The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) · 1 of 175 · tr. Arthur Edward Waite
Page 3 (part 1)
EXPLANATION OF FULL-PAGE PLATES PLATE I FRONTISPIECE--The witch has shot a peasant in the foot with a magic hazel wand.
The victim takes off his shoe when he feels his foot beginning to swell.
If the peasant yields to the witch the spell will be lifted.
(Ulrich Molitor was a medieval demographer.) PLATE II Page 37 The Angels of the Seven Planets, their Sigils, the Signs and Houses of the Planets, the names of the Seven Heavens, according to the Magical Elements of Peter de Abano, with the names of the Olympic Spirits of the Planets according to the Arbatel of Magic , and the Infernal Sigils of the Evil Planetary Spirits according to the Red Dragon .
The name of Michael, the Angel of the Lord's Day, appears over his Sigil, together with the Astrological Symbol of Sol, the Zodiacal Sign of Leo, which is the House of the Sun, and the name of the Fourth Heaven, Machen.
The name of Gabriel, the Angel of Monday, appears over his Sigil, together with the Astrological Symbol of Luna, the Zodiacal Sign of Cancer, which is the House of the Moon, and the name of the First Heaven, Shamain.
The name of Samael, the Angel of Tuesday, appears over his Sigil, together with the Astrological Symbol of Mars, the Zodiacal Signs of Aries and Scorpio, which are the Houses of the Planet, and the name of the Fifth Heaven, Machon.
The name of Raphael, the Angel of Wednesday, appears over his Sigil, together with the Astrological Symbol of Mercury, the Zodiacal Signs of Gemini and Virgo, which are the Houses of the Planet, and the name of the Second Heaven, Raquie.
The name of Sachiel, the Angel of Thursday, appears over his Sigil, together with the Astrological Symbol of Jupiter, the Zodiacal Signs of Sagittarius and Pisces, which are the Houses of the Planet, and the name of the Sixth Heaven, Zebul.
The name of Anael, the Angel of Friday, appears over his Sigil, together with the Astrological Symbol of Venus, the Zodiacal Signs of Taurus and Libra, which are the Houses of the Planet, and the name of the Third Heaven, Sagun.
The name of Cassiel, the Angel of Saturday, appears over his Sigil, together with the Astrological Symbol of Saturn, and the Zodiacal Signs of Capricornus and Aquarius, which are the Houses of the Planet.
PLATE III Page 49 Mystic Figures of the Enchiridion.
Figure I., the mystic symbol of the Tau, converted into a monogram which has been supposed to signify the word Taro or Tora.
Figure II., the triple Tau.
Figure III., an arbitrary figure supposed to represent the fortieth part of the stature of Jesus Christ.
Figure IV., the Labarum of Constantine, with the usual inscription, "In this sign thou shalt conquer," and the emblems of the Passion of Christ.
Figure V., a double door, connected by a bar, and inscribed with the first seven letters of the Latin alphabet.
Figure VI., a composite symbol of unknown meaning.
The second circle contains twenty-two letters, which recall the Keys of the Tarot.
Figure VII.
represents the dimensions of the wound produced by the lance of the Centurion in the side of Jesus Christ.
Figure VIII., a two-edged sword, for which various simple meanings may be conjectured.
Its inscription has been adopted by alchemists.
PLATE IV Page 54 Mystic Figures of the Enchiridion.
Figure I., the reversed form of a well-known occult symbol.
The Hebrew words signify Jehovah Elohim, Agla, Elohim Tsabaoth .
The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.
Plate II explicitly links Angels, Planets, Zodiac Signs, and Heavens in a structured system reflecting cosmic order.
The doctrine and practice of one person deliberately inflicting harm on another through trained will, mind-power, or occult technique alone, without physical contact — producing exhaustion, illness, breakdown, or death in the victim; recognised cross-culturally as witchcraft, hexing, or the evil eye, and treated in Western esotericism as a genuine occult hazard requiring diagnosis and defence rather than dismissed as superstition. Distinct from magical_will (the general doctrine that trained volition has causal power, of which this is one malevolent application) and from spirit_conjuration (which subordinates an already-existing summoned spirit, rather than directing the operator's own power at a person).
Plate I describes a witch shooting a peasant with a magic hazel wand causing swelling, representing magical harm.
The grimoire-tradition practice of ceremonially commanding or binding a spirit through consecrated seals, circles, divine names, and prescribed instruments, compelling its appearance and obedience. Distinct from theurgy in the direction of the power relationship — theurgy is reverent engagement with the gods on the premise of the operator's own ascent, this is subordination of a lesser spirit to the operator's will — and from word_power_incantation and sacred_names, which name components (verbal force, name-power) this practice deploys rather than the ritual structure itself.
Plate II describes Infernal Sigils of Evil Planetary Spirits and Angelic Sigils used in magical contexts (Arbatel, Red Dragon).
The rule of the stars and planetary powers over mortal destiny — the astrological governors whose spheres bind souls to birth, error, and death; in Sethian gnosis the 'error of the stars' that the savior exposes, and from which the incorruptible generation alone is free. Distinct from cosmic_sympathy (a doctrine of universal affinity) in being a bondage-to-powers claim, and from archons (the rulers as personal beings) in concerning the astral machinery itself.
Plate II details the governance of days and heavens by planetary spirits and their zodiacal houses.