The Magus/Book 1/Part 2/Chapter 9

IT is neceffary, before we come to the operative or practical part of Talifmanic Magic, to fhew the compofitions of fumes or vapours, that are proper to the stars, and are of great force for the opportunely receiving of celeftial gifts, under the rays of the ftars—inafmuch as they ftrongly work upon the air and breath; for our breath is very much changed by fuch kind of vapours, if both vapours be of the other like. The air being alfo, through the faid vapours, eafily moved, or infected with the qualities of inferiors, or celeftial (daily quickly penetrating our breaft and vitals), does wonderfully reduce us to the like qualities. Let no man wonder how great things fuffumigations can do in the air; efpecially when they fhall, with Porphyry, confider that, by certain vapours exhaled from proper fuffumigations, ærial fpirits are raifed; alfo thunder and lightnings, and the like: as the liver of a cameleon, being burnt on the houfe top, will raife fhowers and lightnings ; the fame effect has the head and throat, if they are burnt with oaken wood. There are fome fuffumigations under the influences of the ftars, that caufe ​images of fpirits to appear in the air, or elfewhere: for if coriander, fmallage, henbane, and hemlock be made to fume, by invocations fpirits will foon come together, being attracted by the vapours which are moft congruous to their own natures; hence they are called the herbs of the fpirits. Alſo it is faid, that if a fume be made of the root of the reedy herb fagapen, with the juice of hemlock and henbane, and the herb tapfus barbatus, red fanders, and black poppy, it will likewife make ftrange fhapes appear; but if a fuffume be made of fmallage, it chafes them away, and deftroys their vifions. Again, if a perfume be made of calamint, piony, mint, and palma chrifti, it drives away all evil fpirits and vain imaginations. Likewife, by certain fumes, animals are gathered together, and put to flight. Pliny mentions concerning the ftone liparis, that, with the fume thereof, all beafts are attracted together. The bones in the upper part of the throat of a hart, being burnt, bring ferpents together; but the horn of the hart, being burnt, chafes away the fame; likewife, a fume of peacock's feathers does the fame. Alfo, the lungs of an afs, being burnt, puts all poifonous things to flight; and the fume of the burnt hoof of a horfe drives away mice; the fame does the hoof of a mule; and with the hoof of the left-foot flies are driven away. And if a houfe, or any place, be fmoaked with the gall of a cuttle-fifh, made into a confection with red ftorax, rofes, and lignum aloes, and then there be fome fea-water or blood caft into that place, the whole houfe will feem to be full of water or blood.

Now fuch kind of vapours as thefe, we muft conceive, do infect a body, and infufe a virtue into it which continues long, even as the poifonous vapour of the peftilence, being kept for two years in the walls of a houfe, infects the inhabitants; and as the contagion of peft or leprofy lying hid in a garment, will, long after, infect him that wears it.

Now there are certain fuffumigations ufed to almoft all our inftruments of magic (of which hereafter), fuch as images, rings, &c. For fome of the magicians fay, that if any one ſhall hide gold, or filver, or any other fuch like precious thing (the moon being in conjunction with the fun), and fhall perfume the place with coriander, faffron, henbane, fmallage, and black poppy, of each the fame quantity and bruifed together, and tempered with ​the juice of hemlock, that thing which is fo hid fhall never be taken away therefrom, but that fpirits fhall continually keep it; and if any one fhall endeavour to take it away by force, they fhall be hurt, or ftruck with a frenzy. And Hermes fays, there is nothing like the fume of fpermaceti for the raifing up of fpirits; therefore, if a fume be made of that, lignum aloes, pepperwort, mufk, faffron, and red ftorax, tempered together with the blood of a lapwing or bat, it will quickly gather airy fpirits to the place where it is ufed; and if it be uſed about the graves of the dead, it will attract fpirits and ghofts thither.

Now the ufe of fuffumigations is this: that whenever we fet about making talifman, image, or the like, under the rule or dominion of any ftar or planet, we should by no means omit the making of a fuffumigation appropriate to that planet or conftellation under which we defire to work any effect or wonderful operation; as for inftance:—when we direct any work to the fun, we muſt fuffume with folary things; if to the moon, with lunary things; and fo of the reft. And we muſt be careful to obferve, that as there is a contrariety, or antipathy, in the natures of the ftars and planets and their fpirits, fo there is alfo in fuffumigations:—for there is an antipathy between lignum aloes and fulphur frankincenfe and quickfilver; and ſpirits that are raiſed by the fume of lignum aloes, are laid by the burning of fulphur. For the learned Proclus gives an example of a ſpirit that appeared in the form of a lion, furious and raging by fetting a white cock before the apparition it foon vanished away; becauſe there is fo great a contrariety between a cock and a lion;—and let this fuffice for a general obfervation in thefe kind of things. We fhall proceed with fhewing diftinctly the compofition of the feveral fumes appropriated to the feven planets.