Fourth Book: the names, characters and shapes of spirits

Book the Fourth of OCCULT PHILOSOPHY, OR OF MAGICAL CEREMONIES.

Written by Henry Cornelius Agrippa.

IN our Books of Occult Philosophy, we have not so compendiously, as copiously, declared the principles, grounds, and reasons of Magick itself, and after what manner the experiments thereof are to be chosen, elected, and compounded, to produce many wonderful effects; but because in those books they are treated of, rather Theorically, than Practically; and some also are not handled completely and fully, and others very figuratively, and as it were Enigmatically and obscure Riddles, as being those we have attained to with great study, diligence, and very curious searching and exploration, and are heretofore set forth in a more rude and unfashioned manner.

Therefore in this book, which we have composed and made as it were a Complement and Key of our other books of Occult Philosophy, and of all Magical Operations, we will give unto thee the documents of holy and undefiled verity, and inexpugnable and unresistable Magical discipline, and the most pleasant and delectable experiments of the sacred deities. So that as by the reading of our other books of Occult Philosophy, thou mayest earnestly covet the knowledge of these things; even so with reading this Book, thou shalt truely triumph. Wherefore let silence hide these things within the secret Closets of thy Religious Breast, and conceal them with constant Taciturnity.

This therefore is to be known, That the names of the intelligent presidents of every one of the Planets are constituted after this manner: that is to say, by collecting together the letters out of the figure of the World, from the rising of the body of the Planet, according to the succession of the Signs through the several degrees; and out of the several degrees, from the Aspects of the Planet himself, the calculation being made from the degree of the ascendant.

In the like manner are constituted the names of the Princes of the evil Spirits; they are taken under all the Planets of the presidents in a retrograde order, the projection being made contrary to the succession of the Signs, from the begining of the seventh house. Now the name of the supreme and highest intelligence, which many do suppose to be the soul of the world, is collected out of the four Cardinal points of the figure of the world, after the manner already delivered: and by the opposite and contrary way, is known the name of the great Daemon, or evil Spirit, upon the four Cadent Angles.

In the like manner shalt thou understand the names of the great presidential Spirits ruling in the Air, from the four Angles of the succedant houses: so that as to obtain the names of the good spirits, the calculation is to be made according to the succession of the signs, begining from the degree of the ascendant: and to attain to the names of the evil spirits, by working the contrary way.

You must also observe, that the names of the evil spirits are extracted, as well from the names of the good spirits, as of the evil: so notwithstanding, that if we enter the table with the name of a good spirit of the second order, the name of the evil spirit shall be extracted from the order of the Princes and Governors: but if we enter the table with the name of a good Spirit of the third order, or with the name of an evil Spirit a Governor, after what manner soever they are extracted, whether by this table, or from a celestial figure, the names which do proceed from hence, shall be the names of the evil spirits, the Ministers of the inferior order.

It is further to be noted, That as often as we enter this table with the good Spirits of the second order, the names extracted are of the second order; and if under them we extract the name of an evil Spirit, he is of the superior order of the Governors. The same order is, if we enter with the name of an evil Spirit of the superior order. If therefore we enter this table with the names of the Spirits of the third order, or with the names of the ministering Spirits as well of the good Spirits, as of the evil, the names extracted shall be the names of the ministering Spirits of the inferior order.

But many Magicians, men of no small Authority, will have the tables of this kind to be extended with Latin Letters: so that by the same tables also, out of the name of any office or effect, might be found out the name of any spirit, as well good as evil, by the same manner which is above delivered, by taking the name of the office or of the effect, in the column of letters, in their own line, under their own star. And of this practice Trismegistus is a great Author, who delivered this kind of calculation in Egyptian letters: not unproperly also may they be referred to other letters of other tongues, for the reasons assigned to the signs; for truly he only is extant of all men, who have treated concerning the attaining to the names of spirits.

Therefore the force, secrecy and power, in what manner the sacred names of spirits are truly & rightly found out, consisteth in the disposing of vowels, which do make the name of a spirit, & wherewith is constituted the true name & right word. Now this art is thus perfected and brought to pass; first, we are to take heed of placing the vowels of the letters, which are found by the calculation of the celestial fi[…]ure, to find the names of the spirits of the second order, Presidents and Governors. And this in the good spirits, is thus brought to effect, by considering the stars which do constitute and make the letters, and by placing them according to their order: First let the degree of the eleventh house be substracted from the degree of that star which is First in order; and that which remaineth thereof, let it be projected from the degree of the ascendant; and where that number endeth, there is part of the vowel of the First letter: begin therefore to calculate the vowels of these letters, according to their number and order; and the vowel which falleth in the place of the star, which is the first in order, the same vowel is attributed to the First letter. Then afterwards thou shalt find the part of the second letter, but substracting the degree of a star, which is the second in order from the first star; and that which remaineth, cast from the ascendant. And this is the part from which thou shalt begin the calculation of the vowels; and that vowel which falleth upon the second star, the same is the vowel of the second letter: and so consequently mayest thou search out the vowels of the following letters always, by substracting the degree of the following star, from the degree of the star next preceding and going before. And so also all calculations, and numerations in the names of the good spirits, ought to be made according to the successions of the signs. And in calculating the n[…]mes of the evil spirits, where in the names of the good spirits is taking the degree of the eleventh house, in these ought to be taken the degree of the twelfth house. And all numerations and calculations may be made with the succession of the signs, by taking the beginning from the degree of the tenth house.

But in all extractions by tables, the vowels are placed after another manner. In the first place therefore is taken the certain number of letters making the name itself, & is thus numbered from the beginning of the column of the first letter, or whereupon the name is extracted; and the letter on which this number falleth, is referred to the first letter of the name, extracted by taking the distance of the one from the other, according to the order of the alphabet. But the number of that distance is projected from the beginning of his column; and where it endeth, there is part of the first vowel: from thence therefore thou shalt calcul[…]te the vowels themselves, in their own number and order, in the same column; and the vowel which shall fall upon the first letter of a name, the same shall be at[…]ributed to that name. Now thou shalt find the following vowels, by taking the distance from the precedent vowel to the following: and so consequently according to the succession of the alphabet. And the number of that distance is to be numbered from the beginning of his own column; and where he shall cease, there is part of the vowel sought after. From thence therefore must you calculate the vowels, as we have abovesaid; and those vowels which shall fall upon your own letters, are to be attributed unto them: if therefore any vowel should happen to fall upon a vowel, the former must give place to the latter: and this you are to understand only of the good spirits. In the evil spirits also you may proceed in the same way; except only that you make the numerations after a contrary and backward order, contrary to the succession of the alphabet, and contrary to the order of the columns (that is to say) in ascending.

The name of good Angels, and of every man, which we have taught how to find out, in our third book of Occult Philosophy, according to that manner, is of no little authority, nor of a mean foundation. But now we will give unto thee some other ways, illustrated with no vain reasons. one whereof is, by taking in the figure of the nativity, the five places of Hylech; which being noted, the characters of the letters are projected in their order and number from the beginning of Aries; and those letters which fall upon the degrees of the said places, accord[…]ng to their order and dignity disposed and aspected, do make the name of an Angel. There is also another way wherein they do take Almutel, which is the ruling and governing star over the aforesaid five places; and the projection is to be made from the degree of the ascendant; which is done by gathering together the letters falling upon Almutel, which being placed in order, according to their dignity, do make the name of an Angel. There is furthermore another way used, and very much had in observation from the Egyptians, by making their calculations from the degree of the ascendant, and by gathering together the letters according to the Almutel of the eleventh house; which house they call a good Damon: which being placed according to their dignities, the names of the Angels are constituted. Now the names of the evil Angels are known after the like manner except only that the projections must be performed contrary to the course and order of the succession of the signs: so that whereas in seeking the names of good spirits, we are to calculate from the beginning of Aries; contrariwise, in attaining the names of the evil, we ought to account from the beginning of Libra. And whereas in the good spirits we number from the degree of the ascendant; contrarily, in the evil, we must calculate from the degree of the seventh house. But according to the Egyptians, the name of an Angel is collected according to the Almutel of the twelfth house which they call an evil spirit. Now all those rites, which are elsewhere already by us delivered in our third book of Occult Philosophy, may be made by the characters of any language. In all which (as we have abovesaid) there is a mystical and divine number, order and figure; from whence it cometh to pass, that the same spirit may be called by divers names. But others are discovered from the name of the spirit himself, of the good or evil, by tables formed to this purpose.

Now these celestial characters do consist of lines and heads: the heads are six, according to the six magnitudes of the stars, whereunto the planets also are reduced. The first magnitude holdeth a star, with the Sun, or a cross. The second with Jupiter a circular point. The third holdeth with Saturn, a semicircle, a triangle, either crooked, round or accute. The fourth with Mars, a little stroke penetrating the line, either square, straight, or oblique. The fifth with Venus and Mercury, a little stroke or point with a tail, ascending or descending. The sixth with the Moon, a point made black. All which you may see in the ensuing table. The heads then being posited according to the site of the stars of the figure of heaven, then the lines are to be drawn out according to the congruency or agreement of their natures. And this you are to understand of the fixed stars. But in the erecting of the Planets, the lines are drawn out, the heads being posited according to their course and nature amongst themselves.

When therefore a character is to be found of any celestial Image ascending in any degree or face of a sign, which do consist of Stars of the same magnitude and nature; then the number of these Stars being posited according to their place and order, the lines are drawn after the similitude of the Image signified, as copiously as the same can be done.

But the characters which are extracted according to the name of a spirit, are composed by the table following, by giving to every letter that name which agreeth unto him, out of the table; which although it may appear easy to those that apprehend it, yet there is herein no small difficulty; to wit, when the letter of a name falleth upon the line of letters or figures, that we may know which figure or which letter is to be taken. And this may be thus known: for if a letter falleth upon the line of letters, consider of what number this letter may be in the order of the name; as the second or the third: then how many letters that name containeth; as five or seven; and multiply these numbers one after another by themselves, and treble the product then cast the whole (being added together) from the beginning of the letters according to the succession of the alphabet: and the letter upon which that number shall happen to fall, ought to be placed for the character of that spirit. But if any letter of a name fall on the line of figures, it is thus to be wrought. Take the number how many this letter is in the order of the name, and let it be multiplied by the number of which this letter is in the order of the alphabet; and being added together, divide it by nine, and the remainder sheweth the figure or number to be placed in the character: and this may be put either in a Geometrical or Arithmetical figure of number; which notwithstanding ought not to exceed the number of nine, or nine Angels.

The Characters of good Spirits.

The Characters of evil Spirits.

But the Characters which are understood by the revelation, of Spirits, take their virtue from thence; because they are as it were, certain hidden seats, making the harmony of some divinity: either they are signs of a covenant entered into and of promised and plighted faith, or of obedience. And those characters cannot by any other means be searched out.

Moreover, besides these Characters, there are certain familiar Figures and Images of evil spirits, under which forms they are wont to appear, and yeild obedience to them that invoke them. And all these characters or Images may be seen by the table following, according to the course of the letters constituting the names of spirits themselves: so that if in any letter there is found more than the name of one spirit, his Image holdeth the preeminence the others imparting their own order; so that they which are the first orders, to them is attributed the head, the upper part of the body, according to their own figure; those which are lowest do possess the thighs and feet; so also the midde letters do attribute like to themsel[…]es the middle parts of the body, to give the parts that sit. But if their happen any contrarity, that letter which is the stronger in the number shall bear rule: and if they are equal, they all impart equal things. Furthermore if any name shall obtain any notable character or instrument out of the table, he shall likewise have the same character in the Image.

We may also attain to the knowledge of the dignities of the evil spirits, by the same tables of characters & images: for upon what spirit soever their falleth any excellent sign or instrument out of the table of characters, he possesseth that dignity. As if their should be a crown, it sheweth a Kingly dignity; if a crest or plume, a Dukedom; if a horn, a county, if without these there be a scepter, sword, or forked instrument, it sheweth rule & authority. Likewise out of the table of images you shall find them which bear the chief Kingly dignity: from the crown judge dignity; & from the instruments, rule & authority. Lastly, they which bear an human shape and figure, have greater dignity than those which appear under the forms & images of beasts; they also who ride, do excel them which appear on foot. And thus according to all their commixtures, you may judge the dignity & excellency of spirits, one before another. Moreover, you must understand, that the spirits of the inferior order, of what dignity soever they be, are always subject to the spirits of the superior order: so also, that it is not incongruent for their Kings & Dukes to be subject & minister to the presidents of the superior order.

The shapes familiar to the Spirits of Saturn. ♄︎

THey appear for the most part with a tall, lean and slender body, with an angry countenance, having four faces; one in the hinder part of the head, one on the former part of the head, and on each side nosed or beaked: there likewise appeareth a face on each knee, of a black shining colour; th[…]ir motion is the moving of the wind, with a kind of earthquake: their sign is white earth, whiter than any snow.

The particular f[…]ms are,

• A King having a beard. riding on a Dragon.
• An Old man with a beard.—An Old woman leaning on a staff.
• A Hog.—A Dragon.—An Owl.—A black Garment.
• A Hook or Sickle.—A Juniper-tree.

The familiar forms to the Spirits of Jupiter. ♃︎

THe spirits of Jupiter do appear with a body sanguine and choleric, of a middle stature, with a horrible fearful motion; but with a mild countenance, a gentle speech, and of the colour of Iron. The motion of them is flashings of Lightning and Thunder; their sign is, there will appear men about th[…] Circle, who shall seem to be devoured of […]ions.

Th[…]ir particular forms ar[…],

• A King with a Sword drawn, riding on a Stag.
• A Man wearing a Mitre in long raiment.
• A Maid with a Laurel Crown adorned with Flowers.
• A Bull.—A Stag.—A Peac[…]ck.
• An azure garment.—A Sword.—A Box-tree.

The familiar forms of the Spirits of Mars. ♂︎

THey appear in a tall body, choleric, a filthy countenance, of colour brown, swa[…]hy or red, h[…]ving horns like Harts horns, and Griphins claws, bes[…]wing l[…]ke wild Bulls. Their Motion is like fire burning; their si[…]n Thunder and Lightning about the Circle.

Their parti[…]ular shapes are,

• A King armed riding upon a Wolf.—A Man armed.
• A Woman holding a buckler on her thigh.
• A she Goat.—A Horse.—A Stag.
• A red Garment.—Wool.—A Cheeslip.

Shapes familiar to the Spirits of the Sun. ☉︎

THE Spirits of the Sun do for the most part appear in a large, full and great body, sanguine and gross, in a gold colour, with the tincture of blood. Their motion is as the Lightning of Heaven; their sign is to move the person to sweat that calls them. But their particular forms are,

• A King having a Scepter riding on a Lion.
• A King crowned.—A Queen with a Scepter.
• A Bird.—A Lion.—A Cock.
• A yellow or Golden Garment.
• A Scepter.—Caudatus.

Familiar shapes of the Spirits of Venus. ♀︎

THEY do appear with a fair body. of middle stature, with an amiable and pleasant countenance, of colour white or green, the upper part Golden. The motion of them is as it were a most clear Star. For their sign, there will seem to be maids playing without the circle, which will provoke and alure him that calleth them to play. But their particular forms are,

• A King with a Scepter riding on a Camel.
• A Maid naked.—A she Goat.
• A Camel.—A Dove.
• A white or green Garment.
• Flowers.—The herb Savine.

The familiar forms of the Spirits of Mercury. ☿︎

THE Spirits of Mercury will appear for the most part in a body of a middle stature, cold, liquid and moist, fair, and of an affable speech; in a human shape and form, like unto a Knight armed; of colour clear and bright. The motion of them is as it were silver-coloured clouds. For their sign, they cause and bring horror and fear to him that calls them. But their particular shapes are,

• A King riding upon a Bear.
• A fair Youth.—A Woman holding a distaff.
• A Dog.—A she Bear.—A Magpy.
• A Garment of sundry changeable colours.
• A Rod.—A little staff.

The forms familiar to the Spirits of the Moon. ☽︎

THEY will for the most part appear in a great and full body, soft and phlegmatick, of […]o[…]our […]ike a black obscure cloud, having a swe[…]ling c[…]untenance, with eyes red and full of water, a b[…]ld head, and teeth like a wild boar. Their mo[…]on is as it were an exceeding great ten pest o[…]he sea. […]or their sign, there will appear exceeding g[…]ea[…] about the circle. and their particular sh[…]pes are,

• A King like an Archer riding upon a Doe.
• A little Boy.
• A Woman-hunter with a bow and arrows,
• A Cow.—A little Doe.—A Goose.
• A Garment green or silver-coloured.
• An Arrow.—A Creature […]aving many feet.