Royal Persian Star Antares: Scorpion’s Heart – Amethyst Pendant Talismans

These Scorpion’s Heart talismans are of the nature of the fixed star Antares, aka Cor Scorpii, the Heart of the Scorpion, one of the four Persian Royal Stars. 

Despite Antares’s reputation as a “Rival to Mars” (literally ant = against or opposed to, Ares = Mars), Antares talismans are not so much aggressive as intellectual and strong on defense. According to De Quindecim Stellis, talismans of Antares “keepeth a good color in man; it keepeth the memory sound in him that beareth it; and it affordeth a man advancement and understanding” (tr. Regulus Hess). Antares talismans crafted from amethyst are also supposed to “bind daemons and to put them to flight, and malign spirits do not hinder him who beareth it.” In other words, they preserve health, sharpen the mind, contribute to success, and provide spiritual protection, particularly from negative daemons (spirits).

These talismans were created in line with the traditional magical gifts granted by this star: health, memory, understanding, and of course protection, particularly spiritual protection.

The watchword for this batch of Antares talismans has been discernment. Scorpions hunt by sitting and waiting for their prey to walk past, then unleashing a sudden ambush. Antares similarly counsels the bearer to have patience, to not take things at face value, and to take the correct path rather than leaping at every opportunity.

It bears emphasis that although Antares does not have the same fearsome reputation for unmitigated aggression as Mars, this star does carry its own intensity. Antares and their retinue can be like stern teachers who demand excellence and have no compunction about pointing out our faults—not out of a needless critical drive, but rather out of a belief in the student’s capability.

Concerning understanding, the Scorpion’s Heart talismans seem to take an almost sculptural approach. In painting, the artist continually adds to the canvas to convey the intended image, whereas in sculpture, the artist must remove everything extraneous, revealing the intended form beneath the debris. Coming to understand in this way may mean having to face what we’ve been overlooking or neglecting. This can bring us up short, particularly in areas of our life where naivete or denial have been holding us back.

As psychological creatures, one of the dynamics that can distract us from advancement and taking up our power is the illusion of keeping our options open. As with Sylvia Plath’s metaphor of the fig tree in The Bell Jar, an incomplete or muddled understanding of who we are and how to act in the world can lead to dawdling or even paralyzing indecision. This can have the outward appearance of waiting for the right opportunity, but it’s absolutely crucial to be honest with ourselves about whether that’s what we’re doing—and it could only be so if we have the conviction and wherewithal to strike while the iron is hot. The scorpion who always waits without ever ambushing starves.

Antares, with the precision sting of the scorpion, can cut away mistaken ideas and half-hearted goals in a way that can feel jarring or even scary to people who like to revel in possibility. Although wandering in the garden of forking paths can generate feelings of power and plenty, a person can become lost for hours, months, even years at a time exploring their options without investing in actualities. Potential must become fulfilled to become power: potential energy is only ever latent unless it becomes kinetic. Antares narrows the path and counsels that when we truly understand what is right and good for ourselves, there is only one path. Shunryu Suzuki spoke about this in his talk entitled “Single-Minded Way”:

“So, [the] Bodhisattva’s way is called ‘single-minded way’ or one railway track thousands of miles [long]. We say, one railway track. The railway track is always the same. If the railway track became wider, or narrower, it may be awful. Wherever you go the railway track is always the same. That is Bodhisattva’s way. So even [if] the sun were to rise from [the] west, the Bodhisattva’s way is only one. There is no other way. To express [their] nature, [their] sincerity, is [their] way. And there’s no other way.” (Lightly edited for clarity.)

The Scorpion’s Heart talismans empower us to find our way.

[Note: The obverse of the talismans contains an herbal mixture that includes saffron epoxied onto the gemstone. Be aware that if drenched with water or sweat for an extended period of time, there is a possibility that the herbs will leak and potentially stain. We have not received reports of or experienced ourselves this feature staining skin or clothing with these talismans, but simply offer up the information for full disclosure.]

Technical Details

The Scorpion’s Heart Antares talismans were ensouled on Monday, January 8, 2024 between 4:36am and 4:51am EST.

Essential Features of the Election

For fixed star astrological talisman elections, we require that the relevant fixed star either rises on the Ascendant or culminates on the Midheaven. In this election, Antares, at 10°05’ Sagittarius, was rising and the working took place while Antares 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 uses lunar conjunctions to fixed stars. In this election, Luna was applying to Antares within just shy of 3°, moving with moderately fast speed, and also applying to conjoin Venus in the 1st house within 5°. Luna was also not applying to either malefic planet and was not essentially afflicted.

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 case, the Lord of the Ascendant was Jupiter, peregrine in Taurus.

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

Further Magical Factors of the Election

The Moon’s applying conjunction to Venus (within 5°) sweetens this election considerably. For one thing, Venus in term on the AC provides a significant benefic influence to the nature of the timing—and since amethyst is not a stone of Venus, there is no risk of chimerism. In addition, having a benefic on the angle also mitigates negative aspects of elections. Ficino writes:

“[L]ook for Jupiter or Venus either in the ascendant or in the tenth place, for so they compensate for the debilities of the Moon.”

—Marsilio Ficino, Three Books on Life, Book III, Ch. VI, p. 271 (tr. Kaske & Clark)

Reflection on Weaknesses of the Election

There are a couple factors that are not ideal in this election. For one thing, having Mars in the first house is not ideal. Relatedly, Mars is making an applying trine to the Lord of the Ascendant and Lord of the Moon, Jupiter. Having Venus on the angle mitigates this to some degree. Also, since Antares is of the nature of Mars and Jupiter, having some indirect, softened Martial influence is perhaps not the worst thing.

Recommendations

There may be an adjustment period with these talismans given the inherently Martial nature of Antares. We most readily recommend this talisman to people who either have experience with talismanic spirits or who are reasonably adept at negotiating and setting boundaries with spirits. Additionally, like the precision tip of a scorpion’s tail, these Antares talismans can contribute to laser-focus and a capacity to lock in; for those with a strong or less controlled tendency toward obsessionality, or those who are prone to neglecting the necessities when taking up pet projects or focal interests, we would advise some extra discernment and caution around these talismans.

We also emphasize that any protective or health-focused talisman, Idola Stellarum cannot guarantee any specific protective outcomes related to our talismans, even in circumstances where health or protection is a primary aim of a magical working. Our talismans are not intended to diagnose nor treat any health condition or specific adverity, and anyone seeking medical advice or treatment should always consult with a licensed physician about any and all treatments.

Furthermore, we note that protection magic is less likely to be effective during active crisis. Apotropaic magic should always be only one of many layers of protection for one’s body, mind, and community.

Ceremonial Details

Gemstone and Talismanic Image

De Quindecim Stellis lists amethyst as the traditional stone of Antares. Amethytus comes from the Greek word for ‘not drunken/intoxicated,’ reflecting ancient belief quoted in Pliny among others that, according to Marbodus of Rennes, amethysts are “famed for their power to check the fumes of wine.” Albertus Magnus in his Book of Minerals says of amethyst that it “counteracts drunkenness…and keeps one awake and represses evil thoughts, and “confers a good understanding of what is knowable” (tr. Dorothy Wyckoff, p. 74). The Peterborough Lapidary extolls the virtues of amethyst at length. Some of the more immediately relevant qualities listed there for amethyst include that it “holds a man in good belief and strength both of body and soul,” that those who bear amethysts “will be welcome before kings and lords,” and further more that “whoever bears this amethyst, no evil spirit will have power to do him harm; nor will he have any evil dreaming at night, neither in fire nor in water, nor fever, nor will he fear” (tr. Francis Young, p. 11-12).

Many of these significations of amethysts are very much in line with the traditional purposes of Antares talismans, which are to “keepeth a good color in man; it keepeth the memory sound in him that beareth it; and it affordeth a man advancement and understanding” (tr. Regulus Hess). Antares talismans crafted from amethyst are also supposed to “bind daemons and to put them to flight, and malign spirits do not hinder him who beareth it.”

For these talismans, divination supported engraving the front with the sigil of Antares from Royal MS 12.E25 (reproduced in the edition of De Quindecim Stellis by Christopher Warnock and translated by Regulus Hess) as well as the name ANTARES above the sigil. On the reverse of the stone was affixed an herbal mixture of saffron, birthwort, and yew ritually harvested by hand from a yew tree living in and guarding our back yard.

Ritual Setup

An altar spangled with red and gold was established prior to the working, with a red velvet cloth crossed over a white and gold altar cloth defining the space. The centerpiece of the altar was a whole scorpion fossilized in amber, directly embodying the corporeal aspects of Antares’s primary symbol underneath the sigil of Antares. Offerings appealing to Martial and Jovial themes were generously made, with rich sweet and spicy foods, wine, spirits, and the herbs of Antares gracing the altar.

Suffumigation

Suffumigation and incense offerings consisted of the highest quality dragon’s blood incense, as well as the mixture of herbs associated with Antares, namely genuine saffron threads and birthwort.