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A Pentacle of Pisces
I recently made a post mentioning a rule from a group I run, about how folks should disclose where they got their information. I have always wanted to know whether people are speaking about their own tested experiences, or conversations they had with spirits or if they are repeating something they read or heard. A…
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Introduction to the Fourth Pentacle of Jupiter
“It serveth to acquire riches and honour, and to possess much wealth. Its Angel is Bariel. It should be engraved upon silver in the day and hour of Jupiter when he is in the Sign Cancer.” While most Solomonic pentacles do not have specific astrological requirements, the Fourth of Jupiter does: “It should be engraved upon…
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Solar Invisibility
Sometimes the best strategy is obfuscation. For as powerful as the sun is at making you visible, mighty and healthy and, for that matter, better able to see things, inevitably you will need to go unnoticed in life. The world throws myriad challenges at us and for the truly discerning individual, the cunning to know…
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Petitioning Pentacles
You’re looking in the palm of your hand at your gleaming treasure from Practical Occult. You’re a Discerning Individual who is the proud owner of one (or more!) of our many offerings. Pentacle in hand, you wonder how best to get it going in your life for maximum results. Do you just keep it nearby…
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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…