Interpretation of planetary intelligences/spirits
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I like how Mathers' introduction to the Goetia includes a "practical" explanation of some magical phenomena, for example: to "obtain information" means that it "Brings up facts from sub-consciousness", to "obtain treasure" means that "Business capacity may be stimulated", etc.
So I was wondering: can you explain the subject of planetary intelligences/spirits in a similar manner? That is, given that Tiriel is the intelligence of Mercury and Taphthartharath is the spirit of Mercury, what does it mean?Thanks!
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i might be wrong but i'm pretty sure spirits, intelligences, etc. are hierarchical terms for a given force in the Four Worlds. Spirits being of Assiah, Angels in Yetzirah, Archangels in Briah and Intelligences in Atziluth.
hope this helps?
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@FiatYod said
"I like how Mathers' introduction to the Goetia includes a "practical" explanation of some magical phenomena, for example: to "obtain information" means that it "Brings up facts from sub-consciousness", to "obtain treasure" means that "Business capacity may be stimulated", etc."
I believe that you are referring to The Initiated Interpretation of Ceremonial Magic that was written by Crowley (ca. 1902-3) and added as an introduction to Mathers' rendering of the text.
"So I was wondering: can you explain the subject of planetary intelligences/spirits in a similar manner? That is, given that Tiriel is the intelligence of Mercury and Taphthartharath is the spirit of Mercury, what does it mean?"
Again from Crowley, this time from his "Confessions":
“It is in fact very hard to explain what we mean by saying that we invoke Paimon; but, to go a little deeper, the same remark applies to Mr. Smith next door. We do not know who Mr. Smith is, or what is his place in nature, or how to account for him. We cannot even be sure that he exists. Yet, in practice, we call Smith by that name and he comes. By the proper means we can induce him to do for us those things which are consonant with his nature and powers. The whole question is, therefore, one of practice; and by this standard we find that there is no particular reason for quarrelling with the conventional nomenclature.” -
@Frater AOV said
"93
i might be wrong but i'm pretty sure spirits, intelligences, etc. are hierarchical terms for a given force in the Four Worlds. Spirits being of Assiah, Angels in Yetzirah, Archangels in Briah and Intelligences in Atziluth.
hope this helps?"
That's interesting, thank you!
I don't seem to find any reference to this correspondence in Liber 777; where did you learn it from? And if that is correct, following the example in my original post, what are names of the angel & archangel of Mercury (or any other planet, for that matter)?@seekinghga said
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@FiatYod said
"I like how Mathers' introduction to the Goetia includes a "practical" explanation of some magical phenomena, for example: to "obtain information" means that it "Brings up facts from sub-consciousness", to "obtain treasure" means that "Business capacity may be stimulated", etc."I believe that you are referring to The Initiated Interpretation of Ceremonial Magic that was written by Crowley (ca. 1902-3) and added as an introduction to Mathers' rendering of the text.
"So I was wondering: can you explain the subject of planetary intelligences/spirits in a similar manner? That is, given that Tiriel is the intelligence of Mercury and Taphthartharath is the spirit of Mercury, what does it mean?"
Again from Crowley, this time from his "Confessions":
“It is in fact very hard to explain what we mean by saying that we invoke Paimon; but, to go a little deeper, the same remark applies to Mr. Smith next door. We do not know who Mr. Smith is, or what is his place in nature, or how to account for him. We cannot even be sure that he exists. Yet, in practice, we call Smith by that name and he comes. By the proper means we can induce him to do for us those things which are consonant with his nature and powers. The whole question is, therefore, one of practice; and by this standard we find that there is no particular reason for quarrelling with the conventional nomenclature.”"Oh, I didn't know it was Crowley's comment, thank you for the correction!
I'm not sure I got your point: do you mean that the words "spirit" and "intelligence" are to be taken as their "mundane" meanings?Thank you!
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@FiatYod said
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Oh, I didn't know it was Crowley's comment, thank you for the correction!
I'm not sure I got your point: do you mean that the words "spirit" and "intelligence" are to be taken as their "mundane" meanings?"What we call them is nowhere near as important as what they can do.
Solvitur ambulando.