Excerpt from the Orphic Talismanology

Talismans are a powerful means of realization. One of these is ‘Geocrator”. This word comes from ‘geo’, which means Earth, and ‘crator’, which means domination, the whole meaning ‘the talisman that gives terrestrial power’.

Geocrator is made when the Earth is at Aphelion. The Initiate should observe the exact time and then enter his oratory (chapel), wearing only a long white robe embroidered with an orange coloured stripe. (Because the white robe is the usual attire of work for the Initiate, the coloured stripe must be summarily adapted for this circumstance). He proceeds to the purification of his chapel, according to the rite. He completes this practice by entering into his laboratory (see purification and practice of the teachings of the Ritual Colleges). There, equipped with raw and dry clay (argil), he laminates it into three sifts of different thinness so as to obtain an impalpable powder. He then takes water from a pure source and washes this argil powder three times, drying it on a small stove. The whole operation must be carried out under the influence of an orange coloured light. The Initiate then takes a lead mould and traces the following figure (see Figure 1).

    Figure 1

This figure is completed by the signs and symbols of the different planets whose vibrations he wants to capture. These signs must be inscribed in the left circle, symbol of the Earth. When the mould is ready, the Initiate takes the clay paste and makes a paste that he cuts into 3 small round plaques. He covers them with a coat of paraffin and squeezes them into the mould in order to reproduce the imprint clearly. He then closes up the 3 small plaques in another vase of cooked clay, where a vacuum has been made and where it is covered over with the clay paste from which the 3 small plaques were made. This egg is submitted to fire for 3 days and 3 nights. The fire should not exceed 100 degrees. It is preferable that this last operation be made in an Athanor (or an entirely closed oven). On the 3rd day, the Initiate enters his chapel and proceeds to purification and to his practice. He enters his laboratory, puts out the fire and waits for the Athanor to cool. He then takes the egg out, folds it in an orange coloured cloth and sets it in a safe place in his chapel.

Following this, the Initiate must study the powerful situations (positions) of the planets that will influence the Earth, and at the favourable time and day, he will break the egg and take out the 3 small plaques. He will expose them for 3 hours to the stereosomatoscopic influence of said planets. In order to avoid any other influence affecting the small plaques, such as that from other planets or stars that happen to be in the sky, each plaque must be placed in a sachet bearing the same colour as that of the planet whose vibration is desired to be captured. From the terrestrial aspect, Geocrator is already in force when out of the egg, and has the power to capture the vibrations of other planets and increase the power in its direction.

All earthly beings that are born under unfavourable auspices can be immensely strengthened by Geocrator as regards their will-power and resilience in their determinations and decisions. Moreover, Geocrator has very great therapeutic powers for all those who suffer from illnesses of the blood or of the heart. In these cases, it is carried under the left armpit. In all other cases it is worn on the breast in an orange sachet.

Geocrator can still retain its power even if it breaks. But it must be covered with plaster in order to keep it in its initial shape.

Besides Geocrator, there exist two other talismans named “Geocritis” and “Geophantor”. The first serves to produce transcendental sight through terrestrial Matter. The second permits the transaudition of the conscious terrestrial elements. Both are made in the same way as Geocrator, but must be isolated from all light. Their name must be inscribed in the emblem of the Earth and they must not be submitted to any other influence but that of the Earth (See Figures 2 and 3). 

Figure 2Figure 3

Talismans of the Mercury

There are 3 principal talismans that depend on the influences of Mercury. The first, called “Hermogenis”, is made when Mercury and Venus are in periscopic power. “Hermocritis” is made during the periscopic power of Mercury and Earth, and “Hermiticos” during that of Mercury and Saturn.

Hermogenis is called the talisman of happiness, of joy and of wealth. Medically, the talismanic influence of Hermogenis is more serious. It acts in a beneficial manner on the generating organs and heals a large number of their ills. Hermogenis is made on an engraved silver plaque that has been kept in mercury for 87 days from the date of the periscopic power of Mercury and Venus. (See Figure 1). 

Figure 1

Hermocritis is the talisman made under the combined influence of Mercury and Earth. It is made of clay in the form of an oval medallion (See Figure 2). 

Figure 2

The clay is kneaded together with the mercury and on its almost spherical surfaces the sign of the Earth and that of Mercury are each marked twice. Hermocritis is a talisman that is worn crosswise only at the time when the individual needs to have recourse to its power. Hermocritis strengthens Man’s virtues of realization. It provides Man with power to dominate and, placed in the hands of a third person, subjects this last completely to the first. This influence need only be inspired by justice and probity, otherwise the balance is broken and the talisman loses its strength. 

Hermiticos is the talisman made under the auspices of Mercury and Saturn in periscopic power. It is made of lead that was previously melted with mercury for a long time. It is round in shape and takes on the cavity of a bowl. 

Figure 3

It is divided into 7 petals and has the power to develop Man’s psychic faculties. In certain instances, Hermiticos becomes the talisman of invisibility in particular. It is worn on one’s body but only when necessary. 

These are the principal talismans of Mercury. There are others as well that we shall indicate in a special work. 

The exact procedures for the realization of these talismans will be deposited in the Ritual College. 

Talismans of the Venus

We can obtain a large number of talismans under the influence of Venus combined with that of other planets. In this matter, Venus comes second after Jupiter in fertility. However, we shall here deal only with its 3 principal talismans. They are “Psycoscopos”, “Psycostrate” and “Psycophoros”. 

The first is the talisman by which Man manages to conquer the psychical domain of a number (a collectivity) of individuals in order to direct them towards the path of Good. 

Psycoscopos is made of wood, whether of an apple tree, of a cherry tree or of a wild cherry tree. It is in the form of a small rod on which the traditional characters are inlaid with a copper thread. Psycoscopos must be made in accordance with the following ritual: When Venus and Earth are in ascendant inflation and the Moon in its apogee, the Initiate first purifies himself. He then goes under one of the above mentioned trees and there, by the light of the Moon, after making the salute to the 4 corners of the horizon, he turns towards the East, with his back to the tree and carries out the practice indicated in the Ritual College. The then takes a copper knife and, although this is quite difficult, cuts off one of the branches of the tree. He works on it so as to make a rod of 25 or 34 centimetres long, as straight as possible and without any roughness or knots. He folds this piece of wood in a red cloth and takes it to his laboratory without turning back. After the usual purifications, he cleans the rod, taking as much care as possible not to harm the bark. He then trims it on its two opposite sides (Figure 1, cut of talisman), and engraves the drawing indicated by fig. II on the trimmed parts, and inlays them with copper. He then submits this rod to purification composed of 40 practices, while all the time it is enclosed in a red vegetal cloth. The ends of the talisman can be equipped with gilt copper balls for better preservation. 

Psycoscopos must never be put in the hands of any other person. It must be used with great circumspection. It has the power to subject to psychical influence any living being that comes in contact with it. It acts on the psychic current and orients it on every individual. It heals all ills derived from psychic knots and dissolves every spell, especially when this last is connected with sexual realizations. Before making use of Psycoscopos, the Initiate must wear it adapted to his body for 40 times, 20 days and 20 nights. During this period of time men wear Psycoscopos adapted to the interior of the right thigh; women wear it adapted to the parallel line against the xiphoid appendix so that it may become saturated with the Initiate’s psychic fluid. 

Figure 1

Figure 2

Psycostrate is composed at the moment of the periscopic power of Venus and Jupiter. Its action lies in the preservation of all beings from attacks by the evil influences of Venus and its periscopic planets. It heals all diseases of the skin, whatever they are. We will just give its figure here. It is an oval small plaque in the shape of a gland and it is of gilt copper. (See Figure 3). 

Figure 3

Psycophoros is made when the Earth meets Venus and Saturn in first zone. Psycophoros has the power to support anyone who works on the externalisations of his/her psychic powers. It permits one to develop them and makes of one a Venusian capable of having certain astral powers. For both men and women, Psycophoros is made in the form of a ring or bracelet. When it is in a state of inactivity, it is worn on the left hand; when active, it is worn on the right. This talisman is composed of gold and copper in accordance with the rites indicated in the teaching of the Ritual College. (See Figure 4). 

Figure 4

Talismans of the Mars

There are many different kinds of talismans that can be made by means of the influence of Mars. Here we shall indicate only the principal ones, "Arianos", "Despotis” and “Ariator”. 

The first is the one that renders both men and women powerful in fertility. It is made at the moment when the influences of Mars are regenerated, at 75 degrees in the Belt of Eurydice, and if Mars is in conjunction with Mercury. Arianos is made on a piece of pure woollen cloth, on which the signs of Mars and Mercury are alternately drawn in the necessary colours.

If the Initiate sees two beings that suffer from sterility that has an unfavourable consequence of a moral kind on either one of on both, he assists them by making the talisman Arianos. He does this by cutting into two a piece of cloth made of goat’s wool. Each of the two persons that the Initiate wishes to assist takes a piece and wears it for 9 days, applied to the inferior part of the body. After the period of 9 days, the Initiate takes these two pieces of cloth and puts each one in a yellow sachet on which he has previously drawn the principal significator of each of these individuals. 

On the day and time desired, the Initiate enters his laboratory lit by a yellow light. After purification, he traces Figure 1 on the cloth worn by the man, and Figure 2 on that worn by the woman in the ad hoc colours, and puts them back to their respective sachets. 

Figure 1Figure 2

As regards the use of the talisman, both man and woman must wear the sachet containing the talisman on the navel. The sachet will be held in place by a woollen belt in the form of a ribbon.

A year later, the woman will be fertile. If the man comes in contact with her from the right, she will bear a boy; if from the left, she will bear a girl. 

The talisman Despotis is composed solely for men. It serves as a talisman of influence and domination and can create very powerful currents of morality in favour of the person wearing it. It is usually made in the form of a ring. 

When Mars and Jupiter meet at 91 degrees in the Belt of Eurydice, the Initiate takes a flat garnet-red stone, round or oval, on which he engraves the sign represented by Figure 3. 

Figure 3Figure 4

After purification, the Initiate exposes this stone to the stereosomatoscopic view of Mars and of Jupiter. Nine days later, he mounts the stone on a gold ring. This talisman acts only on those persons who look at it. The force that it projects, united with that of the Initiate, support the person in his/her activity.

Like many other talismans, Ariator serves to protect the one who bears it from accidents that are likely to happen due to unfavourable Martial influence. It is made on an oxidized iron and silver plaque. The whole, in form and inscriptions is indicated by Figure 4. It can be worn as a pendant. 

Talismans of the Jupiter

There are many kinds of talismans that can be made by means of the influence of Jupiter. We shall indicate only the principal ones. These are “Selinoforos’, “SeIinonikis" and “Selinofagos”.

These three talismans are composed and made in order to capture Jupiter’s vibrations, to act through them and to use them on the lunar vibrations and influences. 

Selinoforos is a talisman by means of which all the psycho-lunatic illnesses can be cured, especially epilepsy. This talisman can be made at the moment when Jupiter and the Moon are found in the first zone of Heptaktis. The material used is tin and silver. Each of these metals is treated separately, at different times, through the vibrations of the two astral elements that constitute the power of this talisman. 

At the set time - known to the Initiate of our Order - he enters his laboratory where he proceeds to blend the two above mentioned metals, in the ratio of 4 tin to 1 sliver, When the mixture has been obtained, he makes a rather thick medal of it. On the part of the periphery he traces the sign of Jupiter 12 times. On one of the surfaces (which will be the principal one) he then traces the sign of Jupiter and the crescent of the Moon. On the other surface, he traces the name of the talisman encircling the sign of Jupiter.  

medal principle surface second surface

Selinonikis is composed of the same materials as the first, but at the ratio of 3 tin to 2 silver. This is a talisman that allows one to have visions and premonitory dreams. It is in the form of an egg and is hung under the right or the left armpit.  

Figure 1 Figure 2

Selinofagos is also composed of the same materials but in the ratio of 2 tin to 3 silver. This is a necromantic talisman that permits the Initiate to exercise active influence on certain inferior forces that act on living persons and trouble their health and their calm. 

Talismans of the Saturn

Saturn is the father of talismans because its vibrations are firm, constant and very powerful. They can be captured more easily than those of the other planets.

The neutralizing rays of Mercury are the only ones that can limit and fetter Saturn’s influences in a talisman.

The commander’s sceptre has two poles that are alternately polarized positively and negatively, according to the hours and the seasons. When in a state of power, one of the poles possesses the vibrations of Mercury and the other those of Saturn.

The action of Saturn is very great on Matter in general. This is why the Initiate must start by a profound study of this action before undertaking works of realization. He must learn how to preserve the materials that he manipulates from the influence of Saturn.

Many have tried to make talismans merely guided by books. They almost never succeeded and gave up their attempts, discouraged and disillusioned. This was because they unwittingly left their talismans under the influence of Saturn.

The present chapter is the last of the treatise providing information about talismans. This is because the last three planets have never served in the Orphic tradition as talismanic agents.