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Talisman of Discretion
Mar. 23rd, 2024 10:12 amTalisman of Discretion
Continuing my plan to turn my bones into natural magic talismans, I chose Mercury next.
The Plan
The Mercurial seal was prepared in a similar fashion to the Lunar seal. I heard an interesting anecdote that "seal" implies a symbol that blocks planetary energies. This was not my read on Agrippa. My understanding is that these symbols are "seals or characters" that embody the presence of the planetary influence in "natural" things. The planets are "sealed" into objects in a similar way to how souls are "sealed" into human bodies. Neither human bodies nor other natural things can exist without these subtle energies to support them.
I chose a more rectangular linear design for this seal. The layout of the seal is meant to reflect the transient nature of Mercurial energy. The energy shoots like an arrow from the sphere of Mercury, ricochets off the Terrestrial world, and flies back to the Mercurial realm via alternative path.
Again, I tied the planetary characters together using Greek letters. The character Υ (upsilon) represents the Mercurial sphere, the seals of Mercury are conduits for power from the Mercurial sphere, and the characters Θ, Ξ, Φ, and Χ represent elemental receptacles in the Terrestrial sphere in the center. I used green paint for the characters and chose to embellish the symbol of Earth to reflect the various ways Mercury can manifest.
For power sources, I "winged" it. I knew of a library nestled next to a forested trail. I wasn't sure what I wanted to collect, but figured I would use my senses and intuition to find items along the way. I'll admit I had visions of winged sandals in mind, so I secretly hoped to find a feather. Something told me to go in a certain direction and I just knew there had to be an eagle or raven's feather waiting to be found! Imagine my surprise when I turned the corner on the path and found a purple feather from a feather boa. This wouldn't be the last of Mercury's tricks.
I took the path to the forest behind the library. Along the way, I felt a particular pull down an unfortunately overgrown path towards a bog. Hidden among the dense forest I found a wall with random lettuce and onion peels strewn about. Not wanting to dally, I picked up some onion peels assuming these were what I was supposed to collect. However, on the way out a tree limb literally reached out and grabbed me! I took this to mean that I had erred. I returned to the site and carefully walked along the wall. At the apex, I found some vines had made a perfect triangle that pointed at a beautifully twisted vine just barely within my reach. This seemed like a Mercurial object!
Circling around the backside of the library, I exited the forest next to a wooden pedestrian bridge. Again, I felt a pull. I walked out onto the bridge and found a place where the railing was worn and splintered. I collected a splinter from the bridge. Finally, I made my way to the library entrance. It occurred to me that I had yet to honor Mercury's reputation as an acquisitions expert. I browsed the library shelves looking for an object I could misplace without drawing too much attention. I eventually found that a library card from one of the books had made its way into my pocket. With my items in-hand, I proceeded with the spell.
The Spell
I started by holding the sigil and explaining its purpose and function, as described above. I then negotiated a role for each of the physical objects. The vine would "find the path." The feather would "accelerate the transmission." The splinter would "bridge the gap," and the library card would "use discretion." Unlike with the Lunar Talisman, I would not use the Orphic Hymn to Hermes for this working. I found the Orphic Hymn to Hermes was a bit bland and not reflective of my personal relationship with these types of spirits. So I wrote my own incantation (though not without obvious inspiration).
For the incantation, I chose a three stanza format again and used the same gestures. The first stanza alludes to Hermes Chthonios and contains a double entendre that alludes to how your mouth can get you into trouble. The second stanza continues this theme. The last stanza specifies what I'm really after with a bit of tongue-in-cheek.
The Result
Again, I knew it had worked given the weight of the talisman. It was also cool to the touch. I performed a bit of "inspired" reading by letting the talisman guide me to a random page in Agrippa Book II. I landed on "Eight and its Scale," the chapter discussing the occult virtues between the corporeal world, the celestial world, and the notion of divine "justice." I re-read the chapter while holding the talisman. It occurred to me that there is an interesting rhyme between the balance of forces required to build the corporeal universe, the idea of "making someone whole" that has been wronged in some way, and the infernal rewards listed in the table at the end of this chapter. Agrippa also notes the relationship between the eight essential qualities of astrology and the elemental cycles embedded in the Orphic Hymns. It's an interesting application of elemental theory that could lend itself to both healing and hexing.
Ianvs
Continuing my plan to turn my bones into natural magic talismans, I chose Mercury next.
The Plan
The Mercurial seal was prepared in a similar fashion to the Lunar seal. I heard an interesting anecdote that "seal" implies a symbol that blocks planetary energies. This was not my read on Agrippa. My understanding is that these symbols are "seals or characters" that embody the presence of the planetary influence in "natural" things. The planets are "sealed" into objects in a similar way to how souls are "sealed" into human bodies. Neither human bodies nor other natural things can exist without these subtle energies to support them.
I chose a more rectangular linear design for this seal. The layout of the seal is meant to reflect the transient nature of Mercurial energy. The energy shoots like an arrow from the sphere of Mercury, ricochets off the Terrestrial world, and flies back to the Mercurial realm via alternative path.
Again, I tied the planetary characters together using Greek letters. The character Υ (upsilon) represents the Mercurial sphere, the seals of Mercury are conduits for power from the Mercurial sphere, and the characters Θ, Ξ, Φ, and Χ represent elemental receptacles in the Terrestrial sphere in the center. I used green paint for the characters and chose to embellish the symbol of Earth to reflect the various ways Mercury can manifest.
For power sources, I "winged" it. I knew of a library nestled next to a forested trail. I wasn't sure what I wanted to collect, but figured I would use my senses and intuition to find items along the way. I'll admit I had visions of winged sandals in mind, so I secretly hoped to find a feather. Something told me to go in a certain direction and I just knew there had to be an eagle or raven's feather waiting to be found! Imagine my surprise when I turned the corner on the path and found a purple feather from a feather boa. This wouldn't be the last of Mercury's tricks.
I took the path to the forest behind the library. Along the way, I felt a particular pull down an unfortunately overgrown path towards a bog. Hidden among the dense forest I found a wall with random lettuce and onion peels strewn about. Not wanting to dally, I picked up some onion peels assuming these were what I was supposed to collect. However, on the way out a tree limb literally reached out and grabbed me! I took this to mean that I had erred. I returned to the site and carefully walked along the wall. At the apex, I found some vines had made a perfect triangle that pointed at a beautifully twisted vine just barely within my reach. This seemed like a Mercurial object!
Circling around the backside of the library, I exited the forest next to a wooden pedestrian bridge. Again, I felt a pull. I walked out onto the bridge and found a place where the railing was worn and splintered. I collected a splinter from the bridge. Finally, I made my way to the library entrance. It occurred to me that I had yet to honor Mercury's reputation as an acquisitions expert. I browsed the library shelves looking for an object I could misplace without drawing too much attention. I eventually found that a library card from one of the books had made its way into my pocket. With my items in-hand, I proceeded with the spell.
The Spell
I started by holding the sigil and explaining its purpose and function, as described above. I then negotiated a role for each of the physical objects. The vine would "find the path." The feather would "accelerate the transmission." The splinter would "bridge the gap," and the library card would "use discretion." Unlike with the Lunar Talisman, I would not use the Orphic Hymn to Hermes for this working. I found the Orphic Hymn to Hermes was a bit bland and not reflective of my personal relationship with these types of spirits. So I wrote my own incantation (though not without obvious inspiration).
For the incantation, I chose a three stanza format again and used the same gestures. The first stanza alludes to Hermes Chthonios and contains a double entendre that alludes to how your mouth can get you into trouble. The second stanza continues this theme. The last stanza specifies what I'm really after with a bit of tongue-in-cheek.
Though sticks and stones,
can break your bones,
Words can spell "the death of me."
And if you find yourself asleep,
Words can rouse you with a Speech.
But should you die before you 'wake, then
Words will claim your soul to take.
Make sense the senseless,
And known the unknowable,
Connect the dots,
And bless the gullible.
After speaking the incantation, I left the talisman on the sigil until a stick of incense had completely burned.can break your bones,
Words can spell "the death of me."
And if you find yourself asleep,
Words can rouse you with a Speech.
But should you die before you 'wake, then
Words will claim your soul to take.
Make sense the senseless,
And known the unknowable,
Connect the dots,
And bless the gullible.
The Result
Again, I knew it had worked given the weight of the talisman. It was also cool to the touch. I performed a bit of "inspired" reading by letting the talisman guide me to a random page in Agrippa Book II. I landed on "Eight and its Scale," the chapter discussing the occult virtues between the corporeal world, the celestial world, and the notion of divine "justice." I re-read the chapter while holding the talisman. It occurred to me that there is an interesting rhyme between the balance of forces required to build the corporeal universe, the idea of "making someone whole" that has been wronged in some way, and the infernal rewards listed in the table at the end of this chapter. Agrippa also notes the relationship between the eight essential qualities of astrology and the elemental cycles embedded in the Orphic Hymns. It's an interesting application of elemental theory that could lend itself to both healing and hexing.
Ianvs