p1

•«{Picatrix^
the four fundamental elements of nature, especially fire and air
due to their kindness. Likewise, 5 always does the function of
fixed planets when it is with them and at its farthest point, but it
does the function of 3 if it is at its nearest ,lowest point. This is
similar to the relationship between every individual planet and
what is above or under it. This is an important element in the
science of talismans which has been concealed by the
philosophers of this profession. Had we kept it hidden from the
seekers of this approach, we would have acted niggardly and
avariciously.
You ought to know that the slower the planets are, the
stronger their effect and the more elegant they will be. The
faster they are, the weaker their effects will be. Moreover, the
effect of planets at medium speed are medium. This is not an
absolute relationship; it is relative because this situation may be
reversed; the slower may become less effective and the slower
may become faster and consequentiy become more effective.
These relationships exist between the ethereal orbit and the
movement of beings on earth. As for the relationship of the
ethereal orbit to beings on earth, the heavier the being is the
stronger the effect will be and the lighter, the weaker. The
relationship of beings on earth to orbits of fixed planets is
similar; the lighter, the more effective and the heavier, the less
effective.
However, there was a substantial disagreement on this
subject. Some of the ancient philosophers believed that the
relationships were the opposite; they thought that the ethereal
orbit and the orbit of planets are directly related. The orbit of a
slow-moving planet is necessarily very similar to the ethereal
orbit in stillness and heaviness. Simple beings are similar in
these basic qualities; the slow is similar to the slow and the fast
is similar to the fast. Many difficult symbols and Treatises were
written on this subject.
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