Mansions of the Moon




The Harley Manuscripts # 6481 ~ 6486 being 'The Treatses of Dr Rudd' from
the early 18th Century and now in the British Museum contain some very
interesting material on the 28 Mansions of the Moon.

The following is the two relevent sections on the 28 Mansions of the Moon
from those documents.  They appear to describe a system of talismanic magic
which I trust the readership will find informative.


OF THE 28 MANSIONS OF THE MOON
AND OF THEIR STRENGTH AND VIRTUE
IN MUNDANE AFFAIRS


      In the space of 28 days the Moon runs through the Zodiac and according
to Alpharus, these mansions partake of divers properties and names from
divers stars in the Eighth Sphere, whose powers and virtues they partake of.
It is Rabbi Abraham's opinion that every one of these Mansions contains 12
degrees, 51 minutes and 26 seconds almost, whose  names  as  well as their
beginnings in the Eighth Sphere are these :-

      The First Mansion is called Ainath, that is the horns of Aries, the
beginning thereof is from the head of Aries of the Eighth Sphere.  It makes
journeys prosperous but it creates discord. A good time to give physic,
chiefly laxatives.

      The Second Mansion is called Allothaim or Alboctia,that is the body of
Aries, the beginning thereof is from the 12th degree of the same sign, 51
minutes, 22 seconds complete. This Mansion is good to find out treasure hid,
to the keeping of captives, to go voyages, to sow or plant, but contrary to
purge or vomit.

      The Third is called Achaomazone, a rainy Mansion, or Pleiades.  The
beginning is from 25 degrees complete of Aries, minutes 42, 51 seconds. Good
for navigation, hunting and the works of Alchemy.

      The Fourth Mansion is called Aldebaran, that is the eye or head of
Taurus, the beginning thereof is from the 8th degree thereof, minutes 34,
seconds 17.  This Mansion destroys and hinders buildings, fountains, wells,
gold mines, and generates discord.

      The Fifth Mansion is called Alchataya or Albachaya the beginning
thereof is from the 21st degree of Taurus, 25 minutes, 43 seconds.  It
causeth a safe return from a long journey or voyage; good for instruction of
scholars, confirms buildings, gives health and favour among persons of
quality.

      The Sixth Mansion is called Alhanna or Alchaia, that is a small star
of great light, his beginning after the fourth degree of Gemini, 17 minutes
and 9 seconds.  It is good for hunting and besieging cities, a revenge to
princes; destroys harvests and fruits and hinders the operation of physic.

     The Seventh is called Aldimiach or Alarzach, that is to say, the arm of
Gemini,  and  it begins from the 17th degree of Gemini, 8 minutes,  34
seconds  and  lasteth  to the  end of that  sign.  It brings gain and
friendship, it is profitable for lovers, it destroys Magisteries,  and  this
fourth  part  of  the  heavens  is complete in these  seven  Mansions.  And
in  like order and  number of degrees, minutes and seconds, the remaining
Mansions in the several quarters  have  their  seven  beginnings  that  in
the  first  sign  of  that quarter,  three Mansions may have beginning in
the other two signs, two Mansions in either.

      And,  therefore,  the  seven  following  mansions  begin from the head
of Cancer, whose names are Ainaza, or Anatrachia. that is, cloudy, to wit,
in the Eighth Mansion.  It causeth love and friendship,  and the society of
travellers,  afflicts captives,  holding them in prison.

      The Ninth Mansion is called Archaam or Alchaph, that is, the eye of
the  Lion.  It  destroys  harvests  and  travellers and makes discord
amongst men.

      The Tenth is called Algelioche or Algebh, that is, the neck or the
forehead of Leo.  It confirms buildings,  gives love,  favour and help
against enemies.

      The Eleventh  Mansion is called Azobra or Ardaf, that is, the hair of
the Lion. It is good for travellers and gain in merchandise and for
redemption of captives.

      The Twelfth Mansion is called Alzarpha or Azarpha, that is, the tail
of the Lion. It gives prosperity to harvests and plantations but hinders
navigators ; but it is good for servants and captives and bettering their
companions.

      The Thirteenth Mansion is called Alhayre, that is, the wings of
Virgo.  It  produceth  friendship,  gain,  journeys,  harvests,  and
deliverance of captives.

      The Fourteenth is called Achuroth or Arimet, of others Azimeth or
Alhumech, that is, Spica Virginis or Spica Volans.  It avails to the love of
married persons, to heal the sick, it profits navigators,  but hinders such
as travel by land. And in these Mansions is the second quarter of heaven
complete.  The other 7 Mansions follows, of which the first begins in the
head of Libra.

      The  Fifteenth  Mansion  and  the  name  thereof  Agrapha  or
Alcarpha, that is, covered or covered flying. It avails for extracting
treasures, for digging wells.  It causeth discord,  divorce,  and the
destruction of houses and enemies, and hinders travellers.

      The Sixteenth Mansion is called Azubene or Ahubene, that is, the horns
of Scorpio.  It  hinders  journeys  and  marriage,  harvests and
merchandise. It avails to the deliverance of captives.

      The Seventeenth is called Alchil, that is, the Crown of Scorpio.  It
makes  better  cross  fortune,  makes  love  durable,  confirms  buildings
and prospers navigators.

      The Eighteenth is called Alchas or Altob, that is, the heart of
Scorpio.   It  causeth  discord,   sedition  and  conjuration,  against
princes and powers, and to the revenge of enemies : but it delivers captives
and makes good for buildings.

      The Nineteenth Mansion is called Ablatha or Achala, of others, Hycula
or Axala, that is. the tail of Scorpio. It is good to besiege cities and to
take towns and to drive men away from those places, and to the destruction
of navigators and perdition of captives.

The Twentieth Mansion is called Abnahaya, that is to say, a beam.  It is
good to tame wild beasts, to keep men in prisons, destroys the wealth of
confederates, compels a man to come to any  place.

     The One and Twentieth is called Abeda or Albeldach, which is a desert.
It makes for harvests,  gain to buildings and travellers, and for making
divorce. And in this Mansion the third quarter of heaven is completed. There
remains the last seven Mansions completing the last quarter of heaven,
whereof the first which is in order.

     The Two and Twentieth beginning from the head of Capricorn, is called
Savahaca  or  Zodeboluch  or  Zandeldona,  that  is  a  shepherd.  It
promotes the flight of servants and captives and to the healing of the sick.

     The Twenty Third Mansion is called Sabadola or Zobrach, that is,
devouring, makes for divorce, for  the  deliverance  of  captives, and the
healing of the sick.

     The Twenty Fourth Mansion is called Sadabath or Chaderoad, which is,
the star of fortune,  and avails for the good agreement of the married, for
the victory of soldiers.  It hurts the undertaking of Magisteries and
hinders that they shall not be accomplished.

     The Twenty Fifth Mansion is called Sadalabra or Sadalachia, that is, a
Pavilion or Tent. It makes good for betraying or revenge, destroys  enemies,
confirms  prisons  and  buildings,  makes  speedy messengers,  makes for
witchcraft, copulation and to the tying up of any member of a man that it
shall not perform its office.

     The Twenty Sixth Mansion is called Alpharg or Phtagal Mocadon, that is,
hauriens primus.  It makes for union and love of men, for the safety of
captives, destroys prisons and buildings.

      The Twenty Seventh is called Alcharya or Alhalgalmoad, that is,
hauriens  secundus.   Increaseth   harvests,  merchandise,   gain, heals
diseases;  but hinders buildings,  prolongs men in prisons, and helps to
bring mischief on whom you will.

      The Twenty Eighth Mansion is called Albothan or Alchalh, that is,
fishes,  increaseth  harvests  and  merchandise,  secures  travelers through
dangerous  places,  conduceth  to  the  joy of wedlock,  but keeps men in
prison and causeth men to lose treasures.

      And in these 28 Mansions of the Moon lie hid many secrets of the
wisdom  of  the  ancients,  by  which  many  miracles  have  been wrought in
all things that are under the Circle of the Moon. And the ancients
attributed to every Mansion his proper resemblance or Image or Seal and the
Intelligences that governed, and they worked by their virtues divers ways.



OF THE IMAGES OF THE MANSIONS OF THE MOON



In  the  First  Mansion,  for  the  destruction of  any man, they made the
Image of a black man in and Iron ring, clothed with a hair garment, bearing
on his right side a lance and the sealed it in black wax, and fumigated it
with liquid storax and make an and make an imprecation.


         In the Second Mansion,  against the anger of the prince,  and for
reconciliation, they made the Image of a king crowned and sealed it with
white wax and Mastic and fumigated it with Lignum Aleos.


In the Third they made an Image in a silver ring, whose table was squared,
and whose figure was a woman well clothed, sitting in  a  chair,  her  right
hand  lifted  up  above  her  head,  and  they sealed  it and fumigated it
with Moscho*, Camphire and an Aromatic  hoof, this would give prosperity of
fortune and all good. (* Musk ?)


       In  the  Fourth  Mansion,  for  revenge,  separation  and  enmity,
they  sealed  an  Image  in  red  wax of a Soldier sitting on a horse
holding in his right hand  a  serpent, and they fumed it with red Myrrh and
Storax.


 In the Fifth for the favour of Kings and officials, and good receptions,
they made a seal in silver, bearing the head of a man.  They fumigated it
with Sandal.


 In the Sixth Mansion, for increase of love between parties, they sealed in
white wax two images embracing one another fumed it with Lignum Aloes and
Amber.


In the Seventh Mansion, to gain riches, make a Sigil of silver bearing the
image of a man well clothed, holding up his hands to heaven as if praying
and supplicating, and fumigate it with good odours.


 In the Eighth Mansion to gain victory in war, they made the Image of an
eagle in tin, having the face of a man, and they fumigated it with Sulphur.


 In the Ninth, to help infirmities, they made the Sigil of lead bearing the
image of a man wanting his Virga and witnesses with his hand covering his
eyes, and they fumigated it with resin of the pine tree.


In the Tenth, to further childbirth and heal the sick, they made a sigil
bearing the figure of the head of a Lion and fumed it with Amber.


In the Eleventh Mansion, to create fear, reverence and veneration, they made
a golden Lamin, the Image of a man riding upon a Lion, with his left hand
holding him by the ear, and fumed it  with  sweet  odours  and  Saffron.


       In  the  Twelfth  Mansion,  for  to cause  a  separation of lovers,
they made in a seal of black lead, the Image of a Dragon fighting with a
man, and fumed it with Lions Hair and Asafoetida.


In  the  Thirteenth  Mansion,  to  cause  concord  and  love  after
marriage, and to dissolve witchcraft when they copulate, they made both
their  forms  in  a  seal,  the man in red wax,  the woman  in white wax,
embracing one another, fumigating it with Lignum Aloes and Amber.


       In  the  Fourteenth  Mansion,  for divorce  and  separation of the
man and the woman, they made in a seal the Image of a Dog biting his   tail,
and  fumigated  it  with  the  hair of a  black  doe and a black cat.


      In the Fifteenth Mansion, for gaining friendship and good will, they
made the Image of a man in a seal sitting and reading letters and fumigated
it with Frankincense and Nutmeg.


      In the Sixteenth  Mansion,  to gain by merchandise,  they made in  a
silver seal,  the  Image of a man sitting upon a chair holding a spear in
his hand, and they fumigated it with sweet odours.


      In  the  Seventeenth  Mansion,  against theives  and  robbers,  in an
iron seal they made the Image of an ape, and fumed it with the hairs of an
ape.


      In the Eighteenth,  against fevers and pains of the body, they made a
seal in brass bearing the Image of the tail of a belly worm holding it above
his head, and fumigated it with hart's horn. Thesame Sigil being buried
caused all serpents and venomous creatures to quit that place.


      In  the  Nineteenth  Mansion,    to make childbirth  easy  and  to
provoke the menstrua, they make in a seal of brass,  an  Image of a woman
holding her hands upon her face, and they fumed it with liquid Storax.


      In the Twentieth Mansion, for hunting, they made in a seal  of tin
bearing  the  Image of Sagittarius,  half a man and half a horse, and they
fumed it with the head of a fox.


      In  the One  and Twentieth Mansion,  for the destruction of any thing,
they made the  Image  of a  man  with  a  double  forehead or countenance
before and behind, and fumed it with Sulphur and a Lobster and laid it in a
brass box.


      In  the  Two  and  Twentieth,  to  secure  fugitives,  they made in an
iron seal the Image of a man with winged foot, on his head wearing an
Helmet, and they fumed it with quicksilver.


      In  the Three  and  Twentieth  Mansion,  to work  the  destruction and
devastation of any thing or person, they made a seal of iron bearing the
Image of a Cat having a Dog's head, and fumigated it with Dog's hair and
buried  it in a place where they designed to hurt any man.


In the Four and Twentieth Mansion, to increase of flocks and cattle, they
took the horn of that ram, bull or goat or other beast they would have
multiply, and made in an iron seal the Image of a woman suckling her child,
and they hanged this seal on the neck of that beast which was the ringleader
of the herd or flock.


In the Twenty Fifth Mansion, for the preservation of trees and plants, they
made in a seal of wood of a fig tree, the Image of a man planting, and they
fumigated it with the flowers of the fig tree and did hang it on the tree.


 In the Twenty Sixth Mansion, to create love and favour, they made a seal of
white wax and Mastic, the Image of a woman washing and combing her hair and
fumigated it with sweet scents.


 In the Twenty Seventy Mansion, to destroy fountains, wells, baths they made
of red earth the Image of a man winged an empty vessel bored through which
he held in his hands and the Image being baked they put into the vessel
Asafoetida and liquid Storax, and buried them in the well, which they would
destroy.


 In the Twenty Eight Mansion, to gather fishes together, they made in a
brass seal, the image of a Fish and fumigated it with the skin of a seafish,
and cast it into the water wheresoever they would have the fishes gather
together.


Moreover, with the aforesaid images they also did inscribe the names of the
Spirits and their Characters, did Invocate and Imprecate them to do that
which they desired them to obtain.