28th Lunar Mansion Talisman: Harmony & Bounty

The Lunar Mansions represent an ancient and distinctive method for dividing the zodiac up according to the motions of the Moon rather than the Sun. The Mansions are not particularly well known or understood by many in the English speaking world, as they were used primarily in India, China, and the Arabic world rather than in the Hellenistic tradition that was passed down to the so-called West.

The medieval scholar Ahmad Ibn ‘Ali Al-Buni, in his infamous grimoire the Shams Al-Ma’Arif (The Sun of Knowledge) had this profound observation on the Mansions: “[W]ere it not for this…celestial cycle [of the Lunar Mansions], the human being would never have been able to distinguish the causes of fortune from the causes of misfortune, or the way this is intermixed or left out—and all of that has been poured into the nature of man” (tr. Amina Inloes, Chapter 2, pp. 76-7). From the divisions of the Lunar Mansions, then, come the very qualities of good and bad.

These 28^th Lunar Mansion talismans were intended to capture very good qualities indeed. Christopher Warnock, in his modern day grimoire The Mansions of the Moon: A Lunar Zodiac for Astrology & Magic, writes of the 28^th Lunar Mansion: “When the Moon passes into [this Mansion], she has completed her cycle of Mansions. This Mansion symbolizes culmination and completion. When this Mansion appears, it indicates that we, too, are in a state of completion. We are ready to reap the harvest of our efforts” (p. 123).

Before the Harmony & Bounty talismans were bequeathed their official name, the Idola Stellarum mages referred to them as the ‘good vibes talismans.’ They are extremely pleasant, with an aura not unlike a downtempo dance between Venus and Jupiter seen through a Lunar lens. The Harmony of these talismans sets a mood of languid calm and enjoyment.

The traditional significations of 28^th Lunar Mansion talismans suggest that the kind of wealth or Bounty endowed by these talismans is not the superfluity of the king’s full coffers of gold and gems, but rather the ecologically interrelated abundance of the successful farmer. The traditional Picatrix image for this talisman states that the 28^th Lunar Mansion can be used “for bringing fish together in one place” (Book IV, Chapter 9), while the Astromagia notes an image to ensure “vines or orchards or fields, to always have the blessing of God and to always be abundant and that the fruit…be plentiful and well guarded.”

(As a synchronistic side note, when we took one of these talismans down to the local stream with us to take photographs for the Solace collection, the fish in the stream did indeed congregate at the bend in the river beneath the willow where we were working.)

This is a Bounty that comes from Harmony. This is the Solace that comes from knowing that this green Earth is a place—the place—of abundance. This is the Solace of being in relation to celestial intelligences who want us to be fed and nurtured in the sublunary realm. This is the Solace of having enough and being able to share it harmoniously with others.

In terms of practical effects, we note that although these are by no means the only wealth talismans that the Idola Stellarum mages are in relation to, we attribute to them a significant part in the successful releases of our two previous collections of astromagical talismanic jewelry. To be able to share the bounty with others and be met with generosity in return. We are very pleased to bring these ‘good vibes’ Harmony & Bounty talismans to you, and we note that they are the most accessible wealth talismans (in price and quantity) that have been (and maybe that will be) offered from Idola Stellarum.

(Note: These talismans were made from uncalibrated rainbow moonstone talismans and they all differ in size and shape. If you order a 28^th Lunar Mansion talisman, you will receive a randomly selected talisman from among the selection we have available.)

Technical Details

The 28th Lunar Mansion Harmony & Bounty talismans were ensouled on Wednesday, July 18 between 4:47am and 5:24am EDT.

Essential Features of the Election

For lunar mansion talismans, the Moon must be in the relevant lunar mansion while rising on the Ascendant or culminating on the Midheaven. In this election, the Moon was at the tail end of the 28th Lunar Mansion, which was culminating on the Midheaven.

The most important factor in lunar mansion talismans is the condition of the Moon. In this election, Luna was moving with reasonably fast speed, and with no essential debilities. The Moon was not making aspects to any malefic planets: Saturn in Aquarius was in aversion by sign, and Mars was in sextile by sign with no aspects by degree to be made for over 40 degrees. The Moon’s ruler, Jupiter, was dignified by triplicity and angular in the 10th house, and was within wide orb to an applying conjunction with Luna.

Since the 1st house signifies the bearer of the talisman, we also look at the condition of the Lord of the Ascendant in lunar mansion elections. The sign of Cancer was rising during this election, making the above considerations regarding the Moon applicable here.

Further Magical Factors in the Election

The Moon’s next aspect was a square to Venus. Although Renaissance rules for magical elections eschew all hard aspects, the medieval rules that we favor consider any aspect by the significator to a benefic to be a fortitude. Furthermore, Venus was dignified by face and receiving the Moon from Luna’s home sign of Cancer, adding a dose of harmony to a tense aspect. The fixed star Vega, a bastion of charm and creativity, passed over the descendent during this election. (The favourable bond between these and the Vega talismans is part of why they are included in the Solace collection together.)

Reflection on Weaknesses of the Election

While it is not ideal to have any important planet in an election in the final degrees of a sign, such considerations are less relevant for talismans of the Lunar Mansions, as this system represents an entirely distinct division of the zodiac into 28 rather than 12 partitions. 

Recommendations

We consider these talismans beginner friendly and general purpose, and do not issue any particular cautions about their use. People with a natally afflicted Moon would be advised to perform a divination to ensure that this particular talisman would be a good fit.

Ceremonial Details

Gemstone & Talismanic Image

The grimoire Astromagia notes that among the magical purposes of the 28th Lunar Mansion are “the increase of merchandise and for the growth of the harvest” and “to put peace and amity between husband and wife.” These meanings are echoed in the Picatrix, in which it is noted that images can be made in this mansion “for the increase of trade and the creation of peace and agreement between man and wife.” These purposes were blended and adapted with an image and ritual from Astromagia: The Zodiologion of Kankaf the Hindu, which uses the image of “a handsome and well fed man holding in his hand the image of the fruit you want to cure and multiply.” The image used for this talisman was just such a man, standing next to a woman, one holding fruit and the other holding a fish (which echoes other traditional talismanic images and purposes of 28th Lunar Mansion talismans). Astromagia further specifies: “and know that if the image had a branch with either five or thirty lemons or olives or apples, your work will be more effective.” One of the figures was drawn holding five apples for this reason.

The talismans themselves were created from natural moonstones. At the top of the image described above was engraved the names of the Mansion and its angel: that is, ARREXE and ANUXI. The petition keywords of BOUNTY and HARMONY were written on either side of the image. A petition authored specifically for this election called upon Anuxi, the angel of the Twenty Eighth Lunar Mansion, to imbue the stones with spirits to provide peace, concord, and abundance, so that their bearers may continually reap the harvest of good.

Ritual Setup

An altar spangled with white and gold erected prior to the working, with copious offerings of food and spirits made to Anuxi, angel of Arrexe, the Twenty Eighth Lunar Mansion. Nine white candles, the central one embellished with the signs of the Moon and her planetary archangel, intelligence, and spirit and consecrated to Luna in her planetary hour provided illumination for the ritual. Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata served as a soundtrack for this ritual.

Suffumigation

The Harmony & Bounty talismans were suffumigated with a blend of rich resins and aromatic woods: Greek gum mastic, royal Hojari frankincense, lignum aloes, and cinnamon. This was a modification of the Astromagia instructions to use “lignum aloe, mastic, saffron, amber and cinnamon” based on what was available on hand.