Hermes on the 15 Fixed Stars, Stones, Herbs & Usage
Agrippa uses fixed star images and information that does not appear in Picatrix, but comes from sources traditional attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. One of these sources is the medieval Hermetic manuscript The Book of Hermes on the 15 Fixed Stars that circulated in a wide variety of different forms.
The "practical" Hermetica of astrology, magic and alchemy, are inextricably linked with the philosophical Hermetica and provide preparatory studies for Hermeticism as Practical path to Gnosis.
Agrippa explains how to use the fixed star listings to make rings or talismans,
Now the manner of making these kinds of Rings, is this, viz. when any Star ascends fortunately, with the fortunate aspect, or conjunction of the Moon, we must take a stone, and Hearb that is under that Star, and make a Ring of the Metall that is suitable] to this Star, and in it fasten the stone, putting the Hearb , or root under it; not omitting the inscriptions of images, names, and Characters, as also the proper suffumigations,
Three Books of Occult Philosophy Book I, chapter 47.
Here Begins the Book of Hermes on the 15 fixed stars and 15 herbs and 15 stones and 15 figures
Translated and annotated by John Michael Greer from BM Bodleian MS. 52, ff. 44-47,
as given in Appendix G of Joan Evans’ Magical Jewels of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance,
(New York, Dover 1976)
Star Name & Location |
Stone |
Herb |
Character |
Usage |
Oculi Tauri The Eye of the Bull Aldebaran (9 Gemini 44)
|
Carbuncle or ruby |
Milky thistle |
|
Milky thistle seed put under a carbuncle with the character shown [engraved on it], with the Moon conjunct [Aldebaran and] the Ascendant or Midheaven, increases riches and brings great honors. |
The Pleiades (29 Taurus 55)
|
Rock Crystal |
Fennel |
|
Fennel seed with frankincense and quicksilver placed under a crystal with the appropriate character [engraved on it], with the Moon conjunct the Pleiades rising or at midheaven, preserves the eyesight, summons demons and the spirits of the dead, calls the winds, and reveals secrets and things that are lost. |
Caput Algol Algol (26 Taurus 07)
|
Diamond |
Black Hellebore |
|
Hellebore juice with an equal amount of wormwood placed under a diamond, etc., brings hatred and courage, preserves the members of the body, and grants vengeance over anyone you wish. |
Alhayhoch Capella (21 Gemini 48)
|
Sapphire |
Horehound |
|
Horehound seed mixed with equal parts of mint, wormwood and mandrake, placed etc., exalts men to honors, and brings them the favor of kings and nobles, and heals toothache, and is very medicinal. |
Canis Major The Greater Dog Star Sirius (14 Cancer 03)
|
Beryl |
Savine Juniper |
|
One part savine juniper juice with wormwood and bistort and a little serpent's tongue put under a golden beryl, etc., grants the favor of the spirits of the air and the peoples of the earth, and brings peace and concord between kings and other potentates, and between husbands and wives. |
Canis Minor The Lesser Dog Star Procyon (25 Cancer 45)
|
Agate |
Heliotrope |
|
Heliotrope flowers with pennyroyal flowers placed etc. grants the favor of God and man, gives men the favor of the spirits of the air, gives great power over magic, and keeps men healthy. |
Cor Leonis The Heart of Leo Regulus (29 Leo 47)
|
Granite |
Celandine |
|
Celandine juice with wormwood and mastic placed etc. takes away anger and melancholy, makes men temperate, and grants favor. |
Ala Corvis The Wing of the Crow Gienah / Algorab (13 Libra 24) |
Onyx |
Burdock |
|
Burdock seed, leaves, and roots, with the tongue of a frog, placed etc. makes men angry, hateful, daring, and evil-speaking, causes wicked dreams, drives demons away, and protects men against demons and evil winds. |
Spica (23 Libra 47) |
Emerald |
Sage |
|
Sage juice with trefoil, periwinkle, wormwood and mandrake placed etc. will increase gold, accumulate riches, bring victory in lawsuits, and free men from evil and anguish. |
Arcturus (24 Libra 11) |
Jasper |
Plantain |
|
Plantain juice with seeds or rooted placed under jasper, especially green [jasper], carries away fevers and restrains the flow of blood. |
Tail of the Great Bear Sometimes incorrectly given as Tail of the Little Bear or Polaris (28 Gemini 31) Actually Alkaid (27 Virgo) |
Magnet |
Chicory |
|
Chicory juice with wormwood and periwinkle flower placed etc. has power against enchantments and against dryness and gives safety in travel, and if it be put together with wolf's teeth it makes hunters proficient. |
Corona Scorpionis Crown of the Scorpion Alphecca (12 Scorpio 14) |
Topaz |
Rosemary |
|
Juice of the herb called rosemary with equal parts trefoil and ivy put etc., makes men chaste, and grants friendship and honor with God and man. |
Cor Scorpionis The Heart of Scorpio Antares (9 Sagittarius43) |
Sardonyx and amethyst |
Birthwort |
|
Birthwort juice with a little yew placed etc. gives men healthy color, grants good memory and intelligence, makes them appear wise, and banishes demons. |
The Falling Vulture Wegaor Vega (15 Capricorn16) |
Chrysolite |
Savory |
|
Savory juice with an equal amount of the herb called fumitory and with a little of the stone called turonso, etc. grants favor with beasts, protects from scabies, that is, against demons, nocturnal phantoms, and fears. |
Cauda Capricornis Tail of Capricorn Deneb Algedi (23Aquarius33) |
Chalcedony |
Marjoram |
|
Marjoram juice put under a chalcedony with its proper character, the Moon conjunct the tail of Capricorn rising, gives favor in lawsuits, improves the home in which it is kept, keeps it [the home] secure, and increases all manner of riches. |
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