Royal Persian Star Antares: Cognition & Protection

These Cognition & Protection talismans are of the nature of the fixed star Antares, the Heart of the Scorpion, one of the four Persian Royal Stars. 

Despite Antares’s reputation as a “Rival to Mars,” the Cognition & Protection talismans are not so much aggressive as intellectual and strong on defense. These talismans were created in line with the traditional magical gifts granted by this star: understanding, memory, and intelligence, as well as protection. 

The petition emphasized the binding of all powers who harbor hatred and ill-will toward the bearer of this talisman, clearing the ground of the bearer’s life of evil and making room for the fields to be sown with the good.

Antares is a by-any-means-necessary entity, and the Jovial nature of this election (see below) gives Antares a lot of space and energy to be themselves. Think well-resourced court jester who is also an accomplished assassin and loves both of their vocations. When on your side, Antares is capable of fierce defense executed with cleverness and care. 

Your Idola Stellarum mages were once on their way to a work-related event, overcoming quite a few obstacles to make it happen. At the last minute, Pallas put on their Antares talisman, asking for an extra dose of protection as they and many of Rain’s patients are higher risk for COVID. Once settled in the car, Rain turned the ignition—and nothing happened but a soft clicking. The battery was dead, even though Rain had driven home from work less than two hours earlier with not a single sign of car trouble. Pallas called Antares on it immediately as a last resort protective move. The next day, your Idola Stellarum mages found out that at least one person at the event tested positive for and was newly symptomatic with COVID. They also found out that the car battery had been nearly dead anyway, and had it not been replaced, they easily could have soon gotten stuck in the middle of nowhere on a cold winter night. Antares had put the last sting on the fuel cell at the most auspicious moment.

Idola Stellarum mage Pallas writes of their Antares talisman, one of their favorites: “As I’ve come to trust this talisman more, I often get the feeling that Antares is dealing with potential harm without even letting me know, allowing me greater attention and clarity in my magical, creative, and professional endeavors.”

The classical sharpness of Antares is surely present in the Cognition & Protection talismans, but directed outward as watchful and sensitive antennae rather than toward the bearer and their direct experience—see discussion of technical elements below for the reasoning here. While Idola Stellarum is recommending these Antares talismans most strongly to those with spirit relationship experience, talismanic or otherwise, with a prudent and respectful approach most anyone could benefit from their support.

The Cognition & Protection talismans come in two sizes: small (15mm in a 4-prong setting) and large (20mm in a crown bezel setting). The difference between them is almost entirely aesthetic: they were created in the same election with the same petition and the same methods. We say “almost entirely” because some astrological magicians tend to view larger stones and higher quality stones as containing more quintessence or magical capacity. The smaller version of the talisman is pictured in the first images in the gallery, with the larger coming later in the gallery.

Technical Details

 

The Antares talismans from the Sanctuary collection were ensouled Sunday, July 10 between 5:29 and 5:53pm 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, Antares, at 10◦04’ 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 moving with very fast speed, and was waxing in her second quarter a mere sign away from fullness. The Moon was applying to a conjunction with Antares within 3°, and was also applying to an incredibly close trine (within 15′) to her Lord of her house, Jupiter in Aries. Antares was visible with the Moon, very close in declination, soon after sunset. Moving through our local sky nearly the entire night, Antares and the Moon were still visible when Jupiter rose later, the trine aspect shining over the altar and ensouled talismans.

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 in Aries, free of significant afflictions. Even in tricky situations where Antares must strike, it seems the bearer remains unscatched.

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

Further Magical Factors of the Election

Antares is canonically associated with the planets Mars and Jupiter, and this election strongly emphasizes the Jovial aspects of Antares. First, the Moon was in an incredibly close trine aspect to Jupiter. Second, Jupiter was the Lord of the Ascendant. Third, although the aspect was separating, Jupiter was configured to Antares by a 2° trine. Fourth, Jupiter was angular, rooted in the quadrant 4th house near the IC during this working. The strongly Jovial factors of this election temper the more cutting and raw Martial qualities of Antares with the magnanimity of Jupiter, a highly benefic influence grounded in the root of the chart.

Reflection on Weaknesses of the Election

This is a strong Antares election. There is no relevant malefic influence on any of the three major significators of this election: Antares, Luna, and the ruler of Luna’s house, Jupiter.

We do 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 specifically 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

While more Jovial than many Antares spirits, 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.

Ceremonial Details

Gemstone and Talismanic Image

Amethyst, the traditional stone of Antares, was used for these talismans. Albertus Magnus says of the amethyst that it “confers a good understanding of what is knowable,” a signification very much in line with the traditional purposes of Antares talismans. The stones were engraved on the front with the image of a scorpion, the creature and image associated with Antares. On the reverse of the stone were carved the name of the star and the sigil of Antares. Saffron, birthwort, and yew ritually harvested by hand from the Albany Rural Cemetery were affixed to the back side of the talisman.

Ritual Setup

An altar spangled with red, gold, and purple was established prior to the working: a red and gold altar cloth with purple flowers and four candles each of white, purple, and red defined the space. The centerpiece of the altar was a whole scorpion fossilized in amber, directly embodying the corporeal aspects of Antares’s primary symbol. Offerings appealing to Martial and Jovial themes were generously made.

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 (aristolochia grown as a houseplant and harvested by hand specifically for this election in the hour of Jupiter).

Testimonial for the Cognition & Protection Talisman:

The following testimonial is from Pallas K. Augustine of Idola Stellarum:

“My Antares talisman is one of my favourite spirit companions in visionary magic and more mundane protection. In journey, Antares watches my back, widening and sharpening my peripheral senses to 360. In day-to-day life, especially when wearing it but also simply by being in relationship with them, this spirit sharpens my intuition and alerts me to potential threats in a rational, calm, focused way that doesn’t overwhelm my nervous system. As I’ve come to trust this talisman more, I often get the feeling that Antares is dealing with potential harm without even letting me know, allowing me greater attention and clarity in my magical, creative, and professional endeavours.”