The Greater Key of Solomon - an explanation of the symbols used in Edges of Twilight -

The Greater Key of Solomon is the ancient treatise on qabalistic magick (attributed to King Solomon) from which the talismans in the Edges of Twilight booklet were lifted (with no alteration, except for the occasional deletion of the planetary symbol above the talisman, which serves only to identify the planetary god ruling over the spirits whom the talisman invokes). The magick in this book is almost entirely based on ancient astrology.

What follows are identifications of the talismans and descriptions of them from the Key.

Inside front and back cover:
The first pentacle of Venus
(the planetary goddess the Sumerians called Inanna; the symbol for Venus is missing).
"This and those following serve to control the Spirits of Venus, and especially those herein written."
Editor's Note: -- Mystical Characters of Venus, and the Names of the Angels Nogahiel, Acheliah, Socodiah (or Socohiah) and Nangariel."

Fire in the Head:
The first pentacle of Mars.
(Part of the planetary symbol is missing; the arrow pointing up and right away from the circle is incomplete.)
"It is proper for invoking Spirits of the Nature of Mars, especially those which are written in the Pentacle."
Editor's Note: Mystical Characters of Mars, and the Names of the four Angels: -- Madimiel, Bartzachiah, Eschiel, and Ithuriel written in Hebrew around the Pentacle."

The Bazaar:
The first pentacle of the Moon.
"This and the following serve to call forth and invoke the Spirits of the Moon; and it further serveth to open doors, in whatever way they may be fastened."
Editor's Note: -- The Pentacle is a species of hieroglyphic representation of a door or gate. In the center is written the Name IHVH [i.e., Yahweh]. On the right hand are the Names IHV, IHVH, AL, and IHH. On the left hand are the Names of the Angels: Schioel, Vaol, Yashiel, and Vehiel. The versicle above the Names on either side, is from Psalm 107:16: -- `He hath broken the Gates of brass, and smitten the bars of iron in sunder.'

Correspondences:
The second pentacle of Jupiter.
"This is proper for acquiring glory, honors, dignities, riches, and all kinds of good, together with great tranquillity of mind; also to discover Treasures and chase away the Spirits who preside over them. It should be written upon Virgin Parchment, with the pen of the swallow and the blood of the screech-owl".
Editor's Note: -- In the center of the Hexagram are the letters of the Name AHIH, Eheieh; in the upper and lower angles of the same, those of the Name AB, the Father; in the remaining angles those of the Name IHVH. I believe the letters outside the Hexagram in the re-entering angles to be intended for those of the first two words of the Versicle, which is taken from Psalm 112:3: -- `Wealth and Riches are in his house, and his righteousness endureth for ever.'

Silence:
The second pentacle of the Sun.
"This Pentacle, and the preceding and the following, belong to the nature of the Sun. They serve to repress the pride and arrogance of the Solar Spirits, which are altogether proud and arrogant by their nature."
Editor's Note: -- Mystical characters of the Sun and the Names of the Angels: -- Shemeshiel, Paimoniah, Rekhodiah, and Malkhiel.

Sister Awake:
The third pentacle of Jupiter.
"This defendeth and protecteth those who invoke and cause the Spirits to come. When they appear show unto them this Pentacle and immediately they will obey."
Editor's Note: -- In the upper left hand corner is the Magical Seal of Jupiter with the letters of the Name IHVH. In the others are the Seal of the Intelligence of Jupiter, and the Names Adonai and IHVH. Around it is the Versicle from Psalm 125:1: -- 'A Song of degrees. They that trust in IHVH shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.'

Turn the Lamp Down Low:
The sixth pentacle of Jupiter.
"It serveth for protection against all earthly dangers, by regarding it each day devoutedly, and repeating the versicle which surroundeth it. 'Thus shalt thou never perish.'"
Editor's Note: -- The four Names in the Arms of the Cross are: -- Seraph, Kerup, Ariel, and Tharsis; the four rulers of the Elements. The versicle is from Psalm 22:16, 17: -- 'They pierced my hands and my feet, I may tell [i.e., count] all my bones.'

Shadows on the Mountainside:
The fourth pentacle of Saturn.
"This pentacle serveth principally for executing all the experiments and operations of ruin, destruction, and death. And when it is made in full perfection, it serveth also for those Spirits which bring news, when thou invokest them from the side of the South".
Editor's Note: -- The Hebrew words around the sides of the triangle are from Deut. 6:4: -- `Hear, O Israel, IHVH ALHINVH is IHVH AChD.' The surrounding versicle is from Psalm 109:18: -- 'As he clothed himself with cursing like as with a garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.' In the center of the Pentacle is the mystic letter Yod.

Drawing Down the Moon:
The sixth pentacle of the Moon.
"This is wonderfully good, and serveth excellently to excite and cause heavy rains, if it be engraved upon a plate of silver; and if it be placed under water, as long as it remaineth there, there will be rain. It should be engraved, drawn, or written in the day and hour of the Moon."
Editor's Note: -- The Pentacle is composed of mystical characters of the Moon, surrounded by a versicle from Genesis 7:11, 12: -- 'All the fountains of the great deep were broken up ... and the rain was upon the earth.'

Inanna:
The third pentacle of Venus.
"This, if it be only shown unto any person, serveth to attract love. Its Angel Monachiel should be invoked in the day and hour of Venus, at one o'clock or at eight".
Editor's Note: -- The following Names are written within the Figure: -- IHVH, Adonai, Ruach, Achides, Aegalmiel, Monachiel, and Degaliel. The versicle is from Genesis 1:28: -- 'And the Elohim blessed them, and the Elohim said unto them, Be ye fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.'

Coming Home:
The seventh pentacle of Saturn.
"This Pentacle is fit for exciting earthquakes, seeing that the power of each order of Angels herein invoked is sufficient to make the whole Universe tremble".
Editor's Note: -- With the Pentacle are the Names of the Nine Orders of Angels, those of six of them in ordinary Hebrew Characters, and the remainder in the letters which are known as 'The Passing of the River'.
These Nine Orders are:
1. Chaioth Ha-Qadesch, Holy Living Creatures;
2. Auphanim, Wheels;
3. Aralim, Thrones;
4. Chaschmalim, Brilliant Ones;
5. Seraphim, Fiery Ones;
6. Melakim, Kings;
7. Elohim, Gods;
8. Beni Elohim, Sons of the Elohim;
9. Kerubim, Kerubim.

The versicle is from Psalm 18:7: -- `Then the earth shook and trembled, the foundations of the hills also moved and were shaken, because He was wroth.'

Walk With Me:
The fifth pentacle of Saturn.
"This Pentacle defendeth those who invoke the Spirits of Saturn during the night; and chaseth away the Spirits which guard treasures".
Editor's Note: -- The Hebrew letters in the angles of the Cross are those of the Name IHVH. Those in the Angles of the Square form ALVH, Eloah. Round the four sides of the Square are the Names of the Angels: -- Arehanah, Rakhaniel, Roelhaiphar, and Noaphiel. The versicle is: -- 'A Great God, a Mighty, and a Terrible.' -- Deut. 10:17.

Seven pentacles each are consecrated to Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and the Sun, five to Venus and Mercury, and six to the Moon. The designs are to be engraved on medals made of metal appropriate to the planetary ruler (lead for Saturn, tin for Jupiter, iron for Mars, gold for the Sun, copper for Venus, a mixture of metals for Mercury, and silver for the Moon), or they can be drawn on virgin parchment ("made from the skin of dead-born Lambs"!) using the colors appropriate for each planet (black for Saturn, celestial blue for Jupiter, red for Mars, golden yellow for the Sun, green for Venus, mixed colors for Mercury, and silver for the Moon). The engraving or drawing is supposed to be done in the day and hour proper to the ruling planet (i.e., Sunday for the Sun, Monday for the Moon, Tuesday for Mars, Wednesday for Mercury, Thursday for Jupiter, Friday for Venus, and Saturday for Saturn; calculating the planetary hours is a bit complex, so write to me if you want instructions for that). The material used in making the pentacle should be virgin, that is, it should never have been used for any other purpose; or, if it is metal, it can be purified by fire. The medals or pentacles are for "striking terror into the Spirits and reducing them to obedience"; the spirits "will obey thee without repugnance, and having considered them they will be struck with astonishment, and will fear them, and thou shalt see them so surprised by fear and terror, that none of them will be sufficiently bold to wish to oppose thy will." They are also for protection agains perils and sorcery.

The Greater Key of Solomon was translated by S. L. MacGregor Mathers, and the 1914 edition has been reprinted by Kessinger Publishing Company of Kila, Montana (ISBN 1-56459-843-8). You can order from the publisher directly by e-mail books@kessingerpub.com, on the web http://www.kessingerpub.com or by phone (406-756-0167) or FAX (406-257-5051) for $16.95 (plus shipping costs). This company reprints about 1500 rare esoteric books.

Many thanks go to Maggie who supplied the above information

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