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^Picatrix}>
are based on when pious people pray to have their requests
fulfilled.
Another condition is to isolate yourself from human beings,
to shelter yourself from the sunrise and the sunlight and not to
be visited by anybody except those who have good intentions,
trustworthy, not belittling or scorning the ugly, astounding and
forceful effects of the astrological spiritual powers. Be aware of
that. You may review what Tabit Ibn Qurra 21 wrote in his
Treatise on Talismans, "The noblest science of stars is the science
of talismans". He claims that there is no life in the body that
does not have a spirit. He means that talismans made in the
wrong manner and for the wrong purpose will not be
compatible with the radiating spirit of the planets. Accordingly,
they are similar to dead bodies that have no spirits in them.
However, if the spirit of the celestial bodies agree, by virtue of
their configuration and make-up, with such arrangements that
lead to the sought objective, then they will be similar to living
bodies that can do strange things.
In this regard, Aristotle says in his Treatise that the most
important thing to bear in mind, when making a talisman, is the
effect of the seven moving planets. The highest and the longest
lasting among these are the ones that coincide with a Sa'ad. This
will help in bringing the spirits down from the celestial sphere
to the Earth. He adds, "There may be some of God's names, if
invoked to bring a spirit down, that will fall down at a
tremendous speed to the lowest level, and it may kill the person
who is bringing it down if he is not knowledgeable of the
spiritual nature of the celestial body he wants to bring down".
Concerning this matter, some of the leading Sufis talk about
the Name of the Great Allah who transforms things into other
things completely different from the original. They prefer to talk
about sublime matters in this world. However, they, I mean the
21
** See Thomdike 1,661, this person was identified by Ritter in the German ed.
44