The Pentacles

The 1st Pentacle of the Moon

No fastening is meant to resist the Moon’s first pentacle. Its gateway is filled with divine and angelic names, while a verse recalls brass gates broken and iron bars cut apart. [1]

Mathers 1889 · Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 69; figure 49, Plate XI; plate PDF page 95

Pentacle profile

Tradition and Group: Mathers 1889 · Moon [1]
Position within the Set: Pentacle 1 · figure 49 · plate XI [1]
Attributed Purpose: To call forth and invoke lunar spirits and open doors however fastened; the invocation purpose also belongs to the following pentacle. [1]
Design: An arched gateway contains a vertical IHVH, with divided fields of Hebrew names and scripture at its sides. [1]

A gateway-like diagram with Hebrew divine and angelic names arranged within and beside its structure, and a scriptural inscription about gates and bars. — **Source reproduction** The 1st Pentacle of the Moon: a gate diagram bearing divine and angelic names. Mathers 1889, Plate XI, figure 49; notice on p. 69.

Doors however fastened

The first Moon pentacle calls forth and invokes the lunar spirits and opens doors in whatever way they are fastened. The invocation claim is shared with the following figure. Its own additional marvel is the opening of a barrier: a purpose the drawing presents as a gate filled with names. [1]

The gate and its named company

An elongated, round-topped opening forms the centre. IHVH is written vertically inside it. Straight bars extend into divided fields beside the arch, with circular ends on the right and other hooked or angular ends farther out. [1]

Mathers identifies four divine forms on the right—IHV, IHVH, AL and IHH—and four angelic names on the left: Schioel, Vaol, Yashiel and Vehiel. The verse is arranged with the names at the sides of the gateway, rather than around an ordinary circular seal. [1]

Brass gates and bars of iron

The words come from Psalm 107:16. Mathers translates them as “He hath broken the Gates of brass, and smitten the bars of iron in sunder.” The preceding biblical lines describe people bound in affliction and iron, sitting in darkness after rebelling against God. They cry for help and are brought out of darkness, with their bonds broken. [1][2]

Sources and editions

The Key of Solomon the King · The 1st Pentacle of the Moon
S. L. MacGregor Mathers, 1889; printed edition, including editorial restoration of Hebrew characters. Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 69; figure 49, Plate XI; plate PDF page 95; full lunar notices printed pp. 69–70; general chapter XVIII materials, pp. 56–57
Psalm 107:10–16 · Broken gates and iron bonds
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Psalm 107:10–16

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