Construction of the Pentacles of Moon

Six pentacles are given for the Moon. They are made of silver or drawn in silver on virgin paper during the day and hour of the Moon. The plates include figures of a door or gateway, verses about waters and floods, and the names of lunar angels such as Gabriel. Chapter 18's common rules govern the work: purity of the maker, unused or fire-purified material, the incense of the Art, and storage wrapped in silk. Given the Key's association of the Moon with journeys, messages and water, these pentacles are described as safeguards against storms, flooding and night-time perils, and as aids to visions in sleep. They close the series of forty-four pentacles in Mathers' plates.

Purpose

The Lunar pentacles are presented as protecting travellers, especially from dangers of water, and as bringing visions and opening doors.

Timing

Day

Monday — the day of Moon

Planetary hour

An hour of Moon, reckoned from local sunrise and sunset

Moon

Waxing (increasing in light)

Ch. 18 requires the pentacles to be made in the days and hours proper to their planet. Book I ch. 2 favours the Moon increasing in light for any work of construction and forbids beginning anything while the Moon is conjoined with the Sun. The Moon's own day naturally suits the Lunar pentacles; an increasing Moon is preferred.

Materials

• Silver plate (the metal of Moon)
• or virgin paper/parchment written in silver
• incense of the Art
• silk cloth for wrapping

Tools

• burin or graver of the Art (for metal)
• pen and ink of the Art (for paper)

Omitted

Book II ch. 17 describes "virgin parchment" as made from the skin of a young animal flayed with ritual words; this is recorded for historical understanding only and should not be performed. Ordinary paper is the text's own lesser alternative.

Fire safety when burning incense.