome to the Somnia Collection Preview

Thank you for joining us here for our eighth collection release. We’re offering this preview for you to get to know the talismans a bit, check their elections, and do some initial divination before the full collection release. Precise release times are as follows:

  • Early access for Inner Sanctum members: Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 11:51am EST.
  • Mailing list subscribers: Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 11:47am EST.

Inner Sanctum members receive a 15% discount on every talisman purchase.

Note that the full product pages will include full talisman descriptions, election charts along with a detailed discussion of the qualities of the elections, as well as further ceremonial and technical details of the talismans (Inner Sanctum members also get early access to full collection info). We are providing this preview in part because astrological talismans by their very nature are limited edition, and we want people to be informed ahead of time so that they can make the most informed choice possible about which if any talisman might be right for them.

Each Idola Stellarum talisman will include: a velvet jewelry box for safe keeping and display; a detailed writeup about the talisman, its creation, and guidance on how to introduce yourself to it; and a certificate of authenticity signed by Rain & Pallas. All talismanic jewelry in the Somnia collection has been set in high quality precious metal settings. Specifically, the pendants are set either in sterling silver settings and include a matching sterling silver rope chain, and the rings are set in gold-filled floral band settings.

“Now what I call a dream is that which comes from the spirit of fantasy and the intellect, united together either by the enlightenment of the acting intellect over our soul or by the bare revelation of some divine will with a purged and tranquil mind. Indeed, our soul receives true oracles from this and sufficiently gives oracles to us. In dreams, we seem to ask, learn, gather, and discover; likewise, many doubtful things, many deliberations, many unknown and unexpected things, nor ever attempted by our minds, are revealed in our dreams.”

—Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Book III, Chapter 51

Somnia is the Roman/Latin name of the Oneiroi, the winged spirits of dreams who were known as the children of Night (Nyx) by Hesiod and the children of Sleep (Hypnos) by Ovid. Daemons of the dark, the Oneiroi or Somnia were sometimes feared or considered evil, but were also seen as messengers of the will of heaven, and the conveyers of omens that were otherwise occluded to the waking mind.

The Orphic Hymn to the Oneiroi captures well their positive qualities:

Thee I invoke, blessed power of dreams divine,

angel of future fates, swift wings are thine:
Great source of oracles to human kind,

when stealing soft, and whispering to the mind,
Through sleep’s sweet silence and the gloom of night,

thy power awakes the intellectual fight;
To silent souls the will of heaven relates,

and silently reveals their future fates.
For ever friendly to the upright mind

sacred and pure, to holy rites inclined;
For these with pleasing hope thy dreams inspire,

bliss to anticipate, which all desire.
Thy visions manifest of fate disclose,

what methods best may mitigate our woes;
Reveal what rites the Gods immortal please,

and what the means their anger to appease:
For ever tranquil is the good man’s end,

whose life, thy dreams admonish and defend.
But from the wicked turned averse to bless,

thy form unseen, the angel of distress;
No means to cheek approaching ill they find,

pensive with fears, and to the future blind.
Come, blessed power, the signatures reveal

which heaven’s decrees mysteriously conceal,
Signs only present to the worthy mind,

nor omens ill disclose of monstrous kind.

—The Orphic Hymn to the Oneiroi, tr. Thomas Taylor

The Somnia collection was named after the intermediary nature of the Oneiroi, who stood in as a medium between humans and celestial knowledge, reducing the gap between human beings and the divine:

“Since Zeus didn’t want Apollon to have so much power over people, he devised a true kind of Oneiros that would reveal to people in their sleep what was going to happen. When Apollon realized that no one would need him for his prophecies any more, he asked Zeus to be reconciled to him, imploring Zeus not to subvert his own prophetic power. Zeus forgave Apollon and proceeded to devise yet more Oneiroi for mankind, so that there were now false Oneiroi that came to them in their sleep, in addition to the true Oneiroi. Once the people realized that their dreams were unreliable, they had to turn once again to Apollon, the original source of prophetic divination.”

—Aesop, Fables 529, from Life of Aesop 33 (tr. Gibbs)

The three talismans of the Somnia collection each provide their own window into the dream of celestial connection that Idola Stellarum works to kindle and foster.

The Saturn in Aquarius Immovable Throne talisman supports our efforts to root the realities of our lives in our most foundational dreams, our most integrated and grounded feelings, and our most authoritative and profound thinking.

The Cassiopeia constellation Restoration & Slumber talisman most directly helps our dreaming by ushering in rest, sleep, and healing so that we are refreshed and restored to face the troubles of waking life.

And the Venus in Cancer (triplicity dignity) Support, Empathy, & Affinity talisman helps us interweave our personal dream with the collective dreaming of our friends, communities, and families.

Continue on below to see images of the talismans and their altars, as well as for elections and charts, pricing, and recommendations. Full narrative descriptions of the talismans and detailed writeups of the elections will follow closer to the collection release.

NOTE: Descriptive talisman preview text, pricing, and images are subject to revision, editing, clarification, and correction before the official collection launch.

Saturn in Aquarius – Immovable Throne

22x30mm iron pyrite talisman in sterling silver cameo pendant setting – $350

Ensouled during Saturn hour on Sunday, December 11, 2022 between 10:46am and 11:01am EST.

Of the nature of Saturn in Aquarius, these iron pyrite talismans were created with the intent of granting surety of will, unwavering intention, unflinching authority, and deep-rooted and profoundly centered attunement with the sphere of Saturn.

We’re softly recommending these talismans go to those with a natally dignified Saturn (e.g. Capricorn, Aquarius, Libra, other minor dignities may apply), both day and night charts. We believe this talisman best serves to take the edge off a natally strong Saturn, easing the burdens and supporting the moral and emotional strength of their bearer.

Cassiopeia Constellation – Restoration & Slumber

30mm lapis lazuli in sterling silver prong pendant setting – $325
2-3″ lapis lazuli gemstone orbs (stand included) – $300-$350

Ensouled on Monday, September 4, 2023 between 4:22am and 4:45am EDT.

Of the nature of the Cassiopeia constellation, these talismans were created with the intent of granting rest and restoration, healing, and improved sleep quality to their bearers.

We consider this talisman beginner friendly and do not issue any particular cautions as to its use. We do emphasize, however, that if you are in a health crisis or have a serious sleep disorder, please seek professional attention, not a talisman.

(NOTE: As we clearly state in our guarantees and disclaimers, Idola Stellarum cannot guarantee any health outcomes related to our talismans, even in circumstances where health is a primary aim of a magical working. Health is collective and individual, and in magic, one’s shifting understanding of health can be as important an effect as physical change, though neither are guaranteed. Our talismans are not intended to diagnose nor treat any health condition, and anyone seeking medical advice or treatment should always consult with a licensed medical provider about any and all treatments.)

Venus in Cancer (triplicity dignity) – Support, Empathy, & Affinity

15x20mm Bahamian conch shell in sterling silver crown bezel pendant setting – $250
10x12mm blue sapphire in gold-filled floral band ring setting – $350

Ensouled during Venus hour on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 between 8:13am and 8:45am EDT.

Of the nature of Venus in Cancer, these talismans were created with the intent of providing social support, reception and provision of empathic attunement, and the joys of the love of friends and family to their bearers.

Please note that the conch shell pendants will only be shipped within the continental United States. International orders will be canceled and refunded.

We consider these talismans generally beginner friendly: talismans of the benefic planets (i.e., Venus and Jupiter) are often good places for people to start with talismans. That said, if your natal Venus is highly afflicted, we do recommend you perform a divination or seek consultation from a trusted magically literate astrologer for guidance about whether this is the right talisman for you. Because of the lower octane nature of triplicity dignity, these talismans may be especially suitable for people with anxieties about introducing talismans into their lives, or for folks who do not want to risk potentially disruptive adjustment periods. Those who struggle with more dignified Venus talismans due to natal Taurus/Libra/Pisces afflictions may be particularly suited to this talisman.

Note that all astrological talismans by their time-sensitive nature are extremely limited edition. Only a relatively small number of each talisman we release will ever be available.

We hope you have enjoyed these previews of the Somnia collection. Again, the full collection release will contain a great deal more information on each and every talisman. As a reminder, the release times for the full collection and shop are as follows:

  • Early access for Inner Sanctum members: Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 11:51am EST.
  • Mailing list subscribers: Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 11:47am EST.

The link to the shop and individual talismans will be accessible via the main menu of the website at the appointed times as well as in your inboxes. If you have any questions, please get in touch.