Seal of Mars (Ring) Book of the Treasure of Alexander
- Description
Seal of Mars (Book of the Treasure of Alexander)
“How to make the seal of Mars, which makes cowards brave, strengthens your heart and guards it against deceivers, thieves and enemies.
The seal of Mars gives the best protection in times of war. Whoever uses it will not need to fear arrows and nothing made from iron will injure whoever wears this seal. It will enable you to hinder all adversaries and it will save you in battle. Hermes says, ‘if Mars is in Capricorn and the Moon aspects him from Scorpio, take five mithqals of good steel and make from this a square signet and engrave the figure which is the seal of Mars.”
(Book of the Treasure of Alexander, Chapter 6, published by Christopher Warnock)
*Note: mithqal is a medieval measure of weight equal to 4.25 grams, in this case approximately the talisman should be 21 grams.
Left: “The Seal of Mars” illustration from an ancient Arabic manuscript. Source: Book of the Treasure of Alexander: Poison Edition published by Christopher Warnock. Right: Seal of Mars from a Persian manuscript.
Note: Gold plated steel ring is size 9.
Who Is This For?
Mars is ideal for anyone who leads a demanding life requiring stamina, mental energy or dealing with constant conflict of some kind. Mars is universally known as the planet associated with war and conflict and was the patron deity of soldiers and combatants throughout ancient times. The introduction of iron in weapons of war 3,000 years ago changed the course of world history, and iron has long been considered the metal of Mars. In modern times the uses of Mars’ influences are not limited to war or battle in the conventional sense. Conflicts of all kinds are a part of daily life.
Many people have reported a constant surge of natural energy while wearing a well-crafted Mars talisman, from college students cramming for exams late at night, athletes looking to boost their performance, people working long hours at their job, decreased need for sleep, and even increased sexual stamina. Many described the effects as “natural speed” and limit its use to only a few days at a time because of the decreased need for sleep. Some have reported painkiller effects, alleviating chronic aches and pains and boosting their physical activity.
My first time wearing this Mars talisman at a shooting range saw my score jump from 36 out of 40 to a perfect 40/40. My reflexes were noticeably enhanced and my speed increased considerably. I also enjoy the effects of my Mars talismans when I have time to binge-read a good book late into the night, able to wake up early with reduced fatigue.
If you want a very potent Mars talisman, this is certainly one to consider. If you already have one or more Mars talismans and want something a bit more exotic, you will likely be pleased.
Book of the Treasure of Alexander (BTOA) is something of an exotic grimoire in astrological magic. Picatrix and Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy are the most popular and well known, but BTOA is unfortunately overlooked and underutilized, partially due to the unusually stringent astrological configurations it requires and because of its very limited availability. Many of its astrological talismans can only be made once or twice in a lifetime. I’ve found that they are often extremely effective if the instructions are followed carefully. The history of this grimoire is fascinating. It is at least as old as Picatrix and many of its talismanic instructions are found nowhere else. A copy of this grimoire was kept in the private library of the Ottoman royalty, possibly utilized by the seemingly invincible Sultan Mehmet II in his legendary battles.
For an excellent study on the history of the text, this article is highly recommended:
Election Standard
Many people automatically avoid the Moon in Scorpio, its Fall, for creating an astrological talisman, as well as soft aspects with malefics. However, the Book of the Treasure of Alexander emphasizes planetary configurations with reception. When we dig a little deeper into the source material, it checks out. Scorpio is the domicile of Mars and Capricorn its Exaltation. The Moon sextiles Mars and receives him with this configuration. Picatrix strongly warns against the Moon making hard aspects (square or opposition) with Mars and Saturn and even states that any aspect is to be avoided. “.. when the waxing Moon beholds Mars, this is considered to be a great affliction of the Moon..” (Picatrix Book 2, Chapter 3 page 72). At first glance, Picatrix would rule out this election but it says that if the moon is waxing in light and aspecting Mars, it is an affliction. In this election, the Moon is waning in light, meeting the criteria set forth in Picatrix.
Likewise, Mars on the Ascendant is a sticky point for some, but the election only gives two options: Mars on the Midheaven which puts the Moon on the Descendant, which is not the best place for the Moon, or on the Ascendant which puts the Moon on the Midheaven, an optimal configuration. The Midheaven is the second most powerful angle in the chart and that is where the Moon is in this election. Its speed is a bit slow but not prohibitively so.
We have Mars in Capricorn rising in its hour, and the Moon on the Midheaven, making a loose sextile to Mars. The harsh energy of Mars is softened by a sextile to Venus and an opposition to Jupiter, both benefics. Jupiter in Taurus receives the Moon by Exaltation. Oppositions are undesirable (and prohibitive with malefics) but Picatrix states that an opposition or square to a benefic is a mild boon. The sect of the significator planet is never a deal-breaker for me, but in this case the nocturnal Mars is rising in a night chart, a pleasant bonus. All around, this election perfectly meets the unique requirements of the source material.
How They Were Made
Shortly after crafting some outstanding 17th Lunar Mansion talismans, I used rubies, carnelians, bloodstone, steel discs and steel rings to engrave the images by hand. I made the images as close as possible to the drawing from the original manuscript, no small feat on such tiny surfaces. Although I don’t prioritize the art style as the election is what makes or breaks it, I’m very proud of the artistic quality of these talismans. They were suffumigated with Mars incense made per Liber Razielis, a 16th century Solomonic grimoire.
These rings cannot fit every person. If a ring is highly desired but the ring is too large, I’ve found that glueing layers of planetary herbs inside the ring when the Moon is in Cancer is an excellent way to make a larger ring fit a smaller finger. A small amount of planetary herbs will be sent with a ring if requested.
Note: if you own a talisman that included herbal materials at its time of creation, please DO NOT remove them, make additional engravings or any significant changes. Source texts indicate that they are a permanent and important component of your talisman. Adding more herbs is a minor repair and Book of the Treasure of Alexander states that minor repairs and upkeep (such as polishing) can be done monthly while the Moon is in Cancer. These talismans can also be worked when the Moon is in Scorpio, its lunar return.
The Chart
