Planetary intelligence
Planetary intelligences are one of the seven divine beings associated with each of the seven traditional planets of astrology. Each planet is part of the Great Chain of Being and has a vast hierarchy of spirits, intelligences, angels, deities, plants, stones and minerals as partaking in its nature.
Within this conceptual framework, the planetary intelligence is the part of the planet that corresponds to the mental plane, the plane of abstract thought.
Good vs. evil
In some respects, the planetary intelligence many be thought of as the positive aspect of a planet's energy, while the planetary spirits embody the negative aspects of a planet's energy. Through the many centuries of scholarship on this topic, these positive and negative traits have been conflated into angels and demons, although they are not explicitly good or evil.
Power of the intelligences
Most magicians view these intelligences as somewhat violent in their natures, being possessed of a thought-process which exists completely outside the capabilities of mortal humans to comprehend. Their power and abilities are similar to the fictional "old ones" found in the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, which imagines cosmic gods who are blind and insane, causing madness among any human who makes contact with them. Most ceremonial magicians are extremely wary of working with the planetary intelligences and planetary spirits.
In his book, The Practice of Magical Evocation, occultist Franz Bardon stated:
"These intelligences ... are not at all well-disposed towards human beings. It takes great effort to control them, and only a very competent magician will be able to succeed in bringing them completely under his control."
Use in ceremonial magic
Planetary intelligences are invoked through ritual magic to control the forces of the planetary spirit, specifically in the creation of astrological talismans. The planetary intelligences are also formally invoked to help ameliorate poorly dignified planets in a natal chart.
List of planetary intelligences
This list is primarily derived from the 1651 english translation of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy.
| Planet | Intelligence | Sigil | Metal | Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn | Agiel "Flee from God" |
|
Lead | Zazel |
| Jupiter | Jophiel "Beauty of God" |
|
Tin | Hismael |
| Mars | Graphiel "Power of God" |
|
Iron | Barzabel |
| Sun | Nachiel "Smiting of God" |
|
Gold | Sorath |
| Venus | Hagiel "Cutting of God" |
|
Copper | Kedemel |
| Mercury | Tiriel "Wall of God" |
|
Brass | Taphthartharath |
| Moon | Malcha "The Queen" |
|
Silver | Hasmodai |