If you’ve been listening to our podcast for any length of time, and especially our episode on the Pentacles of Solomon, you know that one of our absolute favourites from within the Key of Solomon is the 2nd Pentacle of Mercury. In the Mathers edition, its spirits are said 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 give answer, but they can with difficulty be seen.” A notoriously vague description, we have, in our workings with the pentacle alongside numerous friends and colleagues who have experimented with it over the years, found its open-ended nature especially fruitful for much sorcery. “Things which are contrary unto the order of Nature” can, after all, mean a great many variety of phenomena, including nearly anything which is rare and outright unlikely. And as far as mercurial spirits go, this pentacle’s entourage appear to be exceptionally fond of manipulating the weird, the strange, and even the quixotic.
Recently, at the Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival, we met several longtime listeners of the podcast who shared with us their own 2nd Pentacles of Mercury, whether on parchment, metal, or the classic trick of tin foil, kept within their phone cases and personal belongings. We were so happy to see everyone so equally invested in experimenting with this seal’s unusually open-ended claims. As we’ve mentioned on Frightful Howls, one our favourite interpretations of “contrary unto the order of Nature” is to wield the pentacle’s spirits to bring us anything rare and expensive for cheap, especially vintage clothes and jewelry, antiquarian books and manuscripts, and spiritual goods which are harder to come by locally. Many of the more recent projects Sfinga and I have worked on required us to find all the materials locally, and it was this pentacle which allowed us to come across some of the rarest elements among bookstores, thrift stores, and garage sales. Many of you know that I am especially fond of experimenting with gambling magic, and I have found this pentacle to be a steadfast ally in all manner of games.
After much experimentation, I’ve finally settled on a recipe that the spirits of the pentacle approved of and that I have thoroughly tested, in order to make a set of charm bags for further wielding their powers. The base is, of course, the pentacle itself, drawn on orange cloth in a blessed silver ink, fully consecrated per the methods of the Key of Solomon and enlivened just as a metal or parchment pentacle would be. Inside are a variety of herbal and animal materials initially prepared and consecrated during a Mercury in Gemini election, along with a general Mercury powder tailored to better presence the spirits of the pentacle. These are the power centres of the charm, having been meticulously prayed over, conjured, and consecrated over the course of countless Wednesdays and held aloft various sites of power related to the sphere of Mercury in supplication over the years. At the core of the charm is a collection of blessed alloyed metals and colourful glass beads pleasing to the spirits of the sphere, at the suggestion of Agrippa’s Three Books. Clove, frankincense, marjoram, parsley, cassia, in addition to many others, were added to this mixture to further strengthen their genius.
Finally, each charm bag was fumigated with a specially prepared incense consecrated during the same Mercury in Gemini election and laid to rest with a Mercury in Gemini talisman to further empower their cunning. I spoke to each herbal, animal, and mineral component and enlivened them within a Mercury hours, and ensured that the cloth itself, though consecrated on a Wednesday Mercury hour, was also cut and tied in a later hour of the same planet, ensuring that every effort spent bringing these charms to life was guided by the hands of that cunning lord.
Besides our recommended suggestion of taking this pentacle out thrifting and searching for rare treasures and finds, ultimately I encourage experimentation with their application in as open-ended manner as possible. The strength of this pentacle lies in the breadth of its spirits. Anoint this charm bag with holy anointing oil (or frankincense, mastic, or clove oil) when you first get it, and then subsequently whenever you petition it for a goal. Bring it with you while perusing libraries, bookstores, thrift shops, antique stores, and more to find the rare, the unusual, and the unlikely for incredible prices. Carry it on your person to win at games of chance (Sfinga and I are especially fond of working these charms and their pentacle for lucky pulls on gatcha games), to get excellent discounts and coupons at stores, complimentary drinks and desserts at restaurants, and beneficial chance encounters with new friends, mentors, and unexpected allies. Whatever you would do with your own pentacles, whether parchment or metal, you can achieve with these. their construction is intended to boost the pentacle through the instructions of its very spirits, borrowing on elements they favour to enhance their reach into this world and make them easier to communicate with and summon. Nourish with mastic, frankincense, and cloves (any or all) incense and holy anointing oil (or an oil of any of the aforementioned) and speak to it candidly as you would an eager friend excited to help you accomplish your needs and play tricks on the hegemonic structures that would otherwise seek to bind you.
Fifteen are available for purchase. All charms will be shipped by the second week of September. These charms were a joy to make and I hope they serve each of you well in your mischief!
With Cunning & Command 