14th Lunar Mansion Talismans for Healing & Recovery

Healing requires change. Whether healing means shifts in our physical health or adapting our ideas of health, our openness to changes impacts health outcomes and how we embody our own ideals of wellness.

The Healing and Recovery talismans are of the nature of the 14th Lunar Mansion, a decidedly mixed mansion of ambivalent effect but certainly one of change. Division and separation are keystones of this mansion in the traditional sources, alongside union and healing. 

Rather than being worn like the other talismans in the Sanctuary collection, the 14th Lunar Mansion talismans are palm stones, meant to be held, carried in a pocket, or kept on a bedside table when sick or an altar to engage with PRN (an abbreviation used in medicine for the Latin phrase ‘pro re nata,’ meaning as-needed). This flexibility tempers the intensity of the mansion spirit and respects the separateness inherent in their nature.

The gorgeous condition of the Moon in the Healing and Recovery election facilitates a presence who promotes rest and the spaciousness needed to feel rested. Philosopher-astrologer-seer Ari Felix shares of their Healing and Recovery talisman, “The Stone absolutely feels like a gentle but not avoidant friend, an anchor, and a balm in healing work of any dimension.” (Full testimonial below)

These talismans were created with the intent of aiding the healing and recovery from pain, misfortune, disease, and illness of body, soul, and mind, dividing and separating their bearer from that which harms them. Although the traditional talismanic recipe in Book IV of the grimoire Picatrix for the 14th lunar mansion is rather unfortunate, Book I of Picatrix also recommends to “make images” (i.e., talismans) in this mansion for a number of different purposes, including “to heal the sick with physic and medicine.” It was this purpose to which this talismanic working was focused.

The image used for these talismans was an ancient symbol of healing: the Rod of Asclepius. A petition authored specifically for this election called upon Ergediel, the angel of the 14th Lunar Mansion, to imbue the stone with the power to aid quick healing from all diseases, plus the ability to draw all necessary resources and practitioners necessary to accomplish recovery, with the aims of dispersing pain and misfortune, and integrating the tensions and oppositions within the bearer that contribute to sickness and injury. 

Idola Stellarum mage Pallas shares of their experience with the 14th Lunar Mansion talisman and finding a practitioner to help with chronic pain, “I no longer experience the limitations I had grown accustomed to and I am so much more confident about my long-term health and mobility. I had to work for this healing, but I had companionship along the way.” (Full testimonial below.)

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 physician about any and all treatments.

Technical Details

These 14th Lunar Mansion talismans were ensouled on Wednesday, April 13 between 10:37pm and 11:07pm EDT.

Essential Features of the Election

For lunar mansion talismans, the Moon must be in the relevant lunar mansion while rising on the Ascendant or culminating on the Midheaven. In this election, the Moon was in the 14th Lunar Mansion and culminating on the Midheaven. The working took place while the Moon was within 5° of the MC.

The most important factor in lunar mansion talismans is the condition of the Moon. In this election, Luna was waxing and moving with good speed in the sign of Virgo. Luna was dignified by triplicity and disposited by Mercury, who was in the Taurus, Luna’s sign of exaltation. This was also a very special election, because the Moon was graced by a rare and auspicious condition called bonification by enclosure. This condition occurs when the last aspect the Moon made was to one of the benefic planets (Venus or Jupiter) and the next aspect the Moon will make is also to a benefic planet. 

When benefic enclosure happens, it is like the exact opposite of the phrase “between a rock and a hard place”: it is like the Moon having her best friends, allies, and benefactors surrounding and supporting her. In this instance, the Moon was separating from an opposition to Venus in Pisces and applying to an opposition to Jupiter in Pisces. Venus and Jupiter both have excellent dignity in Pisces, making this an even more special and powerful condition of bonification. In addition, both malefic planets were in aversion to the Moon.

We also look at the condition of the Lord of the Ascendant for lunar mansion elections, since the first house represents the bearer of the talisman. This working commenced when the Ascendant moved into Sagittarius, making Jupiter the Lord of the Ascendant. In this election, Jupiter was unafflicted in the 4th house (by both quadrant and whole sign methods) near the IC and dignified by rulership, rooting this chart in profoundly benefic qualities. Jupiter was co-present with the exaltation ruler of Pisces, Venus, and both malefic plants were in aversion to Jupiter as well.

Further Magical Factors in the Election

This lunar mansion election was quite lovely, with the Moon applying to the Lord of the Ascendant, Jupiter. Moreover, the Lord of the house of the Moon, Mercury, was applying by sextile aspect to Venus from her home sign of Taurus. linking all relevant actors in the chart together in benefic harmony. The cadency of the malefic planets, combined with the fact that they were in aversion to both the Moon and the Lord of the Ascendant, greatly augments the bonification of the Moon by tucking the malefic planets completely away from the primary actors in the chart.

Of note, given that these talismans are intended for healing and recovery, the Lord of the 6th house (which signifies illnesses), Venus, is highly dignified and connected to both the Moon through the bonification by enclose and to Mercury, the Lord of the house of the Moon.

Finally, although planetary hour is not an essential factor in lunar mansion elections, it was a nice little bonus that the working took place during Moon hour. Additionally, it was the planetary day of Mercury, the Lord of the house of the Moon.

Reflection on Weaknesses of the Election

The only potential downside of this election was that the aspects of the bonified enclosure were hard aspects (oppositions). Some mages avoid any hard aspects, though we consider any aspect by the Moon to benefic planets to be a good thing in most cases. Oppositions are often the culmination of actions taken, and the changes required for healing, like the changes that healing inspires, are often enacted with conscious intention. As the nature of the Mansion itself is one of opposition and unity, the benefic factors are fitting of the intentions and spirit of the talismans.

Recommendations

None of the electional features of this chart present a risk to anyone in particular, given the extremely benefic nature of the chart and absence of afflictions.

However, we do note that these talismans are somewhat experimental given the interpolated rather than strictly traditional talismanic image. For those seeking a completely “by the book” talisman, this is not the one for you.

Also, we emphasize that if you are in a health crisis, please seek professional attention, not a talisman. If you are on a healing journey, on the other hand, this talisman may be a good companion and possible guide. If you are not interested in change, and the transformation that healing can demand, this is likely not the best talisman for you.

Ceremonial Details

Gemstone and Talismanic Image

The talismans themselves were created from natural Moroccan selenite stones, large enough to fit in the palm of your hand (about 3″ long). The stones were carved with an ancient symbol of healing, the Rod of Asclepius: a staff with a snake entwined around it. The top of the staff was adorned with a triple moon (two crescents on either side of a full orb) with the number ‘14’ signifying the number of the lunar mansion carved within the orb. On the sides of the image, the Arabic name of the Fourteenth Lunar Mansion (“Al-Simak”) and the name of the angel of this mansion (“Ergediel”) were written, with the petition key words HEALING and RECOVERY carved above the image. To the side, a very small rendition of the traditional image of this Lunar Mansion, a dog with its tail in its mouth, was sketched. Because there is no hidden or back side of a palm stone as there is for set jewelry, no herbs were affixed to these stones. Each of these talismans comes in a white satin bag with lunar herbs of healing (purslane and willow bark powder) stored within them.

Please note: selenite is water soluble, so don’t immerse your palm stone in water or otherwise use it to make essences. Selenite is also a famously soft stone, so be careful not to drop or knock your talisman. If you are rubbing it like a worry stone—which can be recommended as one method for engaging with the talisman—do so on the bare side, as the engraving may fade with wear, potentially impacting its potency.

Ritual Setup

An altar spangled with white and gold erected prior to the working, with generous offerings made to Ergediel, angel of the Fourteenth Lunar Mansion. Nine white candles, the central one embellished with the signs of the Moon and her planetary archangel, intelligence, and spirit and consecrated to Luna in her planetary hour provided illumination for the ritual. Kamasi Washington’s rendition of “Clair de Lune” served as a soundtrack for this ritual.

Suffumigation

Suffumigation consisted of the highest quality royal Hojari frankincense and mastic resin, as well as the ingredients called for in the Picatrix’s description of Fourteenth Lunar Mansion talismans, “the hair of a cat and dog.” In this case, ritually and ethically acquired black cat hair and ethically sourced coyote fur was used, signifying the unification and reconciliation of natural oppositions. 

Testimonials for the Healing & Recovery Talismans

Each of the following testimonials are from people who have had the Healing & Recovery talismans for many months.

From Ari Felix:

“This precious has been exactly what I knew I needed to support and ground me in the really deep ancestral repair work that was/is happening in my body. I have held it many times when I was feeling on the verge of physically unwell and found restoration. I have put it under my pillow to assist me in transmuting and woke refreshed. The Stone absolutely feels like a gentle but not avoidant friend, an anchor, and a balm in healing work of any dimension.”

—Ari Felix

From Pallas K. Augustine of Idola Stellarum:

“Soon after binding to my talisman, I found myself with an acute minor injury that exacerbated an issue I’d long accepted as a chronically painful fact of my life because no professional had been able to determine the problem. The minor injury interfered with my mobility enough that I sought out professional help, despite being skeptical of the possibilities. The local bodyworker I found, and was able to see within a couple days, sorted out the acute problem in one session, and discovered the underlying causes of my assumed-chronic issue. Through them, I am connecting to specific movement practices that alleviate my pain and rehabilitate my body. I no longer experience the limitations I had grown accustomed to and I am so much more confident about my long-term health and mobility. I had to work for this healing, but I had companionship along the way.”

—Pallas K. Augustine