TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Arabic Picatrix
Book I Chapters 1-4 3
commentary 23
The Forms of the Planets
Book III, Chapter 3 27
Selected Planetary
Talisman Translations
Book II, Chapter 10 28
Adocentyn, the Talismanic City
Book IV, Chapter 3 31
commentary 32
House based talismans
Book I, Chapter 5 36
commentary 46
Ritual Preparations
Book III, chapter 7 49
commentary 54
Arabic Picatrix
Planetary Invocations
Book III, Chapter 8 56
commentary 66
Operation of Jupiter
Picatrix Book III, Chapter 9
The Jovial FEAST 68
commentary 69
Invocation of Perfect Nature
Book III Chapter 6
Translated by Nigel Jackson 72
commentary 75
INTRODUCTION
The Picatrix or Ghayat al Hakim, the “Aim of the Wise” is the most
famous book of astrological magic of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Attributed
to the Arabic author Al-Majriti, the Picatrix was composed, according to the Arabic
translation that follows, between AD 954 and 959. It was compiled, according to the
preamble, from 200 previous works of magic, astrology and philosophy. Composed in
Andalusia, Islamic Spain, it was translated into Castilian and
then Latin 1256 at the court of Alphonso the Wise of Castile.
The Picatrix differs from other medieval and Renaissance grimoires or books of
magic in being much more philosophical in orientation. Typical grimoires like the
Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon are almost entirely focused on practice, while Picatrix
spends a great deal of time delving into the philosophical background behind magic. Picatrix
also stands apart in its heavy reliance on astrology, both as a means of timing the creation of
astrological talismans and as a universal method of classification.
Our first translation from the Arabic Picatrix focuses on the relationship between
the One and the multiplicity of existent beings. Knowledge of this relationship,
says Picatrix, is the key to magic. Our next translations, on the forms of the planets and
selected planetary talismans, introduce us to the use of the planets in talismanic magic. The
next translation, that of house based talismans, takes us to another level in complexity,
requiring the full range of traditional astrological magical skill, but producing very powerful
full chart talismans.
The translations of ritual preparations and planetary invocations begin our study of
Picatrixritual, a necessary concomitant to the physical production of talismans.
Finally the selected translations ends with two very interesting and specific rituals, that of the
operation of Jupiter and of the invocation of Perfect Nature. Once again the focus is on the
relationship between the One and the many, in this case the mage seeks to become a mirror
of that relationship uniting himself with his Almuten Figuris, the planetary ruler of his chart,
in order to replicate the unity of the Macrocosm and Microcosm with the practical purpose
of doing works of magic.
MsSVig
Introduction 1
Arabic Picatrix
Book I Chapters 1-4 3
commentary 23
The Forms of the Planets
Book III, Chapter 3 27
Selected Planetary
Talisman Translations
Book II, Chapter 10 28
Adocentyn, the Talismanic City
Book IV, Chapter 3 31
commentary 32
House based talismans
Book I, Chapter 5 36
commentary 46
Ritual Preparations
Book III, chapter 7 49
commentary 54
Arabic Picatrix
Planetary Invocations
Book III, Chapter 8 56
commentary 66
Operation of Jupiter
Picatrix Book III, Chapter 9
The Jovial FEAST 68
commentary 69
Invocation of Perfect Nature
Book III Chapter 6
Translated by Nigel Jackson 72
commentary 75
INTRODUCTION
The Picatrix or Ghayat al Hakim, the “Aim of the Wise” is the most
famous book of astrological magic of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Attributed
to the Arabic author Al-Majriti, the Picatrix was composed, according to the Arabic
translation that follows, between AD 954 and 959. It was compiled, according to the
preamble, from 200 previous works of magic, astrology and philosophy. Composed in
Andalusia, Islamic Spain, it was translated into Castilian and
then Latin 1256 at the court of Alphonso the Wise of Castile.
The Picatrix differs from other medieval and Renaissance grimoires or books of
magic in being much more philosophical in orientation. Typical grimoires like the
Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon are almost entirely focused on practice, while Picatrix
spends a great deal of time delving into the philosophical background behind magic. Picatrix
also stands apart in its heavy reliance on astrology, both as a means of timing the creation of
astrological talismans and as a universal method of classification.
Our first translation from the Arabic Picatrix focuses on the relationship between
the One and the multiplicity of existent beings. Knowledge of this relationship,
says Picatrix, is the key to magic. Our next translations, on the forms of the planets and
selected planetary talismans, introduce us to the use of the planets in talismanic magic. The
next translation, that of house based talismans, takes us to another level in complexity,
requiring the full range of traditional astrological magical skill, but producing very powerful
full chart talismans.
The translations of ritual preparations and planetary invocations begin our study of
Picatrixritual, a necessary concomitant to the physical production of talismans.
Finally the selected translations ends with two very interesting and specific rituals, that of the
operation of Jupiter and of the invocation of Perfect Nature. Once again the focus is on the
relationship between the One and the many, in this case the mage seeks to become a mirror
of that relationship uniting himself with his Almuten Figuris, the planetary ruler of his chart,
in order to replicate the unity of the Macrocosm and Microcosm with the practical purpose
of doing works of magic.
MsSVig