Fixed Star Deneb Algedi: Security & Order – Chalcedony Pendant Talisman

Ptolemy noted that stars in the tail of the Capricornus constellation are like Saturn and Jupiter. Deneb Algedi is one of three stars in the tail of the sea goat, and the star’s name derives from the Arabic term ذنب الجدي (ðanab al-jady), literally meaning tail of the goat. Contradicting Ptolemy, however, our primary magical text on the talismans of the fixed stars, De Quindecim Stellis, lists Deneb Algedi as of the nature of Saturn and Mercury.

Given that Jupiter and Mercury are in some sense opposites (Picatrix says that “Mercury abhors things pertaining to Jupiter and Jupiter abhors things pertaining to Mercury,” Book IV, Chapter 4), the contradictory information we have about the planetary associations of this enigmatic fixed star seems an echo of the polar extremes signified by this star. Vivian Robson, summarizing Ptolemy in her book The Fixed Stars & Constellations in Astrology, notes that Deneb Algedi “is said to cause beneficence and destructiveness, sorrow and happiness, and life and death” (p. 159).

Deneb Algedi gets associated in astrological magic with law and justice, as its foremost magical signification is “to grant favor in causes to [those who] beareth [Deneb Algedi talismans]” (De Quindecim Stellis, tr. Regulus Hess). “Causes” here is an archaic term that in the medieval context of our source texts would refer to lawsuits and political disputes.

Justice can only take root in the truth, and the throughline of Saturn in the planetary associations of Deneb Algedi readily signifies the foundational nature of the ‘cold, hard facts.’ Idola Stellarum holds transparency as a key value, and it feels only just (only true) to be clear that we have relatively little lore passed down to us from currently available texts in the so-called Western esoteric tradition about this relatively dim star despite their popularity and profundity.

In the absence of fully fleshed out lore, those reconstructing the tradition of astrological magic have contributed oneiric visions, in the case of Kaitlin Coppock of Sphere + Sundry, and magical weaving together of the fragments of myth relating to this star and its constellation, in the case of Genie Desert of Tides of Tethys, each of whose efforts are well worth consulting for those interested in Deneb Algedi magic.

We add to these soulful efforts our own personal experience with these Security & Order talismans, which we hope will aid others in magnifying and clarifying what little lore and instruction we have received.

In addition to favor in causes, talismans of Deneb Algedi are said to protect the home and add to the bearer’s wealth:

“Put a little [marjoram] with chalcedony, and know that the house in which [the talisman] shall abide will ever be improved and unharmed… and whoso beareth about him chalcedony with mugwort, catnip, and marjoram…will [have their wealth] increased omnimodously.””

—De Quindecim Stellis (tr. Regulus Hess)

As noted above, the mundane significations attested by Ptolemy manifest the extreme ends of human experience: beneficence and destructiveness, sorrow and happiness, life and death. Like the peaks and troughs of the waves of the sea so often associated with the constellation of the sea-goat and its stars, Deneb Algedi seems to have a hand in the alternating highs and lows of the sublunary world.

In stark contrast to vertiginous oscillations between polar opposites, Deneb Algedi talismans seem to draw upon the most beneficent Saturn-like powers to provide structure to their bearers, girding the foundations of their lives and domiciles.

The Security & Order spirits seem to understand, and convey to their bearers, that things must be put in their proper context and possess an appropriate container to thrive. Just as a plant potted in a planter that is too small will become rootbound, and a plant will risk root rot from overwatering in a planter that is too large, the heavens seem to prefer a right-sized vessel for their gifts.

Consider how people who win the lottery frequently end up with ruined lives—bankruptcy or worse. When we idly wish for a better life, what makes us think we could take up the blessings and burdens of that life if that’s not what we have been practicing? Is it not far more likely that the deep grooves etched through our lives by our old, habitual ways of being in the world will continue to function and flourish?

Order means setting things in order. Weeding the garden, so to speak: calming what is out of control, enlivening what has been unnecessarily deadened, bringing things into alignment, and so forth. Deneb Algedi talismans are unlikely to bring sudden windfalls, but rather to slowly weave our lives to sustain greater and more earnest effort, shrewdness and prudence, and a greater comfort in our relationship with money that would serve to ensure that it would not become squandered or unappreciated.

The sort of Security these talismans can bring seems to flower forth from such order. Proper op sec (operational security) aims to reduce the possibility of difficulty, rather than deal with it when it arises. When everything is in its place and running smoothly, there is no need to micromanage or overwork ourselves. When we set a carefully considered plan into motion, we can patiently await its unfolding and take it step by step.

In our experience, Deneb Algedi magic seems to prefer to operate along the lines of Newton’s first law, which states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. By setting things in proper order, we have the security of knowing that the momentum of our life will carry forward, unhindered and unwavering, allowing for maximal gain through minimal effort. Order, in this sense, is an absence of friction, which often though not always requires tamping down what is chaotic and unnecessary in our lives.

Personally, psychologically, Security & Order requires coming to terms with internal sources of friction: the ways we invest and overindulge in anxiety, perfectionism, self-criticism or grandiosity, overstimulation or understimulation, fear, and other fruitless forms of self-management that squander our psychic resources.

Once we allow such chaotic processes of the mind to still, what can then begin to emerge, less hindered by our own flailing, are qualities of patience, equanimity, widened perception, and joyful ease. The 13th Century Zen monk Eihei Dogen, in his foundational elaboration of zazen practice the Fukanzazengi, tells the practitioner in closing:

“Revere the one who has gone beyond learning and is free from effort. Accord with the enlightenment of all the buddhas: succeed to the samadhi of all the ancestors. Continue to live in such a way, and you will be such a person. The treasure store will open of itself, and you may enjoy it freely.” 

—Fukanzazengi, aka “Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen,” Eihei Dogen (tr. Carl Bielefelt)

The Security & Order talismans point toward the kinds of investments that lead us toward this effortless effort. 

Technical Details

The fixed star Deneb Algedi Security & Order talismans were ensouled on Saturday, April 15, 2023 between 3:51am and 4:03am EDT.

Essential Features of the Election

For fixed star astromagical elections, we require that the relevant fixed star either rises on the Ascendant or culminates on the Midheaven. In this election, the fixed star Deneb Algedi at 23^◦51’ Aquarius was rising on the Ascendant and the working took place while Deneb Algedi was within 2^◦30’ of the AC.

Fixed star elections also require the Moon to be in sufficiently good condition and applying to the relevant fixed star. Idola Stellarum only works with lunar conjunctions to fixed stars in talismanic elections. In this election, the Moon was dignified by face, moving at very fast speed, and applying within 3^◦ to conjoin Deneb Algedi. The Moon’s ruler, Saturn, was dignified by face in the 1st house, and the Moon was not making any applying aspects to Mars.

Although we consider the condition of the Lord of the Ascendant to be a lesser factor in fixed star elections due to their austere nature and remoteness from the sublunary realm, we always examine the Ascendant Lord for all elections since the first house represents the bearer of the talisman. In this election, Saturn, the Lord of the Ascendant, was also the ruler of the Moon. As mentioned above, Saturn was dignified by face and angular in the 1st house. Additionally, Saturn was not making any applying aspect to Mars.

Note that for fixed star talismans, planetary hour and/or day are not essential considerations. 

Further Magical Factors in the Election

As mentioned above, the Moon’s alacrity and dignity by face bolster the power of this working. Additionally, the Moon’s next aspect, a sextile to Jupiter in Aries dignified by triplicity, adds a touch of the Greater Benefic to this election. Deneb Algedi, being of the nature of Saturn and Jupiter, surely gains from this aspect.

In addition, three other Behenian fixed stars anchored the three cardines other than the AC in this election, with Antares on the MC, Regulus on the DC, and Aldebaran on the IC. Though a relatively minor factor in a fixed star election, it is surely auspicious to feature these powerful stars.

Reflection on Weaknesses of the Election

Overall we consider this a quite solid fixed star election. No election is perfect, however, and the one weakness that we would note is that having Saturn in the 1st house may add a significant heaviness to this talisman.

We also note for completeness that some mages consider the Moon on the Ascendant to be an affliction. However, we emphasize that both Picatrix and De Quindecim Stellis list copious electional recipes that include the Moon rising on the Ascendant, and we therefore conclude that the tradition clearly licenses proceeding with astromagical elections that include this condition when divination supports doing so.

Recommendations

Although from a technical perspective we would consider these talismans beginner friendly and general purpose, the nature of Deneb Algedi bears some comment. As a star powerfully associated with the law and systems of justice, those who frequently find themselves operating outside the margins of the laws of their country may experience difficulties with these talismans. We also point to Kaitlin Coppock’s note in her writeup of Sphere + Sundry’s Deneb Algedi II series that Deneb Algedi talismans and materia have the potential to increase the presence of law enforcement officials, albeit generally without undue negative consequences. Those for whom this would be unwelcome or triggering would be encouraged to divine on whether these talismans would do more harm than good for you.

Ceremonial Details

Gemstone & Talismanic Image

Large 20x30mm Indian chalcedony cabochons were chosen for this working, set in austere sterling silver pendant settings. Chalcedony, the stone of Deneb Algedi as attested in De Quindecim Stellis, is a stone whose significations go well with the themes of justice and protection:

“He who bears [this gem] will be well spoken and of great eloquence; and if he has any plea or cause, let him show the stone to his adversary, and it will help him in his cause; and if he pleaded against wrong it will help him in his right.”

—Peterborough Lapidary, p. 20 (tr. Francis Young)

De Quindecim Stellis attests that Deneb Algedi talismans grant protection to the home of its bearer such that it will “ever be improved and unharmed,” favor in causes, and increased wealth. 

The chalcedony stones were engraved with the image of a goat, one of the images of Deneb Algedi listed in De Quindecim Stellis, with the glyph of Deneb Algedi carved on the obverse of the talismans. A mixture of marjoram, mugwort, catnip, mandrake—herbs attributed to Deneb Algedi—was affixed to the back of the cabochons as well.

Ritual Setup

Copious offerings of flame, wine, and spirits were offered to Deneb Algedi, as well as a dozen eggs, fresh bread, butter, cheese, artichokes, lion’s mane mushrooms, honey, goat milk, olive oil, and plentiful stems of fresh marjoram. Two freshly potted marjoram plants served as ornamentation and offering for the rite.

Suffumigation

Suffumigation and incense offerings consisted of Sultan’s grade royal Hojari frankincense and a mix of Deneb Algedi herbs: marjoram, mugwort, catnip, and mandrake.