Heptameron Conjuration of Saturday

The Heptameron gives a short conjuration and a table of "considerations" for each day of the week. For Saturday, the angels of the day are Cassiel, Machatan and Uriel, and the angels of the air are ruled by the king Maymon with his ministers Abumalith, Assaibi and Balidet, under the south-west wind. As on Thursday, no angels of the air are named above the fifth heaven, so the four-quarter prayers are used instead. The text's fumigation for Saturday is noted separately as unsafe. Its circle, three rings nine feet wide, carries in the middle ring the name and angel of the hour, the angels of the day, and the names of the season, its ruling spirits, the earth, the Sun and the Moon; the outer ring names the king and ministers of the air.

Purpose

The text attributes to Saturday's spirits the sowing of discord and ill thoughts and bodily harm, as well as giving freedom of action; these claims are reported only.

Timing

Day

Saturday — the day of Saturn

Moon

Waxing (increasing in light)

Saturday is the day of Saturn. Moon increasing ("equal and not combust"). The operator first keeps nine days of purification with confession and communion, the master three days of fasting and chastity. The circle names the angel of whatever hour is used; hours are reckoned from sunrise.

Materials

• holy water
• charcoal
• clean linen garment

Tools

• consecrated sword
• new earthen vessel for fire
• linen vestment
• pentacle on parchment
• book of conjurations

Omitted

The Heptameron gives sulphur as Saturday's fumigation. Burning sulphur releases toxic sulphur dioxide; this is recorded for historical understanding only and should not be performed.

Toxic fumes; see historical note.