The Golden Dawn

by Israel Regardie

  44. Note by JMG: See color insert, page 14.

  45. Note by JMG: See Rose Cross Ritual paper on page 388.

  46. Note by Regardie: This is a precis of the document numbered “M”—Lecture on the Lineal Forms of the Names of the Sephiroth.

  TALISMANS AND SIGILS

  There are innumerable methods of forming sigils for use in connection with talismans and their construction. One method, using the rose of the Zelator Adeptus Minor, has previously been described. In the Order this was the method most often used. Herein will be found methods of forming talismanic emblems and sigils from the kameas of the planets, or their magical squares, and also from the geomantic points and symbols.

  So far as the geomantic symbols are concerned, the student will do well to become acquainted with the instruction on geomancy in the section on divination.47 After having become fully acquainted with the names of the symbols and their forms, as well as having obtained some experience of divination by that method, let him note that geomantic sigils or talismanic emblems, as they are sometimes called, are formed from the geomantic figures by drawing various lines from point to point. These characters are then attributed to their ruling planets and ideas. The simplest form of each will be found in the diagram below.

  Geomantic Sigils

  Innumerable more sigils, and a host of other designs, may be formed from the fundamental geomantic symbols. As many as ten or a dozen different emblems may be derived from two or three of the symbols. If the student uses a little ingenuity and imagination in this matter, he will discover quite a lot as to the nature and import of sigils. The significance of the emblems may be divined, from one point of view, by employing them as “doors” through which to skry in the spirit vision. More can be learned this way concerning the real implication of sigils than almost by any other method.

  The signatures and seals of the angels and genii who rule over each of the symbols may be found in the full instruction on geomancy. Those seals and sigils are highly important, and some place should be found for them on the talisman.

  The student should make a number of experiments drawing harmonious and balanced talismans, even when it is not his intention to use and consecrate them. After drawing a half a dozen rough sketches, he will almost as though by accident stumble upon the “knack” of drawing the “right” kind of talisman. In the Key of King Solomon, translated by McGregor Mathers, may be found samples of about forty different types of talismans attributed to the planets. These should be consulted, for they will convey quite a little as to how symbols should be drawn. But they should not be followed or copied. Talismans should be personal things, made for personal ends, and based upon individual needs and conceptions.

  The following important characters—letters of the angelic or Enochian alphabet—are attributed to the seven rulers in the twelve signs and the sixteen figures in geomancy.

  Signifies Muriel and Populus, a figure of Chasmodai or Luna in Cancer increasing.

  Signifies Muriel and Via, a figure of Chasmodai and Luna in Cancer decreasing.

  Signifies Verchiel or Fortuna Major, a figure of Sorath or the sun in northern declination.

  Signifies Verchiel or Fortuna Minor, a figure of Sorath or the sun in southern declination.

  Signifies Hamaliel or Conjunctio, a figure of Taphthartharath or Mercury in Virgo.

  Signifies Zuriel or Puella, a figure of Kedemel or Venus in Libra.

  Signifies Barchiel or Rubeus, a figure of Bartzabel or Mars in Scorpio.

  Signifies Advachiel or Acquisitio, a figure of Hismael or Jupiter in Sagittarius.

  Signifies Hanael or Career, a figure of Zazel or Saturn in Capricorn.

  Signifies Cambriel or Tristitia, a figure of Zazel or Saturn in Aquarius.

  Signifies Amnitzel or Laetitia, a figure of Hismael or Jupiter in Pisces.

  Signifies Zazel and Bartzabel in all their ideals, being Cauda Draconis.

  Signifies Hismael and Kedemel in all their ideas, being a figure of Caput Draconis.

  Signifies Melchidael or Puer, a figure of Bartzabel or Mars in Aries.

  Signifies Asmodel and Amissio, a figure of Kedemel or Venus in Taurus.

  Signifies Ambriel or Albus, a figure of Taphthartharath or Mercury in Gemini.48

  A mode of using the talismanic forms drawn from the geomantic figures is to take those yielded by the figures under the planet required and to place them at opposite ends of a wheel of eight radii as shown below. A versicle suitable to the matter may then be written within the double circle. Occasionally, a square of any convenient number of compartments may be substituted for the wheel or one form may be used for the obverse and the other for the reverse of the talisman.

  Geomantic Talismans

  Another very important mode of forming sigils anciently was through the medium of the kameas of the planets, or the magical squares. Magical squares are arrangements of numbers so arranged as to yield the same number when added horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Also the sum of the total of all the numbers in the square is a number of special significance to the planet to which that square is referred.

  The method of forming sigils from these is very simple. The knowledge of how this was done, however, had, during the time of my membership in the Order, completely faded from memory, and none of the members or the chiefs of the temple could give any information. Yet this was the principal method employed by the traditional authorities in obtaining sigils. The method of using the Rose Cross is an anachronism, and while in certain instances it is very useful or perhaps the most convenient mode, it has no root in antiquity. Not only had the knowledge of sigils from the kameas faded from the order, but the chiefs even eliminated the magical squares from the knowledge lectures. It was claimed that a number of mistakes had crept into the numbers on the squares. Had they known it, the method and the correct form of the squares were in certain books and manuscripts in the British Museum. None of them, however, made the least attempt to recover the true or accurate form of the kameas.

  The sole requisite to tracing sigils of the planetary names formed from the kameas is Aiq Beker, or the Qabalah of Nine Chambers. (Incidentally, this too was eliminated from the knowledge lectures.) By this method, the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are grouped together according to the similarity of their numbers. Thus in one chamber, Gimel, Lamed, and Shin are placed; their numbers are similar—3, 30, and 300. The same rule applies to the others. The name of the method obtains from the letters placed in the first two chambers. In the first chamber are Aleph, Yod, and Qoph, whose numbers are 1, 10, and 100, while in the second chamber are Beth, Caph, Resh—2, 20, and 200—thus Aiq Bkr. The usual form is given below; while there is another method of using the same grouping of letters and numbers but placing them in chambers referred to the Sephiroth.

  300

  600

  900

  30

  60

  90

  3

  6

  9

  200

  500

  800

  20

  50

  80

  2

  5

  8

  100

  400

  700

  10

  40

  70

  1

  4

  7

  Now in order to find the sigil of a name by using the kamea, it is necessary to reduce those letters and their numbers to tens or units by means of the above quoted scheme. For example, in the case, say, of Zazel, the spirit of Saturn, the letters are Zayin seven, Aleph one, Zayin seven, and Lamed thirty. The only letter which requires reduction in this instance will be Lamed which reduces to three. The next step is to trace a line on the square following the succession of numbers. Thus, in the name of Zazel, the line will follow the numbers seven, one, return to seven again, and then to three. A little circle should be placed on the first letter of the sigil to show where the name begins.

  The so-called sea
l or sigil of the planet is a symmetrical design so arranged that its lines pass through every number on the square. The seal thus becomes an epitome or synthesis of the kamea.

  Below are given the kameas of the seven planets together with the traditional seals of their planets, intelligences, and spirits. The student will do well to attempt to work these out himself. I shall give one more example of a more difficult kind, in order that no misunderstanding may exist about the method of sigil formation.

  The name Taphthartharath is the spirit of Mercury, and his sigil would be traced upon the magical square having sixty-four squares, eight on each side. The attribution of squares to planets follows the attribution of the Sephiroth on the Tree of Life; thus Mercury is referred to the eighth Sephirah Hod. Now Taphthartharath is composed of seven letters, Tau 400, Peh 80, Tau 400, Resh 200, Tau 400, Resh 200, and Tau 400. This will reduce by Aiq Beker to 40, 8, 40, 20, 40, 20, 40. A continuous line will be traced beginning with a circle in the square of 40, and moving to each of the numbers quoted. All the other sigils follow this same rule.

  There are also appended the sigils and attributions of the Olympic planetary spirits. Nothing was known in the Order about them, and they too were extirpated from the papers. More information may be found in the Heptameron of Pietro de Abano. These sigils should be used for skrying as a means of acquiring knowledge as to their nature, using the appropriate planetary divine names.

  ARATHOR

  BETHOR

  PHALEGH

  OCH

  HAGITH

  OPHIEL

  PHUL

  Sigils of the Olympic Spirits

  So far as concerns the foregoing sigils, tradition has it that the spirits are evil, the intelligences good. The seals and names of the intelligences should be used on all talismans for a good effect. Those of the spirits of the planets serve for evil, and should therefore not be used in any operation of a beneficial kind. The tradition however implies usually by an evil force, such as the spirits of the planets, a blind force, which contrary to popular notion can be used to good and beneficial ends when employed under the presidency of their immediate superiors, the good intelligences. Thus to make use of, when it is absolutely necessary to do so, the sigils of the spirits, the seals and names of the intelligences should be inscribed on the same talisman as well.

  In addition to the seals, sigils, and emblems, it is customary to inscribe on talismans and pentacles the appropriate lineal figures. In the formation of a magical talisman or pentacle, consider first of all under what planet, sign, or element the matter falls. The next step is to collect all the names of the Sephirah to which it is attributed, as well as those of its archangels, angels, intelligences, etc. Also the seals, sigils, numbers, lineal figures, geomantic characters, etc., thereto belonging. Then, with all this material before you, classify and arrange.

  The following notes are an abridged version of “Polygons and Polygrams,” a highly illuminating document circulated in the Outer Order. It should be closely studied, for it throws great light not only on the matter of lineal figures but on the whole abstruse number philosophy of the Qabalah.

  [contents]

  47. Note by JMG: See the lectures on GEOMANCY.

  48. Note by JMG: The titles and sound values of the Enochian letters may be found on page 808–809.

  POLYGONS AND POLYGRAMS

  The point within the circle represents the operation of Kether in general, and the cross within the circle that of Chokmah, for therein are the roots of wisdom. In using these lineal figures in the formation of talismans under the Sephiroth, remember that:

  The point within the circle = Kether

  The cross within the circle = Chokmah

  The triangle within the circle = Binah

  The square within the circle = Chesed

  and that the remaining Sephiroth should have the double, treble, or quadruple forms of their lineal figures bound together in their talismans. For example, in the heptangle for Netzach, the heptagon and the two forms of the heptagram should be united in the same talisman, the extremities of the angles coinciding.

  The endekangle is attributed to the Qlippoth, the dodekangle to zodiacal forces in Malkuth. Kether hath the Primum Mobile, Chokmah the sphere of the zodiac in command, and Malkuth that of the elements.

  And many other meanings are bound together in the lineal figures besides those which are given in this book. Two or more different lineal figures may be bound together in the same talisman.

  Triangle

  The triangle is the only lineal figure into which all surfaces can be reduced, for every polygon can be divided into triangles by drawing lines from its angles to its centre; and the triangle is the first and simplest of all lineal figures. It refers to the triad operating in all things, to the three supernal Sephiroth and to Binah, the third Sephirah, in particular.

  Among the planets it is especially referred to Saturn, and among the elements to fire, and, as the colour of Saturn is black, and that of fire red, the black triangle will represent Saturn, and the red, fire. The three angles also symbolize the three alchemical principles of nature: salt, sulphur, and mercury.

  Square

  The square is an important lineal figure, which naturally represents stability and equation. It includes the idea of surface and superficial measurement. It refers to the quaternary in all things, and to the tetrad of the holy name YHVH operating through the four elements of fire, water, air, and earth. It is allotted to Chesed, the fourth Sephirah, and among the planets to Jupiter. And as representing the four elements, it represents their ultimation in the material form.

  Pentagon and Pentagram

  The pentangle can be traced in two ways: reflected from every second point, when it is called the pentagon, and reflected from every third point when it is called the pentagram. The pentangle as a whole is referred to the fifth Sephirah, Geburah. The pentagon naturally represents the power of the pentad, operating in nature by the dispersal of the spirit and the four elements through it.

  The pentagram with a single point upwards is called the “sign of the microcosm,” and is a good symbol, representing man with his arms and legs extended adoring his Creator, and especially the dominion of the spirit over the four elements, and consequently of reason over matter. But with the single point downwards it is a very evil symbol: the head of the goat, or demon’s head, representing the abasement of reason beneath the blind forces of matter, the elevation of anarchy above order, and of conflicting forces driven by chance above God.

  It represents the concentrated force of the spirit and the four elements governed by the five letters of the name of the restorer of all things YHShVH, and it is especially attributed to the planet Mars. It also shows the Kerubim and the wheel of the spirit. It is a symbol of tremendous force, and of Heh, the letter of the great supernal mother AIMA.

  Hexagon and Hexagram

  The hexangle can be traced in two ways as a complete symbol: viz, reflected from every second point, when it is called the hexagon, and reflected from every third point when it is called the hexagram. The hexangle as a whole is referred to the sixth Sephirah Tiphareth. The hexangle naturally represents the powers of the hexad operating in nature, by the dispersal of the rays of the planets, and of the zodiac emanating from the sun. The number of degrees of a great circle cut off between its angles is sixty, forming the astrological sextile aspect, powerful for good. It is not so consonant to the sun nature as the hexagram, and remember thou, that the ’gon signifieth dispersion, distribution, and radiation of a force; but the ’gram concentration. Hence use thou the ’gon for spreading, and the ’gram for concentration and sealing; and when there is need, thou canst compare, interpose, and combine them; but the ’gon initiateth the whirl.

  The hexagram with a single point uppermost is called the “sign of the macrocosm,” or greater world, because its six angles fitly represent the six days or periods of creation evolved from the manifestation of the Triune; while its synthesis forms th
e seventh day, a period of rest, summed up in the hexagonal centre.