The Pentacles

The 2nd Pentacle of Mercury

These spirits are said to answer easily but appear only with difficulty. Their Mercury notice also gives them an unusually open remit: effects contrary to nature and outside the book’s other headings. [1]

Mathers 1889 · Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 68; figure 45, Plate X; plate PDF page 92

Pentacle profile

Tradition and Group: Mathers 1889 · Mercury [1]
Position within the Set: Pentacle 2 · figure 45 · plate X [1]
Attributed Purpose: For things contrary to the order of nature and not covered by another heading; the written spirits answer readily but are difficult to see. [1]
Design: Two double horizontal rules enclose Hebrew name groups across a circle, with four letters in the outer band. [1]

Two double horizontal lines create a broad central band through a circle. Two Hebrew groups fill the band; four isolated letters occupy the outer ring above, below and to either side. — **Source reproduction** The 2nd Pentacle of Mercury: written spirit names cross the circle in a horizontal band; Mathers identifies Boel. Plate X, figure 45; notice on p. 68.

Answers without easy appearance

The second Mercury pentacle concerns the spirits whose names are written in it. The notice says they bring about things contrary to the order of nature, including matters not contained under any other heading. It then qualifies the encounter: they readily give answers, but can be seen only with difficulty. [1]

The band of names

A broad horizontal band cuts across the circular field, bounded above and below by double lines. Two Hebrew groups occupy the band; the upper and lower curved spaces remain empty. Four individual letters lie around the outer circle. In his separate editor’s note, Mathers identifies Boel among the names and leaves the other spirits unnamed in Roman letters. [1]

Sources and editions

The Key of Solomon the King · The 2nd Pentacle of Mercury
S. L. MacGregor Mathers, 1889; printed edition, including editorial restoration of Hebrew characters. Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 68; figure 45, Plate X; plate PDF page 92; Complete Mercury notices and notes, printed pp. 68–69 (PDF pp. 91, 96); general Book I VIII pp. 39–41 and XVIII pp. 56–57

Return to The Brass Vessel