Book of Ceremonial Magic: Chapter II: The Initial Rites and Ceremonies: Section 1: Concerning the Virtues of the Planets

CHAPTER II

The Initial Rites and Ceremonies

§ 1. Concerning the Virtues of the Planets

THE Key of Solomon the King is the only ordinary Magical Ritual which regulates the operations of Magical Art in accordance with a formal attribution of certain hours in the day and night to the rule and influence of certain planets, while the Book of True Black Magic is the only Goëtic Grimoire which follows the Clavicle closely in this as in other respects. 1 The directions given are, however, exceedingly confused. The common attribution of the seven days to the seven planets obtains in both cases, and is set out in the Grimoire as follows: 2--

Solday	= Saturn	= ♄	= Saturday.
Zedex	= Jupiter	= ♃	= Thursday.
Madime	= Mars	= ♂	= Tuesday.
Zemen	= Sol	= ☉	= Sunday.
Hogos	= Venus	= ♀	= Friday.
Cocao	= Mercury	= ☿	= Wednesday.
Zeveac	= Moon	= ☽	= Monday.

 

But as there is inequality in the length of the days, says the Grimoire--that is to say, the comparative duration of day

1 The attribution accepted by all writers on Natural Magic, and corresponding with the angelical succession in Peter de Abano, will be found in the following:--

TABLE OF PLANETARY HOURS COMPUTED FROM MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT

HOURS OF THE DAY

	1.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.
2.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.
3.	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars
4.	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun
5.	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus
6.	Jup	Venus	Sat	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.
7.	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon
8.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.
9.	Venus	Sat	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.
10.	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars
11.	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun
12.	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus

 

HOURS OF THE NIGHT

1.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.
2.	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon
3.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup	Venus	Sat.
4.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.
5.	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars
6.	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun
7.	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus
8.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.
9.	Mars	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon
10.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup	Venus	Sat.
11.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc.	Jup.
12.	Merc.	Jup.	Venus	Sat.	Sun	Moon	Mars

 

It will be seen from this table that there is a recurring rule of the planets in unbroken succession through the whole week, after which the sequence recommences in the same order, each planet ruling the first and the eighth of the day hours and the third and the tenth of the night hours of the day referred to that planet. These constitute the planetary hours.

The Book of Black Magic, still following and confusing the statements of the Clavicle, 1 lays down that the hours of Saturn, Mars and Venus are good for communion with spirits; the hour of Saturn serves for invoking souls in hell, and to have news of those who have died naturally. The souls of those who have been slain should be invoked in the hour and also on the day of Mars. It adds that experiments made faithfully and with great diligence, observing all that is laid down, will be invariably verified, but to fail over the smallest part will void perfection in any.

The hours of Saturn and of Mars are also good for preparation, on those days when they are in conjunction with the Moon, or indeed with one another. 2 In a contrary or quadrate aspect

When the Moon is in conjunction with the Sun nothing must be undertaken, because it is an unfortunate time and all things fail therein; but when in its crescent period, acuated with light, any experiences may be prepared and any writings and operations accomplished, especially for conversing with spirits. It must, however, be the day of Mercury and in the hour of that planet, the Moon being in an earthly or aërial sign, as above said, and in a pair number with the Sun. 1

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Footnotes

150:1 It should be observed. however, that favourable days and hours are occasionally mentioned, but there is no attempt at a systematic valuation of the times and seasons suitable to different operations.

150:2 The apparently barbarous names given in the table are corruptions of Hebrew words, and the English editor of The Key of Solomon has restored their proper orthography, as follows: Shabbathai, Tzedek, Madim, Shemesh, Nogah, Cochab, Lebanah.

151:1 It offers no analogy with the system set forth in the Clavicle, nor can it be definitely traced to any magical authority within my knowledge.

152:1 In the version that follows, which condenses and summarises the original, there is an attempt to reduce them to order, and to make them consistent, if not intelligible.

152:2 The Key of Solomon says that the hours of Saturn and of Mars, and also the days in which the Moon is in conjunction with these planets, are admirable for experiments of hatred, enmity and discord. It will be seen in what sense this farrago of villainous nonsense can be regarded as on God's side, as its impossible English editor would doubtless wish us to believe.

153:1 The attribution in the original is throughout this portion not only erroneous, but seems to involve impossible positions. It has been corrected partially, in accordance with the Clavicle.