Great Mercury Talisman Time Coming Soon!, Jan 29th, 8:40am EST - Check Asc for your time Options

So, I've been doing a lot of astrological research lately and part of that has been astrological magic in general. With the success that I saw from my jupiter talisman, as well as a venus talisman for a friend of mine, I wanted to explore the classical astrological magic elements that I had not employed to their full potential with those two.

Agrippa writes of beneficial times to make various kinds of talismans, and that discussion leads to a series of writings regarding the fixed stars, the decanates, etc. This culminates in a particular kind of talismanic magic that involves searching for a particularly powerful time to make the talismans based largely on planetary dignity - how strong that particular planet is at the time that it's made.

I'm writing now, and here, because there is a beautiful conjunction coming soon involving mercury conjunct Regulus on the ascendent, at least in my part of the world. It will be in this conjunction for a couple of days, so it will be on the ascendant when mercury rises from july 28th through august 1st - although the more exact it is the better, and on the 29th it will be in the first decan of virgo which is an excellent placement.

Beyond this, mercury will be part of a grand trine between jupiter and pluto. This is an awesome configuration for the kind of talisman that will ensure your business endeavors will flourish effortlessly; of course a grand trine tends to engender laziness because of it's ease, so the key is to work hard in conjunction with this kind of talisman and not allow yourself to be lulled into that carelessness. I have a small supply of brass to work with and will be making a couple, one of which I intend to attach to my business, which is actually ruled by mercury, and in our chart mercury is in a really hard position, beset by both mars and saturn, both of which are in terribly malignant positions. Once saturn leaves its domicile in libra I intend to make a talisman during it's descent, or possibly this oct 31st when it conjuncts spica and while on the descent. More research is needed there.

The main benefit is in the conjunction of mercury, regulus, and the ascendant. The ascendant empowers a planetary influence, and the stars express their nature into the planet, and from these the planet expresses its empowered and modified influence to the rest of the chart at that time. If you've got anything, especially jupiter, at around 29Leo to 1Virgo making any positive aspects, this is a day that you probably want to make an investment, get a loan, or even play the lottery although it would be better while mercury transits the 2nd house in this case.

It's an experiment, and I intend to keep an ongoing update here because this is the first time that in making a talisman of this nature I have been so careful in picking the time. It's a long way off, but i've already got a Jupiter and Moon talisman on the books for May 04 of 2014 at 8am when Moon and Jupiter conjuct Spica, but we'll have to way a few years to see how that turns out.

As to the method, aside from the timing I am using the method outlined in imperial arts' Tablets of Destiny, with the addition of the images of the 1st decan of virgo and the image of Regulus, and the image of Mercury in virgo.

I encourage anyone else to try and do the same if you're able, mercury ascends in the early-ish hours all of these days, but it won't enter the first decan of Virgo - and to be conjunct Regulus it has to be within 1 degree traditionally, so at 0 degrees some minutes virgo - and the next time this happens will be september of next year when it will not be in nearly as strong a position, being oriental, combust by the sun or at least in the sun's beams, and making aspects to saturn and mars in their own domiciles. It takes away quite a bit of the dignity that this iteration will have.

If you do take advantage, let us know how it goes! I would love to compare notes on these kinds of particular operations.

peace

Uhh, in the line below the main topic you put 'Jan 29th.' You might want to fix that...

This opens up possibilities. Hmm. My 2nd house *is* Virgo, and I need some money (who doesn't?) like yesterday, so I should try something and see what pops out. Not sure exactly what to do, seeing as talismanic magic isn't my forte--hell, I've never tried it before so I've no idea what I'm doing--but I'm willing to give it a shot. Any ideas for a n00b in this field?

Agrippa writes of beneficial times to make various kinds of talismans, and that discussion leads to a series of writings regarding the fixed stars, the decanates, etc. This culminates in a particular kind of talismanic magic that involves searching for a particularly powerful time to make the talismans based largely on planetary dignity - how strong that particular planet is at the time that it's made.

I'm writing now, and here, because there is a beautiful conjunction coming soon involving mercury conjunct Regulus on the ascendent, at least in my part of the world. It will be in this conjunction for a couple of days, so it will be on the ascendant when mercury rises from july 28th through august 1st - although the more exact it is the better, and on the 29th it will be in the first decan of virgo which is an excellent placement.

As to the method, aside from the timing I am using the method outlined in imperial arts' Tablets of Destiny, with the addition of the images of the 1st decan of virgo and the image of Regulus, and the image of Mercury in virgo.

I have been trying to figure out Agrippa for years. Only recently tried a Jupiter talisman with mixed results. With your heads up I think I will try it again for mercury. I have a small used book shop that might take off.

If its not much trouble would you mind pointing me to where you did your research? Something that will make sense of Agrippa, or even a useful astrology book not for relationships would be much appreciated.

Uhh, in the line below the main topic you put 'Jan 29th.' You might want to fix that...

This opens up possibilities. Hmm. My 2nd house *is* Virgo, and I need some money (who doesn't?) like yesterday, so I should try something and see what pops out. Not sure exactly what to do, seeing as talismanic magic isn't my forte--hell, I've never tried it before so I've no idea what I'm doing--but I'm willing to give it a shot. Any ideas for a n00b in this field?

Whoops! I was looking at charts all day!

My method is as follows:

1. Find appropriate time. I keep a notebook with date notes on strong and weak times for most of the planets for the following few months - for the faster spheres the ups and downs are frequent, for the slower spheres they are far less so, but there is merit to times that certain things are happening like trines between inner and outer planets, etc. This part is taken care of in this instance.

2. Materials: I try to engrave on metals if I can, but the icon itself simply needs to be in resonance with the primary intention; symbols abound for each of the spheres, for mercury a scroll might be appropriate, a pen, or a figure modeled after one of the images itself - a man in a chair is one of the images of mercury in virgo, so a carving or image like this would be appropriate. In general, the icon should reflect the overall influence as a whole. In this case, i'm incorporating the images of a lion for Regulus, a Man in a Chair for Mercury in Virgo, and a Maid and Man sowing seeds for the first decan of virgo. For the relationships between Regulus, Mercury, Jupiter, and Pluto i will inscribe a sigil made up of the symbols for those elements. It is secondary to the overall focus, so I don't use the planetary images in these cases. Another way would be to, for instance, show a man with the head of a lion sitting in a chair sowing seeds.

That said, I'm also including the seal of mercury on the opposite side, along with the sign of the intelligence of mercury, as well as the celestial name over the chart for my business, as this is the intended recipient of the effect - this is found using agrippa's chaldean method referenced in his three books - the second book - determined by assigning letters to the planets based on their position in the chart, and ordered according to dignity.

Ultimately, I have used other talismans made during the day and hour but without reference to a specific chart, which were simply the metals engraved with the seal of the planet and consecrated appropriately. They were effective, but not as specific in their effect partially due to my own intention and partially due to a focus simply on a sphere's influence generally. In this case I would include at least the imagery of the sign and planet as well, because I want a very specific influence from mercury, on a very specific situation.

3. For consecration the base method is simple, I used it with the first Venus talisman I made and it did work fine, I got a small windfall of about 500 within a couple of weeks, entirely unexpected. However, when i made the jupiter talisman I broke out the psalms, the circle, the sword, exorcised the room, consecrated the space, exorcised and consecrated all of the tools from the candles, the incense, the altar, the materials, the engraving tool, the pot for the fire, and the coals. I then invoked the fire, invoked the sphere of Jupiter into the tool which is where I consecrated the tool to jupiter and stated my intention; then engraved the talisman and invoked spirit into the talisman through the name EL over the sphere of jupiter, then finally stored the talisman and closed the operation. I set the whole thing more or less up a few hours before and then spend those hours focusing on the intention of the task, performing ablutions, etc. For me it's not a religious thing, but a spiritual process.

Which parts of that are necessary for you I wouldn't guess. I can say that the images themselves which are not geometric, don't have to be works of sheer artistry. My figures are vaguely tribal in design, distinguishable enough to know what they are supposed to be, but not frameable work. I have been practicing drawing the figures to get the image simple enough to be easily engraved. And, you don't have to engrave them - you could draw the images in orange, or for that matter in colors correlating to all of the influences involved, or paint a picture, etc. What's important is just that the icon itself is made at the appropriate time, is created using consecrated tools not used for any other purpose besides magical work (you could buy a new paintbrush and consecrate it to this purpose.)

The essence of talisman magic is in these elements, however they are configured. You look at it as though you are creating a living thing, and the influences surrounding its creation are the spirit that you are imbuing in it. Just like you, it has a chart, and just like you it exudes the influence of that chart onto the world around it. It's the same principle, but whereas you are an organic form that varies from day to day, the talisman steadily applies its influence all the time.

THe wording of the consecrations is not super important - there are words in hebrew that you can find which correspond numerologically to the squares of the planets. One thing it is worthwhile to have in your mind, is the understanding that the seal of the planet is made from the process, roughly, of taking the numbers of the square of the planet's value - Mercury = 8 = 64 - and perfecting them so that you get a magic square. There are relationships between the geometric nature of the numbers and the seals that show how that perfection is achieved and thus the seal represents a pattern which perfects the emanation of that sphere. This is key to applying this magic effectively I believe, and making a connection internally with the work itself and how it achieves what it does. We're taking the influence of the planet as it is - whether dignified or in detriment - and restructuring it geometrically through the seal into its perfected expression, which is the joining of matter and spirit symbolically - thus, a talisman (matter) with a purpose and influence on the world (spirit).

Mmm, I can probably be more specific over all, but the best thing is to use your own personal symbolism as far as connection to higher powers, the spheres, etc., in writing any exorcisms or consecrations, if you choose to use them. I do because they are a part of the magic I practice in general, so I think subconsciously my spirit doesn't respond as powerfully when I don't use them. So that's just me.

There are several days until then so if you have other questions or if I can clarify anything, let me know!

peace

Right, so I got my self a sheet of brass for this working. I never could make a talisman before hand and concentrate it at the proper time, though others have said it will work just fine, so I took my brass and graver and made a talisman much as Vagrant described on the 29th around two o'clock. Not the best time I know but it was unavoidable. I followed the same basic method for making a Fu, because that is mostly what I work with. I did go a step further by using a mercurial anointing oil Imperial arts recommended, though. I spent some time before hand pulling the most prominent energy into my working space and then in to my tools on the hunch that any planet with high dignity would have a influence that is felt easier then others. I worked the brass while changeling the energy and with my intent on increasing my book sales. The image was a lion and a throned man watching over a field with seeds, I also included the planetary seal and a stylized book meant to represent my book business.

I have it on my alter at the moment. But plan to move it to a book case where I keep my for sale books. We will see how it works.

I used good old off-white Sculpey for mine. I used the image of a lion-headed man in a chair sowing seeds--he's got one hand in a bag in his lap and the other one is tossing seed. It's in profile because I can't draw worth a damn. :/ I put the seal, spirit, and intelligence of Mercury on the back. After I baked the clay, I filled in the lines of the drawing and seals with Quinacridone Red acrylic paint. It's a lovely orange-red colour that's a dead ringer for cinnabar. While I didn't perform the charging at the hour that Mercury rose, I've been charging it at the hours of Mercury with pale yellow candles and Shoyeido's Kyoto Moon--Abundance incense. I didn't realise it was so Mercurial until I read the ingredients list. It makes the house smell lovely too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

When I was making the seal, my cats had to come in and 'help.' They've made it a point to 'participate' in all these workings, too. Usually their idea of helping means hopping in my lap right at the high point of the ritual, but I don't mind. I figure if they want to add their energy to it, they're more than welcome to help. Just so long as they don't catch their fur on fire. That would suck. :/

I meditated on my intention on the 28th, made my seal at the first Mercury hour on the 29th (it was right around midnight IIRC), and have been charging it since. So far it seems to be working, though I'm not done yet and am not going to say it is for certain until I give it a few more days to incubate. So far:

*It looks like I'm going to sell some crap on Ebay I've been trying to get rid of for the last year or so. I've got bids, but the proof will be later today if/when I get paid.

*I got quite a bit of extra trade credit at my favourite used bookstore, completely out of the blue. I also was able to trade in some stuff that I wouldn't think they'd take, but I gave it a shot, and they did.

*The cashier at the Sanrio store (yeah I'm a grown woman. I love Hello Kitty. STFU) gave me a surprise 10% discount.

This is just in the last couple of days. I'll keep you guys posted on upcoming developments.

This post has been edited by Darkmage: Jul 31 2011, 12:35 PM

After completing my talisman, the energy in my clinic has shifted considerably - everyone seems to be communicating a little better with one another, and there is a palpable decrease in general tension here.

My partner and I were struck on sunday with a sudden desire to go over all the fine details of the business and see if we could identify points where we could make improvements, and had a brainstorming session that wouldn't stop - we eventually had to physically drag one another out of the building to make our personal appointments for that evening. We managed to delineate a much more effective budgeting system, figured out how to cut ourselves paychecks(!!) without floundering each week, planned our next marketing campaign (which we'll be electing astrologically to see if we can make a difference that way), and read our cards which gave us the inspiration to do all this and also indicated that it's possible the idea we had to alter our rates for services (relaxation and maintenance versus medical necessity) is a very good one.

I'm very curious to know from both of you around what location you guys are in, as I'd like to see the charts for the times you made your talismans and see if over time there will be any insight as to the possible influence of other astrological configurations might be - though mercury wouldn't have been on the ascendant, it would still have been in a really strong position but in different houses. At midnight it would have been (in EST) around the 6th house (using whole sign geocentric zodiac), and at 2(pm?) it would have been around the 11th house I think.

If this is right, then for Darkmage your developments kind of make wierd sense! Mercury in the 6th house specifically deals with service, employees, responsibilities of necessity, etc., which may not itself seem related - but its trine to jupiter in the 3rd (in taurus), might imply a series of sudden opportunities to acquire personal possessions. Your location alters where the houses fall, so that's based on my own time zone, if we're at relatively similar latitudes they'll be in roughly the same houses in the whole sign format (which is the oldest format and so far I have been able to tell the most accurate as well.)

For fatherjhon, my best guess with Mercury at the 11th/10th house cusp, would be that you may see a series of connections between whatever social groups you are involved with and relationships, possibly taking place on the backdrop of your local community? If the astrological influences play a powerful role in the utility of the talisman, you may gain some recognition in a local social group or whatever group of likeminded people you spend your time with, and maybe more generally (pluto in third house of the local community), and may receive some kind of communication about a dating opportunity (jupiter 7th house) - or possibly something less personal, could also bring that social recognition from a close friend...

Let me know how the developments go! I'm trying to weigh the effects of astrological talismans on intention versus configuration.

peace

I'm very curious to know from both of you around what location you guys are in, as I'd like to see the charts for the times you made your talismans and see if over time there will be any insight as to the possible influence of other astrological configurations might be - though mercury wouldn't have been on the ascendant, it would still have been in a really strong position but in different houses.

For fatherjhon, my best guess with Mercury at the 11th/10th house cusp, would be that you may see a series of connections between whatever social groups you are involved with and relationships, possibly taking place on the backdrop of your local community? If the astrological influences play a powerful role in the utility of the talisman, you may gain some recognition in a local social group or whatever group of like minded people you spend your time with, and maybe more generally (pluto in third house of the local community), and may receive some kind of communication about a dating opportunity (jupiter 7th house) - or possibly something less personal, could also bring that social recognition from a close friend...

Houses, right, I knew I forgot something. I was just looking at the aspects. Ah well, a date would be nice, as would recognition (perhaps as a seller of excellent old books?). So far the only effect is rather noticeable absence of background arguments around the my house; there are three generations living here and it is odd not to have someone bicker about something.

Here is the chart for the time I made the talisman.

I chose the time I started drawing the rough draft of the talisman as the beginning. It makes sense.

Anyway, here's the chart you asked for. I used the default Tropical format because you seem to like it better, Vagrant. TBH I've found sidereal works better and is more accurate, but to each their own. Hint: My Lat/Long is in my info box under my userpic. XD

(IMG:http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/Fixerkitty/astro_w2gw_02_mercury_talisman_hp743572601.gif)

The main side effect so far is my family is bitchier than usual. TBH, though, I'm not sure if it *is* really a side effect or the fact that Mom goes back to school on Wednesday after having the whole summer off work. She wants more vacation. :/

In any case, please share your learned opinions! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) This is my first real foray into talismanic magic, so I'd like to know how much is skill I've picked up from elsewhere versus good old beginner's luck. :/

This post has been edited by Darkmage: Aug 1 2011, 02:52 PM

In any case, please share your learned opinions! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) This is my first real foray into talismanic magic, so I'd like to know how much is skill I've picked up from elsewhere versus good old beginner's luck. :/

My first forays into talismanic magic took only the day and time into account for the planetary day and hour. Hit or miss, at the time. I started working with metals then, and hit or miss. When I started to see the main improvements was when I started to explore the nature of the seals themselves (symbolic numerological perfection of imperfect forces). The more specific I got about the purpose, the more pronounced were the effects after this. So that my jupiter talisman was pronounced, but I could have directed those energies towards other purposes when they arrived. I stuck with the business that I know. The venus talisman was specific to scratch-off tickets for a friend of mine - interestingly, friday seems to be the luckiest day for her.

I did the venus talisman with venus on the ascendent but with no regard for it's relationship to anything else, it's placement, etc. I think it was in aquarius. This is the first talisman where I have taken into account the related configurations, and tried to elect a time specific to my purposes based on the placement of the relevant spheres.

This time, for my own talisman, I wanted to be very specific, and affect the reception of our marketing. We'll elect a time for that marketing as well. As it happens, the other quickening of intellectual energies towards better organizing our business was coincidentally very soon after the talisman was created, but in this case I'm willing to concede that in making the talisman, doing our house blessing work, etc. all on the same weekend, we were more than likely mentally preoccupied with it's functioning and success already. Trines don't make things happen, they create synergy amidst which things happen easily when you apply a little force. So, this isn't going to be the kind of talisman than causes things to happen in a vacuum (I'm going to experiment with a venus/jupiter square when it comes around again though), it's the sort that makes what you actually put effort into be worthwhile and makes it 'easy' for you to reason out what kind of effort you should be applying. The easy aspect with pluto is helpful mostly in that it keeps the tension from pluto minimal. The jury is still out on what effect, if any, pluto ever has on a day to day basis, and whether that influence matters unless it's in a partile major aspect. Still, having it involved in a trine is basically a non-issue unless it simply allows for a synergy between intellect, the unconscious, and responsibilities/authority.

Using the charts given (I use whole sign house system as well, but I am still sussing out just where these things actually play out and how), I would expect darkmage to be able to make significant career advancements if the intellect is applied toward ways that service, employees, or health might be used to achieve those advancements. As the unconscious influence comes from the 2nd house, unconscious values will be more easily accessible as well, and are likely to express themselves in your ruminations. If the ascendent matters, the sextile to mars plays into it possibly granting creative energy to the endeavor, which is to say, if you reach for it you will have access to it, and it will be of an intellectual nature.

For Fatherjhon, basically the same thing applies using the same house system. I haven't really explored the relationship between the natal chart and the election for talismans - for me, mercury is stronger in my chart than any other sphere. But, it's possible that it plays a role. Agrippa suggests a system of fortunating unfortunate planets in the chart to create beneficial effects - mercury doesn't get a whole lot more fortunate than it is in this chart (except being on the ascendent, but it's in an angular house at least), so even with a fairly malefic mercury it is theoretically improved here.

So, start brainstorming about what you can do to get ahead in life career wise, you might be surprised what notions come to mind! Also keep in mind that with trines, you have to access the energy or 'plug in' to that circuit as it were. Until we launch our next marketing endeavor, we won't get much of anything out of ours in the way of improved business. Mercury is a fast moving planet, faster when aspected by Jupiter and getting faster over time in an applying aspect, so when you do have that epiphany, act on it and expect things to unfold quickly.

We'll see!

peace

For Fatherjhon, basically the same thing applies using the same house system. I haven't really explored the relationship between the natal chart and the election for talismans - for me, mercury is stronger in my chart than any other sphere. But, it's possible that it plays a role. Agrippa suggests a system of fortunating unfortunate planets in the chart to create beneficial effects - mercury doesn't get a whole lot more fortunate than it is in this chart (except being on the ascendent, but it's in an angular house at least), so even with a fairly malefic mercury it is theoretically improved here.

I'm slightly confused now. Is it the placement of planets, the dignity, or the intent that this talisman is using. I was assuming dignity from your first post. But now it sounds like all three and your natal chart all play a role. I know that the best time was when it was properly placed with regulus, but i was under the impression that any time Mercury was dignified it indicated a good placement for a talisman.

I sold two items off Ebay in as many days. Seeing as I haven't sold anything for the last two *months,* this is a nice change indeed. Let's see if it continues!

I'll post any further developments as they occur. Now--off to clean out my closet further and list more crap!

I'm slightly confused now. Is it the placement of planets, the dignity, or the intent that this talisman is using. I was assuming dignity from your first post. But now it sounds like all three and your natal chart all play a role. I know that the best time was when it was properly placed with regulus, but i was under the impression that any time Mercury was dignified it indicated a good placement for a talisman.

Following agrippa strictly, the best time is when the influence in question is on the ascendent, which is to say, when it is rising in the sky. Conversely its also understood that when the star is descending you don't use the influence for fortunate or benefic means. This means, basically, that the star in question shouldn't have passed the midheaven.

The way it has worked for me is a combination of all of these things. The intention behind the talisman determines the end result; the placement determines how and where the intention will be carried out to achieve that result; the planet itself determines on what plane this takes place primarily (with the related harmonies and stressors creating supporting currents on other planes); and the dignity of the star at the time determines how much power the star has to work with.

Being conjunct to the ascendent or midheaven gives a star a unique kind of dignity - regardless of the sign the ascendent falls in, for instance, the planet on the ascendent rules the chart. Similarly, regardless of the sign or house the mideaven falls in (not always the tenth using different house systems) the planet conjoined to the midheaven gains specific power over that aspect of the chart.

In the native's chart, hypothetically the strength of the star in the natal chart allows greater or lesser influence over the application of the star in question. This assumes of course, that the nativity plays a role, which is not entirely made clear in the text - but follows the same kind of logic assessed in transitory influences (transiting mercury making an aspect to natal mercury, for instance.)

So it is a bit confusing just in general - there are a lot of influences at work, and finding the right time and direction to apply them requires a lot of consideration. The reason this particular placement of mercury is so, for lack of a better word, 'safe', is that it has virtually every degree of dignity that it can have in one placement, and cannot help but be a beneficial influence, except perhaps when conjoined to the descendent.

Astrologically speaking, yes, anytime mercury is so dignified is basically a good time for making a mercury talisman. The question that arises in the subject, is when the proper time is to make the talisman within that period of dignity to achieve the most efficient application of magic towards the intended outcome. So although making the talisman at 2pm when mercury is placed in the 11th or 10th house (placing the connected stars then in other houses accordingly) will still apply almost the same degree of dignity towards the outcome, the path that it takes to get there is not the same as being on the ascendent.

I believe that the choice to attach mercury to the ascendent may be in part that it therefore is connected to the placement (control) of the other house cusps, and therefore symbolically impresses or utilizes its influence over all of the houses (hence the planet on the ascendent governs the chart).

Because our talismans were made under slightly different conditions, and the intention may not have been precisely the same, all we can do is keep the record and pay attnetion to the different ways that things play out. The value of this kind of magic is that it's application towards change is fairly narrow - the delineation of the planets involved target specific qualities and places, initiating specific and focused currents in order to achieve an end. So, we can expect to identify more easily where those influences are present and ahving an effect, versus the need in many other kinds of magic to over generalize the means leading to the end, not knowing where to look for developments, or the circumstances under which they have to operate. With this configuration, you see a harmonic flow of energy, in which obstacles to motion are less hindered - therefore doing nothing will produce little, but applying some force to a situation yields much.

That's the best i can really do by way of a more complete explanation, and it's a combination of experience and study. With my own talisman I was far more specific and calculated than I normally am with this kind of magic, and so far I can see very specific developments - we contacted one new venue for marketing, and she forwarded us to four other venues, which all have made us excellent offers in terms of rates. Very little effort, large response. What I expect is to apply, again, some small degree of effort into these venues, and recieve a greater response than th effort would, in most other circumstances, yield. The next attempt of this nature will involve more stressful aspects, as I would like to compare the results - it is suggested that squares, for instance, and in some cases oppositions, produce changes, whereas trines and sextiles must be taken advantage of directly to be of benefit. That will be sometime off though, i think.

peace