Shown below are the 28 talisman images
that are included in the Talisman Images of the Picatrix
option of Sirius. The images are shown in a small size, but
are provided as high resolution images when purchased. These
images were created by artist and astrologer Tara Cochrane
based on the descriptions given in the Picatrix.
explained below the Picatrix is an ancient book which describes
4 different images for each of the 7 traditional planets. Note
that we refer to the Sun and Moon as planets, but obviously
they are not planets. Each column of pictures shown below is
the image of a different planet; the first column is the Sun,
followed by the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Each of the 4 rows of images is the 4 different images in described
in the Picatrix for a planet.
Picatrix is a book that had tremendous impact on astrologers
in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. Written around the
10th century and translated into several languages, it was
read by Henry Cornelius Agrippa, Pico de Mirandola, and Marcilio
Ficino. The Picatrix is a classic work of astrology and astrological
Picatrix provides rules for picking times when a particular
planet is emphasized, such as when a sign ruled by that planet
is rising and that planet is the planetary hour. The Picatrix
also describes talismans (images with magical power) that can
be worn or placed in a proper place at the time when the planet
is emphasized. The Picatrix describes 4 different images for
each of the 7 planets for a total of 28 images.
provides the ability to produce an electional forecast graph
that shows when a planet is emphasized using these ancient
THE TALISMAN IMAGES: To help you better understand
how to use the images some additional information on the
talisman images and a discussion of astrological magic from
a modern perspective is included.
that this is a very modern view of how the talisman images
can be used, whereas the information provided in the Picatrix.
We are providing this information because it help you understand
how astrologers use the Picatrix images within the context
of our modern lives and ways of thinking and understanding.
Of course there are many different philosophical views, and
students of ancient traditions often adopt a less contemporary
attitude towards their studies and practices.
give you a better sense of the descriptive information given
in the Picatrix upon which these images are based, the description
of the second image (second talisman image for the Sun) given
in the Picatrix is “A woman standing in a carriage pulled
by four horses. She holds a mirror in her right and a club
in her left hand close to her chest.”
below is a graph produced by Sirius for
one day of the strength of the astrological influence of the
Sun throughout the day. The graph is based on the ancient rules
for determining planetary strength as described in the Picatrix
and other works. The times are adjusted to the clock time for
the location that you select so you do not need to convert
the times. Because the rising sign and Moon sign are used in
the calculations, calculations must be done for a maximum of
one day at a time. You can see on this graph a time of 8:20
AM on June 24 where the Sun strength is near its maximum.
can also re-display the graph for a shorter time period of,
for example, 6 AM to 10 AM to see more clearly the times when
the strength of the Sun is greatest. This graph is shown below.
This graph shows that the Sun’s astrological strength
is high from 6 AM to 9 AM and reaches a peak around 9 AM and
then drops suddenly.
below is the text listing of astrological details. We can see
that at 1:00 GMT, which is 9 AM in Canton, China which the
place selected, the Ascendant is Leo (ruled by the Sun), Sun
is very closely trine the Moon (1 minute orb) and the Sun is
also sextile Saturn. There are also negative points assigned
for the dignity of the Sun. The Sun trine Moon aspect, with
Sun ruling the Asc offset the negative effect of the diginity
to result in a positive score of 2.92 points.
that these graphing and calculation features are provided with
Sirius. Only the talisman images, and some explanatory information
about the images are provided with the Talisman Images of the
Picatrix option. When the talisman images are installed, they
are easily accessible while viewing the electional astrology
graph based on the classical rules for planetary strength.