The Sorcerer's Blog

2016-11-01

Red Hand/Black Hand Method

This is another relic of the Black Sun Project era. Though the colors aren’t appropriate, I called this the Red Hand/Black Hand method. It keyed powers to each finger of the right and left hand, the positive finger of onehand pairing with a method of harm on the oppositional finger. Thumb: Inspiration, Suicide. Forefinger: Wisdom, Contagion. Middle: Prowess, Violence. Ringfinger: Fitness,…
2016-10-09

The Divine and Demonic Absurdity of Names

The divine and demonic absurdity of names. This was a topic raised elsewhere, but I want to highlight it here while also avoiding getting into anything which could be construed as personal with people I respect. Astaroth and Astarte are completely different beings. It is historically correct that the name Astaroth (a male, aggressive demon)…
2016-09-26

Engraving Pens For Scholastic Image Magic

The primary tool for making SIM talismans is the diamond-tipped stylus or pen (I mean, other than your brains, astrology software and so forth.) Do not use a dremel or another powered engraving tool. It will slide across the surface of the metal or gemstone, ruining the inscription or snagging it and slinging it across…
2016-09-22

Durability of SIM Talismans’ Effects

“If you carefully attend to the proper harmony, and harmoniously join figures together and prepare them, they will be the first matter and foundation of this work. When images are fashioned in this way, they will be lasting and complete in their effects, and if they are not fashioned in this way, their effects will…
2016-09-22

And Keep Silent

“We base our entreaties on God Himself, that He may so illuminate your mind and spirit that His profound sciences may be opened to you, and that He may protect and defend you from the conspiracies of the common people and of evildoers, and that you will not reveal any of your secrets to the…
2016-09-10

The Nine Of Us Are Vigilant
2016-09-09

On Jupiter’s Temperateness

As a followup to my other Jupiter posts; I have ruminated at great length on the topic since I wrote that a few years ago and it’s worth expounding upon. Jupiter’s temperateness is a concept hard to convey in contemporary terms. Jupiter has the capacity to augment, but ultimately it is the active promotion of…
2016-09-08

Night of the Demon

One of my favorite horror movies. Best viewed in HD when available. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1xd6p8_night-of-the-demon-1957_shortfilms
2016-08-29

The Limits of Eclipses

In Robertus Anglicus’ commentary on the Sphere of Sacrobosco, he identifies the orb of an eclipse as 12 degrees; presumably the moiety is 6. This book and translations of all the major commentaries should be made available in English as soon as possible.
2016-08-23

Magic in the Middle Ages @ Coursera

https://www.coursera.org/learn/magic-middle-ages A friend pointed this out to me some weeks ago, and on a whim I signed up. It’s actually pretty great in a lot of areas. I could pick nits on some minor matters, but I have to admit even I learned some stuff (mostly in the section on alchemy.)