The Horned God
18
The association of human destiny with the stars was directly due to the belief that the stars were powerful Beings and to the belief that the Stellar Realm was the final dwelling place of the soul.
from the text
Presented in this chapter are some of the Tanarric teachings dealing with the stars and their influences, and lore in Witchcraft and the Occult. Star Magick is one of the most ancient forms of Magickal practice. Remnants of Star Magick can still be found in published grimoires such as The Key of Solomon, The Magus (by Francis Barrett), and The Book of the Sacred Magick ofAbra-Melin the Mage.
THE STARS OF MAGICK
Aldebaran
Aldebaran is the pale red star that forms the left eye in the constellation of Taurus the Bull. Throughout the early history of astrology, it was considered to emanate a powerful and fortunate influence, up until the dawn of Christianity.
In ancient times, Aldebaran was one of the Four Guardian Stars, known as the Watcher of the East. This was the station it commanded when the star marked the Vernal Equinox. Aldebaran was also called the "Eye of God" and the "Leading Star of Stars." This comes from the time when Taurus was the first of the Star Signs (before Aries replaced it).
Aldebaran lies slightly south of the ecliptic, in the path of the Moon's orbit. Here it marks one of the twenty-eight Mansions of the Moon. Mystics and occultists associated many powers and influences with Aldebaran. Ptolemy linked it to the nature of Mars, as did Agrippa. Francis Barrett, in his book The Magus, placed Aldebaran in the 4th Moon Mansion, and associated it with destructive forces (Christianity strikes again).
In La Vecchia, Aldebaran occupies the 2nd Moon Mansion and is a star of both positive and negative qualities. It is magickally linked to the ruby because of its color, and to the milky thistle because of its mixed nature. The mystic symbol of Aldebaran is shown in Figure 34.
In medieval times, talismans bearing a ruby, and the inscription of Aldebaran's seal, were anointed with the juice of the milky thistle and blessed in the name of Azariel, under the constellation of Taurus. It was used for protection against black magick and to bind other magicians. Aldebaran's influence was also said to hinder anything associated with mines, wells, or fountains.
Figure 34 Aldebaran
One medieval spell involves drawing the image of a soldier upon parchment. He should be shown on a horse, holding a snake in his right hand. The seal of Aldebaran was then set in red wax upon the parchment, and perfumed with red myrrh and storax. The parchment was then buried in the place where the curse was desired.
The desired influence of this spell was upon mines, wells, fountains, and the construction of buildings.
CAPUT ALGOL
This star marks the head of "Medusa" in the constellation of Perseus. In medieval times, Algol was called the Demon Star. Under Christian influence, this star was greatly maligned, and was considered to cause violence and misfortune. Francis Barrett, in his book The Magus, stated that Algol was of the nature of Saturn and Jupiter, and was the most evil star in the heavens.
In astrology, this star is considered to exert a negative influence. I suppose that its ill reputation is gained by its link with the head of "Medusa." Ancient Hebrews called this star "Satan's Head." Prior to this association, they called the star "Lilith." In Hebrew mythology, Lilith was the first wife of Adam, in Eden. Lilith was aggressive, and considered herself equal to Adam. Adam rejected her and she became an evil demon.
Figure 35 Caput Algol
Actually, Algol is an ally to magicians. Tanarric Witches teach that this star can protect against another Witch's spells, and cause the "sender" to receive them instead. It is also said to strengthen the body.
In magick, the diamond is associated with Algol, along with the herb mugwort, and the metal lead. In spells, a sharp blade was prepared as a charm under Algol. These objects were prepared when the Moon and Algol were in conjunction. The talisman, or amulet, was made of lead and fumed with an incense of mugwort. The sigil of Algol (Figure 35) was inscribed upon the charm and blessed.
HIRCUS
Hircus is also known as the "Goat Star," and by the Arabs as the "Shepherd's Star." In astrology, Hircus was said to be fortunate in civic and military honors. This star is located in the constellation of Auriga, and is set upon the body of the Goat of Auriga's arms.
Figure 36 Hircus
Ptolemy ascribed the nature of Mercury and Mars to Hircus, but Tanarric Witches teach that this star is of the nature of Jupiter and Saturn. In magick, Hircus is used to gain the favor of authority, and to heal disorders of the teeth and bones.
A talisman of tin should be prepared, with a sapphire set upon it. The sigil of Hircus shown here (Figure 36) must then be placed upon the face of the talisman.
On the reverse side, place the image of a wandering minstrel. Next, an incense of equal parts of horehound, mugwort, and mandrake is used to fume the talisman.
The talisman is then held in the left hand, and a fig in the right. The Moon must be in a harmonious aspect, or conjunction, with Hircus during the Magickal work. All that remains is to call upon the name of the star three times, and to then state the desired effect.
A TRADITIONAL STAR SPELL
In medieval magick, the most common method of using a stellar force was to magickally bind it within a ring of power. The traditional manner of constructing these rings is as follows:
1. When the desired star shall fortunately ascend the horoscope, with the fortunate aspect or conjunction of the Moon, take a stone and herb of that star and make a ring of the metal that corresponds to the star. In the ring, under the stone, put a piece of the required herb or root. Upon the bottom of the stone place the symbol, name, and image of the star. If the stone is too small, then place these items upon a piece of parchment and seal them in with the herb.
Next, set out the required stones of the star, forming the design of the constellation in which it is found. In the center of this, place a censer of incense containing the required herbs. Light the incense and call out the name of the star three times, saying:
Hear me I summon you, I evoke you!
2. As you do this, suspend the ring over the smoking censer. Next you must state clearly the exact effect that you desire. If you wish, you can formulate an incarnation to help focus your mind. Once the ring is charged, it is worn only when its magick is desired. To activate the ring, you must tap the stone setting with another stone of its type and speak the name of the star.
STARS AND THE AFTERLIFE
During the fourteenth century, Aradia taught that departed souls moved through a cycle of other worlds, eventually reaching the Realm of the Stars. From the Earth, the soul passed into the Lunar Realm, where it abided for a time. This was the Realm of Luna, known in some Craft Traditions as the Summerland. In Luna, the soul was renewed and purified.
If the soul had evolved beyond the need for physical existence, it then passed on to the Solar Realm. There a new "body of light" was "forged" in Divine Fire, and the soul became a totally spiritual being, who then dwelled in the Solar Kingdom of its deities. If the soul had not evolved beyond the Physical Plane, then it passed from Luna and was returned to the Earth. Ultimately the soul would reach the Stellar Plane.
In ancient times, the constellation of Cancer was believed to be the "portal" through which the soul returned to Earth. According to ancient legend, it was in this constellation that the Moon was located at the time of Earth's creation. Here it was guarded by the god Mercury.
The Moon itself was the portal through which the soul crossed over from the Physical Plane. According to the ancients, the Moon grew (waxed) as it received departed souls, and declined (waned) as the souls were released. Departed souls were drawn to the Sun god, as the Sun rose, and were carried off to the Underworld at sunset. Here they dwelled until their attachment to the physical life was dissolved. Then they rose with the Moon into the sky, and to the Realm of Luna.
At various times during the reign of the Stellar Mysteries, the stars were either viewed as the divine bodies of transformed souls, or as the souls of deities (or sometimes both). The planet Venus, then thought to be a star, was known as the Star Goddess, who oversaw the cycles of the soul. The Pole Star was considered to be her consort, the Star God.
The Watchers, themselves associated with stars, were believed to assist and guide departed souls to their proper Realms. In this same mythos, the Milky Way was believed to be the path which led to the Divine Abode, and was called "The River of Tana" by Tanarric Witches. Here were the nine heavenly crystal circles from which issued the "Harmony of the Spheres," universally believed in until the time of Copernicus.
The remnants of these stellar beliefs can be seen in the writings of many well-known people. Aristotle wrote, "Heaven is full of gods to who we give the name of stars," and Milton, in his Paradise Lost, says "Those argent fields more likely habitants, translated saints, or middle spirits hold, betwixt the angelical and Humankind . . . " The Christian Father Origen, using the books of Job and Matthew, stated that the stars were actually living beings.
In the Book of job, 38:7, there appear to be two classes of stellar beings. These are called the "Morning Stars" and the "Sons of God." It is interesting also to note the mention of several constellations in Chapter 38:31-32.
The association of human destiny with the stars was directly due to the belief that the stars were powerful beings and to the belief that the Stellar Realm was the final dwelling place of the soul. I think that even the modern practice of calling celebrities "stars" may be rooted in the ancient belief that "stellar beings" were greater than Earth-bound ones. Perhaps especially so in the case where someone is said to have been destined to become a star. In essence, according to ancient belief, we're all destined for stardom, and someday the stars will call us home.
THE STARS' INFLUENCE IN OUR LIVES
Anyone even slightly aware of the Occult knows of the ancient belief that the stars influence our lives. In the Aridian Mythos, the Realm of the Gods is known as Aster. It is the plane upon which the gods dwell, properly known as the Divine Plane. The ancients, perceiving the vastness of the night sky, believed this to be the place where the gods first dwelled.
The Greek word for star was aster. This word is defined in today's dictionary' as:
aster: (Gk. aster, star) A combining form denoting relationship to a star.
It is interesting to note that the word "disaster," of which we all know the meaning, has its roots in Star Lore. The dictionary gives the following definition:
disaster: (Ofr. desastre. Gk. astron, a star: from astrological notions: ill-starred.) Any happening that causes great harm or damage; serious or sudden misfortune; calamity.
If we look up the prefix "dis," we find that it means "away, apart, deprived of, expelled from, cause to be the opposite of." If we take these meanings and connect them, we see that anyone who was experiencing severe misfortune (another interesting word) was believed to have been deprived of the influence of the stars.
Looking at the notion that a person could be expelled from the influence of the stars, we come into the realm of divine intervention. Apparently, to live in a way which would be the opposite of the stars was also a state of disaster. This leads us back to the Realm of Asteris. As surely as the ancients believed that living opposed to the stars brought misfortune, we know that living opposed to the gods (whatever we conceive them to be) will bring disharmony into our lives.
The structure of the Old Religion is such that it brings us into the harmony of those forces that influence our plane of existence. This is accomplished through seasonal rituals, and through the mental and spiritual training which is the essence of the Old Religion.
When we are experiencing strife, it is because we are moving against the forces which are unharmonious with ourselves. We are, in a sense, swimming against the current. We must either move within the flow, redirect the flow, or deflect it.
But to live in harmony with the influences emanating from Asteris is to become part of the natural way of things. It is by this means that we avoid disaster in our lives. In the stellar mythos, the influencing realms consist of seven spheres. Earth is last, although it is first from our perspective. Immediately surrounding the Earth Sphere is the vaporous, or Elemental Sphere. Next comes the sphere of Lunar influence, followed by the Planets. Then the sphere of the Sun begins, joined on the outer ridge by the Stellar Sphere. The last, but actually the first sphere is the Ultimate Realm, known as Aster.
Each plane in descending order was believed to influence the next sphere. This format became the formula for magickal workings, concepts, and symbolism. It also came to represent the realms through which the soul journeyed, after the physical body it had dwelled in perished.
All power originated out among the stars, having come from the gods of Aster. These powers were then attracted by the Sun, and directed into our sphere. The planets absorbed some of these diverse energies, and emanated them back outward, slightly altered by the vibrations of the planets themselves. This was the foundation of planetary influences in astrology. The Moon then attracted these emanations, and absorbed them, likewise emanating an altered vibrational energy of its own, down upon the Earth.
Through knowledge and worship of the Moon, Sun, and stars, it was believed that a ripple of energy could be sent back up through the spheres, to influence the gods themselves. Chants became the Music of the Spheres, and magick became the Harmony of the Spheres, just as it is today.
ENDNOTES
1. Webster's New World Dictionary. 1970.