Each one of these bespoke Venus Talismans is hand carved in lapis lazuli as Venus was rising in Pisces during her planetary day and hour while in the sign of her exaltation, Pisces. They were completed and consecrated during an auspicious election on Feb 27th 2026 with the Moon in Cancer, having just separated from Jupiter in Cancer by Conjunction and applying to Venus in Pisces by Trine..

While in the nocturnal sign of Pisces, the telos and intention entwined within the talisman: to embody the power of the fair lady expressed within the sign of her exaltation. When a planet is in its exaltation, it performs very cleanly, free from extremes, and it is treated like an honoured guest, or as a magistrate who is in their own court, free to make their own rules. Pisces is a yin-sign ruled by the benefic Jupiter.

Venus exaltation expresses deeply the combined duality of goddess of fertility and goddess of heaven.

This association helps Venus to act in profoundly healing and sensuous ways granting the bearer to do the same, for themselves and others — to be in touch with deep desires, pleasures, and passions, those that move them in the direction of profoundly erotic and healing ways within the Venusian domain, including the healthy function of the kidneys, sexual and functional loins, and vascular tissues.

Equally, this talisman will grant you the ability to accentuate your best qualities both in charm and physicality so as to be “loved by everybody and you will be well-known and seem sweet-voiced not only to human beings but also to gods.”

There is a uniquely subtle and profound effect, a shimmering that grants us deep access to the intricate flows. In particular, access to the cosmic oceanic. This gives powerful access to sensuousness of one’s being in the world along with the ability to open this door for others. All under the auspices and to the honour of The Mirror of Aphrodite.

Each talisman will be mounted with a delicate sterling silver pinch bail. These are ready to ship immediately.

The Mirror

This particular design draws on the iconic Venusian symbol—The Mirror. The particular form of the mirror depicted here is inspired by its representation on magical gems from the early centuries of the Common Era.

The mirror is uniquely associated with Venus/Aphrodite because it embodies her domains of beauty, erotic attraction, self-presentation, and the power of the gaze—to look into the mirror is to participate in the very processes through which beauty becomes perceptible and desirable. In ancient iconography it becomes a symbol of Venus as both the beautiful one and the power that reveals, reflects, and generates desire.

A spell was carved into the back of each using the string of Greek vowels ‘Η ΙΙ ΟΟΟ ΥΥΥΥ ΩΩΩΩΩ ΑΑΑΑΑΑ ΕΕΕΕΕΕΕ’. This is the invocation from the PGM XIII 734-1077 calling on the power of the ‘eternal and unbegotten’ one in the form of that is honoured in the west, beginning with the Η (Eta) which is the Greek vowel of Venus, a spell that honours her generative power as all the other vowels follow on from it, further empowering the talisman with a extramundane strength.

Everything comes from you:

you have yoked the world,

you control all three realms,

you give birth to all,

to everything in heaven,

to everything upon the fruitful earth,

to everything in the depths of the sea,

O venerable companion of Bacchos.

-Orphic Hymn to Aphrodite (Athanassakis & Wolkow, trans)

During the exalted, crescent Moon in Taurus of April 19th 2026, applying to Venus by conjunction, these lunar talismans were crafted, carved into cabochons and discs of pristine rainbow moonstone.

For rings: https://www.cunningasfolk.com/store/lunar-talismans-swift-abundant-rings

Settings Available:

•Sterling Silver Pendant (5mm) set with 10mm Rainbow Moonstone Disc: 180

Rings available in most sizes.

O Moon, blessed lady, fortunate, cold and humid, proportional and beautiful. You are chief and key of all the other planets, swift in your movements with a shining brightness, lady of merriment and joy, of good words, good reputation, and a lucky kingdom.

PICATRIX, BOOK 3

The intentions and telos of these talismans are to enhance, strengthen, and nourish one's relationship with the intelligences and spirits of the lunar realm.

The Moon is the gateway to the sublunary and as such both she and her ministering intelligences and associated spirits hold the keys to flourishing within the elemental world.

All that is rich and of substance arrives in abundance quickly, offering nurturance to and strengthening the body. Equally, they carry forth a good reputation and open the doors wide to a lucky kingdom of the Moon.

The design features the Lunar Kamea as represented by sources such as Agrippa.

Each talisman comes with with a consecrated the planetary square of the Moon along with two types of myrrh, a rich resin tied to the Moon, and in a small box bit to be a home for the talisman when it is in not worn.

During the exalted, crescent Moon in Taurus of April 19th 2026, applying to Venus by conjunction, these lunar talismans were crafted, carved into cabochons and discs of pristine rainbow moonstone.

For pendants: https://www.cunningasfolk.com/store/lunar-talismans-swift-abundant-5gt6r-jamf7

Settings Available:

•14k Gold Ring (1mm) set with 5mm Rainbow Moonstone Cabochon: £270

•Sterling Silver Ring (1mm) set with 5mm Rainbow Moonstone Cabochon: £207

•Sterling Silver Ring (5mm) set with 10mm Rainbow Moonstone Disc: £207

Rings available in most sizes.

O Moon, blessed lady, fortunate, cold and humid, proportional and beautiful. You are chief and key of all the other planets, swift in your movements with a shining brightness, lady of merriment and joy, of good words, good reputation, and a lucky kingdom.

PICATRIX, BOOK 3

The intentions and telos of these talismans are to enhance, strengthen, and nourish one's relationship with the intelligences and spirits of the lunar realm.

The Moon is the gateway to the sublunary and as such both she and her ministering intelligences and associated spirits hold the keys to flourishing within the elemental world.

All that is rich and of substance arrives in abundance quickly, offering nurturance to and strengthening the body. Equally, they carry forth a good reputation and open the doors wide to a lucky kingdom of the Moon.

The design features the Lunar Kamea as represented by sources such as Agrippa.

Each talisman comes with with a consecrated the planetary square of the Moon along with two types of myrrh, a rich resin tied to the Moon, and in a small box bit to be a home for the talisman when it is in not worn.

Talismanic eikōn (cult images) engraved with Venusian charaktēres and the image of Aphrodite, a ṣalmu to the Goddess, intended as a shrine image and consecrated under the celestial influence of Venus in Taurus, according to elected astrological timing.

The Design and Inspiration

Obverse

The obverse presents a Talismanic Eikōn of Aphrodite in the Anadyomene type, depicting the goddess in the act of unbinding her hair after emerging from the sea. Long associated with beauty, desire, and generative power, this enduring image embodies the celestial virtues traditionally attributed to Venus.

Consecrated through astrological election, the image is conceived as a ṣalmu: a ritually empowered divine image that serves as a vessel for the beneficent influence of the planet. Encircling the figure are engraved voces magicae (barbarous names), inspired by the Hellenistic tradition of Greco-Egyptian magical gems and ritual texts, where sacred names and inscriptions were employed to invoke and attract planetary powers.

Reverse

The reverse is engraved with the kamea, planetary seal, and charaktēres of Venus, honouring the transmission of astrological magic through the Arabic and Islamicate world into medieval and Renaissance Europe. Together these sacred signs form a symbolic grammar through which the virtues of Venus were invoked, directed, and preserved within the talisman.

In dialogue with the obverse, the reverse complements the divine image with the operative symbols of the later astrological tradition, uniting more than two millennia of planetary magic within a single consecrated object.

The obverse unites Classical iconography, Mesopotamian concepts of sacred image-making, and the magical traditions of Hellenistic Egypt into a single devotional and talismanic image of Venus.

In Akkadian, ṣalmu is an image, statue, or representation that can become the locus of divine presence through ritual. Mesopotamian cult images were not merely symbolic—they are to be treated as embodiments of the deity's presence..

Election and Telos

The creation of these talismans was undertaken under full ritual conditions and according to carefully elected astrological timings. Their consecration honours Venus as the Evening Star—the Star of Aphrodite—established in her own domicile and expressing her sovereign virtues: abundance, delight, beauty, fecundity, and the full enjoyment of the sensual world.

The principal election took place on 19 April, when the final carving and ritual suffumigation of the malachite rondels were completed. A radiant waxing Moon in fertile Taurus, the earthy domicile of Venus, applied by conjunction to Venus herself, having recently separated from a benefic sextile with Jupiter in Cancer. Both Venus and the Moon were rising, reinforcing the celestial sympathy between the planet, the image, and the rite.

The initial carving began under an earlier election on 14 April, when Venus culminated while applying to the Ascendant. The Moon, in Pisces—the sign of Venus' exaltation—applied by trine to Jupiter in Cancer and by sextile to Venus in Taurus, establishing the work under similarly beneficent conditions before its completion during the principal election.

The telos of these talismans is to cultivate profound receptivity to the sensual richness of the world: to taste, to touch, to behold beauty, and to delight in the generative abundance of earthly life. They are intended to attract the radiant and life-giving virtues of the Star of Aphrodite, supporting beauty, love, sexuality, artistic inspiration, craftsmanship, prosperity, and general good fortune.

Conceived as Planetary Eikōnes and consecrated as ṣalmū, these images are both talismanic and devotional. They are intended to embody the celestial virtues of Aphrodite and are suitable for offerings, prayer, contemplation, and acts of personal devotion.

Presentation

These malachite rondels were created as talismanic images of Aphrodite, intended for installation upon a personal shrine, altar, or other place of devotion. Each is accompanied by a black-lacquered easel, allowing the image to be displayed as the focal point of ritual, prayer, or contemplation.

Every rondel is presented in a protective box, where it rests upon a fragrant bed of spikenard root, Royal Hojari frankincense tears, cherry blossoms, and rose petals—botanicals traditionally associated with Venus, beauty, and sacred offering.

• Malachite Discs: A- 56mm x 4mm, B- 56mm x 5mm, C- 59mm x 4mm, D- 56mm x 4mm

Hymn to Physis

Find out more about this extraordinary hymn which was performed during all preparations and rituals to emphasis the funcund and powerful expression of Venus during all the rituals mentioned above. Included is the masterful translation from Kristin Mathis, whose work I deeply respect and would highly recommend.

[…] You are All-wise, Gifter of All,

Caretaker, Conductor,

Queen of All.

Bringing Plenty to maturity,

Softening, Ripening, Suppurating: 

You are Plump, Juicy,

Growth-nurturer and Loosening Liberator.

You are at once Father, Mother, 

Nursemaid, and Foster of All […]

With Venus in Taurus, these talismans were crafted, carved into rich green malachite cabochons. Malachite is mineralised copper and carries powerful Venusian virtues. Equally, these stones are ethically-sourced.

Details for the Talismanic Eikōn of Aphrodite - Malachite Rondel are here.

Design and Inspiration

The creation of these talismans was undertaken under full ritual conditions and according to auspicious astrological elections. Venus was observed as the Evening Star, the Star of Aphrodite, established in her own sovereignty and expressing her most beneficent virtues: abundance, beauty, harmony, fecundity, and a profound receptivity to the pleasures and richness of the sensual world.

The design of each malachite cabochon features the Kamea Seal of Venus alongside the sigil of Hagiel, the Intelligence of Venus. Together these symbols represent the ordered, harmonious, and benevolent principles attributed to the planet within the tradition of Renaissance astrological magic, as described in sources such as Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy.

Created as wearable planetary talismans, these pieces serve as personal emblems of Venusian virtue—intended to cultivate beauty, attraction, harmony, artistic inspiration, and a deeper attunement to the generative and pleasurable qualities of life.

Election and Telos

The creation of these talismans was undertaken under full ritual conditions and according to carefully elected astrological timings. Their consecration honours Venus as the Evening Star—the Star of Aphrodite—established in her own domicile and expressing her sovereign virtues: abundance, delight, beauty, fecundity, and the profound enjoyment of the sensual world.

The election took place on 19 April, when the carving and ritual suffumigation of the malachite cabochons were completed. A radiant waxing Moon in fertile Taurus, the earthy domicile of Venus, applied by conjunction to Venus herself, having recently separated from a benefic sextile with Jupiter in Cancer. Both Venus and the Moon were rising, reinforcing the celestial sympathy between planet, talisman, and rite.

The telos of these talismans is to cultivate a profound receptivity to sensuality and a deep appreciation of the exquisite richness of the world: to taste, to touch, to behold, and to become enraptured by the pleasures of earthly existence made manifest. Through the radiant and generative effluence of the Star of Aphrodite, they are intended to accompany the wearer in the cultivation of beauty, attraction, harmony, and creative expression.

These talismans are dedicated to the Venusian virtues of good fortune, sensuality, beauty, artistic inspiration, and skill in the arts and crafts, serving as personal emblems of the beneficent and harmonious powers of Venus.

Presentation

These malachite cabochons are designed as wearable planetary talismans, suitable for mounting as a pendant or ring in sterling silver. Through their intimate contact with the wearer, they serve as personal emblems of the Venusian virtues of beauty, harmony, attraction, sensuality, and creative expression.

Each talisman is presented within a protective box, where it rests upon a fragrant bed of spikenard root, Royal Hojari frankincense tears, cherry blossoms, and rose petals—botanicals traditionally associated with Venus, devotion, beauty, and sacred offering.

The box serves not only as a place of safekeeping, but as a dedicated resting place for the talisman when not worn, preserving its connection with the fragrant and devotional correspondences through which it was consecrated.

Talisman/Setting:

• Pendant, 12mm Malachite Cabochon, Sterling Silver

• Ring, 12mm Malachite Cabochon, 5mm band, Sterling Silver

Hymn to Physis

Find out more about this extraordinary hymn which was performed during all preparations and rituals to emphasis the funcund and powerful expression of Venus during all the rituals mentioned above. Included is the masterful translation from Kristin Mathis, whose work I deeply respect and would highly recommend.

[…] You are All-wise, Gifter of All,

Caretaker, Conductor,

Queen of All.

Bringing Plenty to maturity,

Softening, Ripening, Suppurating: 

You are Plump, Juicy,

Growth-nurturer and Loosening Liberator.

You are at once Father, Mother, 

Nursemaid, and Foster of All […]

The Sovereigns of the Boundless Sea talismans were hand-carved on faceted-oblongs of lapis lazuli as Venus and Neptune were conjunct in Pisces during 2024 and 2025, utilising the final conjunctions of these planets in Pisces in this century. These astrological conditions will not occur again until the later part of the 22nd Century.

Work began in a ritual timed to the apply Venus-Neptune conjunction of 2024, at which moment the lines of Greek letters were engraved followed by an initial consecration. They were then sealed with an appropriate vessel to await their completion the following year.  

The engraving process was completed with the addition of the deities, the talismans were suffumigated, and finally consecrated during a ritual on the 1st of February 2025 as the applying conjunction of Venus and Neptune was culminating on the Midheaven with the Waxing-Crescent Moon conjoining in Pisces, the traditional sign of Venus’ exaltation and the modern domicile of Neptune. 

At this time Venus was dazzling the world brightly as an evening star while Neptune, invisible to the naked eye, churned the cosmic depths for the final time in the sign of Pisces. 

The telos and intention entwined within the talisman is to embody the powers of these oceanic lords: beneficent glamour, all supreme expressions of artistic and mystical prowess, and the boundless awards of such fecundity. 

The engaged bearer of this talisman will be guided and taught by the principal masters of this domain, opening untold sensate and psychic worlds of untold cosmic beauty, wonder, and even transcendence. As such, they will effortlessly obtain both creative and generative power, guide others to profound states of experience, and maintain boundless abundance. Both Venus and Neptune grant powerful influence over the seas, their movements and associated spirits and beasts. Neptune grants the ability to control the weather at sea, calming storms and enhacing fair conditions.

One side of the talisman features the deities Aphrodite-Venus, crowned holding an apple in one hand and a mirror in the other, and Poseidon-Zeus-Helios, crowned holding lightning that radiates above as well as below and a trident, as inspired by magical gems that were carried by the peoples of the Hellenistic Mediterranean around the 1st century CE.

On the back is a name written in lines of Greek letters is a combination of Aphrodite’s secret and magical name, ΑΡΩΡΙΦΡΑΣΙΣ, and Poseidon's magical name, ΣΥΟΕΛΚΟΙΛΗ. In the corners of the stone on both sides you will find a symbol for each deity, one a circle with a single line extending downwards, the other a circle with three lines radiating downwards. These are enigmatic symbols and their exact origin is unknown. 

Each talisman will be fitted with a sterling silver bar and pendant loop.

These Mars-in-Scorpio Talismans were hand-carved in rich bloodstone and empowered during a ritual timed to an auspicious-election on 4 October 2025. 

The election features a Mars planetary-hour, as Mars was rising in Scorpio, Mars’ nocturnal home, emphasising the martial power, and while an evening star, tempering potential extremes. 

The Moon in Pisces, equally angular by quadrant division and ruled by Jupiter in Cancer, is applying tightly by trine to Mars, with the next lunar aspects being to both Venus and Jupiter. 

Both the benefics witness Mars and the Moon from supportive signs, with Mars and the Moon free from harmful aspects by sign, or many degrees of distance. 

In a survey of future talismanic elections for Mars in Scorpio, these were some of the best conditions for easily until 2040.

The telos and intentions entwined within the talisman is thus: to endow high vitality, vigour; to embody strength and athleticism; to possess reliable instincts and tact; and to be indefatigable, attaining victory. 

This talisman can be relied on to accentuate courageous qualities, to be undaunted, the power of Mars granting potency in actions—strengthening the timid and humbling the wrath of those who are wicked or violent, diverting dangers.

Additionally, there are strong indications that these talismans heighten the power of masculine sexualities and fertility, both conferring these qualities and attracting the attention of those who embody them.

The talisman’s front bears the image of Mars as represented on Magical Gems from the first to third centuries CE, in which Ares appears as a hekatontarch, or centurion or commander, with weapon restrained and arm outstretched, palm open, as if offering the service of his star.  

The back contains the Seal of Mars, as well as the glyph of Mars’ Intelligence, Graphiel, as shown in traditional sources, such as those of Agrippa.

Each talisman is fitted with a 18k rolled-gold-on-sterling silver or sterling silver bail, and comes with a Mars Planetary Square, and a portion of related martial herbs and resins in a jute pouch.

When are we required to be an unstoppable force? What must be overcome that necessitates tenacity, courage, tact, and vigour? When is victory essential?

For all these purposes and directives, Mars offers us exactly what is required. So while we must temper the application of Mars’ power with caution, this is a supportive expression of this most unstoppable of gods.

Mars, as with Saturn, is wisely employed with caution in astral magic. However, the purpose and application of its power, intelligence, and spirit is necessary and undeniably valuable when required, such as when the need to prevail is strong, or when the application of great strength is required.

Mighty Ares, golden-helmeted rider of chariots, stout-hearted, shield-carrying and bronze-geared savior of cities, strong-handed and unwearying lord of the spear, bulwark of Olympos, father of fair Victory, and succorer of Themis. You curb the unruly and lead truly just men, O paragon of manly excellence, wheeling your luminous orb through the seven-pathed constellations of the sky, where flaming steeds ever carry you above the third heavenly arch. Hearken, helper of mortals and giver of flourishing youth, and from above shine a gentle light on my life and my martial prowess, that I may be able to ward off bitter cowardice from my head, to bend wisely my soul's beguiling impulse and to restrain the sharp fury of my heart, whenever it provokes me to enter chilling battle. But, O blessed one, give me courage to stay within the secure laws of peace and to escape the enemy's charge and a violent death.

- Homeric Hymns

Oh Mars, you who are the honoured lord, hot and dry, capable, colossal, robust at heart, the spiller of blood and giver of harm itself! You are strong, powerful, sharp, daring, shining, agile, and the lord of battle, punishment, affliction, injury,  prison, sorrow, and mixed and discrete things. You who have fear nor concern for anything! You are the sole helper in instigating your efforts, strong in your judgements and willful acts toward conquering and making petitioners fortunate, and actor or lawsuits and battle, a performer of brutality on the weak and the strong, a lover of the children of battles, an avenger of wicked and harmful people in the world. I conjure and ask by your names and qualities present in the heavens, by your conquests, and by your requests to the Lord God who placed in you power and strength, gathering for you and separating them from the other planets so that you might have strength and power, victory above all, and great vigour.

-Picatrix, Book 3

The Star of Stars

Sirius is the “Star of Stars”, for none shine brighter, more illustrious, or glitter more distinctively, thus earning the name the "Propitious Star of Heaven”

Telos and Powers

The telos and powers woven into and arising from this talisman: attain prominence; strengthen the powers of magic, rain making, healing, and effective communication with the spirits of air; warding off evil influence; establishing bon accord, loyal companionship, and love; attaining and securing wealth; having general good fortune; being furtile and fruitful; and enacting providence into action.

Election

These talismans were crafted on 26th of March, the day of Jupiter, in the hour or Venus, as the Waxing Moon and Jupiter are rising in Cancer conjunct to the projected zodiacal degree of Sirius. This is a unique election with Jupiter having stationed direct very close to this degree. Equally, the next best conditions to get Venus within close proximity to the projected degree of Sirius with the Moon Waxing will not occur until 2029, and the similar condition with Jupiter, not until 2037.

Talisman

The talisman is crafted with clear (5mm) or milky (6mm, 8mm) Aquamarine cabochons set in sterling-silver as a pendant. The associated glyph will be carved onto the stones and the stones set with a portion of the associated herbs timed to the election above. This project has been in the works for almost three years and I am delighted to finally craft it.

While the ancient and medieval sources of astral magic and astrology are divided on the planetary attributions of Sirius, giving it to Venus or to Jupiter/Mars, not only is this election unique, but in my observations over the past month of Jupiter’s retrograde, anticipating its station near this project degree of Sirius, I have come to understand and experience the following. Jupiter is undoubtedly linked to Cosmic Order and Authority, and when tied to Sirius through appearance, we have such Cosmic Authority being directed into Action, Sirius being the Arrow Star. Jupiter is directly tied to Marduk, extending this back further, to Enlil symbolically, as they both serve as establishing divine law, cosmic order and authority. Sirius is knowledge, skill, and execution, and like Ištar/Venus transmitting and distributing the celestial influence into the world. I explore this lore in an extended form below

Variants, Please see the info on ring size to check the availability.

• 5mm Clear Aquamarine cabochon pendant (sterling-silver) - £220

• 5mm Clear Aquamarine cabochon (seal carved slightly to the top) pendant (sterling-silver) - £170

• 5mm Clear Aquamarine cabochon (seal on back, shines through) pendant (sterling-silver) - £150

• 6mm Milky Aquamarine cabochon pendant (sterling-silver) - £150

• 8mm Milky Aquamarine cabochon pendant (sterling-silver) - £170

Glyphs, Stone, Herbs, Images of Sirius

As to the associated glyphs, stone, herbs, and images of Sirius, there is no better source than the De Quindecim Stellis and the associated texts. For this I will turn to the excellent translations of Regulus Hess.

“This is a star of the south, and it is among all other stars the greatest and most visible. So too is its power on earth of great efficacy[...] [I]t is a star of [natural] fortune[.] [...] And if there be need of an image, its virtue will be for good and great honor.” (Hess 2022. 22-23).

“The [Stone] is called Beryl [Beryl Aquamarine]. It is clear after the manner of Crystal or sea-water; and it is as if it were an eye, and ought to have angles through which its splendor proceedeth. Its virtue is of great honor and great benevolence in imposing concord among kings and other men; and when the Moon is with [Sirius], then is its virtue augmented, especially if it be on the ascendant or midheaven.” To which Hess adds this note on it being set in gold, ‘And if it be set in gold it giveth them with it.... It is of great power to friendship and love. It giveth great friendship betwixt two men, if thou touchest them with it…It is of great power to make concord and love.”―Seph. Raziel, 2.7, p 69.’ (Hess 2022. 28-29).

“The [herb] is Savin. This ought to be placed beneath Beryl, together with Mugwort, Dragonwort and a bit of the tongue of a Serpent; and let it be done when [Sirius] shall be on the ascendant or midheaven, the Moon being joined thereto. Know thou that whoso should have this ring, he will have favor with the spirits of the air and the peoples of the earth; and he will have the power to send a great peace among kings, other earthly rulers, and between quarreling husbands and wives.” (Hess 2022, 33).

“Under Canis Major [Sirius] they made the image of a harehound or a virgin girl. It confers honor, good-will and the favor of men and aerial spirits; and it gives the power of placating kings and princes and other men, and of effecting concord among them.” (Hess 2022, 88)

While the lore of Sirius is diverse, throughout the myriad ways it is storied we find that Sirius is linked to prominence, magic, rain, communicating with the spirits of air, bonaccord, divine providence made action, and loyal companionship.

Babylonian Star-lore

The Arrow was the name given by the Babylonians to the star Sirius. While it is indeed its own asterism with accompanying starlore, Gavin White notes that it is also “always incorporated into a larger constellation figure called the Bow.”

“This larger constellation, located among the stars of Canis Major are the stem of the Argo (Puppis), is figured as a female archer. She represents Ištar [...]. The Dedra zodiac represents Sirius in both its Egyptian and Babylonian formats. The female archer can be seen on the left hand side and in the centre the Sothis cow [with Sirius above its head], the Egyptian version of Sirius that is sacred to Isis. I believe the bird on a high perch [a symbol which undoubtedly ties Sirius to the height of Summer and the Solstice] seen on the right of the Dendra image is also part of the Sirian complex of symbols, larger because of the combination of perching bird and arrow regularly found on Babylonian entitlement stones.” (White 2014, 71).

White goes on to unpack the general name given to Sirius in Sumerian, MUL-KAK-SI-SÁ. MUL, as many will be aware, informs us that this is a star name. KAK depicts a wooden peg or stake and is used to write the verb ‘to build or make’, referencing the ritual peg set into the foundation of a building. The compound SI-SÁ means ‘to be well, straight, true’; ‘to be successful, to prosper’. It is this compound that lends to the astrological lore for the Arrow being known as “the Star of Wealth”.

Within Babylonian star-lore we find three deities that are tied to Sirius: Ištar, Ninurta, and Marduk. The connection with Ištar we explored above, while Ninurta earliest associations were to farming and irrigation. Marduk later took on these associations while Ninurta became more closely tied to war, as we find in the epitaph for Ninurta, “The Weapon of the Gods”. Furthermore Marduk, alongside Enlil, who prior was the originator of cosmic order, was often depicted with a bow and arrow, the primary symbol of divine kingship in Mesopotamia, indicating victory and providence, and in Enuma Elish arms himself with a bow and arrows to fight Tiamat, the bow becoming a celestial symbol of his triumph.

Here we can see the two of the planetary forms that become entwined with the Sirius in later sources: directly Venus, with Ištar, and Jupiter as Marduk, through function and divine authority.  If Jupiter/Marduk represent Cosmic Authority, Venus/Ištar represents the dynamic power that manifests and distributes this power within the world.

The Babylonians divided the heavens in three bands, given to the three senior gods.

The circumpolar region and the standing stars to the ancient god of cosmic authority Enlil/Nunamnir. The arch of heaven and the starry path of the luminaries and planets to heavenly Anu/An/Anum. The southernmost region of the sky and its associated stars to wise Ea/Enki. The Arrow (Sirius) is within this southernmost region.

While Enlil is the creator of the cosmic principles (singular Me, plural Mes, pronounced ‘May’ or ‘Mays’), it is Ea/Enki, creative intelligence and wisdom in the world, that gives these ontological powers (Mes) to Ištar, who in turn transports them to her city Uruk. In this way cosmic power moves from being stored within the divine upper most region of heaven and into our world. 

The Original Star Goddess

I would be remiss on even a cursory exploration of Sirius not to go deeper into its Egyptian aspects.

We begin with the original star goddess, Sopdet (Greek Sothis) the goddess who personified Sirius, literally meaning “the sharp and pointed one,” referring to the star’s brilliance. Sopdet appears from Egyptian Old Kingdom text (c. 2500 BCE) onwards as the star goddess that heralds the flood of the Nile and the bringing of fertility and renewal. At the time, Sirius’ heliacal rising, its first appearance just before sunrise after being hidden by the Sun’s light, coincided closely with the annual Nile Flood that was so instrumental to their culture’s antediluvian farming.

During the Middle and New Kingdoms, Sopdet increasingly merged with Isis. Isis was already established as the divine mother, a restorer of life, and the magician who resurrects Osiris. These themes were symbolically matched with Sirius as a star of rebirth and renewal. Equally, the constellation Orion was associated with Osiris, so this pairing is quite natural as we have Osiris and Isis in the sky. Within Egyptian astral theology, Sirius becomes the celestial manifestation of Isis and the powers that she wields, the star heralding their manifestation in the world, linking Sirius to magic, fertility, and divine powers made manifest

The Dog Star

I now would like to turn to an exploration of the association that Sirius has within the dearest of all human companions, the Dog.

Loyalty, companionship, intelligence, utility, and resourcefulness are some of the key qualities of dogs. As Sirius is often known as the Dog Star, its asterism figured as a dog following the constellation of the Hunter, I am compelled to unpack these aspects of the stars association.

Much as the bow and arrow becomes a technological extension of the will of the hunter, ensuring sustenance and prosperity, and of the warrior, ensuring victory, the dog becomes a companion and co-conspirator of shared will.

We saw with the associations of Sirius with the Arrow above, it may not be the vehicle that propels will, but it is undoubtedly the thing that strikes the target and enacts the will sent, it has a material intelligence to perform this task.

Much like the arrow, the dog brings speed alongside its own innate intelligence and broad sense perception to carry forth our shared objectives, while providing living companionship along the way.

Now to cite some useful references from Diana Rosenberg:

“Dogs are universal emblems of faithfulness, guardianship, watchfulness, fidelity and conservatism; they are mythic helpers and protectors, especially of women and children. Associated with death, they are psychopomps (conductors of souls) to the afterworld, messengers traveling between higher and infernal powers, keepers of the boundaries between this world and the next. Having been a companion in life, a dog is believed to continue so after death, interceding and interpreting for the soul with the gods of the underworld…[I]n Phoenician iconography the dog accompanies the Sun, and is an emblem of Gula. the Great Female Physician, as an aspect of the Mother Goddess symbols of sincerity and trustworthiness…They also associated the dog with Aesculapius, the God of Medicine; it healed by rebirth into a new life, because its fidelity survived death.

“Probably the first animals domesticated by humans, dogs, because of their intelligence and wisdom, were regarded by many cultures as the ancestors of civilization; it was believed that they brought fire to mankind. To Amerinds, the dog, interchangeable with the coyote, was a thunder animal, rain-bringer, fire-inventor, culture hero, intercessor, messenger, mythical ancestor. Iroquois sacrificed a white dog at the new year so that it would carry their prayers to the next world.

“Among obedience and subjugation of passions through the Law; an attribute Celts, dogs accompanied hunter gods, war gods and heroes; they were associated with healing waters and Nodens, god of healing. The arrival of a dog signified future prosperity.

“In Egypt dogs were a tribute of Amenti, the Great Mother; they guided the hawk-headed solar god to keep the Sun on the right path, and were sacred to dog-beaded Anubis and to Thoth (Hermes) as a messenger.” (Rosenberg 2012).

Final Reflections

Over dinner recently, I was speaking with a friend after having just taken her very noble dalmatian Nala on a walk to the beach. Amongst the cloud-filled Scottish sky, which was clear only in a high column to the south,  I saw both Sirius high in the lower southern sky with Jupiter prominently raised above. I was swimming in the rich and windy darkness with these two great lights as Nala, a playful, very white dalmatian darted about around me.

It is always a joy to be with the unfolding of the world in this way.

At dinner, my friend asked a seemingly naive, though to me, profound question, “How is it that we get something in the sky tied to such grand things like Jupiter, and then we have The Dog Star?”

I loved this question. I could immediately see the way the Dog was running across the earth along the arch of the southern sky. I felt the closeness of the constellation and the way that we figure it as such an intimate animal, the dog, as a perfect way to understand this intimacy.

Sirius is part of a complex and highly visually intriguing part of the sky, being so bright, so very sparkling, and so close to earth, it is no wonder that Sirius is The Star of Stars for their brilliance has graced our eyes for as long as we have been human and before.

Bibliography

Hess, R. 2022. De Quindecim Stellis: The Comprehensive Translations of Hermes on the Fifteen Fixed Stars. USA: Renaissance Astrology Press.

White, G. 2014. Babylonian Star-Lore: An Illustrated Guide to the Star-lore and Constellations of Ancient Babylonia. London: Solaria Publications.

Rosenberg, D. 2012. Secrets of the Ancient Skies: Fixed Stars & Constellations in Natal & Mundane Astrology. USA: Ancient Skies Press.