Royal Persian Star Regulus: Peace, Glory, & Virtue

These talismans, of the nature of the fixed star Regulus, the Heart of the Lion in the constellation Leo, are not your typical Regulus talismans. While they maintain the expected Regulus attributes of success, favor, and glory, the primary intent of these talismans is to support their bearers in emotional and psychological peace, imbuing their bearers with the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and most especially temperance. 

Peace necessitates the willingness to make peace—to fight for it, if necessary.

Glory arrives after humility.

Virtue cannot be bought or stolen; it must be earned.

In his Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Agrippa says of Regulus talismans that they “make a [person] temperate, keep anger away, and give grace.” These qualities of Regulus are embodied by the sovereign pause before taking offense, the deep breath before responding, and the giving of the benefit of the doubt. While there is a lofty quality to the Regulus generosity of spirit, these talismans in particular bring a grounded and realistic approach to what one is capable of—and what one is willing to tolerate.

The Peace, Glory, & Virtue talismans offer a right-sized-ness which may come with a correction. If one is prone to devaluing how far they have come, how much they have surmounted, or what they have accomplished, the Peace, Glory, & Virtue talismans may aid in a correction toward healthy ego and confidence. If one, on the other hand, is ungracious to those they depend on, attached to a narrative of martyrdom or victimhood, or otherwise committed to a relationally harmful self-importance, the Regulus talisman may offer a correction the other way, as well.

A close family member of Rain and Pallas who was an early bearer of a Peace, Glory, & Virtue talisman shares, “I just knocked on a stranger’s door to get a misdelivered package, something that would have been unthinkably difficult for me to do maybe even a year ago, like it was nothing. I never thought of this as a possible area of growth or change for me.” 

Idola Stellarum mage Pallas, on another end of the spectrum, shares of their talisman, “With a 10th house Sun and Regulus contacts, I’ve always found the crown to hang a little heavy, so to speak. Whenever I am feeling resistant to a responsibility or a calling, my Regulus talisman guides me in trusting my connection to the deep and grounding collective force that supports embodying and speaking from a position of more virtuous and ethical authority.”

The involvement of the malefics in this magic raises the stakes, somewhat—see below for more technical discussion—but success and favor carry risks Regulus is already more than aware of and capable of taking on. The psychological nature of these talismans is potent for those engaged in the, often difficult, personal work that must be done in order to truly and powerfully show up as oneself in leadership and one’s vocations, relationships, and desires. 

The Peace, Glory, & Virtue talismans are distinctly positioned to reveal what is ours and what is not ours to confront and to accomplish in our “one wild and precious life” (from “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver).

Technical Details

These Regulus talismans were ensouled on the morning of Saturday, July 30 between 7:42am and 8:01am 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, Regulus rises on the Ascendant within 2°30’ during the electional window.

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, the Moon, increasing in light, was applying to Regulus within 4°. The Moon was separating from Saturn, leaving this malefic influence behind, and her next planetary aspect was a wide sextile to Venus. The Lord of the house of the Moon was the Sun, dignified by domicile in Leo, who was applying by trine to the Greater Benefic, Jupiter. 

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. At the outset of the election, the Ascendant was ruled by Sol, dignified by domicile and triplicity; as the election ended, Mercury had taken over with Virgo rising, and was dignified by term. Both planets were in the 12th quadrant but 1st whole sign house at the outset of the election. The Sun was not significantly afflicted, though Mercury applied to an opposition to Saturn.

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

Further Magical Factors of the Election

The Moon-Venus connection was enhanced by the Lesser Benefic Venus’s reception of Luna from her home sign of Cancer, adding a harmonious note to this election. The Sun, Lord of the house of the Moon, was applying by trine to the Greater Benefic, Jupiter, thus tying in both of the benefic planets into this election.

Reflection on Weaknesses of the Election

This was not the most pure and perfect Regulus election, but with Saturn approaching Pisces and Black Moon Lilith encroaching upon Leo, we were aware that this might be the last opportunity for worthwhile Regulus elections for the foreseeable future. One negative factor was the Moon’s slow speed, though this was mitigated somewhat by the Moon’s accelerating speed and increasing light. 

The excellent benefic influence and regal, dignified Solar qualities of this election were great pluses that serve to mitigate the affliction of Mercury by besiegement of Mars and Saturn. Afterall, there is an inherent tension between Peace and Glory: the whole sign hard aspects of Mars and Saturn signify that the Peace granted by this talisman is never simply given, but must be made. 

We note that both Mars and Saturn are close to the angles, with Mars near the Midheaven and Saturn near the Descendent. However, both planets were falling away from the angles and more than 5° away from the angles at the outset of the election. See the main description for more on how these dynamics may play out in the experience of the talismans themselves. Moreover, although the Moon was in hard whole sign aspects to the malefics, she was separating from both Mars and Saturn, signifying that these influences were in the past, not coming to fruition.

Finally, we 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

While reasonably beginner-friendly, the qualities of these Regulus talismans would best support those who are familiar with tests that require courage, and tension as a way of survival. After all, there is an inherent tension between Peace and Glory: the whole sign hard aspects of Mars and Saturn signify that the Peace granted by this talisman is never simply given, but must be made. This, not always but often, aligns with square aspects between personal planets in the natal chart.

Ceremonial Details

Gemstone & Talismanic Image

The garnet cabochons were engraved with the image of Regulus, the head of a lion, embellished with a crown. In his Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Agrippa says of Regulus talismans that they “make a [person] temperate, keep anger away, and give grace.” These specific effects were given a more expansive reading, and the election keywords PEACE, GLORY, and VIRTUE were carved around the king of the beasts. On the obverse side of the cabochon was carved the sigil of Regulus. An herb mixture of the celandine and mugwort, the two herbs attributed to Regulus, was affixed to the back of the talismans as well.

Ritual Setup

An altar adorned with a clean gold cloth was established prior to the working, emblazoned with twelve candles, four yellow and eight white, to shine forth with the golden, regal glory of Regulus. Food and spirit offerings in line with the color scheme were generously provided. Overflowing bouquets of sunflowers and marigolds towered over the altar, completing the picture, along with yellow cards bedecked with the sigil of Regulus. 

Suffumigation

Initial suffumigation consisted of Greek gum mastic and the herbs attributed to Regulus, celandine and mugwort. This incense was used to suffumigate and empower a talismanic incense blend of mastic, celandine, mugwort, garnet powder, and acorn flour, symbolizing the heart of the mighty oak rooting the power of Regulus and evocative of the Jovial nature of the election. A petition written specifically for this election called upon Regulus to empower the incense with his gifts and blessings. This talismanic incense blend was then used to suffumigate the gemstone talismans after they had been engraved and affixed with herbs.

Testimonials for the Peace, Glory, & Virtue Talismans

The following testimonials are from people who have had the Peace, Glory, & Virtue talismans for many months.

From Jake, a family member:

“I just knocked on a stranger’s door to get a misdelivered package, something that would have been unthinkably difficult for me to do maybe even a year ago, like it was nothing. I never thought of this as a possible area of growth or change for me, and I at least partially attribute that to talismanic assistance, so thank you for exposing me to that avenue.”

From Pallas K. Augustine of Idola Stellarum:

“With a 10th house Sun and Regulus contacts, I’ve always found the crown to hang a little heavy, so to speak. My Regulus talisman hasn’t erased all those feelings, but has given me great insight into the reasons *why* they exist and how to approach them rather than just cower and hide. Whenever I am feeling resistant to a responsibility or a calling, my Regulus talisman guides me in trusting my connection to the deep and grounding collective force that supports embodying and speaking from a position of more virtuous and ethical leadership.”