The Pentacles

The 1st Pentacle of Saturn

Spirits kneel upon the earth when the first Saturn pentacle is shown, according to the Key. Four divine names fill its sixteen-cell square, inside a Psalm’s image of enemies licking the dust. [1]

Mathers 1889 · Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 58; figure 11, Plate II; plate PDF page 67

Pentacle profile

Tradition and Group: Mathers 1889 · Saturn [1]
Position within the Set: Pentacle 1 · figure 11 · plate II [1]
Attributed Purpose: To strike terror into spirits; when shown, to make them submit, kneel upon the earth and obey. [1]
Design: A four-by-four Hebrew name grid lies inside Psalm 72:9, with a small circle-tipped sign in the upper band. [1]

A four-by-four grid holds sixteen Hebrew letters. A Hebrew verse surrounds the square in a circular band, with a small circle-tipped barred sign at the top. — **Source reproduction** The 1st Pentacle of Saturn: four four-letter divine names inside Psalm 72’s submission verse. Mathers 1889, Plate II, figure 11; notice and note on pp. 58–59.

Submission upon the earth

Showing the pentacle strikes terror into spirits, who kneel upon the earth before it and obey. Mathers connects the surrounding Hebrew sentence with Psalm 72:9, rendering its opening as “The Ethiopians shall kneel before Him” and its end as enemies licking the dust. [1]

Four names of four letters

The inner square is divided into four rows of four cells. Its Hebrew names are IHVH, ADNI or Adonai, IIAI or Yiai, and AHIH or Eheieh. Each has four letters. Mathers notes that Yiai has the same numerical value as El. The upper verse band holds a small sign of barred strokes with circular ends. [1]

The king’s dominion in the Psalm

Psalm 72 places submission within a king’s wide dominion. Around the kneeling line, rule extends from sea to sea, kings bring gifts and nations serve. The passage then turns to the needy person who cries for help and to rescue from violence and deceit. [2]

Sources and editions

The Key of Solomon the King · The 1st Pentacle of Saturn
S. L. MacGregor Mathers, 1889; printed edition, including editorial restoration of Hebrew characters. Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 58; figure 11, Plate II; plate PDF page 67; Complete Saturn notices and notes, printed pp. 58–61 (PDF pp. 65, 68–69, 74); general Book I VIII pp. 39–41 and XVIII pp. 56–57
Psalm 72:8–14 · Dominion, submission and care for the needy
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Psalm 72:8–14

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