CONCERNING TALISMANIC MAGICK
Updated: Jun 20, 2018

Issued by the
Thelemic Order and Temple
of the Golden Dawn
June, 1991 e.v.
In Association with
New Falcon Publications and
the Israel Regardie Foundation, Inc.
By Sir David Cherubim
and John M. Demmitt III
of the Novus Ordo Aureae Aurora
Copyright (C) 1991 e.v.
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
We shall now venture to instruct you all concerning a very
practical, effective and powerful type of hermetic science,
called "Talismanic Magick". This science is unlimited in its
practical application to accomplish the Magical Will of the
Magician. There are various creative aspects to this practical
science or various constructive means of applying its magical
formulae to create necessary changes in accordance with the Will
of the Magician.
A Talisman is, to all intents and purposes, a "charged" or
"consecrated" magical object with symbols and/or words inscribed
on it which are intended to represent particular cosmic energies
which the Magician is applying in the practical operations of his
holy Magick, to accomplish a particular goal. It is used by the
Magician as a magical link with the particular type of force
which is invoked or evoked by him to accomplish his Will. A
Talisman is basically any object which one ritually charges or
consecrates with an occult force or energy which the Talisman
itself is intended to represent, and this must only be done with
strict magical intent.
Let us all impress upon our minds Aleister Crowley's proper
definition of Magick. He stated that "Magick is the Science and
Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will." Let us
also impress upon our minds his definition of a magical act. He
stated that "All intentional acts are magical acts. By
intentional I mean willed." Before we can perform Magick proper
we must formulate our Will, we must cultivate intent. Talismanic
Magick is a scientific method of causing Change to occur in
conformity with Will, but we must know our Will before we can
apply this practical method of our Royal Art of Magick. Therefore
the first and greatest injunction of Talismanic Magick, as of all
other branches of the Magick Art, is "KNOW THY WILL."
The words and symbols used on a Talisman are very important. By
the scientific use of magical words and symbols the Magician can
transform a so-called dead material substance into an outward
sign of an invisible grace. Divine words and symbols are drawn on
Talismans as magical links with the spiritual energies that they
are intended to represent; they indicate a definite connection
with the magical energies which the Magician seeks to invoke or
evoke for purposes of doing his Will. The Hebrew Alphabet, also
called the Magical Alphabet, is used by most Magicians to compose
significant magical words on their Talismans. But Latin, Greek,
Arabic, and English can also be used. The Enochian language is,
of course, used for Talismans which are created from that system.
Symbols, like words, indicate something significantly magical,
and they impress upon the mind of the Magician the nature of his
intent and the nature of the force or energy which the Talisman
represents. The Talisman becomes linked, through the mind of the
Magician, with the force or energy which the symbols are intended
to signify. There are many types of symbols that can be used to
inspire the imagination of the Magician with the appropriate
force. You can draw the symbol of the Planet or symbols related
to that Planet. Eliphas Levi suggested inscribing a Pentagram on
one side of the Talisman and the Hexagram on the other side. This
statement can be applied in all cases, whether you are making a
Talisman of Jupiter, Mercury or any other Planet. Sigils are
appropriate symbols by which to properly charge Talismans and
impress upon the mind of the Magician the nature of the force or
energy of his intent. Sigils are signatures of invisible beings -
- such as angels -- that are invoked or evoked for the purpose
of charging Talismans. Sigils can be created using the well-known
Magick Squares (Kameas) or Rose Cross symbol. Sigils are, to all
intents and purposes, magical symbols that represent the nature
and power of certain ideas or beings that correspond with the
force or energy of one's Will.
A Talisman can be a symbol of the influences of a Planet, made
from a sympathetic stone or metal or from parchment paper. Such a
Talisman would be constructed on the day of the week which
corresponds to the Planet. To each Planet is assigned an
Intelligence or Angel and a Demon. Each Planet, Intelligence and
Demon have their own special Seals or Sigils. Demonic Seals
should never be inscribed on Talismans except to perform an act
of Black Magic. Their Seals would be written on a Talisman made
of the opposite metal or colored paper to that which corresponds
to their Planet, since the Demons represent forces contrary
thereto. But members of the New Order of the Golden Dawn are
obligated to never perform acts of Black Magic, which tend to
obstruct the Will of the Magician. The Magician of Thelema has no
right but to do his own Will. All true acts of Magick are acts of
Will, and all acts of Will are acts of Love. It is written in our
Most Holy Book of the New Aeon, that "Love is the law, love under
will." Black Magic is contrary to the Ways of Love; it is a false
attempt to master and misuse the laws of Nature. Let us here keep
in mind those enlightening words of the Old French Magus Eliphas
Levi: "To affirm and will that which ought to be is to create; to
affirm and will that which ought not to be is to destroy."
If you make your Planetary Talisman with parchment paper, the
color of the ink by which you draw the corresponding words and
symbols thereon should correspond with the Planet. If you are
using simple paper, it should be in the color that corresponds
with the Planet. The Talisman should be ritually anointed with
the proper oil and/or ritually consecrated with the proper
incense. The Talisman should, in all cases, be prepared by
oneself. The cultivation of the proper mental attitude is of
vital importance in the construction of the Talisman and one
needs to concentrate with complete attention on the intent or
nature of the force which the Talisman is intended to represent.
It is therefore most suitable to employ the proper Colors,
Metals, and Perfumes on the proper Days of the Week, and to
assume the proper God-forms to charge the Talismans, since these
directly indicate to the mind of the Magician his magical intent
and its corresponding Planetary force or energy.
From a psychological point of view, the Planets are objects of
classification in the mind of man. We may classify under the
presidency of the Seven Ancient Planets various human and
spiritual influences, attributes or qualities of man. Any proper
book on Astrology can direct you in this fundamental knowledge.
The basic idea is to understand which Planet you will classify
your intent under to make effective your Magical Talisman. For
instance, if your intent is to cultivate better health, then you
would classify this intent under the presidency of the Sun. You
would therefore make a Talisman of the Sun and assume the God
Form of Ra to properly charge it with the energies of the Sun. If
your intent is to find a lover, then you would classify this
intent under the presidency of Venus. You would therefore make a
Talisman of Venus and assume the God-form of Hathoor to properly
charge it with the energies of Venus.
The assumption of God-forms is a most essential part of magical
operations proper. Students should most earnestly study and
practice the principles of this matter outlined in Liber 0
contained in Gems from the Equinox, by Aleister Crowley
(Published by Falcon Press). Listed below are seven Egyptian God-
forms. You may, however, assume other God-forms from other
Pantheons. But the Egyptian Gods are the most useful to assume
for operations of Magick. (Note: For other God-forms which
correspond with the Seven Ancient Planets, consult 777 and other
Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley.) To properly assume a
God-form, and to assume that God's particular type of cosmic
consciousness, you would study and meditate on its ancient image
and mythological characteristics. In this manner you assimilate
that God into your consciousness, allowing for the free
fulfillment of its energy or force as represented by its
corresponding Ancient Planet. This is most vital to the work.
In the centre of each Talisman, it is an appropriate and
effective idea to write One Word which signifies your single
intent or One Will. It is said that "The Word is the Will." If
your intent is Love you would write this word in the centre of
the Talisman. This One Word may be written in Hebrew, English,
Enochian or in any other language; but it is a suitable idea to
write it in the particular language you are most familiar with.
However, Sigils may be formed by the use of One Word, and these
Sigils may be used instead of writing an actual word on the
Talisman. But concerning this we shall communicate more later,
regarding the use of the Rose-Cross symbol of the Golden Dawn.
Talismans should be constructed in the shape of a Circle. For the
Circle is a most powerful magical symbol, representing the powers
of the Infinite. But the Talisman may be constructed in other
meaningful shapes. For instance, if Love is your intent you could
construct your Talisman in the shape of a heart. Use your
imagination and you will see the many possibilities of this
practical method of creating Magical Talismans.
Listed below are the various correspondences of the so-called
Seven Ancient Planets. If you wanted to make a Talisman of the
Sun, you would construct it of Gold or on Yellow paper or with
Yellow Paint, on a Sunday, assuming the God-form of Ra, using the
Oil or Incense of Cinnamon. Note that Oils and Incenses are both
listed under the same title of Perfumes.

What is to follow are eleven ritual steps by which to effectively
charge a Talisman to accomplish your Will. These are simple steps
and can be easily performed by all members of the New Order of
the Golden Dawn. Let all make the simple attempt at completing
the simple task of making and charging at least one Talisman
after reading this lesson. It should further be suggested that
all members make Seven Talismans to correspond with the Seven
Ancient Planets. In this way you will have Seven Sacred Talismans
which you can use at any time to accomplish any goal. For such
Talismans, the One Word in the centre could be the name of the
Planet or God of which your Talisman is a material symbol.
ELEVEN RITUAL STEPS
1. Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram or
the Banishing Ritual of the Star Ruby (Liber XXV).
2. Perform the Middle Pillar Ritual and equilibrate the
Light by performing the Qabalistic Cross.
3. Light the appropriate Planetary incense.
4. Assume the God-form. Become the God as you breathe in
through your nostrils the smoke of the incense, as if it were the
spirit of the god entering your nostrils.
5. Vibrate the Divine Name of the God as many times
necessary to concentrate your entire attention on that God-form.
6. Recite an invocation appropriate to the God or Planet, or
just keep vibrating the Divine Name of the God until you achieve
total identification with it.
7. In the consciousness of the God, hold the Talisman in the
palms of your hands. Concentrate on it. Fix your eyes in its
centre, on the One Word or Sigil in the centre of your Talisman.
8. Vibrate that One Word as many times necessary to
concentrate your entire attention on your single magical intent
represented by that One Word. Use your One Word as if it were a
Mantra. The vibrations of the Word will act upon and modify the
Magical Agent (Astral Light) or Subconscious Mind.
9. Visualize your intent coming to pass. See the realization
of your Will. Then vitalize your imagination with force and fire,
enflaming your mind with power, to accomplish your One Will.
10. Place the Talisman in the palms of your hands at the
appropriate Chakra which corresponds with the Planet of the God
of your invocation. (Note: In Lesson Number XIII you will find
this information about the Chakras. Each Chakra is listed with
its corresponding Planet.) From this Chakra, see there emanate a
great power which charges the Talisman with the force of the God
of your invocation. Create in your mind's eye an astral stream of
energy emanating from the Chakra and pervading the Talisman with
its divine energy. This astral stream of energy should be
visualized in the appropriate color, as listed above under the
Table of Correspondences.
11. Do whatever else your intuition dictates. This is where
your own creative genius should arise and work its own power to
manifest your Will. Continue in this until you are totally
certain of the manifestation of your power to realize your single
intent. Create a magical climax to this realization. Know that
your Will is done. Then strike the battery 3-5-3, and say:
ABRAHADABRA.
It is best if the Magician performs a Lesser Banishing Ritual of
the Pentagram or the Banishing Ritual of the Star Ruby to close.
He/She should then place the Talisman in an appropriate secret
place (that is, in a concealed wallet, bag, box, or etc.).
Magicians of the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn, if it be
their Will, can write upon their Talismans the Law of Thelema or
the sacred number 93 which indicates that Law. In the former
case, you could write "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of
the Law" on the front of the Talisman and "Love is the law, love
under will" on the back. In the latter case, use your imagination
as best you can. By writing the Law of Thelema or the number 93
on your Talisman you properly charge it with the Current of your
own Will, since the Law of Thelema indicates your power to do
your Will in freedom. It is therefore a proper affirmation of
your Will, and it seals your Talisman with the energies of this
New Aeon of Horus, making it a dynamic magical link with the 93
Current and thus enhancing its power to accomplish your Will.
(Note: 93 is the numerical value of the Greek word Thelema which
means Will. The Law of Thelema is the Law of Will.)
The best Talisman to construct and use, for performing a specific
magical operation related to your one True Will, is a personal
Talisman of some sort. It should be constructed with One Word in
its centre representing your one True Will and any symbols that
you have a personal affinity for and that represent the force
that the Talisman will be charged with. On such a Talisman of
this type, you could write your own Magical Motto if the object
of the Talisman corresponds with your initiatory work in the New
Order of the Golden Dawn. This gives the Talisman even more power
to accomplish your one True Will, since it can evoke definite
psychological responses from within you which will be charged
with the spiritual power which your initiation bestowed upon you.
The Rose-Cross is one of the principal occult symbols of the
Golden Dawn. It is one of the symbols of the Second Order
of the Rose of Ruby and the Cross of Gold (Rosae Rubeae et Aureae
Crucis), and it indicates the Great Work of the Adept. It is
called "The Key of Sigils and Rituals." The Rose on the Cross has
22 petals in three rings, with another symbol of a Rose-Cross in
its centre. The central Rose-Cross has a Golden Cross made of six
squares, with a five petaled Red Rose in its centre. The three
central petals of the 22 petaled Rose correspond to the magical
elements of fire, water and air, and they have written on them
the Hebrew letters that correspond to them. The second row of
petals correspond to the Seven Planets, and they have written on
them the Hebrew letters that correspond to them. The outer petals
correspond to the Twelve Zodiacal Signs, and they have written on
them the Hebrew letters that correspond to them. The petals are
colored in the King Scale that is attributed to the twenty-two
Paths of the Qabalistic Tree of Life. The Rose in the centre of
the Cross represents the sixth Sephira of the Tree of Life called
Tiphareth which is the receptacle of the Sephirotic forces of the
Tree. You can use the Rose to form a Sigil as you do with the
Magick Squares. The general method for doing this is to start at
the first letter of the name you are using, draw a small circle,
and then draw a line from letter to letter used in the name. When
you get to the last letter, end with a small perpendicular line.
Although it is best to use words in Hebrew to form Talismans in
this way, you can also transliterate (i.e. substitute Hebrew
letters for the English ones) any name you want to use. This
magical method may be extended to the creation of a Sigil from a
single word signifying your One Will. You can leave the unused
letters blank, and put the Rose on the Talisman, or you can just
copy the Sigil unto the Talisman. If your Talisman is made from
colored paper, it is a most powerful idea to draw your Sigil in
the complementary color to that of the paper. (See the Complete
Golden Dawn System of Magic, by Israel Regardie, published by New
Falcon Publications, for the symbol of the Rose and Cross and
also for further practical information concerning the proper
means of using this divine Rosicrucian symbol to make the
appropriate Sigils for Talismans.)
It is very important to keep in mind, when charging your
Talisman, that THE ONLY POWER OF THE TALISMAN IS IN THE
IMAGINATION AND WILL OF THE MAGICIAN. Without the practical
application of these two vital powers of the human mind, there is
no possibility for success in the scientific operations of
Talismanic Magick. All works of Magick, human or divine, depend
upon the practical application of these two vital powers.
Concerning the essential power of imagination, Eliphas Levi
stated the following: "Imagination exalts the Will and gives it
power over the Universal Agent" and "Imagination applied to
reason is genius." The Universal Agent is the Astral Light or
Magical Agent through which all Magick is accomplished by the
Imagination and Will of the Magician. This Universal Agent is
symbolized by the Serpent, and is called the Kundalini in the
Philosophy of Yoga. It is a Universal Force which is controlled
and projected by the powers of the Imagination and Will of the
Magician. It is the instrument of Initiation, the Grand Secret of
All Power, called the Soul of the World and the Perpetual Fire of
terrestrial life. (Note: In Lesson No. XIII, there is much
information concerning the Kundalini or Serpent Force. Also see
the New Golden Dawn Flying Roll No. IV.)
Here ends our New Golden Dawn Correspondence Lesson concerning
the Sacred Art of Talismanic Magick. May this Royal Art bestow
upon you all its magical splendours of practical power, assisting
you all in the attainment of the Great Work, the Summum Bonum,
True Wisdom and Perfect Happiness. In nomine Novus Ordo Aureae
Aurora, Sic sit vobis!
Love is the law, love under will.
#magick #crowley #aleister #aleistercrowley