Read an Excerpt
Chapter Seven
Protections
Magical protection essentially assumes two forms in our accounts: prayer or amulet. Every time there is a recommendation to carry or wear something on your person, the mental process conforms with the etymology of the word “amulet,” which comes from the verb amoliri, “to ward off, to protect.” The objectplant, mineral, artifactis a phylactery to which is attributed a preventive virtue against illnesses, afflictions, accidents, and evil spells. People seek protectionwhen starting a journey by land or sea and when staying at homeagainst anything that could possibly befall them.
HDA, VII, 1611-16 (Reisesegen); E. Wickersheimer, “Figures médico-astrologiques des IXe, Xe et XIe siècles,” Janus 19 (1914), 157–77; Joan Evans, Magical Jewels of the Middle Ages and Renaissance Particularly in England, Oxford, 1922; C. Lecouteux, The High Magic of Talismans and Amulets, Rochester, Vt.: Inner Traditions, 2014.
PROTECTIONS WHILE TRAVELING
458. Protection for the Individual
If you carry verbena on your person while traveling, you should have no fear of thieves as it sends them fleeing.
Latin, fourth century, Pseudo Apuleius, Herbarius, cap. 73.
459. Charm for the Dangers of the Road
Repeat the following words.
I enter today upon the path taken by Our Lord Jesus Christ. May he be as gentle and good to me. May His pink and holy blood come aid me, and His five sacred wounds, so that I may never be captured or bound. May he guard me from all my enemies, may he protect me from drowning, swords, shot, and all manner of perils, bad company, and misadventure. May all bonds be removed from me, at once, as Our Lord Jesus Christ was liberated when he rose to heaven.
Middle High German, fifteenth century, Grimm, III, 499.
460. Another Protective Charm
Repeat the following words. I shall go and travel among you1 with God’s love, Christ’s humility, the holiness of Our Blessed Lady, Abraham’s faith, Isaac’s justice, David’s virtue, Peter’s power, Paul’s steadfastness, God’s word, Gregory’s authority, Clement’s prayer, and the waves of the Jordan.
f f p c g e g a q q est p t 1 k a b 2 a x t b a m g 2 4 2 1 qp x c g k q a 9 9 p o q q r.
The letters above are the initials of words that form a charm or orison, but we have not been able to pierce the secret.
O one Father - O one Lord - And Jesus passed among them - pursuing his path - In the name of the Father - the Son - and the Holy Ghost - England, 1584, Scot, XII, 9, 233.
462. Protection for the Voyage
Repeat the following verse.
I have crossed my threshold,
May Jesus be my companion!
Let my enemies sleep,
Assist me in all my actions,
On the water and on solid ground,
Be my solid help!
In the forest, against spirits and brigands,
In the plains against the laggards,
At day, against the invisibles,
At night, against the devils,
Without stop, for eternity,
Protect my blood and flesh. Amen.
Transylvanian Saxons, Nineteenth century, Wlislocki, 1893, 112.
463.Protection Bref
Joseph of Arimathea found this bref on the wounds afflicted on the side of Jesus Christ, written by God’s finger when His body was taken down from the cross. Whoever carries it on their person will not die an evil death if he believes in Christ, and he will be immediately delivered from any awkward situation, fear, and danger.
Fons - alpha & omega - figa - figalis - Sabbaoth - Emmanuel - Adonai - o - Neray - Elay - Ihe Rentone - Neger - Sahe - Pangeton - Commen - a - g - l - a - Mattheus - Marcus - Lucas - Iohannes - titulus triumphalis - Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum - ecce dominicae cruces signum X fugite parte adversae, vicit leo de tribu Iuda, radix, David, alelujah, Kyrie eleeson, Christe eleeson, Pater Noster, ave maria, & ne nos, & veniat super nos salutare tuum: Oremus, and so forth.
In addition to the names of God, such as Agla, and some unidentified words, what we have here is an extract of the Mass of the Invention and exaltation of the Holy Cross, otherwise used as an exorcism, notably in the Roman Breviary and the Feasts of the Spanish Saints. Folk tradition mentions the Orison of the Holy Cross used against the temptations of the devil.
The prayers indicated here are the Our Father, the Angelic Salutation, the sixth request of the Pater Noster, and the Litany of the Saints, with a gap. It should read: Et veniat super nos misericordia tua Domine. Et salutarre tuum secundum eloquium tuum. England, 1584, Scot, XII, 9, 233 ff.
464. Protection against Dangers on Land
The sixth pentacle of Jupiter is used for protection against all kinds of the dangers on land if one looks at it with devotion every day while repeating the verse that encircles it (Psalm 21: 17), you will never perish. The four names on the arms of the cross are Seraph, Cherub, Ariel, and Tharsis, the masters of the four elements.
The True Minor Keys of King Solomon by Armandel, London: British Library, Lansdowne 1202 4to, 134.