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Thoughts on the Second Pentacle of Mercury
The description of the Second Pentacle of Mercury has one of the most enigmatic descriptions among the pentacles of the Key of Solomon. “The Spirits herein written serve to bring to effect and to grant things which are contrary unto the order of Nature; and which are not contained under any other head. They easily…
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Poppets and Pentacles
The intersection of folk magic and Solomonic Pentacles is a much-discussed topic in recent years and rightly so. The myriad uses of Pentacle magic find their home seamlessly in the vast expanse of rootwork and conjure among other systems. To say the applications are functionally endless would not be an exaggeration by any means! That,…
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The Armory’s Quandary: The Right Tool for the Job
In a world of options, it is not uncommon for those of us at Practical Occult to get multiple questions about which protective amulet is ideal for the individual customer. This is a fair question as, indeed, we do sell a host of them and each is somewhat different. To this end, allow this post…
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The Fourth of Mercury: A Magician’s Academy
One of the more intriguing and elusive pentacles in the set is the Fourth of Mercury. Of this pentacle, the following is said: “This is further proper to acquire the understanding and Knowledge of all things created, and to seek out and penetrate into hidden things; and to command those Spirits which are called Allatori…
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Sorcery of Solomon – Book Review
A review of The Sorcery of Solomon: A Guide to the 44 Planetary Pentacles of the Magician King by Sara Mastros, published by Red Wheel / Weiser. As someone who professionally makes pentacles, I was delighted when I heard that Sara Mastros was writing about them, and then delighted again to read her book. Grimoire…
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Pentacles for Entrepreneurs
As the founder of Practical Occult I know what it is like to be self employed and work to get a small business off the ground. It is amazing and rewarding to have the level of autonomy associated with being your own boss, but it’s a lot harder and more stressful than working for someone…
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A Game of Hearts
The Love Question is one Practical Occult has sought to address in 2023’s Love Magic class. This was done by approaching the sorcery behind the subject in a method that, while not shying away from the realities of life, still strove to remain ethical, focused and complete. The goal was to provide education that the…
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Legal Victory Pentacle
Pentacle of the Angel Verchiel, Ruler of the Sun, resident of the Lion (Leo), most supreme for winning lawsuits and by means of which, there is nothing that you cannot obtain from its Judges, even from Kings.For Sunday under the Sun [p.67] Welcome MS 4670 (1776) In The Veritable Key of Solomon there is a…
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Troubleshooting Pentacles
In keeping with our commitment to providing discerning individuals with genuine, effective and awe-inspiring magical treasures, the effort to help one pick the right amulet for themselves and get the most out of it is essential. Oftentimes a person purchasing their first pentacle will be a bit overcome with the sheer wide range of options…
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The Sorcery of Pentacles
We here at Practical Occult make no secret of being great fans of Pentacles and their miraculous effects on our world. However, an often spoken-of but little elaborated-upon aspect of magic is the reality that the Solomonic Pentacles can be employed across a wide range of sorcerous systems and thaumaturgical technologies. With this class, Alexander…