The Medieval Grimoire "The Picatrix" on the Colors and Pigments of the Zodiacal Sign of Aries

The Medieval Grimoire "The Picatrix" on the Colors and Pigments of the Zodiacal Sign of Aries

The Picatrix (or in Arabic Ghāyat al-Ḥakīm) is an early medieval book of magick, astrology, and alchemy (an early form of chemistry). In the study of esotericism and the magickal arts, this book has been used for centuries as a grimoire, as well as an important historical source text. One section of the book is dedicated to describing the colors associated with the Zodiac signs, and how to make inks, pigments, and paints corresponding to those colors. The instructions for the sign of Aries are as follows (some of these substances are toxic, so do not try this at home!):

"§13 The color of the first face of Aries is red and is made thus: take one part each of oak gall, gum arabic, and orpiment. Grind them up separately, then mix them together. When you desire to write or paint anything with it, combine it with egg whites."

[The word "Orpiment" is an elision of the Latin "auri pigmentum", or "gold pigment." It is a deep yellow-colored arsenic sulfide mineral (As2S3) found around volcanoes and hot springs. It is a byproduct of the decay of another arsenic mineral, realgar (α-As4S4). Orpiment has long been used as a gold pigment base from ancient Rome to China.]

"The color of the second face is yellow of a golden hue, and it is made thus: take equal parts of blue vitriol and talc. Grind them up separately, and mix them with honey. Distill this into a little gum arabic, and set it aside for the ritual."

[Blue vitriol, also known as calcanthum, is a copper sulfate.]

"The tincture of the third face is white and is made thus: take equal parts of white lead and talc."

Originally posted on our Random Religion and Spirituality blog at:

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Amber as Divine Tears

Amber as Divine Tears

Helios was the ancient Greek god of the Sun, who drove the solar chariot across the sky. When his son, Phaëthon, attempted to drive the chariot without his father's permission, he lost control of the horses and drove the sun towards the Earth. Zeus had to strike down the chariot with a lightning bolt in order to save the Earth from burning up. The Milky Way was thus formed by the scorched path of the Sun across the sky.

Phaëthon fell to his death, and his sisters, the seven Heliades, grieved and mourned for four months. The gods turned the sisters into poplar trees, and their tears into amber, which often washes up on the Baltic shores. According to Apollonius of Rhodes, in his Argonautica, the Celts said that the amber drops are the tears of Apollo himself, after his banishment by Zeus to the land of the Hyperboreans. Among the Norse and Vikings, amber was believed to be the tears of Freyja, the goddess of love and beauty.

In the Middle Ages, amber was also known as glaes, glas, or glass. The "amber islands" of the Frisian archipelago, or Glaesariae, were named after these terms. When the Greek geographer Pytheas of Massalia wrote about the origin of amber, he referred to the north Frisian island of Abalus - a name which may have been distantly related to "apple" or "Apollo".

Apollo and his amber-glass tears may have also lent their names to the English region of Glastonbury, the former Isle of Avalon, where the sword Excalibur was forged, and where King Arthur was taken to heal after being gravely wounded at the Battle of Camlann.

Baltic amber is often believed to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, and to have a calming, relaxing effect. Some healers also believe that amber helps to balance the chakras, cleanse the aura, and protect the energy body. Have you ever tried wearing amber for pain, inflammation, or anxiety, and if so, how did it work for you? Please leave a comment below!

(This blog does not constitute medical advice and the author is not liable for any loss or damages that may occur. Please consult your medical professional before starting or stopping any treatment, supplement, exercise, or therapy.)

Originally posted on our Random Religion and Spirituality blog at:

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