You will also want to burn incense. Each planetary ritual lists the more easily available incense appropriate to the planet, though you can also use as incense the plants and herbs ruled by the planet, which are listed in Chapters 15 and 16 , or the planetary incense listed in Chapter 18. You can use incense sticks or the actual raw incense. If you use raw incense you will need to burn it on special charcoal and you will also need an incense burner. Place it on a plate and be careful about touching the incense burner or leaving the charcoal burning unattended as it will get hot and is a definite fire hazard.
In preparation for your ritual have your altar space and materials ready and handy. For your paper talisman, you can use a color version of the image or color in a black and white image. Black and white and color planetary images can be ordered from the astrological talisman page at my website Renaissance Astrology, www.renaissanceastrology.com or you can simply find a suitable image or design online or from other sources. At the elected time, i.e., the appropriate planetary hour (and day if possible) prepare the candles or light the prepared candles and incense. Put on your planetary colored clothing, if desired. Color in a black and white planetary image while meditating on it and add your name or the name of the person(s) you wish to affect and your goals. For a color image you can just add your name or the name of the person(s) you wish to affect and your goals.
Then invoke the planet, calling upon it. The various Hymns of Orpheus for invoking the planets are provided on the planetary ritual pages. The Renaissance sage Pico della Mirandola says, "Nothing is more effective in natural magic than the Orphic Hymns;" While invoking the planet, move the colored talisman image back and forth through the smoke of the incense. This is know as suffumigation. Next meditate on the image of the planet as the emblem of its qualities and the embodiment of its virtues. Realize that the planet within you is connected to everything in the Material World with its qualities as well as the Celestial World and the Divine Ideas it incarnates. Then visualize the successful achievement of your goals. Do your best to let go of any worry or tension during this process; cultivate a calm confidence in the ritual and in your own magical powers.
For maximum power you should repeat this ritual of lighting incense and candles, invoking the planet, suffumigation, meditation and visualization for the appropriate number of days in a row, each time at the appropriate planetary hour. After you finish the multiple day ritual you can fold up the planetary image and carry it with you (in your wallet or purse is a good place) or keep it in the place where you wish the effect to manifest. Paper talismans seem to last about one to three months.
Chapter 7: Planetary Ritual Pages
A separate planetary ritual page is provided for each planet. Each page has complete ritual instructions listing suggested incense, colors for candles, altar cloth and clothing and appropriate numbers for each planet, used for picking the appropriate number of candles, and Orphic hymns to invoke each planet.
Also included are images for each planet by the noted contemporary esoteric artist and mage Nigel Jackson, who created the images from the descriptions provided in Cornelius Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy and Picatrix. You can order a set of downloadable color and black and white talisman images from the Renaissance Astrology website renaissanceastrology.com on the Astrological Talisman page.
These rituals are suggestions; readers should feel free to experiment and to add in ritual from the magical traditions in which they work.
Chapter 8: Saturn
Saturn Ritual
(1) Preparations beforehand:
Get some candles and incense. Black candles are appropriate for Saturn. For incense, traditionally bad smelling incense was used for Saturn, but this doesn’t appeal to me! I use pine. The numbers of Saturn are 3 or 9 according to Cornelius Agrippa.
Set up an altar. I use a piece of black cloth that is about 10" x 24." Paper is fine, too. First set up the incense burner, then the candles (in holders or melted a little on the bottom and stuck to a plate) and have the Saturn image ready.
(2) On a Saturday (Saturn day) at dawn (Saturn hour)
(A) Light the candles and incense.
(B) Create the Saturn talisman image adding your name or the name of the person(s) you wish to affect and your goal.
(C) Move the Saturn talisman image back and forth through the rising smoke of the incense and recite the Hymn to Saturn:
THE ORPHIC HYMN TO SATURN
ETHERIAL father, mighty Titan, hear,
Great fire of Gods and men, whom all revere:
Endu'd with various council, pure and strong,
To whom perfection and decrease belong.
Consum'd by thee all forms that hourly die,
Cronos as Lord of Time
By thee restor'd, their former place supply;
The world immense in everlasting chains,
Strong and ineffable thy pow'r contains
Father of vast eternity, divine,
O mighty Saturn, various speech is thine:
Blossom of earth and of the starry skies,
Husband of Rhea, and Prometheus wife.
Obstetric Nature, venerable root,
From which the various forms of being shoot;
No parts peculiar can thy pow'r enclose,
Diffus'd thro' all, from which the world arose,
O, best of beings, of a subtle mind,
Propitious hear to holy pray'rs inclin'd;
The sacred rites benevolent attend,
And grant a blameless life, a blessed end.
(E) As you move the talisman back and forth through the smoke of the incense meditate on the Saturn talisman image. This is the embodiment of long life, stability, determination, discipline and deep and esoteric wisdom. Respectfully ask for Saturn’s assistance. Meditate for about 10-15 minutes.
(3) Repeat the above ritual, starting on a Saturday (Saturn day) at Saturn hour for the next 2 or 8 days, for a total of 3 or 9 days. At dawn or at least in the morning repeat the lighting of the candles and incense, prayer, meditation and visualization. On the last day, let the candles burn all the way down, if possible. (No matter what the magical effect I never leave candles unattended).
(4) Place the colored-in talisman in the place where you wish to have the effects manifest.
Chapter 9: Jupiter
Jupiter Ritual
(1) Preparations beforehand:
Get some candles and incense. Gold, purple or yellow candles are nice for Jupiter, but white is fine, too. For incense, aloe wood (not the aloe vera that is used as a salve) is good, but any prosperity, good fortune or just pleasant smelling incense is fine. As for the number of candles, four is best but one white candle is okay.
Set up an altar. I use a piece of gold cloth that is about 10" x 24." You could use purple or yellow as well as gold. Paper is fine, too. First set up the incense burner, then the candles (in holders or melted a little on the bottom and stuck to a plate). Make a copy of the Jupiter talisman image.
(2) On a Thursday (Jupiter day) at dawn (Jupiter hour)
(A) Light the candles and incense.
(B) Create the Jupiter talisman image adding your name or the name of the person(s) you wish to affect and your goal.
(C) Move the Jupiter talisman image back and forth through the rising smoke of the incense and recite the Hymn to Jupiter:
THE ORPHIC HYMN TO JUPITER
O Jove, much-honour'd, Jove supremely great,
To thee our holy rites we consecrate,
Our pray'rs and expiations, king divine,
For all things to produce with ease thro' mind is thine.
Hence mother Earth and mountains swelling high
Proceed from thee, the deep and all within the sky.
Saturnian king, descending from above,
Magnanimous, commanding, sceptred Jove;
All-parent, principle and end of all,
Whose pow'r almighty shakes this earthly ball;
Ev'n Nature trembles
at thy mighty nod,
Loud-sounding, arm'd with light'ning, thund'ring God.
Source of abundance, purifying king,
O various-form'd, from whom all natures spring;
Propitious hear my pray'r, give blameless health,
With peace divine, and necessary wealth.
(E) Meditate on the Jupiter talisman image. This is the embodiment of wealth, prosperity, good fortune, justice, temperance and reason. Then visualize the achievement of your goal. Meditate for about 10-15 minutes.
(3) Repeat the above ritual at Jupiter hour for the next 3 days, for a total of 4 days.
(A) On the last day, let the candles burn all the way down, if possible. (No matter what the magical effect I never leave candles unattended).
(B) Place the talisman image where you wish the effect to manifest.
Chapter 10: Mars
Mars Ritual
(1) Preparations beforehand:
Get some candles and incense. Red candles are best. For incense, use aloe wood, frankincense, dragon's blood, myrrh, or hot pepper (be careful not to get hot pepper smoke in your eyes). As for the number of candles, five is best but one red candle is okay.
Set up an altar. I use a piece of red cloth that is about 10" x 24." Paper is fine, too. First set up the incense burner, then the candles (in holders or melted a little on the bottom and stuck to a plate) and have a copy of the Mars image available.
(2) On a Tuesday(Mars day) at dawn (Mars hour)
(A) Light the candles and incense.
(B) Create the Mars talisman image adding your name or the name of the person(s) you wish to affect and your goal.
(C) Move the Mars talisman image back and forth through the rising smoke of the incense and recite the Hymn to Mars:
THE ORPHIC HYMN TO MARS
Magnanimous, unconquer'd, boistrous Mars,
In darts rejoicing, and in bloody wars
Mars as Lord of War
Fierce and untam'd, whose mighty pow'r can make
The strongest walls from their foundations shake:
Mortal destroying king, defil'd with gore,
Pleas'd with war's dreadful and tumultuous roar:
Thee, human blood, and swords, and spears delight,
And the dire ruin of mad savage fight.
Stay, furious contests, and avenging strife,
Whose works with woe, embitter human life;
To lovely Venus, and to Bacchus yield,
To Ceres give the weapons of the field;
Encourage peace, to gentle works inclin'd,
And give abundance, with benignant mind.
(E) Meditate on the Mars talisman image. This is the embodiment of power, success, determination and achievement. Then visualize the achievement of your goal. Meditate for about 10-15 minutes.
(3) Repeat the above ritual at Mars hour for the next 4 for a total of 5 days.
(A) On the last day, let the candles burn all the way down, if possible. (No matter what the magical effect I never leave candles unattended).
(B) Put the Mars talisman image in the place where you wish the effect to manifest.
Chapter 11: the Sun
Sun Ritual
(1) Preparations beforehand:
Get some candles and incense. Gold, orange or yellow candles are nice, but white is fine. For incense, frankincense is good, but any prosperity, good fortune or just pleasant smelling incense is fine. Six is the number of the Sun, according to Agrippa, so use six candles, although one white candle is acceptable, too. Set up an altar. I use a piece of yellow cloth that is about 10" x 24" You could use orange or gold as well as yellow. Paper is fine, too. First set up the incense burner, then the candles (in holders or melted a little on the bottom and stuck to a plate) and have a copy of the Sun image available.
(2) At Sunday at Sunrise:
(A) Light the candles and incense.
(B) Create the Sun talisman image adding your name or the name of the person(s) you wish to affect and your goal.
(C) Move the finished Sun talisman image back and forth through the smoke of the incense and recite the hymn to the Sun. You can leave the image on the altar after each day's ritual.
THE ORPHIC HYMN TO THE SUN
HEAR golden Titan, whose eternal eye
With broad survey, illumines all the sky.
Self-born, unwearied in diffusing light,
And to all eyes the mirrour of delight:
Lord of the seasons, with thy fiery car
And leaping coursers, beaming light from far:
With thy right hand the source of morning light,
And with thy left the father of the night.
Agile and vig'rous, venerable Sun,
Fiery and bright around the heav'ns you run.
Foe to the wicked, but the good man's guide,
O'er all his steps propitious you preside:
With various founding, golden lyre, 'tis mine
To fill the world with harmony divine.
Father of ages, guide of prosp'rous deeds,
The world's commander, borne by lucid steeds,
Immortal Jove, all-searching, bearing light,
Source of existence, pure and fiery bright
Bearer of fruit, almighty lord of years,
Agil and warm, whom ev'ry pow'r reveres.
Great eye of Nature and the starry skies,
Doom'd with immortal flames to set and rise
Dispensing justice, lover of the stream,
The world's great despot, and o'er all supreme.
Faithful defender, and the eye of right,
Of steeds the ruler, and of life the light:
With founding whip four fiery steeds you guide,
When in the car of day you glorious ride.
Propitious on these mystic labours shine,
And bless thy suppliants with a life divine.
(D) Meditate on the Sun talisman image. This is the embodiment of health, success and authority. Then visualize the achievement of your goal. Meditate for about 10-15 minutes.
(3) Repeat the above ritual for the next 5 days, for a total of 6 days, at Sun hour.
(A) On the last day, let the candles burn all the way down, if possible. (No matter what the magical effect I never leave candles unattended).
(B) Keep the talisman image in the place where you wish the effect to manifest.
Chapter 12: Venus
Venus Ritual
(1) Preparations beforehand:
Get some candles and incense. Red, pink or green candles are nice, but white is fine. For incense, rose or musk is good, but any love or just nice smelling incense is fine. Regarding the number of candles, Agrippa says the number of Venus is 7. So 7 candles are best but one white candle is fine. Set up an altar. I use a piece of cloth that is about 10" x 24" You could use red, pink or green or white cloth. Paper is fine, too. First set up the incense burner, then the candles (in holders or melted a little on the bottom and stuck to a plate) and the have the Venus talisman image available.
(2) At a Friday (Venus day) at Dawn (Venus hour)
(A) Light the candles and incense.
(B) Create the Venus talisman image adding your name or the name of the person(s) you wish to affect and your goal.
(C) While moving the Venus talisman image through the rising smoke of the incense recite the Hymn to Venus:
THE ORPHIC HYMN TO VENUS
Heav'nly, illustrious, laughter-loving queen,
Sea-born, night-loving, of an awful mien;
Crafty, from whom necessity first came,
Producing, nightly, all-connecting dame:
'Tis thine the world with harmony to join,
For all things spring from thee, O pow'r divine.
The triple Fates are rul'd by thy decree,
And all productions yield alike to thee:
Whate'er the heav'ns, encircling all contain,
Earth fruit-producing, and the stormy main,
Thy sway confesses, and o
beys thy nod,
Awful attendant of the brumal God:
Goddess of marriage, charming to the sight,
Mother of Loves, whom banquetings delight;
Source of persuasion, secret, savoring queen,
Illustrious born, apparent and unseen:
Spousal, lupercal, and to men inclin'd,
Prolific, most-desir'd, life-giving, kind:
Great sceptre-bearer of the Gods, 'tis thine,
Mortals in necessary bands to join;
And ev'ry tribe of savage monsters dire
In magic chains to bind, thro' mad desire.
Come, Cyprus-born, and to my pray'r incline,
Whether exalted in the heav'ns you shine,
Or pleas'd in Syria's temple to preside,
Or o'er th' Egyptian plains thy car to guide,
Fashion'd of gold; and near its sacred flood,
Fertile and fam'd to fix thy blest abode;
Or if rejoicing in the azure shores,
Near where the sea with foaming billows roars,
The circling choirs of mortals, thy delight,
Or beauteous nymphs, with eyes cerulean bright,
Pleas'd by the dusty banks renown'd of old,
To drive thy rapid, two-yok'd car of gold;
Or if in Cyprus with thy mother fair,
Where married females praise thee ev'ry year,
And beauteous virgins in the chorus join,
Adonis pure to sing and thee divine;
Secrets of Planetary Magic Page 3