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The Brass VesselPlanetary and Manuscript Sets
The Sun’s seven pentacles move from command over proud spirits to revelation, swift transport, invisibility and freedom from iron bonds. Their faces, names, alphabets and verses make each of these claims visibly distinct. [1]
Mathers 1889
All creatures obey the countenance of Shaddai and angelic spirits kneel before it; with the next two pentacles, it restrains solar spirits’ pride.
To restrain the pride and arrogance of solar spirits; the notice shares this purpose with the first and third Sun pentacles.
To acquire kingdom, empire, renown and glory and to inflict loss, in addition to restraining solar spirits’ pride with the two preceding pentacles.
When uncovered, to make spirits otherwise invisible to their invoker appear visible immediately.
To invoke spirits who transport a person from one place to another over a long distance in a short time.
For the operation of invisibility, when correctly made.
At its presence, to release someone imprisoned or held in iron fetters immediately; the figure is to be engraved in gold on the Sun’s day and hour.
| Pentacle | Attributed purpose |
|---|---|
| The 1st Pentacle of the Sun | All creatures obey the countenance of Shaddai and angelic spirits kneel before it; with the next two pentacles, it restrains solar spirits’ pride. |
| The 2nd Pentacle of the Sun | To restrain the pride and arrogance of solar spirits; the notice shares this purpose with the first and third Sun pentacles. |
| The 3rd Pentacle of the Sun | To acquire kingdom, empire, renown and glory and to inflict loss, in addition to restraining solar spirits’ pride with the two preceding pentacles. |
| The 4th Pentacle of the Sun | When uncovered, to make spirits otherwise invisible to their invoker appear visible immediately. |
| The 5th Pentacle of the Sun | To invoke spirits who transport a person from one place to another over a long distance in a short time. |
| The 6th Pentacle of the Sun | For the operation of invisibility, when correctly made. |
| The 7th Pentacle of the Sun | At its presence, to release someone imprisoned or held in iron fetters immediately; the figure is to be engraved in gold on the Sun’s day and hour. |
The solar family begins with a face before which creatures obey and angelic spirits kneel. The Key calls it the countenance of Shaddai; Mathers identifies Metatron as the Almighty’s representative. Hebrew El Shaddai stands beside the head, while a Latin declaration circles it. The second pentacle’s notice joins this image and the third design in a shared task: restraining the pride and arrogance attributed to solar spirits. [1]
The second replaces the face with eight radial characters and the angelic names Shemeshiel, Paimoniah, Rekhodiah and Malkhiel. The third turns to twelve repetitions of IHVH, God’s four-letter name, within overlapping squares. It adds kingdom, empire, renown, glory and the power to inflict loss. Its sentence of everlasting kingdom is compared by Mathers with Daniel, where Nebuchadnezzar’s restored kingship stands beside the humbling of pride. [1][2]
The fourth and sixth figures give sight opposite tasks. When the fourth pentacle is uncovered, spirits invisible to their invoker are said to become visible immediately. Its central names IHVH and Adonai are ordinary Hebrew, while the outer radial characters use Passing of the River writing. Psalm 13 asks for light in the speaker’s eyes and preservation from death and defeat. [1]
The sixth is for invisibility when correctly made. A triangle carries Shaddai in Passing of the River characters around a central Yod in the Celestial alphabet. Mathers finds its longer side inscription damaged and proposes the opening of Genesis. More plainly, its rim combines a prayer that enemies’ eyes be darkened with a description of idols whose eyes do not see. The two biblical settings contribute distinct forms of unseeing. [1][3][4]
Between revelation and invisibility, the fifth pentacle invokes spirits who transport a person a long distance in a short time. Passing of the River characters form names around a square and circles. Psalm 91 encloses them with angels charged to keep a person’s ways and bear that person up in their hands. The extraordinary journey is the pentacle’s claim; the protecting hands are the psalm’s image. [1]
The seventh brings another physical release. Its presence is said to deliver someone from imprisonment or iron fetters immediately. Gold and the Sun’s day and hour are specified for its engraving. Four elemental angels occupy the arms of a curved cross, with four further elemental rulers between them. Psalm 116 moves from broken bonds to a sacrifice of thanks and calling upon the divine name. [1]
Gold is also the Sun’s general metal in chapter XVIII; yellow, gold or citron-coloured paper figures belong to its colour scheme. These broader directions stand beside individual conditions such as uncovering the fourth, making the sixth correctly and engraving the seventh at a solar time. Chapter VIII’s general preparation instead uses Mercury’s day and hour. The solar notices preserve their own particular acts and qualifications. [1]
S. L. MacGregor Mathers, 1889; printed edition, including editorial restoration of Hebrew characters. Book I, chapter XVIII, printed pp. 65–66; figures 32–38, Plates VII–IX (PDF pp. 83, 86, 89); construction context, chapter VIII pp. 39–41 and chapter XVIII pp. 56–57
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Daniel 4:34–37
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Psalm 69:22–23
King James Version, public-domain biblical text. Psalm 135:15–18