The Pentacles

The 2nd Pentacle of the Moon

Lunar spirits raise rain and violent tempests around the circle to frighten the invoker. Showing this pentacle is said to stop them quickly; its pointing hand is enclosed by a declaration of trust and refusal of fear. [1]

Mathers 1889 · Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 69; figure 50, Plate XII; plate PDF page 98

Pentacle profile

Tradition and Group: Mathers 1889 · Moon [1]
Position within the Set: Pentacle 2 · figure 50 · plate XII [1]
Attributed Purpose: For lunar invocation with the first pentacle, protection from all dangers by water, and the swift ending of lunar spirits’ rain and tempests around the circle when shown to them. [1]
Design: A hand points to El and Abariel within a Hebrew Psalm band and a small upper six-pointed star.

[1]

A hand emerging from a sleeve points towards the Hebrew names El and Abariel, within a circular Hebrew verse band topped by a six-pointed star. — **Source reproduction** The 2nd Pentacle of the Moon: the pointing hand with El and Abariel. Mathers 1889, Plate XII, figure 50; notice on p. 69.

A storm around the circle

The second Moon pentacle guards against all perils and dangers by water. Its notice also imagines a particular encounter: lunar spirits cause great rain and violent tempests around the ritual circle to astonish and terrify the invoker. When the pentacle is shown to those spirits, the disturbance is said to cease quickly. [1]

The preceding notice associates this figure with calling forth the Moon’s spirits. [1]

The hand and the refusal of fear

A hand emerges from a broad sleeve at the left and points into the open circular field. The Hebrew name El stands above Abariel, the angel named by Mathers. Ordinary Hebrew scripture fills the outer band, with a small six-pointed star above. [1]

The verse is Psalm 56:11. Mathers gives it as “In Elohim have I put my trust, I will not fear, what can man do unto me?” The psalm begins with a speaker oppressed by enemies and repeatedly turns from fear to trust. It ends with deliverance from death and the hope of walking in the light of the living. [1][2]

Sources and editions

The Key of Solomon the King · The 2nd 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 50, Plate XII; plate PDF page 98; full lunar notices printed pp. 69–70; general chapter XVIII materials, pp. 56–57
Psalm 56 · Trust in the midst of fear
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Psalm 56:1–13

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