[This is taken from Thomas H. Burgoyne's The Science of the Soul and Stars.]
Words are the symbols of ideas, and bear the same correspondence to the physical
brain as matter does to spirit, a medium of expression, and are subject to
continual change in their application and meaning, in exact proportion to the
changing mental and moral condition of the people. As the planet, as well as
man, is continually progressing, so must there be a higher and nobler conception
of ideas. Hence, words or expressions must change, to convey the progressive
spirit, that is constantly taking place. Therefore, it is always interesting, as
well as valuable, for the Occult student to go to the root of each word
connected with his philosophy, in order to learn the real sense in which the
word was used by the ancients, from whom his mystic lore has descended. The true
meaning, as well as the words themselves, have become as mystical as the lore
itself. Hence, each student must commence as a beginner in any foreign language,
which he does not at present understand. In following this method of procedure
he will, at least, escape the dense and interminable confusion of modern
opinions upon subjects of which the writers thereof, are partially or wholly
ignorant.
No better illustration of this can be afforded than by the word "Talisman,"
derived from the Greek verb "teleo," which means, primarily, to accomplish, or
bring into effect. But, in its real, and therefore higher, sense, it means to
dedicate, consecrate, and initiate into the arcana of the temple mysteries. But,
in the present day it means a piece of imposture, connected with some magical
hocus pocus of the ignorant and superstitious mind, a vulgar charm, that is
supposed to bring the owner thereof some material benefit, irrespective of his
mental, magnetic, and moral condition, "and," says the learned Webster, after
describing his idea of such things, "they consist of three sorts, astronomical,
magical and mixed." But in what sense the "astronomical" differed from the
"magical" we are not informed, nor is any light thrown upon the peculiar nature
of that class designated as "mixed." In fact, the lexicographer so mixes up his
definitions that, we are unable to distinguish anything in particular, but his
own individual ignorance.
So it has become, in every branch of learning. Words and their meanings have
become so mixed in their use and application, that, the world is full of
discords and misunderstandings, which lead into dissensions and contention,
among all schools of thought, sects, and isms; and lastly, though not the least
serious, it has reached into the close relations of the human family.
All writers and speakers, as well as the readers and listeners, should acquaint
themselves with the derivation and meaning of words.
The fact stands very clearly defined that, Talismans are confused in the minds
of the present generation with magical charms, which depend for their effects,
upon the power of the idea or thought, which the formulating magician impresses
upon the substance of which they are composed. If the magical artist be expert,
and endowed with an exceedingly potent will, his charm may become very powerful,
when worn by the person for whom it was prepared. But, if this one grand
essential be lacking, no amount of cabalistical figures and sacred names will
have any effect, because, there can be no potency in symbols apart from the
ideas and mental force they are capable of arousing in the mind of the maker.
Solomon's Seal is no more powerful, when drawn upon virgin parchment, with a
weak will, or in a mechanical state of mind, than a child's innocent scribbling
upon its slate. But, if the artist realizes the mysteries symbolized by the
interlacing triangles, and can place his soul en rapport with the invisible
elements they outwardly represent; then, powerful effects are often produced.
I am sorry to say that the knowledge of charms is not confined to the creation
of beneficial talismans. Its perversion has led to the diabolical practices of
the Voodoo and Black Magician, whose work is wholly, either for gain or revenge.
Nothing, but the most extreme selfishness lies beneath such immoral practices,
but, as there must be a light to reflect a shadow, so a charm must follow a
talisman. Magical charms, then, are simply natural objects, possessing but
little active virtue in themselves, but, owing to the mediumistic nature of
their substances, are endowed with artificial powers, of temporary duration, by
virtue of the idea and thought impressed upon them, through the mental magic of
the maker; and in this sense, a charm must be clearly distinguished from "teleo,"
the Talisman. The very names suggest their difference, and, above all other men,
students in Occultism should strive to become thoroughly educated in the true
sense of the term, MEN OF LETTERS, by virtue of (as Ruskin calls it) "the
kingship of words." "Charm" is derived from the Latin "carmen," a song that
fascinates, and means to control by incantation, to subdue; while Teleo concerns
the secret powers and wisdom of consecration and initiation. It is because of
modern misuse of antique terms that, we have considered this somewhat lengthy
explanation necessary, in order to clear away the accumulated debris of the
ages, from the true foundation of our present study.
A Talisman is a natural object, containing the elemental forces of its own
degree of life, in a state of intense activity, and capable of responding to the
corresponding quality of life, OUTSIDE OF ITSELF, that emanates from the same
spiritual state, either by sympathetic vibration or antagonistic currents, the
nature, power, quality, and degree of life, which the various natural objects
represent, being a part of the temple curriculum of initiation. Hence, the name,
by which the latent power of these natural objects became known, was in strict
harmony with the facts involved.
In order to prevent any possible misconception upon the subject, let us briefly
restate the definition in a different way: A Talisman is the exact antipodes of
a charm. This latter is the artful and temporary result of man's mental power;
the former, the natural production of universal Nature, and as permanent and
enduring as the substance of which it is composed, DURING THE PRESENT CYCLE. And
yet in some sense, it may be quite correct to say that, a Talisman ACTS LIKE A
CHARM, and vice versa, that charms ACT LIKE A TALISMAN, providing that, the real
vital difference between them, is maintained in the statement.
Now that we have our subject clearly defined, let us carefully examine HOW AND
IN WHAT SENSE a given natural object becomes Talismanic, for it must appear
self-evident to all that, one and the same substance cannot constitute a
Talisman for everyone, and for everything. They must naturally differ, as widely
in their nature and quality, as mankind differ in physical, mental, moral,
ethical, and temperamental, development. And, yet, though, man may so differ
from his fellow man; the Eskimo, killing seals in his kayak, may belong to the
same spiritual quality of life as the Harvard professor, who obtains his
subsistence by daily discourse upon the sublime harmony of the infinitely small
with the infinitely great, throughout the manifested universe of matter, and
wherever we find this KINSHIP of the spirit, we shall find the same identical
Talisman acting alike upon each, whenever they shall come en rapport with it.
Mental, moral, and physical development, never alter the real nature of the
internal man. Culture only brings to the surface, into active use, the latent
possibilities lying concealed within the human soul. It only allows him to
exercise his functions upon different planes, and with different effect.
Every natural department of Nature corresponds to some peculiar specific quality
and degree of life. These have been divided, for the sake of convenience, into
four primary groups; and each group again subdivided into three, corresponding
to the four cardinal, four succedent, and four cadent houses, of the
astrological chart; therefore, the twelve signs of the Zodiac; these
constituting the Cycle of Necessity within physical conditions, wherein, the
ever-measuring or decreeing tidal flow of life from solar radiation throughout
the year, represents the twelve groups of humanity, of lower animated Nature, of
vegetation, and crystallized gems. Every human being is ushered into the world
under the direct influx of one or more of these celestial divisions, and by
virtue of the sign occupying the horizon at the moment of birth, absorbs such
influx, and becomes endowed with a specific polarity, by virtue of which, lie
ever afterward, during such expression within physical conditions, inspires with
every breath, that specific life quality from the atmosphere, corresponding to
the same degree of the universal spirit. Consequently, that gem, or those gems,
representing and corresponding to HIS HOUSE OF LIFE, become to him, a Talisman,
because of their relationship--their spiritual affinity. THE METALS never
become Talismanic, because of their comparatively negative degree of life, and
for this reason also, they make the most powerful charms. Certain combinations
of metals, and in proper proportions, increase the potency and magnetic
influence of a charm; and here, too, the laws of antipathy and affinity come
into practical use.
A true expert will know his metals, or metal, and his client, before commencing
his magical work.
Those persons who derive most virtue from a Talisman are those who belong to the
most sensitive, or interior state, within such degree of life, and who are
dominated by one sign only. Thus, if we find one sign occupying the whole of the
House of Life, or practically so, as when the first face of a sign ascends, we
may be sure, other things not interfering, that such a native will receive great
benefit from wearing its Talismanic gem. If a person of good intellectual powers
and sensitive spirituality, be born when the lord of the ascendant occupies the
RISING SIGN, as, for instance, Mars in Aries, or Sun in Leo, we may be sure
that, the Talismanic gem, in their case, will be exceedingly powerful, because,
all the Astro-physical conditions are then most favorable for the expression of
natural forces, and, if worn upon, or near that part of the body which the sign
rules, the power and influence is more powerful and beneficial.
In wearing them, take them to you as a part of yourself, a part of your higher
self, a thing to be heeded, listened to and obeyed. They will usually make their
presence most pronounced when something arises to disturb the harmonious
vibrations that naturally and quietly go on between the person and the
interstellar spaces above. They are like the sensor and motor nerves--they
never make their presence known, except, when danger encroaches.
Having explained in what sense gems become talismanic, we have now to disclose
the modus operandi--THE HOW.
The gems contain the life quality of their own astral nature. Man, as a higher
expression, only, of the same universal life, contains the same. Like two
electric currents, MAN, THE POSITIVE POLE (comparatively), attracts unto himself
THE MINERAL LIFE OF THE GEM, which thus, becomes the negative pole. A complete
circuit is formed and maintained, as long as they remain in contact. Gems
belonging to a different quality of life, not being en rapport with his astral
state, have no good effect, because, no current flows between them. Thus, the
Talisman acts in unison with the psychic, or soul-principle, of man, aiding the
organism to sustain health, stimulating the mental perceptions, and spiritual
intuition, and affording in a remarkable manner, many premonitions of coming
danger, when the individual is sufficiently sensitive to perceive them. And now,
per contra, as there are gems that act in sympathy with man, there must be, and
in fact are, gems that act upon contrary principles; i.e., antagonistic, and
these belong to purely antagonistic elements, as Air to Earth and Fire to Water,
unless the native be born under BOTH forces, as Mars in Cancer rising, or the
latter part of one sign and nearly the whole of another of an opposite nature,
occupying the ascendant. Such natives are pure neutrals, and such might wear the
gems that belong to the most powerful planet of the horoscope, or that
triplicity holding the most planets; then, they are usually combined, the planet
and the triplicity.
There are, of course, innumerable substances, more or less, capable of
talismanic virtue to particular individuals. To these may be added the
opal, under Scorpio; the garnet, under Aries; and the turquoise, under Cancer,
when Saturn is therein; and the aquamarine, under Pisces; and among the
temporary talismans of vegetation we may add that, the young shoots, bearing the
flower and seed vessels, are the portions of chief virtue, and the young shoots
of trees. These are often used in locating mines, wells, oils, etc., that lie
hidden beneath the surface of the earth, and in the hands of a negative,
sensitive person, seldom fail to reward the searcher with success. These should
always be gathered when their ruling correspondences are rising, or, BETTER
STILL, CULMINATING UPON THE MERIDIAN.
We have now reached the limits of our present study, and have only to state
that all gems, like the human organism, are in one of three conditions: alive
and conscious, asleep and UNCONSCIOUS, or dead and powerless. These conditions
can only be discovered, in stones, by the trained lucid or the instructed
neophyte. Stones that are sleeping require to be awakened. This, also, can only
be done by the trained student or Adept. Those that are dead, are USELESS as
Talismans, no matter how beautiful they appear as ornaments.
Gems and stones are also sexed, and those who wear them would receive the best
effect if they should wear those of opposite sex, although either is powerfully
potent in their influence upon the individual. How very ignorant the children of
men are, of the subtle, silent, yet obedient servants, that everywhere, surround
them. Here, again, that Divine spark, which lies embedded within the
crystallized forces of Nature, is exerting its subtle, spiritual influence, in
making man's very selfishness, and love of ornament and show, a means, to bring
forth these silent monitors, knowing ere long that, their true power and potency
will be known, and consciously utilized by him, as potent factors in his soul's
evolvement and physical development.
The twelve representative gems within the cold stratas of matter, stand as the
material representatives of their stellar counterparts in the sky, and
constitute the beautiful, glittering, but crystallized, Zodiac of man's physical
anatomy.
Original text by Thomas H Burgoyne, edited and revised by Dainial MacÀdhaimh - this text © 2005. Please note: all applicable material on this website is protected by law and may not be copied without express written permission.
Thanks to the nice folks at Google, you can search our site for a specific term or phrase: