The foundational text of astrological magic and talismans Picatrix (Ghayat al Hakim) was published in English for the first time in its immense history, from a medieval Latin manuscript, by Christopher Warnock and John Michael Greer in 2011.
Although the book had been published by Ouroboros Press in two volumes (2002 and 2008) from Arabic manuscripts, it was generally not usable in practice due to the highly specific astrological terms being misunderstood by the translator and most of the key instructions, such as the proper astrological conditions for combining the sun with the north node, were omitted or mistranslated.
The Warnock-Greer edition had the notable distinction of being translated and edited by a practicing astrologer.… Continue reading
The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 was a significant event in history, and the factors that led to its conquest have been debated for centuries. One of the less-discussed factors was the role of astrology in the Ottoman Empire, specifically in the planning and execution of the siege of Constantinople. This essay explores the astrological practices of the Ottomans and their potential influence on the fall of Constantinople. The military achievements alone were beyond imagination, but possibly the most unbelievable factor in Mehmet’s victory was his court astrologers, who likely played the most crucial role in the most critical moment of the entire battle and directly led to the rapid rise of a global power.