Construction of the Pentacles of Sun

Seven pentacles are assigned to the Sun. They are made of gold or, on paper, drawn in gold or yellow, during the day and hour of the Sun. The plates show figures built around divine names such as the Tetragrammaton and solar angels, sometimes with a face or radiating design at the centre and verses on light and majesty around the edge. The operator follows the common rule of the holy pentacles: purification beforehand, unused material, incense of the Art, and careful storage in silk. The text frames the solar pentacles as instruments of dignity and authority, and as protection that makes the bearer respected. They are among the most elaborate of the plates in Mathers' edition.

Purpose

Solar pentacles are said to bring glory, renown, wealth and the favour of the powerful, and to subdue proud spirits.

Timing

Day

Sunday — the day of Sun

Planetary hour

An hour of Sun, 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.

Materials

• Gold plate (the metal of Sun)
• or virgin paper/parchment written in gold or yellow
• 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.