Picatrix: Ghayat al-Hakim (The Aim of the Wise)
The Picatrix is the most famous manual of astrological magic. Originating in 11th-century Muslim Spain, it synthesizes Arabic Neoplatonism, Aristotelianism, and Sabian talismanic lore from Harran. It provides exhaustive instructions for creating talismans based on the 28 Lunar Mansions, the 36 Decans, and the planetary spirits. It treats magic as a rigorous science and a philosophical discipline intended to align the human soul with the celestial spheres.
Contents8 chapters
- 01Book I
- 02Book II
- 03Prologue
- 04The Essence and Reality of Astrology
- 05The Use of Astrological Ratios in Making Talismans
- 06Examples of Required Astrology Ratios to Make Talismans for Certain Functions
- 07The Vague Meaning of Being Has Been Concealed by Philosophers
- 08How This Knowledge Can Be Obtained
Contributors
Read FirstSuggested reading before this text
Influences & Sources
Works Influenced by This
From the Same Tradition
Readers Also Explore
Astrology Paths
Use these hubs to move from this text into the live astrology tools and reference pages.
Astrology Hub
Browse Hermetikon's classical astrology tools and reference pages.
Astrology Today
See the current sky, planetary condition, and live celestial context.
Placement Meanings
Read planet-in-sign and planet-in-house pages with archive citations.
Planetary Returns
Open the return calculators for the seven classical planets.
Retrograde Calendars
Track retrograde cycles and their traditional delineations.
Ask the Hermetikon Archivist about this text
Search within this book, retrieve direct quotations with page references, or explore related ideas.