THE PICATRIX

[attributed to Maslamah al-Majriti (d. ca.1000 e.v.); this version translated by Soror Sonja & Frater P.O.E.M.G.S. from German; literalists be warned, this book may make a fool of you!]


In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful:
     Praise God, with whose light the veils shine, whose omnipotence gives birth to the most wonderful of destinies, who causes all effects, who commands the change of night and day, who out of no existence has newly created all beings and given them the gifts of his mercy. He is the ruler and creator of all that exists. He is not mixed with the beings, and not separated from them either; he has no attributes. He cannot be unfair. His essence is not exhausted by definition. He is untouched by his creations.
     God bless the master of the emissaries (he who was foretold in the holy books of the ancients), the seal of the prophets, to whom is sent this book, in plain Arabic; also, bless the pious and pure ones of his house, glory be unto them until the day of judgement!
     So then, o disciple who desires to explore the arts of the philosophers, to gaze upon their secrets and search their books for the eternal wisdom, know that my reason for writing this book (which was called "The Rank of the Philosopher" and is now called "The Goal of the Philosophers and the Preferable of the Two Arts") was what happened while I wrote this book.
     I started working on this book at the beginning of the year 343 [May, 954 e.v.]. At that time I had already written "The Rank of the Philosopher". I finished this book in the year 348 [959 e.v.].
     I was moved to write by the knowledge that so many people these days are interested in talismans and various kinds of sorcery. They don't know which way to turn or even where they are going. Their lives are spent in searching for something unattainable - because the philosophers have veiled it to shield the world from an Apocalypse (by the glory of this world, may God not let it happen!). Thus, they repainted the Egyptian temples. The new images were meant to stimulate the unconscious, using secret signs and veiled expressions which would only be understood among philosophers. If one read between the lines, and dared to compete with the philosophers, the secrets would be revealed. Therefore I have decided to make this subject better known to people, to show them the method of this art called "simija"; and to reveal the essential secrets of sorcery, just as we have already done for the art of alchemy [in his previous book?].
     I divide this book in four parts. Each part contains several sections. The first part has seven sections, one for each of the planets ["swiftly moving stars"]. The first section deals with the rank of honour of philosophy. I also talk here of the Heavenly constellations, and their specific configurations which are appropriate at the time of making particular talismans. I also talk about the fixed stars and how they shine on the planets. I mention some things which the philosophers, in their stinginess, have kept secret.
     The second section is about the Heavenly configurations and explains their influences, both open and secret, which the philosophers have dimly expressed. Furthermore, it gives examples of the magic of this world (which is called the world of coming & going) as derived from the world of ether. It explains the basis for Plato's idea of the unity of form and matter.
     The third section talks about the relationship of the stars to the three kingdoms [i.e., mineral, vegetable, animal] because only these are able to receive sidereal influence in the world of coming & going. The Elements are too changeable and elusive to receive this influence. I also talk about the ways they [stars and three kingdoms?] blend with each other to accomplish the desired effects for sorcery. This may be by the action of either elementary or physical warmth (either burning incense or putting cooked food or drink into the stomach).
     The fourth section is about the sorcery of the Kurds, Nabataeans, and Abyssinians. It gives examples of various acts of sorcery (among them, the best) - and I will fulfill this plan as it must be done, without being stingy or hiding anything. And I ask God's help to succeed in this enterprise, because it is in his hands. And with His protection I will begin.


+++FIRST SECTION+++

Chapter 1

     Know, o my brother-- God enlightened your mind--: Philosophy is the noblest gift and the best remuneration. Philosophy gives the knowledge of First causes, on which the immediate causes of existent things are based. This is accomplished by reaching a true understanding of the essence of things, by realizing what they are and how they are; that they (with all their variations) lead, one after the other, to One existence. This is the reason for all existent things, First causes as well as immediate causes.
     And this One is the true beginning, and its existence is not based on the existence of any other thing. It is whole in itself and needn't win existence from anything else. It is even impossible for it to win existence from another. It is also a priori impossible that it is in a body or is a body itself. Its existence is a different kind of existence. It has nothing in common with any other existence. Something may appear similar but this is only in name, not in essence. It can only be one and that is the true One, that which unifies all existent things. Because of this we can say that all existing things are one. It is the first reality. It gives everything else reality. And its reality is whole in itself and needn't win reality from anything else. No one can imagine a greater completeness, nor could such exist.By philosophy one can distinguish the separate ranks of existent things. Some are at the beginning, some in the middle, and some at the end. The latter ones have motive, but don't motivate things below them. The ones in the middle find motivation above and also motivate things below them. But the first only motivate things below them. They aren't motivated by anything above.
     This is the essence of philosophy. What do you think now, o disciple, about a thing which is the way to itself? May God honor you: philosophy is big & wide. It is your title to honor, and duty, to search for it. It illuminates the intellect and the soul through the light of eternal beauty. If you search for it and grasp its essence and motivation, if you let go of the changing & perishing world, you will be filled with desire to lift yourself up to the higher world - the place of beginning and returning, from which you come, and where you always have your place - so that God may comfort you and let you realize the cause of the world, and what the world causes. This is the basis on which the First Cause allowed causation to appear; the search for the highest is the connection between both. They will be realized as evident.
      Mighty God is the cause of the world and the world is caused by him. God wants to make men his servants, so that they realize him and declare his existence. It says in God's word: "I created mankind and the jinn in order that they might worship Me."[al-Quran, Sura 51] which means that they realize him. And he protects and nourishes them; and they should thank him and prize him. He damns who he wills. He delights who he wills. Who he favors he keeps near him in endless happiness.
     Philosophy has three essential qualities. It is growing and not falling apart. It shines and never darkens. And it reveals itself to be looked at, and never goes away. It has three teaching powers: it pushes away evil, it ennobles, and it withdraws from whomever rejects it.
     Know now that the Arts ["natiga", means originally, in logic, conclusion; here it's used in its connotation of practice, i.e., of the arts of Alchemy & Magic] couldn't exist without philosophy. That justifies calling the philosophers conclusions. Conclusions are the final result of the logicians, the quintessence [literally "the best"]. The statutes of the two Arts [Alchemy & Magic] were made to attract people to study the Science [Philosophy]. None get to that except the philosophers, who have mastered all the levels of philosophy already. At the end all becomes equivalent. I have offered you a wonderful secret. I hope that you understand it.

Chapter 2

     Know: here, this practice [natiga] is called sorcery [sihr]. Sorcery usually means all words or actions that bewitch the mind, and bring souls under their spell. This is not easy to understand, and it's hidden from the simpleminded. Sorcery is a divine power, affecting by original causes - which is basic to its understanding. There is also a practical sorcery. Its subject is the influence of spirit on spirit. We find this in the Nirendsch and the Phantasmagoria [these will be explained later]. The subject of the talismanic art is the influence of spirit on body. And the subject of Alchemy is the influence of body on body. 
     I can say regarding the meaning of talismans [tilasm, tlsm] that it is the reverse of its name [musalat, mslt - that which has power over another]. By its substances of power and might the talisman affects and overwhelms its subject. The affect results from the relations between numbers, from the secrets of the sphere (which are manifested in certain bodies at certain times), and from incense burned for strength and to attract the pneuma that belongs to the talisman. It works like the second conclusion, called elixir, which has the ability to change the bodies themselves by overwhelming them. It is an effective leaven which changes things from their original form. It acts as powerfully as poison. It can penetrate any body similar to itself.
     Know that the elixir is a substance that changes into itself everything it comes in contact with which is harmonious with it. But what is not harmonious with it will not be changed in this way. It is also said that these qualities make the elixir different from all other natural bodies, which influence each other by their polarity. This is how it changes one individual into another by the power within it. Know, o brother, this leaven is an elixir which consists of earth, air, water, & fire. Whatever the leaven gets into becomes the leaven, which then changes its own form. Its quality of porousness and ability to fall apart easily make for an efficient digestion and conversion into nutrition.
     The elixir of Alchemy works the same way. It quickly changes the body into itself, radically altering its nature, purifying it, giving it spirit, soul, & solidity. It won't rot or develope a patina. This is supposedly the secret of the ancients. The word, al-iksir, means "capable of destroying all the powers that want to change it". Al-iksir overwhelms them, making their substance into its own. They become alike. The animal, plant, & mineral kingdoms must be represented in the elixir because, as the ancients say, it represents a world, and the three kingdoms united make up the world. One leads another and supports it in its growth. The plant can't exist by itself; the same for the animal, it needs the plant and other things. And the mineral needs cooking and fieriness, and the moistness of quicksilver, to be completed. This is a secret that doesn't appear in "The Rank of the Philosopher".
     But I come back to our subject and say: sorcery is divided into two parts, theoretical [ilmi] and practical ['amali]. The theoretical part deals with the position of the fixed stars. Their locations, the way their rays fall upon the planets and the constellations in the sky, are important in determining their effect. In this context we must regard all ancient elections and talismans. Know further: the nature of an election is such that one uses a talisman. The best method of theoretical sorcery is speech. This is noted in the phrase of the Prophet, "Truly, some speech is sorcery."  And the great Plato means the same when he says in his book of Aphorisms, "The same way bad words can turn a friend into an enemy, an enemy can become a friend by good words." Is that not sorcery?
     Practical sorcery involves knowledge of the three kingdoms, and the planetary powers which permeate them. These powers are called virtues [hawass]. This name is given them by people who realize that they exist, but don't understand their cause or their true nature. It is not necessary here to reveal the ancient secret. Further, the operation of practical sorcery involves the mixing of one kingdom with another. The warmth of the elements may be attained this way (incense burning). This balances the incomplete powers with complete powers. A natural warmth may be attained as well (eating). For both of these, both the animal & the human soul are needed [?].
     The art which is called Nirendsch is the most beautiful of sorcery. And know my brother, some sorcery is useful, some is just an artistic performance. In the category of useful sorcery we find what is described by the sages of the eon of the Moon, and hinted at in the word of God, "Take four birds..."[in contradiction to the original Bible story, the al-Quran has the story of the four birds - in the Bible, five animals - that Abraham uses to prove that Allah can make the dead live again, if certain ceremonies are performed]. Therefore this sorcery is useful. Under the category of sorcery as art performance we find the practices done in the eon of Saturn and in the eon of Venus. The ancient Greeks gave Nirendsch and the transformation of tangible things the title, targih, literally "to make overweight". Talismans they gave the title, syllogism, i.e., "pulling down the upper spirits". All together they are called sorcery.
     The sages developed this science only through knowledge of the orb of the Heavens. The most necessary things to know about it are: understanding of the sphere of God's seat [istiwa'] (called his throne) and of the surrounding spheres; the zodiac signs, their locations in the sky, and their other attributes; how the special characteristics of the twelve signs reflect the things of this world; the dignities [huzus] of the planets in the zodiac, and similarly connected things; understanding of the natures of the seven planets, the two nodes [the points where the Moon's orbit intersects the ecliptic, also called the Head & Tail of the dragon], their locations in the sky, and how their characteristic indices result in the world; also, understanding of the planets and their interrelationships; the basic characteristics of the stargazer's art; and the dominant rulerships among the seven planets [ibtizaz means, literally, "robbery" - if a planet has several dignities in one sign at once its influence is greater than the other planets. Some planets can have several functions in a single sign of the zodiac. This can be calculated numerically, the planet with the most functions is called al-mubtazz]; the levels of rank among the seven planets; the calculation of the omens [siham, sortes] and their location in the zodiac.
     The summary above shows what knowledge is most necessary in the science of the orb of the Heavens. This science is to be found in books by specialists. The first sage [possibly means Aristotle] is referring to this knowledge when he says: "I am the one who was lifted above the seven spheres." The expression "lifted above the seven spheres" means gaining a scientific understanding by the power of the mind. The same is taught in the word of God: "We lifted him to a high place."[al-Quran, Sura 19 - this passage is originally related to the prophet Idris. In the Bible he is called Enoch.]

Chapter 3

     Know, o reader, the sky is spherical. Its body is completely round; and every thing in the sky is also round, under every circumstance and at all times. Some people have said that sometime circumstances in the sky will change its form; but such is impossible because the form of the sky follows the form of its cause.
     The soul, also, has a spherical form; it has this form because it is the first thing, sufficient to itself. No evil existed yet; thus, the soul has perfect form. And the perfect form is the circle. It consists of one line because it is the One First Cause, and this is a mysterious thing. The Heaven itself is an actual creature. The degrees of it are only set through convention. We begin with the conventional grades; we then continue to the essential part. Usually the way of learning this goes the opposite direction. Learning about the degrees leads to learning about the movements of the Heavens. It is not possible for something of the world of coming & going to be in any place in the Heavens, or vice versa, without recourse to violent action. As said before, the sphere of Heaven is perfectly regular in all directions. The circle is made of one curved line. In its center is a point. All lines radiating from this point to the circumference have the same length. These lines are the paths of the rays of the stars to the world of the center. The operation of talismans is based on this effect. That is the description or definition upon which people have agreed.
     The Heavens are a sphere encompassing the whole world. Beyond the sphere it is neither full nor empty - there is no space. But the ether is at rest - we are pointed at it. Inside of it is the sphere of the fixed stars, except for its center. The center of the sphere of fixed stars is next to the center of the Earth (as it is explained in the teaching of learning).
     The nature of the Heavens is unity. And the movements of all things that have natures follow that of the Heavens and its warmth. These things are the accidental result of the Heavens (which motivate the generation of this world). The first division of the sky is into 360 degrees. 360 is also the number of the symbols of the degrees. The inner essence of the judgements of omens[?] is based on them because the judgements are determined by the constellations. But some disagreed with that and said the sky doesn't have any importance at all; all importance lies in the ether in the upper world (the world of stars and warmth). They go on to say that the symbols of the degrees are nothing but pictures formed by the constellations (groups of stars). But other people say that the essence of the science of the stars (that is, the reason for the creation of things) is based on the symbols of the degrees.
     To determine the effect of a degree one must know the character of the planetary influence upon earthly things. This must be known, for example, whenever a planet reaches any degree with a fixed star in it. Saturn moves the cold and dry existences; Jupiter, the hot and moist; Mars, the hot and dry. Venus moves existences of low heat and strong moistness; Mercury, low heat and strong dryness. The Moon moves the cold and moist existences. The same principle holds for the fixed stars. If a degree is ruled by a star that is strong in the quality of heat, but weak in the qualities of dryness and moistness, and if the Sun stands by itself in this specific degree, then the judgement is one of growth and waxing. Further, if the star's energy combines with the Sun's energy the growth will be exalted. This point is difficult and full of obscurity, according to the ancient wise men. The obscurity of their speech is such that they camouflage the outside and cover the inside. This is called "igmad" (from "agmada" which means 'obscure talking'); this you should know.

Chapter 4

     Ever since talismans were first needed it has been necessary to know of the constellations, on which the art and effect of talismans are based. And here I will give you basic rules about these constellations, and this astronomical foundation of talismans, on which you can build.
     One who makes a talisman has to know how to use the Ephemeris. And further, one must believe strongly that what one is doing is right. There can be no doubts or uncertainties in one's operation so that the effect of one's "reasonable soul" may be strong and the will of the World's "reasonable soul" may reach this world of coming & going and cause the desired result.
     And I will give you a firm rule for the planet closest to our Earth: you should not perform any operation unless the Moon is in a fortunate position for it. The Moon has obvious effects, about which I will tell you later. Now I will tell you of the Moon's effect in each of her phases (or stations), especially what the Indians have taught.

1) The phase al-Saratan (from 0d 0m 0s to 12d 51m 26s Aries ). The Indians say: when the Moon is in this phase you may travel or drink laxatives. As a rule, now is when talismans are made to divide couples or friends, creating distance and enmity between them. Further, talismans may be made to aid a slave in escaping to wherever he wishes, and to destroy the unity of groups of people. This phase is destructive and fiery. And remember the following rule: for constructive operations the Moon should not be making hard aspects to unlucky planets [Saturn & Mars] or be burnt by the Sun; and in destructive operations let the Moon be harmful and burnt by the Sun. This you should know.

2) The phase al-Butain (from 12d 51m 26s up to & including 25d 42m 52s Aries). In this phase one may make talismans to successfully dig wells & canals, and to find treasures & things sought. Also talismans may be made for fertile crops, or to prevent marriages; further, all inciting talismans are made here because they bring luck and are fiery. This phase is also good for talismans to help slaves escape, and to tighten the bonds of prisoners so as to torture them.

3) The phase al-Turaiya (from 25d 42m 52s Aries to 8d 34m 18s Taurus). In this phase talismans are made to help sailors in danger. Also talismans to destroy groups, and to break the bonds of prisoners. And talismans for success in alchemical works; also for using fire, for good hunting, for love between marriage partners, for damaging sheep, cows, & slaves so that they may be lost to their owner. This phase brings luck and also has its part in bad luck. This you should know.

4) The phase al-Dabaran (from 8d 34m 18s to 21d 25m 44s Taurus). In this phase talismans are made: to damage a city, to disappoint the hope of preserving buildings and keeping them in good condition, to damage crops, to keep slaves with their owners, to divide a married couple, to bring damage to people who search for lost items or dig wells, and to banish snakes & scorpions.

5) The phase al-Haqa (from 21d 25m 44s Taurus to 4d 17m 10s Gemini). Talismans are made during this phase for boys to progress in learning Islam & writing, and so that they become practical and turn out right. Further, talismans are made here for safe, comfortable, & quick traveling, to stabilize buildings, and also to destroy groups (because this phase is partly unlucky). Talismans may be made here to achieve harmony and unity between marriage partners if the Moon and Ascendant are in Zodiac signs that have a human form and if the unlucky planets are in harmonious aspects and free of burnings [as described above]. The Zodiac signs with human form are Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, & Aquarius.

6) The phase al-Han'a (from 4d 17m 10s to 17d 8m 36s Gemini). Here talismans are made to destroy & occupy cities, to control kings, and to put dire curses on enemies; also to destroy seeds, deposits, & goods which have been entrusted. Also to establish a good relationship between companions; and for good hunting, and for obstructing the normal effect of a medicine that has been taken.

7) The phase al-Dira (from 17d 8m 36s to the end of Gemini). Here talismans are made to further and bless trading & the growing of seeds; also talismans to provide safety and comfort for people traveling on the sea, and to further the good relationship of friends & companions. Also talismans to keep flies out of specific areas. Alchemical operations which are done during this phase won't succeed and will have to be repeated. Also talismans are made here to get something from a ruler or great man with whom one deals; also talismans to help a fleeing slave, that he may be comforted, and talismans to take land, goods, houses, & such away from their owners.

8) The phase al-Natra (from 0d 0m 0s to 12d 51m 26s Cancer). In this phase talismans are made to create friendship and love between people who hate each other, talismans for the comfort of travelers and for good relations between companions. Also talismans to bind prisoners for a long time, to make slaves corrupt, and to keep mice and bugs away.

9) The phase al-Tarf(a) (from 12d 51m 26s to 25d 41m 52s Cancer). Talismans are made during this phase to injure crops, to expose people (including overland travelers), to divide companions, and to land one's legal opponent in prison.

10) The phase al-Gabha (from 25d 41m 52s Cancer to 8d 34m 18s Leo). Talismans are made here for good relations between marriage partners, or to put travelers & enemies in awful, disgusting situations. Also talismans to tighten the bonds of prisoners, to stabilize buildings, and to have companions harmonize with & help each other.

11) The phase al-Tsubra (from 8d 34m 18s to 21d 25m 44s Leo). Talismans may be made during this phase to free prisoners, to occupy cities, for successful trading and the well-being of travelers, to stabilize buildings, and to create good relations between companions.

12) The phase al-Sarfa (from 21d 25m 44s Leo to 4d 17m 10s Virgo). Here may be made talismans to aid the growing of seeds & crops, or to damage someone by destroying their belongings; also talismans to sink ships, and to create good relations between companions. Alchemical operations are successful during this phase, and talismans can be made to improve & maintain the condition of slaves to and at a desired level.

13) The phase al-Auwa (from 4d 17m 10s to 17d 8m 36s Virgo). Here talismans are made for success in trading and for successful crops, for the well-being of a traveler, and for initiating marriage between two people. Also to free prisoners, and to gain connections to kings & great people.

14) The phase al-Simak (from 17d 8m 36s until the end of Virgo). In this phase talismans are made to achieve good understanding between marriage partners, or to achieve complete healing by a medical treatment; also talismans to injure seeds & crops and destroy deposits, to injure travelers, for the well-being of kings & seamen, and for good understanding between companions.

15) The phase al-Gafr (from 0d 0m 0s to 12d 51m 26s Libra). Talismans may be made during this phase for success in digging wells, to find & recover treasures, to prevent someone from traveling, to divide married couples, and to destroy the good relationship between companions. Also, to chase away enemies and to estrange them from their home countries. In this phase talismans to destroy housing may also be made.

16) The phase al-Zubana (from 12d 51m 26s to 25d 42m 52s Libra). Here talismans are made to destroy trade, seeds, & crops, to divde friends & married couples; further, if a husband desires, a talisman may be made to mildly chastize his wife. Also talismans to curse one's enemies during their travels, to divide companions, and to free a prisoner from his bondage.

17) The phase al-Iklil (from 25d 42m 52s Libra to 8d 34m 18s Scorpio). In this phase talismans are made to promote the well-being of domestic animals, to conquer cities, and to stabilize buildings; also, to make for secure traveling at sea. Everybody agrees that a friendship made when the Moon is in this phase will not fall apart. Therefore this phase is chosen for making talismans concerning friendship.

18) The phase al-Qalb (from 8d 34m 18s to 21d 25m 44s Scorpio). Talismans are made here to hoist kings' standards, that they may triumph over their enemies; also talismans to stabilize buildings. If one marries a woman while the Moon & Mars are in this phase then that woman will lose her husband (this is also true for the last phase, al-Iklil). Also talismans may be made to aid slaves in flight, to promote plant growth, for safe sea travel, and to divide companions.

19) The phase al-Saula (from 21d 25m 44s Scorpio to 4d 17m 10s Sagittarius). Talismans are made in this phase to conquer cities, for victory over enemies & to obtain what you desire from them; also, to destroy someone's property, and to separate & estrange. Also talismans may be made for the comfort of travelers, and for good growth of seeds & crops, for a slave to successfully flee from his owner, to cause ships to sink, to divide companions, and to free prisoners.

20) The phase al-Na'aim (from 4d 17m 10s to 17d 8m 36s Sagittarius). Here talismans are made to tame hard-to-discipline animals for riding or carrying, to speed up journeys, to attract a specific person's friendship, to make it more difficult for prisoners, and to destroy good relations between companions.

21) The phase al-Balda (from 17d 8m 36s to a full 30d Sagittarius). Talismans are made here to stabilize buildings, for good growth of seeds, to keep goods, riding animals, & draught animals in the permanent possession of their owner; also talismans for safe traveling, and for a woman to obtain a divorce from her husband & never to marry again.

22) The phase Sa'd al-Dabih (from 0d 0m 0s to 12d 51m 26s Capricorn). Talismans are made in this phase to treat the ill & cure diseases, to divide lovers & married couples, for a husband to commit adultery with the woman of his desire, to free slaves and help them flee from their homeland; further, to divide companions, and to free prisoners.

23) The phase Sa'd Bula (from 12d 51m 26s to 25d 42m 52s Capricorn). Talismans are made in this phase to cure illness, to destroy goods, to divide married couples, and to free prisoners.

24) The phase Sa'd al-Su'ud (from 25d 42m 52s Capricorn to 8d 34m 18s Aquarius). Here talismans are made to further the growth of commerce in trade, for harmony within marriages, for victory in battle; and on the other hand, to divide companions or to free people that are in bondage. Anyone who begins an alchemical operation at this time will not succeed.

25) The phase Sa'd al-Ahbiya (from 8d 34m 18s to 21d 25m 44s Aquarius). Talismans are made at this time to occupy cities, to damage enemies, and to victor over them & cause bad, disgusting things to happen to them; also talismans for success in sending messengers & spies, to divide married couples, to destroy crops, and to bind the genitals & all other appendages. Also talismans to bind prisoners, and to increase the safety & stability of a building's foundations.

26) The phase al-Farg al-Muqaddam (from 21d 25m 44s Aquarius to 4d 17m 10s Pisces). Every kind of talisman of good influence can be made in this phase; also talismans for the following: to make a connection of love between two souls, that travelers' wishes might be fulfilled, for safe travel on land & sea, to divide companions, and to bind prisoners.

27) The phase al-Farg al-Mu'ahhar (from 4d 17m 10s to 17d 8m 36s Pisces). Here talismans are made to further the growth of trade, to make seeds bring forth bountiful harvests, to cure illness, to destroy someone's property, to create division within a marriage, to keep prisoners in prison longer, and to corrupt slaves.

28) The phase al-Risa (from 17d 8m 36s to 30d 0m 0s Pisces). Here talismans can be made for successful trading, for the growing of seed, to cure illness, to cause someone to lose deposits, for safe traveling, and to restore harmony in a marriage. Also talismans to bind prisoners, and to damage sailors in some way. This you should know.

     The Indians based their operations & elections on these 28 symbols. This is how we found it in the books about this art that we have read. The main point of what has been said above is that the Moon should be free of the influence of unlucky planets & not burnt by the Sun, and should be in aspect to fortunate planets, if operations for good ends are being undertaken. At the beginning of every operation for good the Moon should be aspected by good planets, and vice versa for evil operations. That you shall know.
     As we said before, if a person makes a talisman he must be certain that it is right. This is the proper disposition to be capable of receiving these powerful effects in order to achieve the desired ends. This kind of receptiveness is only found in humans. The disposition of other substances shows the ability of natural materials to be passive [infi'al] like wax receiving an impression. In wrestling, the loser acts passively toward the winner. This is the behavior of a loser, his limbs being too weak to resist. This behavior manifests if force and weakness confront each other. This behavior, or disposition, is also necessary when making a talisman because not every material takes every influence. This is a basic rule. We find agreement on this in the notes of the philosophers. If the disposition is right & the material is able to receive, it will receive, and a union will take place resulting in the desired effect. The union is the context within which the form receives impression, so that hyle [matter] and form will become one. This happens in the same way that a person is reflected in a body of water or a mirror. This is also the same as the way human-being and God-being are united in the teachings of the Christians, or the way the soul unites with the body. Understand this, and make it clear. It is my intention, as I write these words, to discover what those people kept secret. God, the Sublime, will only allow those he favors to have access to these secrets. This is his way in all things.