The Pentacle of Protection.

The Pentacle of Protection On a Tuesday or Saturday midnight, with the moon waxing, cast and purify your regular circle, using an incense of either pure dragon's-blood resin or one compounded of one part church incense, one part lignum aloes, one part powdered alum, and five drops of Cedarwood oil. Then take some of your talisman paper, and from it cut three four-inch squares. Exorcise these with fire and water. Then, with your pen and ink of art, draw the following five-pointed star on the first of them. (See illustration.) You will see that it is a more complex version of the one in your workbook and is sometimes called the pentagram of Solomon. Having drawn the figure as carefully as you can - it will probably be easier if you rule it in lightly in pencil first, using a pair of compasses to construct the circle - proceed to fill in the magical symbols and words, starting at the top point, working around clockwise and finishing with the centre. As you write each magical word, chant it deliberately out loud in combination with the following charm: l 1. "Be ye far from us, all hostility, deceit, and illusion, in the name of Abdia!" l 2. "Be ye far from us, all hostility, deceit, and illusion, in the name of Ballater!" and so on. When you have finished, repeat the process, this time using your Athame to trace over the star and the symbols above the paper, in your witchly imagination seeing them burn in the air with spectral blue witch fire. Now take your second piece of parchment and draw on it the six-pointed star, or hexagram of Solomon, as in the illustration, inscribing the T-shaped cross in the centre last. This cross, referred to by witches of the last century as the triple tau of the arch Mosms, is a variant of your triple sealing cross.

Pentacle of protection, comprising, 1

1. The secret seal of Solomon 2. The hexagram of Solomon 3. The pentagram of Solomon Combined with the hexagram and the six minor taus, it is regarded by witches as an extraordinarily powerful talisman of protection. When the ink has dried, retrace the inverted triangle [upside down traingle] with salt water from your cup, chanting these words: "So therefore he who would govern the works of fire must first asperge with lustral water of the loud resounding sea." Then with the thurible, trace in the air above the star the upright triangle, chanting: "And when after all the phantoms are banished, thou shalt perceive that holy formless fire, that fire which darts and flashes through the hidden depths of the universe: Hear thou the voice of fire!" Finally, retrace the whole star yet again with the Athame, this time in silence, visualizing the symbol glowing in blue light. The design on the third piece of paper must be written with your pen of art in blood your own or that of a beefsteak, chicken, or lamb chop from the supermarket again will do. You should wipe your pen of art carefully free of all ink before you embark upon this. This last design is known as the secret seal of Solomon and traditionally was the symbol by means of which the seventy-two lords of the demons or Djinn were imprisoned in a brazen vessel by the magus-king and sunk beneath the ocean. They were later released, providentially it seems, by certain Babylonian wizards. The legend probably stems from that of the drowned Nephelim. When you have drawn the symbol and let it dry, retrace over it with your Athame, charging it strongly with light and conjuring with these words: Bound, bound, bound be all demons and powers of adversity from the north, south, east, and west! Bound, bound, bound be all ill-wishers and those that practise violence against the bearer of this! Bound, bound, bound shall be all; bound and sealed from N [witchname], son of M [parent] and L [parent]. Bound and held subject to his will.

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Having completed all three designs, sandwich the last, the secret seal, between the pentagram and hexagram, which should be facing outwards with their stars visible. Then, with exorcised needle and red thread, sew neatly around the four edges to combine all three papers into a permanent packet. Over this you must then chant the following words as you hold it in the incense smoke, the tip of your Athame blade pressed against it: O Pentacle of Power, be thou fortress and defence to [N] against all foes, visible and invisible, in every magical work! While doing this, strongly visualize the blue fire passing down the Athame blade to charge the pentacle. Finally, complete the ritual by drawing the triple cross in the air with your Athame, and sealing with the words "So mote it be!" A small wallet of chamois leather or red silk should now be made to contain the pentacle, which in turn should be sewn to a red cord or ribbon to be worn around the neck of the bearer. In this manner the pentacle can remain concealed. In certain demonic conjurations (similar to that of Vassago), the pentacle may then be removed and exhibited to the four quarters or to the gaze of the manifesting entity.

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