As some of you may know, I have been working with the Arbatel de magia veterum (Basel, Switzerland 1575) for a while now with quite a bit of positive success. I’m hoping to blog about some of my experiences as soon as I get my notes and illustrations in order! In the meantime, if you would like to do some exploring for yourself, hop over to the Scribbler’s blog as he is gathering a comprehensive collection of Everything Arbatel.
( By the way…In addition to his website’s free edition of the Arbatel, Joseph H.Peterson also has an actual hold-in-your-hands-book if you are interested purchasing it for yourself. You can find it here: Arbatel, Concerning the Magic of Ancients)
Another friend of mine has had some good success with a similar, 17th century manuscript, entitled The Grimoire of Armadel. Because I am forever questing and learning, I thought I’d give the Armadel a whirl. There are some magicians who might take offense to the idea of taking magic for a whirl because making magic is very serious business, but whirl I did.
I chose to speak to the spirit Betel because he seemed interesting to me. The Armadel describes him as follows: Betel: teacheth unto you the Sciences which God had revealed unto Adam. He is a very docile Spirit who appeareth as soon as he is invoked. This should be either in a wood, or in a secluded garden, and one should be alone, whether it be by day or night. In this there is taught in what way we can arrive at the possession of the virtues of all Creatures (or created things); there is (further) taught what and what kind be the virtues hereof, and what (virtues) be truly most powerful above all virtues of Creatures. There is also taught the reason of the laws of (such) virtues and their uses.
After doing all the proper preparations ( or so I thought), I quietly waited for a response. Within moments I was shown a large, porcelain, black beetle. It’s carapace was tightly closed, and light was visible leaking out of the cracks in the shell. I was told I couldn’t open it until the moon was out of its void of course and when I had time to be truly alone for a proper discussion. As it turned out I had in fact made an error in timing, so I planned to do the ritual again at a more auspicious hour.
A more appropriate time arrived within a day or two. I was in a secluded garden, and sat in the deep grass in front of my home. The sky was a brilliant blue, the air crisp, and the coconut smell of gorse drifted on the breeze. After setting up the ritual and humbly reciting the prayers, I conjured the spirit Betel, and awaited his arrival. As the Armadel stated, my wait was not long. Within a couple of minutes a raven called and lit briefly on a branch near me, before flying up into the hills. I sat cross legged in the grass and started to close my eyes.
In my peripheral vision I could see my seated shadow and another shadow that appeared to be of someone sitting next to me. I sensed a presence to my left and glimpsed sideways for a brief moment, before turning my head into a “looking forward” position and partially closing my eyes.
Betel (he pronounced it Beh-tale) had decided to make his appearance that of a human male with shaggy brown hair, a brownish open-necked shirt, and soft brownish-green pants. He reminded me of someone who spent most of his time out of doors, smelling as warm and inviting as a summer’s day.
He placed a black porcelain orb near the centre of the circle I had drawn for us. It was about the size of a football. Upon closer inspection I could see that it was a model of a shiny, black beetle. Its carapace streamed light from various cracks on its body, primarily where the wings were located. He leaned forward and opened the porcelain beetle in the manner of one opening a jewelry box.
I asked what the beetle symbolized, but immediately became embarrassed as I sensed Betel tense up. The beetle was a layered, tangible symbol for the spirit himself, a play on his name as well as a representation of a scarab. Betel indicated the scarab is also one of his symbols. The black carapace is a shield against those who wish to extract information from him in an unseeming manner.
I asked Betel in what way we can arrive at the possession of the virtues of all Creatures and created things, and what kind of virtue is the most important. I braced myself, fully expecting to hear the words, “Faith, Hope and Charity” or something along those lines.
A few minutes passed; I felt as though Betel was looking across the landscape into the hills. I could hear the rustle of the dried lily fronds as they brushed against the old stone wall. I could smell a storm coming from the sea despite the sun warming us. I could feel my heart beat.
“Compliance.” I heard Betel as clear as a bell and was startled.
I said, “Pardon?” just to be sure I had heard the word correctly the first time.
“Compliance.” He repeated it again.
I sad back, puzzled. I queried, “Compliance? As a virtue?”
He smiled, “As THE most important virtue.”
I started getting nervous that he was going to ask me for a favour that I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, accomodate.
He obviously read my mind as he waved his hand at me dismissively and shook his head as if to brush away my concerns. He explained, “Compliance is the most important virtue. You call it submission, or surrender. I didn’t use the word submission as it sounded too war-like, but surrender…ah, there is ECSTACY in surrender!”
He flung his arms open wide. Smiling, he tilted his face toward the sun and we sat together in companionable silence.
((To inquire about purchasing the original painting by Susanne Iles, please follow this link: A River Runs to Glanmore Lake)
By the way…you are welcome to print out or copy the Betel invocation card for your own, personal use.
“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you are willing to become.”
