Three Books of Occult Philosophy · 126 of 186

Book II, Ch. 52: Of Characters which are drawn from things themselves by a certain likeness

We have spoken above of a certain manner of Images made not after the likeness of Celestial Images, but according to the emulation of that which the minde of the Operator doth desire. In like manner also it is to be understood of Characters; for such like Characters are nothing else then images ill dearticulated; yet having a certain probable similitude with the Celestial images, or with that which the mind of the Operator desires, whether that be from the whole image, or from certain markes thereof expressing the whole image. As the Characters of Aries and Taurus we make thus from thwir horns. Of Gemini from imbracing [embracing]. Of Cancer from a progress and regress, of Leo, Scorpio, and Capricorn, from their tail, of Virgo, from Spike of Libra from a ballance [balance] of Sagittarius from a dart, of Aquarius from Waters and of Pisces from Fishes. In like manner the Characters of Saturn is made from a Sickle of Jupiter, from a Scepter. Of Mars from a bolt of the Sun from roundness, and a golden brightness of Venus from a Lookinglass, of Mercury from a Wand of the Moon from her horns of increasing and decreasing. Besides, of these, according to the mixtions of Signs and Stars, and Natures, are made also mixed Characters, as of a fiery triplicity or Earthly of Aiery of Watery also according to the hundred and twentie conjunctions of Planets, result so many compound characters of various Figures; as of Saturn and Jupiter, viz. thus, or thus or thus of Saturn and Mars, or thus of Jupiter, and Mars or thus of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars, or thus. And as these are exemplified by two and three, so also of the rest, and of more may they be framed: after the same manner may the Characters of other Celestial images ascending in any face or degree of signs, be compendiously drawn after the likeness of the images, as in these which are made according to the way of imitation of that which the minde of the Operator desires, as to love, the figures be mixed together imbracing [embracing] and obeying one the other, but to hatred, on the contrary, turning away the one from the other; contending, unequal, loosed. But now we will here set down those Characters which Hermes assigned to the fixed stars, and Behenii, and they are these, The head of Algol.

The Pleiades.

Aldaboram [Aldeboran].

The Goat Star. [Hircus] The greater Dog-star. [Canis Major] The lesser Dog-star. [Canis Minor] [figure 110] The heart of the Lion. [Cor Leonis] [figure 111] The Tail of the Bear. [figure 112] The wing of the Crow. [figure 113] Spica. [figure 114] Alcameth. [Alchameth] [figure 115] Elpheia. [figure 116] The heart of the Scorpion. [figure 117] The Vulture falling. [Vultur cadens, i.e. Lyra] [figure 118] The tail of Capricorn.