The Pentacles

The 1st Pentacle of Venus

The Venus family opens with command over spirits, especially the named company in this figure. Eight unlike characters radiate inside the angelic names, before the later pentacles turn to favour, honour and attraction. [1]

Mathers 1889 · Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 66; figure 39, Plate IX; plate PDF page 89

Pentacle profile

Tradition and Group: Mathers 1889 · Venus [1]
Position within the Set: Pentacle 1 · figure 39 · plate IX [1]
Attributed Purpose: To control the spirits of Venus, especially those named within the figure; the notice also applies control to the following pentacles. [1]
Design: Eight spokes carry varied Venusian characters inside four Hebrew angelic names. [1]

Eight spokes radiate to different triangular, circular, barred, lozenge-shaped and looped characters. Four groups of Hebrew lettering occupy the circular band around them. — **Source reproduction** The 1st Pentacle of Venus: mystical characters within a band of angelic names. Mathers 1889, Plate IX, figure 39; notice on pp. 66–67.

The named spirits of Venus

The first Venus pentacle controls the planet’s spirits, with particular emphasis on those written in the design. The notice extends that control to the following pentacles. Mathers identifies the named company as Nogahiel, Acheliah, Socodiah—also given as Socohiah—and Nangariel. [1]

The eight radiating characters

Four lines meet centrally to make eight spokes. The upper spoke ends in paired triangles touching at their points; other ends include a circled dot with a curved surrounding form, bars, a lozenge and looped strokes. The names occupy four groups in the outer circular band. [1]

Mathers calls the interior signs mystical characters of Venus. The first figure’s ring is a company of angelic names, rather than a quoted biblical verse. [1]

Sources and editions

The Key of Solomon the King · The 1st Pentacle of Venus
S. L. MacGregor Mathers, 1889; printed edition, including editorial restoration of Hebrew characters. Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 66; figure 39, Plate IX; plate PDF page 89; complete Venus sequence pp. 66–67; general chapter XVIII materials/timing pp. 56–57

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