Step by step guide to creating your planetary talisman:

1. Prepare Your Altar Space: Choose any private and quiet space as your altar. Use a cloth appropriate to the planet to designate this area.
2. Candle Preparation: Use candles, either a specific number for each planet or a simple white one. You can anoint them with appropriate oils and even carve them with the relevant symbols before the ritual.
3. Dress Accordingly: Wear clothing appropriate for the chosen planet.
4. Set Up Incense Burner: Prepare your incense burner with either incense cones/sticks or charcoal and raw incense/herbs.
5. Light Charcoal: If using raw incenses, light the charcoal a few minutes before the elected astrological window begins.
6. Commence the Ritual: At the exact start of the elected moment, light the candles and incense. You may offer a prayer or perform a purification ritual at this time.
7. Invoke the Planetary Spirit: Call upon the Planetary Spirit. You can use the Orphic hymns dedicated to each planet (found in the Planetary Cheat Sheets). Optionally, you can play appropriate music (e.g., Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” suite).
8. Create the Talisman: Begin crafting your talisman:
   • Paper Talismans: Start drawing, writing, or coloring any image you may have printed before or during the electional window.
   • Wax Talismans: Use a hot rod to stamp or draw images/characters into the wax.
   • Engraving: Engrave gems, loose stones, or spheres.
   • Rings/Pendants: Engrave the gemstone with the appropriate symbols. Place the corresponding herbs in the ring/pendant’s socket or tray, then place and glue the engraved gem over the herbs to seal everything.
9. Suffumigation: Once the talisman is complete, pass it back and forth through the incense smoke. This crucial step, known as Suffumigation, is when the Planetary Spirit is believed to descend and ensoul the talisman.
10. Conclude the Work: Stop all work when the astrological electional window closes. If you couldn’t finish (e.g., engraving, setting the stone), you may complete the work under similar astrological conditions or when the Moon is in Cancer.
    • Ideally, finish within the elected window, so ensure you have ample time.
11. Meditate on Planetary Virtues: Reflect on the virtues of the chosen planet. By using the talisman, you will embody these virtues and become a Planetary Ambassador.
12. Repeat Consecration: For maximum efficiency and potency, repeat the consecration process for several consecutive days during the Planetary Hour of the planet, and then regularly once a week.

Final Thoughts

This guide provides all the necessary information to create a talisman. It’s crucial to understand the underlying principles and origins of this practice. Talismans created without a thorough understanding of the process and its potential effects can lead to errors and even cause harm. This is why ancient masters often kept parts of this knowledge veiled, to encourage students to use their rational minds, and to test their will and patience in gathering and comprehending all the required information. I hope this has been useful and encourages you to continue your journey of discovery.

May the Planetary Spirits smile upon your endeavors.