Panacea: An Alternative V.I.T.R.I.O.L. Emblem
You can find an iteration of the V.I.T.R.I.O.L. abbreviation encircling an alchemical androgyne on this title page for Compendiolum de praeparatione auri potabilis veri, roughly Small Compendium on the Preparation of True Gold. V.I.T.R.I.O.L. typically stands for “Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem,” or “Visit the interior of the earth, rectify what you find…
Tethered to the Prima Materia
This following image is a page from the Alchemical and rosicrucian compendium (Mellon MS 28). The work is held at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library in New Haven, Connecticut, USA: The vessel depicted in the image contains Hermes Trismegistus, who is displaying the symbols for the seven planetary metals of alchemy to…
Artist Feature • Marta Polato: Tree Lore from the 2019 “Erbario Suggestivo” series
Behold the work of engraver, illustrator, and printmaker Marta Polato. Polato is an Italian artist born in Padua and based in Venice. Her works capture the dance — both earthly and otherworldly — of European mythic traditions, herbal folklore, and esoteric currents. Like the flora they depict, Polato’s works emit a deep potency. Polato is…
Emblems and Embossments Pt I • The Occult Publishing Co.
In my life, an adoration of a book extends to every detail. The spirit of a book — as well as the genius loci of its author and publisher — is constituted in every facet of a design. This seems particularly the case with old occult books. Combine these dual fascinations and it is no…
Jailbreak: Two Liberatory Talismans
Behold this handsome pentacle from Clavicula Salomonis Regis : ex idiomate Haebreo versa. This work is attributed to Abraham Colorni. c.a. 1750-1799. The manuscript image comes from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts at the University of Pennsylvania. The work is also known as UPenn Ms. Codex 1673. The Kislak material…
Visions of V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
As an acquaintance once pointed out to me, a fascination with esoterica naturally implies a concern with hidden details, minute features, and the multiplicities of symbolic meaning. In my own life, this emerges as a series of intense dives into a given subject. These dives are bolstered —if not fueled entirely—by my own neurological “divergences.”…
The Göetic Circle Appears in Calendrier Magique
This image shows the Göetic Circle of Black Evocations and Pacts as depicted in colorful detail from the January page of the Calendrier Magique. The Calendrier was created by Austin de Croze and Manuel Orazi in 1896. Only 777 original editions of this calendar were published. The circle icon as it is depicted here may…
Le Lac des Aulnes: The Entrancing Costume Designs of a French Fairy Opera
The Bibliothèque nationale de France’s BnF Gallica digital collections are a treasure trove. Seemingly endless in their scope, they contain many overlooked gems. One such gem may be found in Charles Bétout’s costume designs for Henri Maréchal’s 1907 opera, Le Lac des Aulnes (The Lake of the Alders/Alder Lake). Gallica BnF describes the work as…
The Garden of Pomegranates in Pamela Colman Smith’s High Priestess Card
Closely examine the imagery on Pamela Colman Smith’s High Preistess tarot card. It contains the proverbial Pardis Rimonim —a Garden of Pomegranates. Those familiar with 20th century esoteric literature will know this as the namesake of Israel Regardie’s legendary book on Qabalah. For context, page 9 of Regardie’s own Garden of Pomegranates reads: “Based on…
Was Crowley’s Proclaimed Son a Zinester? Liber lucis
An eccentric bit of occult history that will resonate with zinesters. What you see above is cover art for Liber lucis no. 3, Eald Cynren ( which I believe translates to Old Kin from Anglo-Saxon). Described as “A new exposition of the Law of Thelema,” this fanzine-esque series was created around 1972-1974 by Andrew Standish.…
Zine Feature: On the Animation of Statues
I recently finished up one of Brian Cotnoir’s alchemical zines published by his own Khepri Press. “On the Animation of Statues” is a valuable trove of primary sources and secondary insights regarding a fascinating historical alchemical practice. I ordered a few of Brian’s alchemical zines in May. Along with them, he sent me this entrancing…
Curio Esoterica 