Saturn in Aquarius: Will, Wisdom, & Wonders

Of the nature of Saturn in Aquarius, these are sister talismans to the Security, Serenity, & Success talismans featured in the Sanctuary collection. Created during the same election, a separate petition called upon the powers of Saturn to enhance the willpower, deepen the wisdom, and grant access to the universe’s wonders for their bearers. 

Saturn may not be the first of the celestial powers to spring to mind when you think of the word Solace: it would be natural to think that the Mighty Titan with a tight grip on the Everlasting Chains that bind the world would turn a cold shoulder to those seeking comfort. And yet, the archangel of Saturn, Cassiel, who normally sits far removed from humanity, observing from the seventh heaven, can be there in our loneliest moments and has a special role to play for those most needing Solace: the imprisoned, the impoverished, the despairing.

Still, it is fair to say that these Will, Wisdom, & Wonders talismans do not provide a gentle Solace or an easing of our burdens—such things are not why we approach talismans of the Greater Malefic. Saturn in Aquarius spirits channeled through iron pyrite stones provide a very different perspective than one of simple comfort. Rather, these talismans support a capacity for detachment that allows us to view our problems with wisdom and neutrality like a grandmaster viewing a chessboard. Will, Wisdom, & Wonders talismans work to endow us with the unshakable resolve to make our next move rather than stay paralyzed in anxiety or uncertainty.

So far, we have found and heard from testers that these Will, Wisdom, & Wonders talismans provide an excellent companion for meditation and bring more responsibilities as well as the capacity to shoulder them. The kind of Solace they provide consists in helping us to become equal to what we face: not to take away our fears or dispatch them in order to eliminate the cause of our fears (these would be martial significations, after all), but to see our fears for what they are—as just another integral part of the cycles of generation and corruption—and an increased capacity to judiciously and decisively respond.

In truth, although these were by no means the first talismans we acquired or created, from a certain perspective, the Will, Wisdom, & Wonders talismans have been one of if not the foundation stone of Idola Stellarum. Without the resolve, dedication, and wisdom supported by these talismans, it seems unlikely that we would have been able to put in the long hours of study, contemplation, planning, and execution over and above everything else in our busy lives to slowly lay the foundation for this magical enterprise.

This illustration may show that these Saturn talismans are perhaps the furthest thing from sources of immediate gratification: they are, rather, the iron support beams that underwrite the capacity for weathering the long-haul of personal transformation, of coming into root knowledge of the singular, ponderous, immovable stones deep in our psyches upon which the countless ephemera of daily life flower and fade. And if you have not felt the Solace inherent in the stability of the something else that is within you and beyond you, the wonder of a purpose past all of the shifting circumstances and situations of the self—we hope that one day you will step into that blessed stability.

As a final note, we add that Book I, Chapter 5 of the Picatrix states that talismanic working are “more certain if the planet was strong in the natal chart of those people who performed the working.” Idola Stellarum’s mage Rain took charge of this working, and their natal Saturn in Libra (with some other accidental dignities as well) adds a potent boost to these Saturn in Aquarius talismans.

Technical Details

The Saturn in Aquarius talismans Will, Wisdom, & Wonders talismans were ensouled on Friday, February 24 between 5:46am and 6:12am EST.

Essential Features of the Election

For planetary astromagical elections, we require that the relevant planet either rises on the Ascendant or culminates on the Midheaven during the relevant planetary hour. This election took place during Saturn hour with Saturn rising and within 5° of the Ascendant during the electional window. Saturn was unafflicted and dignified by rulership in Aquarius, one of Saturn’s two signs of domicile.

Planetary elections also require the Moon to be in sufficiently good condition. During this election, the Moon was dignified by face and moving with fast speed in the 10th house in Sagittarius. Luna was closely applying by partile square to Jupiter, establishing a strong link to the ruler of her house. Luna’s next aspect after Jupiter would be a sextile to Saturn, linking her to the significator of the election. The Moon was waning and in her last quarter, and so this talisman could be expected to operate not so much by adding in good things but by subtracting or removing difficulties: taking away privations, barriers to success, and negative feelings that get in the way of stability. As a nice protective factor, Mars and the South Node are both cadent and out of the way of all the relevant actors in this election.

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. Jupiter, the Lord of the Ascendant (as well as the Lord of the house of the Moon) in this election, was highly dignified in Pisces, his sign of rulership, as well as in his terms and face in the first house. Jupiter was combust, but this affliction was mitigated by the fact that Jupiter is in chariot (that is, a planet that has essential dignity gains protection from the harsh beams of the Sun).

Further Magical Factors in the Election

Above, we noted that the Lord of the Ascendant, Jupiter, was in good shape. Jupiter was also in the first house. Having a benefic planet in the first house of the elections is highly auspicious, signifying good things for the bearer of the talisman, whom the first house represents.

This election, although focused on Saturn, has a number of Jovial elements: Jupiter rules the first house and the house of the Moon, and is placed in the first house. These highly Jupiterian factors added to the air of wisdom and profundity to the election. Moreover, three fixed stars anchored the angles of this election as well: the Persian Royal fixed stars Antares and Aldebaran were on the Midheaven and IC, respectively, and Saturn was close to Deneb Algedi near the AC, adding a powerful boost from these Behenian stars.

Reflection on Weaknesses of the Election

While we consider it important to note weak factors in talismanic elections for the sake of transparency, there’s really not much negative to say about this chart. Jupiter being combust is mitigated by his incredibly potent dignity. We also note that although some mages avoid hard aspects altogether, we consider any aspect by the Moon to a benefic planet to be a good thing in most circumstances, and therefore do not consider the Moon-Jupiter square to be an affliction. All in all, this is a very solid Saturn in Aquarius election.

Recommendations

We’re softly recommending these talismans go to those with a natally dignified Saturn (e.g. Capricorn, Aquarius, Libra, other minor dignities may apply), both day and night charts. We believe this talisman best serves to take the edge off a natally strong Saturn, easing the burdens and supporting the moral and emotional strength of their bearer.

Also, since Jupiter, the Lord of the Ascendant, is combust though in chariot, we do recommend that those with serious afflictions to their natal Jupiter approach this talisman with an extra measure of caution. At the very least, we recommend first divining on whether this would be a good talisman for you at this time.

Ceremonial Details

Gemstone & Talismanic Image

The stones for this election were 30x22mm iron pyrite cabochons. Picatrix attributes to Saturn metals of “iron and part of gold” and among stones, “iron ore”; Agrippa says that those stones belong to Saturn that are “earthy, dark, and heavy.” Iron pyrite thus brings in Saturnian heaviness with a glimmer of gold. 

The pyrite cabochons were carved with the image attested in the Picatrix of “the form of a man standing on a dragon, in his right hand he has a scythe and in his left hand he has a spear.” On the obverse side of the cabochon were carved the symbol of Saturn, his seal, the sigil of his planetary intelligence, and the glyph of Aquarius. Saturnine herbs of angelica root, vervain root, cedar leaf, and sage leaf were affixed to the back of the talisman.

Ritual Setup

An altar shrouded in black was erected to Saturn during days preceding this election, constructed and built up during Saturn’s planetary hours. Generous offerings of food and spirits were made to Saturn, as well as an antique scythe. Six black candles (two sets of three, the number of Saturn) emblazoned with symbols, seals, and sigils of Saturn were crafted and consecrated to Saturn the previous week during Saturn’s planetary hour and dressed with Saturnine materia. The ritual took place to the soundtrack of Poppy Ackroyd’s song “Stillness” from her album Pause, an anthem to Saturnine slowness and quiet temporal sensitivity.

Suffumigation

The suffumigation used to ensoul these talismans consisted of a specially made Saturn in Aquarius incense blended and talismanically consecrated to Saturn during the same electional window. The incense was prepared according to a recipe adapted from Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy, which says to “combine black poppy seed, henbane seed, mandrake root, lodestone, and myrrh.” We elected not to include “the brain of a cat or the blood of a bat” in this mixture, for reasons you can probably imagine. In addition to the traditional ingredients, a portion of sawdust from the Yew tree was added to enhance the incense’s ability to be burned as a standalone powder.