It’s been a minute, but recent events provide the inspiration for a new blog on the Pleiades.
Among the magics I’ve been interested in and have worked with over time are the Greek Magical Papyri (a.k.a. PGM), fixed star invocation, and talisman making. I like the intersection of spirit and the physical (talismans) in stellar working. As an archaeologist I’m also fascinated by the historic and prehistoric roots of different practices, linked to artifacts and other physical evidence.
Even though much of this has been lost in time there are suggestive connections, such as headless images, and other figures carrying a severed head in the left hand, in the PGM. These indicate probable early knowledge of asterisms associated with Arab and Renaissance fixed star magic involving the Perseus constellation, including the star Algol. It appears to have influenced imagery of Mars as well. There is evidence for deep, ongoing knowledge of imagery in the PGM into the Renaissance, which extends to the Sola Busca Tarocchi.
right: image carrying a severed head from PGM XXXVI; middle: drawing of the Persue constellation from a German astrological text (1450-1499); left: image of Mars from the Krakow Picatrix (1466) – after Lloyd D. Graham
The week of 4/10/2023 was a good one for astro-magical elections for the Pleiades constellation (with location calculated by its member star Alcyone) and the Sun.
In the past, discussing Algol and Sirius, I presented an easy template for fixed star elections that you can use and adapt to your own liking. The Pleiades is unique in that there is an invocation of the angel Zizaubio who is said to dwell in the Pleiades in PGM VI. 795-845. It’s specifically for divination but with minor adjustments, can be used for virtually any purpose. In the Renaissance tradition and drawing from Arabic sources, Agrippa indicates that the Pleiades are useful for finding hidden things and gaining magical skills or power. The gist of the PGM passage from circa the 1st to 4th century A.D. is that the invocation can reveal hidden things through dream. I had remarkable success the same day performing this invocation at the time of the Pleiades election.
In a fixed star magical election, practitioners typical look for a time when the star or planet is rising or at midheaven. This is usually when the heavenly body is conjoining the Moon and when the rest of the planets are in good aspect for the election. In this case, the Pleiades (located by Alcyone at about 0 degrees of Gemini on the ecliptic) conjoined Venus in midheaven at around 3:45 PM on 4/10. (The time is for where I live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Metropolitan area.) Venus was at 29 degrees Taurus, within 2 degrees of Alcyone which is nearly optimal. Venus at 0 degrees Gemini would have been perfect but within 2 degrees is very good for an election. (Chart made with the Celeste application.)
The invocation from PGM VI. 795-845:
“I call upon you, holy angel ZIZAUBIO, from the company of the Pleiades to whom you are subordinate and serve for all things, [for] whatever she might command you, you great, indestructible, fire-breathing one, who cast the rope of heaven, through which rope all things turn upon earth. Also, you [do I call upon], as many of you angels who are placed under ZIZAUBIO’S power. Hence I call upon you all that you may come quickly in this night, and reveal to me clearly and firmly, concerning those matters I desire. I conjure you, O lord, who rise above the wheel of the whole cosmic region, by the one ruling the whole inhabited world and the benefactor of all. Hence, I call upon you in this night, and may you reveal all things to me through dreams with accuracy O angel ZIZAUBIO.”
I am not going to go over a full ritual in depth but you can find a simple one that can be adjusted for Pleiades in my earlier Algol and Sirius blogs. For more information, I refer you to Christopher Warnock’s book on fixed star and planetary magic referenced in those previous posts.
There is probably no better asterism to choose for an archaeological approach to fixed star magic than the Pleiades, which are depicted as dots above the shoulder of a bull in the 10k+ year old cave painting from Lascaux, France. The image of them above the bull at Lascaux parallels the constellation’s location above the Taurus constellation. We have no idea what these ancients called Taurus and the Pleiades, but we can say they found enough significance in their presence in the sky to paint them, and that the stars making up Taurus were already associated with the bull that long ago by people in the area of present day France. That alone is remarkable!
When I learned in 2019 that I could make talismans that capture the power of stars with rich mythological stories, like Algol (Beta Persei) which is associated with the head of Medusa, I began to learn how to calculate the times when “the stars are right.” Sirius is another captivating star, both because of its fame in ancient astronaut/conspiracy lore, and its importance in Pharonic Egypt.
Sirius is a fascinating star. It is a “fixed star” so its position remains the same in relation to the wheel of the zodiac, in this case relative to the sign of Cancer the crab (it’s positioned at 13 degrees Cancer on the ecliptic). It was crucial to the ancient Egyptians. The heliacal rise of Sirius (a star in the Canis Major constellation, Orion’s dog) is when the star appears for the first time in the year at dawn far enough from the sun that it’s visible to the eye. The Egyptians (or maybe the Greeks discussing the Egyptians?) called Sirius Sothis, and noticed its heliacal rise occurs before and signals the annual flooding of the Nile in early July, which was so important to their annual agricultural cycle.
Sirius is known as the Dog Star. Anyone who knows Henry Purcell’s music knows you can sail by it :), and this star is noted for powers of peace and reconciliation, for the favor of people in power (as in networking), and for the aid of spirits of the air. Although many people make talismans during stellar elections there is no need to make a talisman, you can say an appropriate prayer or the like at the appointed time to direct the star’s power to your project of peace, reconciliation, networking, or gaining the favor of spirits.
Sirius conjoined the waxing Moon and Mars at Midheaven on May 15 at about 4:20 PM Central Time in Minneapolis/St. Paul. The key for a stellar election is for and appointed star to conjoin the Moon on the Ascendant or Midheaven. This time will vary depending on where you are in the world and an election in on locality will not necessarily be available in other places.
Typically people make metal talismans in an election as an anchor to the star and its powers. But if you don’t wish to make that effort you can simply say an appropriate prayer or wish at this time for the star’s power to aid you. However, if you want to make a talisman to keep so the star continues to work with you in an easier form than metal, for Sirius, you can simply get a drawing or photo of a dog or of Sirius in the sky (printed off the internet will do), draw the Sirius sigil on it (as shown in this post), and follow these steps (these are adapted and simplified from Agrippa and other sources on fixed star magic):
What you’ll need: White candle (4″ temple chime candle or even a birthday cake candle will do), incense (Mugwort is optimal but another like Dragon’s Blood will work in a pinch), a hookah charcoal tablet to burn the Mugwort as incense if you go that route, a suitable metal container for charcoal and incense, something to extinguish fire if an accident occurred, and the dog + sigil image for your talisman described above. Optional: Beryl (the stone sacred to Sirius), and snake tongue (can’t tell you where to get that, and it’s optional).
Begin 5-10 minutes before the election time. Have all ingredients you will use on hand and the paper talisman at your altar or work area.
1) Light the candle, and incense or charcoal for burning Mugwort. If Mugwort, keep adding it as needed during the work.
2) For the invocation, read the Orphic Hymn to Astron substituting Sirius for the star’s name (see below).
3) Watch the time and repeat the invocation until you reach the moment of the election, then state your intention. Wave the paper talisman over the incense as you recite the invocation, this by tradition draws or anchors the spirit of the star into your paper.
4) Briefly meditate on what you’ve accomplished, then thank Sirius for working with you and safely extinguish the candle and incense.
Remember, you can also just do the invocation followed by your wish or statement of intent at the time of the election in step 3, but the other steps will help if you are able to do them. And you can just make your wish, candles and incense are not absolutely necessary. But if you want the full experience, use all the steps above. Sirius’s sigil can also be carved into the candle with a pin before you begin.
Note on safety: If you choose to work with fire, whether a candle, incense, or charcoal, you do so at your own risk. As always, do it safely and be ready to extinguish any or all of them when you finish the work or if something accidentally catches fire. Don’t burn yourself!
Self-consecration: If you acquire a stellar talisman you didn’t make your self, you can also consecrate it to work for you using the steps above. Ideally you would do this on a Sirius election when the star is conjoining the Moon on Ascendant or Midheaven. However, you can do it any time it feels right or if you like, on the planetary day and/or hour of a planet said to be of the character of the star (for Sirius these are Mars and Jupiter).
Orphic Hymn to Astron, Adapted for Sirius Invocation
Translated by Thomas Taylor, 1792
“With holy voice I call the star SIRIUS on high, pure sacred lights and genii of the sky.
Celestial star, the progeny of Night, in whirling circles beaming far your light,
Refulgent rays around the heav’ns ye throw, eternal fires, the source of all below.
With flames significant of Fate ye shine, and aptly rule for men a path divine.
In seven bright zones ye run with wand’ring flames, and heaven and earth compose your lucid frames:
With course unwearied, pure and fiery bright forever shining thro’ the veil of Night.
Hail twinkling, joyful, ever wakeful fires! Propitious shine on all my just desires;
These sacred rites regard with conscious rays, and end our works devoted to your praise.”
There you go. Once done, the paper talisman can continue to work for you as long as the paper is intact. I passed around a few things about Algol in 2020. There are harder and softer ways to find peace, these are new times.
Sources
Agrippa, Heinrich Cornelius (1509-). Writings of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535). Digital editions by Joseph H. Peterson. http://www.esotericarchives.com/agrippa/index.html, accessed 16/06/2020
Earlier versions of this were posted on the Social Justice Witchcraft and Folk Magic Society Facebook pages, and the Faith Blind Council Discord server. The Algol Ascendant election is described by Ryhann Butler in Medieval Astrology’s Sagittarius Full Moon Magical Elections podcast for June 5, 2020.
Drawing of Medusa by Barry Windsor-Smith. All images displayed for not-for-profit educational use only.
You on earth have unwittingly felt its distant presence—you who without knowing idly gave to its blinking beacon the name of Algol, the Daemon-Star.
H. P. Lovecraft, Beyond the Wall of Sleep (1919)
On June 18, 2020 the fixed star Algol will be conjunct the Moon first on the Ascendant, and later, approaching Midheaven. Many use these elections for talismans following the writings of Cornelius Agrippa, the Picatrix, and similar sources, but we are in a capricious time. I think these two elections are better for spells/intentions/prayers than metal or stone talismans. Algol, represented by Medusa’s head, is excellent for protection and hexing. George Floyd was killed less than a month ago on May 25, we’ve seen countless acts of violence against protesters and terrorist threats against people of color since then, and 45’s Tulsa rally is June 20. This is a crucial time for social justice work and Algol is raising their hand to help. As Medusa, Algol also is a strong ally for ending and avenging violence against women.
Algol Stele by Hagen von Tulien (2022). Commission from the artist.
Algol is located at 26 degrees Taurus on the ecliptic, or the ring in the sky allotted to the 12 signs of the Zodiac. Algol is part of the Perseus constellation, located above Gemini and Taurus, which was important to ancient Mithraic mysteries as well. Algol was named by ancient Arab astronomers and astrologers, first as R’as al Ghul, the head of the demon, then al Ghul or of the demon (what of the demon? the head!). (Yes, this is where the name of the Batman villain comes from.) From there the star’s name eventually transformed into Algol. Not coincidentally, the name Algol is also the source of the word alcohol. The star made its way into magic in Europe by the Renaissance and probably even earlier in Moorish Spain. As the name implies, Algol is a fearsome ally. I think their connection with ancient Arabic science and magic make them appropriate to call on for aid against racist violence and to change the present political landscape that supports it.
I’ve worked with Algol several times in 2020 including consecration of talismans and an oil. Given the events in 2020, I led a Zoom call about this for the Practicing Magic group, and it seemed helpful to put this blog together to share. Find out more about Practicing Magic at https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicingmagis/.
Detail of the Perseus constellation from Celestial Atlas (1822) by Alexander Jamieson. Algol is the large star in Medusa’s head at the lower left.
The first lunar conjunction in Minneapolis/St. Paul is when the Moon is on the Ascendant at 23 Taurus, and Algol is a few minutes away from the Moon and the Ascendant; at around 3:30 AM on June 18; the second is later that morning about 10:05 AM, when the Algol conjoins the Moon and is applying to Midheaven. In the first, the Moon is close enough to amplify the power of Algol – it’s not at 26 Taurus, but within a few degrees. In the second, the Moon’s position overlaps that of the star on the ecliptic – a precise conjunction. You will want to check the configuration in your own area.
When a star or planet is in conjunction with the Moon it’s often used for talismans, but can be called on to empower spells, prayers, and intentions too. Why? Many believe the lunar conjunction allows the power of the star or planet to manifest on Earth. Algol is known as one of the most powerful of the stars and good for protection work. It is a notoriously wicked star and the protection it offers is the hard kind, a fitting choice for this bitter season when the gloves are off in so many ways. If you want to read in stark terms what Algol meant to Renaissance esotericists, I strongly recommend Peter Mark Adams’ The Game of Saturn.
The Moon is waning June 18. That means it’s better for magic for removing problematic conditions than building things up, which is better to do under a waxing moon. I suggest using these elections for removing harm from black and brown skinned people who are targets of racism and anti-protest violence, and removal of 45 – destroying the possibility of re-election and making him a lame duck til the next president takes office. But feel free to use it as needed.
Good plants for incense or candle dressing in this work are Hellebore and Mugwort (but use it in a well ventilated area and do not breathe in Hellebore smoke!), and the stone is Diamond (I use inexpensive, uncut ones). A suitable invocation is the Orphic Hymn to Astron, using Algol as the star’s name (see the end of this blog for a version of the hymn to use as the invocation). I also recommend a black candle. But in a pinch, just the invocation and statement of intent at the time of either or both elections will do the trick.
“The Constellation Perseus”. Miniature from an illustrated copy of al-Sufi’s Kitab suwar al-kawakib (The Book of Fixed Stars) Iran; mid-15th century.
A very good, straightforward, and well sourced book on fixed star astrological magic is Christopher Warnock’s Fixed Star, Sign and Constellation Magic. If a fixed star or planetary election is new for you, I recommend having your altar/work area set up and your wish/intent or sigil ready by 10 minutes before the election and starting the work then (see below for step-by-step instructions). Ideally, you want to state your intention with emotion and conviction right at the minute of the election. If you had time in that 10 minutes you could repeat the Orphic Hymn invocation, etc. more than once, but state the intent right at 3:30 AM or 10:05 AM, depending on which time you’re using. Then when done, thank Algol. That’s it. If you have more elaborate things you do in your personal practice to start/close a ritual (temple opening/closing, banishing, energy raising…), as long as you get the timing right for the actual intent, by all means use them.
Calling the Demon Star Step-by-Step
What you’ll need: Algol invocation (see below) and a suitable wish or intention.
Note that these instructions can be followed for any suitable election, and adapted for use with any fixed star. An excellent and easy to use source is Warnock’s Fixed Star, Sign & Constellation Magic. It’s not only written in clear language, it quotes heavily from translations of the original grimoires the author consulted. The use of the Orphic Hymn to Astron for invocation is borrowed from Kaitlin Coppock at Sphere and Sundry.
Optional: Black candle (4″ temple chime candle will do), Mugwort, Hellebore, a hookah charcoal tablet to burn the plants as incense, Diamond (any kind – uncut, earring or ring, etc.), a suitable metal container for charcoal and incense, something to extinguish fire if an accident occurred, an image of Medusa, and the sigil of Algol (printouts of images from this blog will do).
Begin about 10 minutes before the election time. Have all ingredients you will use on hand and the images of Medusa and the sigil displayed on your altar or work area.
1) Light the candle and/or charcoal for burning Mugwort and/or Hellebore. If using it for incense, keep adding it as needed during the work. Dried Hellebore is not easy to find, Mugwort alone is less ideal but ok. If using Hellebore, do it in a well vented area. It’s toxic. In fact, Algol is a mischievous spirit and doing this outdoors is recommended.
2) For the invocation, read the Orphic Hymn to Astron substituting Algol for the star’s name (see below).
3) Watch the time and repeat the invocation until you reach the ritual moment (3:30 or 10:05 AM for Minneapolis/St. Paul), then state your intention. If you have your own wish or statement of intent in mind you can use that, or you can use what I propose: ask Algol to remove harm from targets of racism and anti-protest violence, and to remove 45 from office, destroying the possibility of his re-election and making him a lame duck til the next president takes office.
4) Briefly meditate on what you’ve accomplished, then thank Algol for working with you and safely extinguish the candle and incense. If you work both conjunctions, you can save what’s left of the candle after 3:30 AM to use for the 10:05 election.
Remember, you can also just do the invocation followed by your wish or statement of intent at the time of the election in step 3, but the other steps will help if you are able to do them. Algol’s sigil can also be carved into the candle with a pin before you begin.
Note on safety: If you choose to work with fire, whether a candle, incense, or charcoal, you do so at your own risk. As always, do it safely and be ready to extinguish any or all of them when you finish the work or if something accidentally catches fire. Don’t burn yourself!
Algol sigil.
Orphic Hymn to Astron, Adapted for the Algol Invocation
Translated by Thomas Taylor, 1792
With holy voice I call the star ALGOL on high, pure sacred lights and genii of the sky. Celestial star, the progeny of Night, in whirling circles beaming far your light, Refulgent rays around the heav’ns ye throw, eternal fires, the source of all below. With flames significant of Fate ye shine, and aptly rule for men a path divine. In seven bright zones ye run with wand’ring flames, and heaven and earth compose your lucid frames: With course unwearied, pure and fiery bright forever shining thro’ the veil of Night. Hail twinkling, joyful, ever wakeful fires! Propitious shine on all my just desires; These sacred rites regard with conscious rays, and end our works devoted to your praise.
The structure of this ritual is basic and similar to that in Agrippa and Warnock. It could potentially be adapted for use with any fixed star, with the appropriatesigil, incense, and colorof candle.
Sources
Adams, Peter Mark (2017). The Game of Saturn. Scarlet Imprint.
Agrippa, Heinrich Cornelius (1509-). Writings of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535). Digital editions by Joseph H. Peterson. http://www.esotericarchives.com/agrippa/index.html, accessed 16/06/2020
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