The 4th Pentacle of Saturn

Unity around the triangle

A large upright triangle surrounds concentric circles with a mystical Yod at their centre. Narrow paired strokes join the circular structure to the three corners. Hebrew words stand along the triangle’s three sides: Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel,” with IHVH our God declared one. [1]

The biblical passage continues with love for the Lord through heart, soul and might. Its words are to be kept in the heart, taught to children and spoken through daily life, bound as a sign upon the hand and as frontlets between the eyes, and written on doorposts and gates. [2]

The curse as garment, water and oil

A separate Hebrew verse encloses the triangle, beneath a small six-pointed star. Psalm 109:18 imagines someone clothed in cursing like a garment, with the curse entering the body like water and the bones like oil. The following line makes that curse a covering and a continually worn girdle; the passage calls it a reward for adversaries. [1][3]

Sources and editions

The Key of Solomon the King · The 4th Pentacle of Saturn

S. L. MacGregor Mathers, 1889; printed edition, including editorial restoration of Hebrew characters. Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 59; figure 14, Plate III; plate PDF page 70; 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

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 · Divine unity and remembered words

King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Deuteronomy 6:4–9

Psalm 109:6–20 · A hostile petition and bodily curse

King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Psalm 109:6–20

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Pentacle profile

Destruction and the bringing of news

Unity around the triangle

The curse as garment, water and oil

Sources and editions