Description
Mars, the Bringer of War, tends to blaze out quickly. Mars in Aries can be like a bomb going off or a cannon shot, and Mars in Scorpio can be likened to the sting of a scorpion or the precision shot of a sniper rifle. Whether booming or precise, Mars in his signs of domicile shares an explosive, propulsive, and above all fast set of images. To use muscles as an analogy, Mars in domicile represents the fast twitch muscle fibers: great for bursts of energy, but sputtering out quickly.
In short, unlike Saturn, the Lesser Malefic Mars is not usually known for his staying power.
Mars in Capricorn is different. Mars in Capricorn is relentless. Mars in Capricorn is in for the whole marathon, not just a sprint. The cooler and more grounded nature of the earth sign of Capricorn where Mars finds his exaltation changes the game. Here, in a Saturn ruled sign, Mars possesses a kind of steely resolve to see things through. Mars in exaltation represents the slow twitch muscle fibers: those required and evolved for repetitive, long-term efforts.
Kin to our previous Vigor & Valor Mars in Capricorn talismans, these Initiative & Tenacity talismans emphasize the grit that sustains endurance and fortitude, with a fair share of the propulsive initiative of Mars that gets things going. Like a signal flare or lighthouse flame, the Initiative & Tenacity talismans endow their bearers with the wherewithal to make decisive and effective choices, and to follow them through with tenacious, inspiring leadership. In the section on celestial petitions in Picatrix, Maslama al-Qurtubi quotes that Mars does not “draw back from whatever [he] seek[s] and require[s]” (Book III, Chapter 7). This is precisely the spirit in which these talismans were intended.
One of the under-appreciated aspects of Mars is that he solves problems. Rarely connected with the mind or upper faculties in popular discourse, Mars was actually associated with the faculty of the imagination by Marsilio Ficino. In a section describing the “seven steps through which something from on high can be attracted to lower things”—that is, the different planetary contributions to the theurgic art—he assigns to the Lesser Malefic “the strong concepts of the imagination—forms, motions, passions—which suggest the force of Mars” (Three Books on Life, Book 3, Chapter XXI). Tempered and grounded by the cold earthiness of his Saturnine exaltation sign of Capricorn, Mars can forge the quick flights of the imagination (we can transport ourselves instantly in our minds anywhere we wish) into a durable vision fit for the grandest plans. Mars in Capricorn evokes the hardy adaptation of mountain goats, who climb perilously steep rock walls for bits of sustenance. The grueling climb to the mountaintop requires not just raw power, but also foresight, planning, resolve, and a capacity for adaption while traversing different terrains, obstacles, and challenges.
The Initative & Tenacity talismans would be a boon to anyone who wants not just to just do it but to do more: to lighten your burdens not for the sake of ease but for shouldering more weight, to reduce fear by facing it head on with courage rather than managing it through avoidance or through eliminating the obstacle ahead of time, and to persevere with determination and ardor through any hardship. These Initative & Tenacity talismans seem well-suited to physical development and prowess. As the step graph below shows, when Idola mage Rain first attuned to their Initiative & Tenacity talisman in early April of 2024, their daily physical activity nearly doubled within a week or two and sustained through the rest of the year and beyond. This trend continued and within the year, Rain and Pallas ended up moving down the road from a hiking trail with a mountain ascent now taken daily, a change with which the martial beast (pupper) Vesper is very pleased. This leads us to believe that these Mars talismans may be a good fit for athletes, performers, and anyone wanting to hone their physical power and endurance.
(Note that this talismanic operation took place during daylight hours: the candles were re-lit and incense burned later that evening to take photos that captured the candlelit night sect malefic aesthetic.)
Technical Details
These Initiative & Tenacity talismans were ensouled on the morning of Wednesday, February 7, 2024 between 10:27am and 10:56am EST.
Essential Features of the Election
For planetary astromagical elections, we require that the relevant planet have essential dignity while either rising on the Ascendant or culminating on the Midheaven during the relevant planetary hour. This election took place while Mars was within 5 degrees of the Midheaven during Mars hour. Mars was dignified by exaltation, potentiated and stabilized by its placement in Capricorn. Mars’ exaltation in Capricorn is well-suited to more strategic, calculated, and decisive manifestations of martial prowess, and the Saturnian influence adds fortitude and endurance that can offset the martial tendency to quick bursts of energy that lack staying power. Mars was not in aspect to Saturn or otherwise subject to noteworthy accidental afflictions.
Planetary elections also require the Moon to be in sufficiently good condition. In this election, the waning Moon was moving with very fast speed and applying to a conjunction with Venus in Capricorn. Interestingly, essential debility is one of the only afflictions of the Moon not referenced as such in Picatrix: consensus among contemporary astrological magicians does not count the Moon’s presence in Capricorn (or Scorpio, for that matter) as a disqualifying factor—if it were one, certain talismans (e.g., fixed star Vega) could not be made.
Since the 1st house signifies the bearer of the talisman, we also look at the condition of the Lord of the Ascendant in planetary elections. In this election, the Ascendant ruler of Taurus was Venus, dignified by triplicity and term.
Further Magical Factors of the Election
Planets exalt in particular signs, and there is also a particular degree at which the exaltation ripens to its greatest extent: many astrologers hold that the strength of a planet’s exaltation increases to a crescendo at this point. In this election, Mars is in the 26th degree of Capricorn, just shy of his exaltation degree at the 28th degree of Capricorn. Thus, while not at his absolute highest power in the sign, Mars’ potency is near his peak.
Reflection on Weaknesses of the Election
As mentioned above, the Moon is debilitated in Capricorn, and while not a disqualifying feature of a magical election, this merits notice. Also, the Moon is separating from her ruler, Saturn, which is not ideal for a magical election. The application of the Moon sweetens the deal somewhat, but folks with a fraught relationship with the Moon might consider extra care around this talisman.
Recommendations
While we do not generally recommend talismans of the malefic planets as a first talisman, the influence of Venus in this election render these talismans a little softer than your average Mars talisman. Particularly for those with a dignified natal Mars, attunement to this talisman would not be expected to be particularly difficult. People who have trouble managing their temper, who overheat easily literally or figuratively, or find themselves often with the problem of having too much energy and drive rather than too little might consider taking a pass on this talisman.
Ceremonial Details
Gemstone & Talismanic Image
The Initiative & Tenacity talismans were crafted from 30mm natural African bloodstone cabochons. The bloodstones were carved with an image from Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy: “A soldier armed and crowned, girt with a sword, carrying in his right hand a long lance” (Book II, Ch. 40). On the obverse side of the cabochon were carved the symbol of Mars and the sigil of his planetary intelligence. An herbal mixture of black pepper and tamarind mixed and ground to a fine powder was affixed to the back of the talisman.
Ritual Setup
An altar suffused with vermillion was erected to Mars the day before and constructed during Mars hours. Generous offerings of spices, foods, spirits, and meat were made to Mars, and the altar was illuminated by five red candles emblazoned with symbols, seals, and sigils of Mars crafted and consecrated to Mars.
Suffumigation
The incense blend used for this working was taken from the Picatrix Mars petition, which instructs the mage to “take wormwood, aloes, squill, spurge, long pepper, and watercress in equal amounts.”
