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Introduction

Stele of Aphrodite. Amulets are objects or symbols that, by their very nature, draw and store magical energy. As an example, a round stone found at a riverside that has a natural hole through the center is a sacred gift from a goddess or river nymph. Carrying or wearing such a stone will draw the blessings and magical energies that are special to that goddess. Amulets can be used to create talisman but they don't require any special effort to make them work, therefore, no further discussion is necessary.

Talismans (called Steles by the ancient Greeks) are objects that are constructed to have a magical purpose. Sigils are talismans that are created using common writing materials. Other than the materials of their construction, talisman and sigils are handled the same and everything I say below about talisman also applies to sigils. Talisman and sigils have two purposes: first, the drawing and storage of magical energy and, second, channeling that energy to a specific purpose.

Drawing and storing energy (called charging) is accomplished passively by using the amulet value of a deity's name, a symbol, a formula, or a phrase from literature. Charging can be done actively by visualization, rituals or mating. In example, if I want to create a protection amulet (called a phylactery), I can add the name of Apollon Alexikakos (he who averts evil). To draw love, I can add a drawing of the Stele of Aphrodite, which is an amulet that has been used for love spells for thousands of years. To actively charge an amulet, I can perform a consecration ritual. The same talisman can be both actively and passively charged. An example of this is in the use of formulas, which are words that have no apparent meaning but are used for the symbolic and numerical values of the letters such as ABRASAX (used for its numerical value) and ABLANATHANALBA (used as a palindrome).

Directing the energy can also be accomplished passively (with a short phrase, symbol or drawing) or actively (with visualization, rituals or mating).

The short phrase should be as concise as possible (usually just a verb and a noun) so that it becomes a symbol rather than an explanation of what is desired. The symbol, on the other hand, can be quite complex. (I frequently go through a dictionary of symbols, choosing all the simple symbols that apply and put them together into a single drawing that represents what I want to happen.) To actively direct magical energy through visualization, you concentrate on the charged talisman, from time to time, thinking about what you want to happen and the consequences of success or failure.

Talisman can have any combination of the above (passively charged symbol which is actively directed by visualization, a ritual to actively charge a drawing depicting what is to happen, etc.). The more things that are added that fit your purpose, the more powerful the talisman. Also, the less things that are included that don't fit the purpose, the more powerful the talisman. In example, a phylactery with the name Hermes Enodios (Hermes of the road) to charge it and the words taxidiotes uperaspise (traveler protection) to direct energy to protect a traveler can be made more powerful by choosing words with matching isopsephy values. A better choice would be charging it with Hermes Akaketus (Hermes who does no wrong) and directing the energy with Kai Soos Diaba (and a safe trip). These match isopsephy values with an acceptable difference of one.

WORKS CITED