The Almadel of Solomon

The Almadel is a square tablet of pure white wax, coloured to match the altitude being called, engraved with divine names, geometric figures and the names of angels. It is raised on small feet of wax and accompanied by four candles of the same wax, and a seal of gold or silver engraved with the names HELION, HELLUJON and ADONAI is laid at its centre. Beneath it an earthen censer holds hot ashes and a few grains of mastic; the smoke rising through holes at the corners is said to draw the angel, which appears in the fume and speaks. The operator's clothing and the oratory furnishings take the colour of the altitude. Each altitude's angels are called in particular months.

Purpose

The Almadel is a means of obtaining visions and answers from the angels of the four "altitudes" or choirs.

Timing

Day

Sunday — the day of Sun

Planetary hour

An hour of Sun, reckoned from local sunrise and sunset

Performed on a Sunday in the day and hour of the Sun. The text assigns angels of the first altitude to the first and second Sundays of March, others to Sundays in April, and another after the Sun enters Gemini in May.

Materials

• pure white beeswax (coloured per altitude)
• four wax candles
• seal of gold or silver
• mastic
• hot ashes

Tools

• earthen censer
• engraving stylus

Candles mounted on a wax tablet over a censer pose a fire risk.