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The Brass VesselPlanetary and Manuscript Sets
Saturn’s seven pentacles command kneeling submission, withstand adversity and protect night invocations, but also pursue ruin and demonic affliction. A letter puzzle sits beside named angelic wheels; the final figure invokes nine orders powerful enough, in the Key’s account, to shake the universe. [1]
Mathers 1889
Spirit submission, kneeling and obedience upon display.
Resistance to adversity and repression of spirit pride.
Saturnian invocation: made within the circle and suited to night use.
Ruin, destruction and death; also news-bearing spirits invoked toward the south when perfectly made.
Protection during Saturnian night invocation and expulsion of treasure guardians.
Demonic affliction of the person against whom the figure is pronounced.
Earthquakes through the immense power attributed to nine angelic orders.
| Pentacle | Attributed purpose |
|---|---|
| The 1st Pentacle of Saturn | Spirit submission, kneeling and obedience upon display. |
| The 2nd Pentacle of Saturn | Resistance to adversity and repression of spirit pride. |
| The 3rd Pentacle of Saturn | Saturnian invocation: made within the circle and suited to night use. |
| The 4th Pentacle of Saturn | Ruin, destruction and death; also news-bearing spirits invoked toward the south when perfectly made. |
| The 5th Pentacle of Saturn | Protection during Saturnian night invocation and expulsion of treasure guardians. |
| The 6th Pentacle of Saturn | Demonic affliction of the person against whom the figure is pronounced. |
| The 7th Pentacle of Saturn | Earthquakes through the immense power attributed to nine angelic orders. |
The first Saturn figure terrifies spirits when shown, making them kneel and obey. Four four-letter divine names fill its square. The second counters adversity and spirit pride with a larger, twenty-five-letter grid. Mathers compares its arrangement with SATOR–AREPO–TENET–OPERA–ROTAS and makes numerical links between the square, the surrounding Psalm and IHVH. [1]
The two enclosing verses come from neighbouring lines of Psalm 72: dominion from sea to sea and enemies licking the dust. The family begins with submission and adversity before its notices turn to the more particular conditions of a nocturnal spirit encounter. [1]
The third is to be made within the magical circle and is recommended for night invocation. Four angelic names enclose its wheel of Saturn characters. The fifth also concerns the night, defending those invoking Saturn’s spirits and driving away treasure guardians. Its cross and diamond place IHVH, Eloah and four angels inside a description of divine might. [1]
The fourth principally serves ruin, destruction and death. If perfectly made, it also serves spirits that bring news when invoked from the southern side. Words of divine unity follow its triangle, while a bodily curse surrounds it. The sixth is directly hostile: a pronouncement against someone is said to bring demonic affliction, inside the petition for a wicked ruler and Satan at the right hand. [1]
The last figure contains the nine angelic orders named by Mathers, from Holy Living Creatures, Wheels and Thrones to Brilliant Ones, Fiery Ones, Kings, Gods, Sons of the Elohim and Kerubim. Six names use ordinary Hebrew and three Passing of the River. Its notice assigns earthquakes, declaring each order powerful enough to make the universe tremble. [1]
Lead and black are Saturn’s general metal and paper colour in chapter XVIII. The final verse leaves the family on a vast scene: the earth and hills shaken by wrath in Psalm 18, followed by smoke, fire, hail and lightning. [1][7]
S. L. MacGregor Mathers, 1889; printed edition, including editorial restoration of Hebrew characters. Book I XVIII, printed pp. 58–61; figures 11–17, Plates II–III (PDF pp. 67, 70); general materials/timing pp. 56–57
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Psalm 72:8–14
Hebrew Bible with Jewish Publication Society 1917 English translation; Mechon-Mamre. Psalm 72:8–9, consonantal wording
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Deuteronomy 6:4–9
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Psalm 109:6–20
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Deuteronomy 10:17–19
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Psalm 18:4–15