The Book of Spheres
The Key of Solomon (or Clavicula Salomonis) is one the oldest and most infamous of all magical texts. Its' origins can be traced back through various medieval writings as far back as 1456. Speculations of the author vary, yet the most fanciful (and in my view appealing) is that Solomon, the great ruler of the ancient Hebrews, fathered the book. It is believed, among certain occult groups, that the king developed a method of summoning powerful angels (both good and evil) and then under his command, he would send them forth to do his bidding. It is further supposed that the fabulous Temple at Jerusalem was built using a legion of these supernatural creatures.
The summoning process involved drawing an elaborate circular form or 'pentacle' on the ground. Various sacred objects were then placed in the four directions. The magician would then stand in the center of the pentacle and chant a series of incantations. The Spirit would then appear and the commands were given.
In preparation for this conjuring the text is rife with all manner of warnings and threats to anyone who would use the information foolishly. Each 'governing angel', is represented by a planet and it is crucial that the 'appropriate entity' is summoned for the 'appropriate task'. For example, if I wanted to obtain riches and glory I would evoke the spirit of Jupiter and definitely not Mars, whose primary function is to unleash great destruction, chaos and terror.
After reading the text thoroughly I made the decision to adhere as closely to the guidelines as possible. i.e. The Moon piece was worked on solely during the night-time hours and during an exceptional month when a double full moon occurred. I also regarded it of high importance to select women who uniquely represented the given planet both physically and psychologically. (see 'on selecting the model').
The markings on the palms are always the last stage in the creative process and are done with great care and ceremony. I have made it a point to leave each pentacle 'unfinished' or 'unclosed' and leave the option with my buyers whether they want to have it completely 'sealed' or not.
