The Book of Gold (Le Livre d’Or) - 17th Century Book of Spells, Charms & Magic using the Biblical Psalms of David Read online

  An early example of this protective use is also seen in the Cambridge Genizah T-S Ar.1.c.15 with the Psalm being written on a piece of gazelle skin parchment and bound to the pregnant woman as an amulet.x T-S Ar.43.200 from the same collection has a similar use of this Psalm.xi

  PSALM 2

  Quam fremuerunt Gentes

  If someone feels himself to be discomposed through gastronomic repletion, he should read this Psalm until Hodie genui te over pure oil [180] and let the sick man be anointed by this oil and he will be cured and in order to be welcomed by a Prince, write these characters on a new tablet, wash them with the aforementioned oil and anoint your face with it and you will be welcomed. If you wish to break an earthenware vessel, write this Psalm on a new tile until Vos figuli confringes vosxii and throw it onto a plate, you will be surprised at what will happen.

  The Moon and hour as above.

  COMMENTARY:

  The Latin heading is the beginning of verse one, and reads “Why have the nations raged?”

  This Psalm also has a healing use in Sepher Shimmush Tehillim, being used for curing raging headaches. Verses one to eight are written on parchment with the divine name Shaddai (ShDI, ‘Almighty’), and hung around the patient’s neck, and the Psalm then prayed over him.xiii

  Another use in the same text is to dispel storms at sea, with the Psalm being recited, followed by meditation on the divine name Shaddai. These are then all written on a pot fragment and thrown into the sea with a prayer.xiv

  Being welcomed by a prince is attributed to verses seven and eight of this Psalm, “The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession”, in A Treatise of Mixed Cabalah.xv

  Psalm 2 is the first of the sequence of five Psalms (2, 53, 50, 46, 67) given in the Key of Solomon to be recited before or during the creation of the magic circle.xvi It is also the first in the sequence of three Psalms (2, 66, 53) to be spoken on entering a room or outdoor space for a ceremony before taking any action.xvii

  PSALM 3

  Domine quid multiplicati sunt

  If someone has a headache, let him write this Psalm until Et exaltans Caput meum with the characters below and tie them around the head of the sick man and he will be healed.

  The Moon as above.

  ORATION

  Pour upon us, Oh Lord, Thine Holy Blessing, so that being upheld by Thy mercy, we will not fear any traps laid for us by our enemies nor will we be afraid of their great number, which doth assail us. By our Lord Jesus Christ, so may it be.

  COMMENTARY:

  The Latin heading is the first half of verse two, “Why, O Lord, are they multiplied that afflict me?”

  This Psalm is also used for healing in Sepher Shimmush Tehillim, for curing severe headaches and backaches. The Psalm and the divine name Adon (ADVN, ‘Lord’) are recited over olive oil and the oil anointed onto the head.xviii

  This is the first Psalm in the sequence of seven (3, 8, 30, 41, 59, 50, 129) for use in the preparation of the needle, burin and other iron instruments in the Key of Solomon.xix

  In the Goetia, the first of the Shemhamphorash angels, Vehuiah, is associated with verse four of this Psalm, “But thou, O Lord art my protector, my glory, and the lifter up of my head”.xx

  Verses six and seven, “I have slept and taken my rest: and I have risen up, because the Lord hath protected me. I will not fear thousands of the people, surrounding me: arise, O Lord; save me, O my God”, are given in A Collection of Magical Secrets for resisting domestic enemies.xxi

  PSALM 4

  Cum invocarem exaudivit me Deus

  It relieves the following afflictions, of which Saint Cassiodorus both confirms and affirms [181] and he who says it in a devoted manner, will be delivered from all watery perils and from all accidents.

  It is also useful for obtaining the friendship of great people. You should rise with the Sun on a Thursday and recite it 7 times with the name of the Intelligence and have the characters written on your left hand and just before speaking to the person, he should speak the name of the Intelligence and stare at the characters on his hand – speak with confidence.

  Intelligence Ha Character

  COMMENTARY:

  The Latin heading is the first part of verse two, “When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me”.

  The name Ha occurs in conjurations in the Heptameron, and it is clear that here it is used as the name of the intelligence (spirit).

  One of the uses given for this Psalm in Sepher Shimmush Tehillim is for the success of a cause before magistrates or princes, for which it is to be recited seven times before sunrise with an appropriate prayer. Another use in the same text is to reverse misfortune, by reciting the Psalm three times before sunrise and then meditating on the divine name Yihehyeh (IHHI, ‘He is and will be’).xxii

  This Psalm is also used ‘To receive affection from kings and other great people’ by reciting it over rose oil and then rubbing the oil three times in the face before going to meet the person in question.xxiii

  Saint Cassiodorus was a Roman monk and writer (c.490-583CE), who originally held high office as a senator. His writings were significant both in espousing an intellectual approach to scripture and also for preserving otherwise lost knowledge on musical theory applied to the use of voice and instrument in services. His most noted writings were on the Psalms, and he also had the distinction of creating the template for subsequent Western monasteries, the one he created being the first (in the West).

  PSALM 5

  Verba mea auribus percipe Domine

  This Psalm is used against tempters, liars, perjurers and for the souls of the dead.

  In addition, it is good for locations or places that are being besieged and is also good for obtaining the friendship of great Lords. St Jerôme says that it is good for important things to the soul and when it is said with contrition, you will obtain from God all the things that you ask of Him.

  In order to make this work, you should take some olive oil, over which you recite this Psalm 3 times then rub this oil into your forehead and onto the top of your hand, onto which you will have written the name of the Intelligence, as well as the Character and you should see the resulting effects from it. Intelligence Canielvel Caniel, according to others Ramul.

  Characters according to others

  [182]

  COMMENTARY:

  The Latin in the heading is the first part of verse two, “Give ear, O Lord, to my words”.

  Another use whose origins are drawn from Sepher Shimmush Tehillim, where the Psalm is said three times over pure olive oil and anointed onto the face, hands and feet, with the divine name Chananyah (ChNNIH, ‘Merciful God’) for the success of a cause before magistrates or princes.xxiv

  The names Canielvel and Ramul do not seem to occur elsewhere, but Caniel is first found in the Steganographia of Trithemius as one of the aerial spirits serving the Prince Barmiel.xxv

  St Jerome (sometimes spelled as St Hierom) was born in 347 CE in Stridon, now located in modern-day Croatia. He was a Christian priest and an apologist, many of his works vehemently attacking opposers of Christian Orthodoxy but is best known for his new translation of the Bible into Latin, much of which would later become part of the Latin Vulgate Bible. He also revised the Psalter. It is said that many of his commentaries on the Scriptures aligned closely with commentaries from Jewish Tradition. He died in 420 CE.

  The Palermo ring, a seventh century gold ring for protecting a married couple, contains the second half of verse thirteen, “thou hast crowned us, as with a shield of thy good will”.xxvi This is not an isolated example, with another such ring being held in Russia.xxvii

  The second half of verse five, first half of verse six and second half of verse seven are connected to be used for throwing lying or treacherous men off your scent in A Collection of Magical Scents. The resulting expression is, “because thou a
rt not a God that willest iniquity. Neither shall the wicked dwell near thee: Thou wilt destroy all that speak a lie. The bloody and the deceitful man the Lord will abhor”.xxviii

  PSALM 6

  Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me

  This is good for consoling the sinner and to remove from him the grief of having offended God and this makes him look into his heart. Saint Cassiodorus says that whoever recites it piously seven times in a row, will change the evil will of an ungodly Judge and will prevent him from condemning him unjustly.

  It is good for all the labours and torments of the Spirit, reciting it seven times and with each time speak the name of the Intelligence and the immediately say; Here I pray to Thee, Lord of Salvation through the Holy Names of this Psalm, that Thou mayest deliver me from (such a torment or such an ill), from which Thou canst deliver those who are pleasing unto Thee.

  It is also good for sick people, who have diseased eyes. It should be recited it seven times for three days consecutively along with the name of the Intelligence and for each time you recite the Psalm, write its name and its character on a lettuce leaf and you should touch your eyes with it.

  Intelligence Issii Isy. Character .

  According to others

  COMMENTARY:

  The Latin in the heading is the first part of verse two, “O Lord, rebuke me not in thy indignation.” The names Issii and Isy given to the intelligence (spirit) do not occur in other grimoires.

  This is the first of the seven Penitential Psalms, which are found in the fifteenth century Abramelin and were also used by Dr John Dee in the late sixteenth century. These Psalms were sometimes given as part of the process as purificatory preparation for evocation in the grimoires.

  One use given in Sepher Shimmush Tehillim matches the final use here, which is for healing diseased eyes by saying the prescribed prayer (given in the book) seven times after reciting the Psalm with the name Yeshayah (IShAIH, ‘Help is with the Lord’), over a period of three days.xxix Another use in the same work is to recite the Psalm seven times with a prayer for protection from dangers by land or sea.

  In the Goetia, two of the Shemhamphorash angels are associated with this Psalm, the fourth, Elemiah with verse five, “Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercy's sake”,xxx and the fifty-eighth, Yeialel, with verse four “And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but thou, O Lord, how long?”xxxi

  PSALM 7

  Domine Deus meus in te speravi, salvum me fac

  It procures the assistance of God if you say it piously when in times of need, according to St. Jerôme; it also procures relief for prisoners and in the same way it prevents you from being cheated [183] by whomever and it serves against enemies and against lawsuits, if you carry it upon yourself along with its character and its Intelligence and if you are pursued from the rear, take some earth and recite this Psalm over it and write the character and the Intelligence on it and then throw this powder along with what you have written into it, into the face of your enemies and they will retreat.

  If you have any specific enemies, take an earthenware vase and fill it with water from a spring or from a river and recite from this verse in the Psalm four times Exurge Domine in ira tua until the end of this Psalm and then add to it, My God, strike down mine enemies to my feet and trample upon them, as Thou didst bring down the house of Abraham and may they flee from before me.

  Then throw this water onto the place over which your enemies will pass and you will always vanquish them.

  If you involved in a lawsuit, while going before the judge, repeat the name of the Intelligence and you will find favour: Intelligence Eliel. Characters .

  COMMENTARY:

  The Latin in the heading is the first half of verse two, “O Lord my God, in thee have I put my trust: save me”. Eliel is a spirit serving under the Prince Maseriel in the Steganographia.xxxii The uses found here are the same as in Sepher Shimmush Tehillim, even down to the throwing of earth, clearly show this was the likely source. The divine name used is El Elion (AL, ALIVN, ‘Most High God’).xxxiii The same work also recommends reciting the Psalm with a prayer to El Elion before appearing in front of a judge.

  It is the fourth of five Psalms used for preparing the holy drink against elf influence and the devil’s temptations in the Anglo-Saxon Lacnunga MS (C10th-11th CE).xxxiv

  In the Goetia verse eighteen of this Psalm, “I will give glory to the Lord according to his justice: and will sing to the name of the Lord the most high”, is associated with the fifty-second Shemhamphorash angel, Aumamiah.xxxv

  This Psalm is recited before sleep as part of a rite for receiving a reply during sleep. The rite requires three days chastity and purity, and includes the inscription of a sigil and intelligence name on a laurel leaf with rose water ink.xxxvi

  Lines based on verses of this Psalm are used in a charm in the Abramelin. The words “Bad luck will fall on your head and spite cover your head” (based on verse sixteen) are written on a lead plate after sunset, and this is fumigated whilst this prayer is repeated seven times, “Stand up, Adonai, in your rage, and raise yourself in anger upon my enemies” (based on verse six).xxxvii

  PSALM 8

  Domine Dominus Noster

  In order to prevent children crying and in order to hold honey bees, write this Psalm and attach it to the right arm of the child and he will cry no longer and in order to take the bees, if you recite the first verse only from this Psalm, you will be able to carry them [184] to their territory.

  The Moon being in or in hour of the

  ORATION

  Oh Almighty God, we pray to Thy praiseworthy name most humbly, with the wish to make us worthy of the duties of servitude, which we owe to Thee and in this way, Thou hast created and formed all creatures to the use of mankind through our Lord Jesus Christ, so may it be.

  COMMENTARY:

  The Latin in the heading is the first few words of verse two, “O Lord our Lord”.

  Again the Mars character is an error, as the Moon could not be in Mars (another planet), and there should be a zodiacal sign here. As discussed in Psalm 1, the most likely candidates are either Sagittarius or possibly the signs ruled by Mars, i.e. Aries or Scorpio.

  The reference to bees is significant in that they are needed by the magician as a source of virgin wax for making pentacles.

  In Sepher Shimmush Tehillim this Psalm is used to gain the goodwill of men in business transactions. This is done by reciting the Psalm whilst thinking of the divine name Rachmiel (RChMIAL, ‘God of Compassion or Mercy’) for three days after sunset. The associated prayer is said three times over olive oil and the face, hands and feet anointed with it.xxxviii

  This Psalm is the first in the sequence of eight Psalms (8, 21, 27, 29, 32, 51, 72, 134) to be recited during the consecration of the Pentacles in the Key of Solomon. The Pentacle is held over the incense towards the rising sun and the Psalms recited with devotion.xxxix

  This Psalm is one of those in the sequence of nineteen (130, 14, 101, 8, 83, 67, 71, 132, 112, 125, 45, 46, 21, 50, 129, 138, 48, 109, 52) recited for conjuration of the wax used in making the Pentacles in the Key of Solomon.xl

  This is the second Psalm in the sequence of seven (3, 8, 30, 41, 59, 50, 129) for use in the preparation of the needle, burin and other iron instruments in the Key of Solomon.xli

  In the Goetia, the first half of verse two, “O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth” of this Psalm is associated with the seventeenth Shemhamphorash angel, Lauviah.xlii

  This Psalm is the first of two used in a technique of seeking answers from the appropriate planetary archangel of the day.xliii

  PSALM 9

  Confitebor tibi Domine. Eehie

  If you wish to be honoured by your King or Prince, write all of this Psalm onto a glass plate with the characters below in the Name of Jesus Christ and of St Etienne,xliv wash all of it with olive oil and then rub your face with it.

  . The Moon as above.

  ORATION
>
  Lend, Oh God, Thy holy ear to our confession, Thou who hast never abandoned those who are penitent, so that being delivered from the Gates of Death, we may avoid the traps that have been laid for us. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ.xlv So mote it be.

  COMMENTARY:

  The Latin in the heading is the first part of verse two, “I will give praise to thee, O Lord”. The divine name in the heading is clearly a miscopied version of Eheieh (AHIH, ‘I am’, the divine name of the Sephira of Kether on the Qabalistic Tree of Life).

  St Stephen is venerated as a Saint in many Christian traditions and was one of the first Saints in the early church to bear the title Archdeacon. There is no record of his birth, but he died circa 35 CE in Jerusalem, when he had been tried for blasphemy against Moses and God and was stoned to death (Acts 6:11).

  To exorcise a demon, this Psalm was whispered nine times with its associated mystical names over a new pot filled with freshly drawn water with some olive oil poured in. The liquid was then used to bathe the victim.xlvi

  Sepher Shimmush Tehillim gives two different uses for this Psalm. The first use is for restoring sick male children to health, writing the Psalm on new parchment and hanging it around the boy’s neck with a prayer whilst thinking of the divine name Eheieh Asher Eheieh (AHIH, AShR AHH, ‘I am that I am’, often used for the Sephira of Kether in the Qabalah).xlvii The second use is against the ill-will and power of enemies, reciting the Psalm with another prayer which contains the same divine name.xlviii