Greater Key of Solomon

All posts tagged Greater Key of Solomon

I typically create amulets of an esoteric nature, most of the time specificity to enhance Spirit, to focus on the Sacred or to celebrate joy, beauty and other worth while endeavors. However from time to time I am requested to create an amulet for protection.

Amulet to Protect Against Evil

Recently I created one of the classic amulets to “Protect against Evil”, from the classic body of work: Greater Key of Solomon.

The Key of Solomon is a collection of composite symbols (or mandalas) which combine sacred writings and symbols, each dedicated to specific “Planets”. When originally developed the concept of a “Planet” included both the Moon and the Sun. Although attributed to the Hebrew King Solomon, the earliest found references to the Key is near the 12th to 14th centuries (depending on your historical reference).

A client requested the seal of “Protection against Evil”; the The Fourth Pentacle of the Moon. –

From the Greater Key of Solomon:

    “This defendeth thee from all evil sources, and from all injury unto soul or body. Its Angel, Sophiel, giveth the knowledge of the virtue of all herbs and stones; and unto whomsoever shall name
    him, he will procure the knowledge of all.”

The image is that of a hand emerging from a cloud and pointing to The Divine Name Eheieh Asher Eheieh, and the Names of the Angels Yahel and Sophiel.

Around the edge of the disk is written in Latin : “Let them be confounded who persecute me, and let me not be confounded; let them fear, and not I.”

I did not make a mold for reproduction, and for this kind of work it really shouldn’t. Making each one by hand enhances the purpose and intent of the piece as well as calibrating the amulet for the person for whom it is intended.

If you are interested in one of the keys made for you, or any amulet with a Purpose, please visit my How to order Custom Page.

My first encounter of the Key of Solomon
was in the 1970s
when I began my research of High Magick.
At the time,
there was very little available,
most Libraries omitted manuscripts on the subject.
I had to find Occult Bookstores
to discover references beyond the point of
“it exists”.
Many manuscripts referred to it,
described it
and yet only held a few images
of the old Grimoire
(Magical diary or recipe book).
The Key of Solomon
(in Latin Clavis Salomonis
or Clavicula Salomonis,
Hebrew: Mafteah Shelomoh)
dates back to the 14th or 15th century Italian Renaissance.
There are no actual claims as to who constructed the text
and there are no references to the book by King Solomon himself,
nor copies of the text found between his time in the old world
until the 14th century.
The best guess of most historians
is the Greater key of Solomon was created
between the 14th and the 17th century
with very strong influences from the High Medieval Period.

Primarily,
this is a series of various glyphs,
seals and signants
(more often referred to as “Pentacles”)
which correspond to the Planetary qualities
(remember this is Renaissance times,
so the moon and sun are included,
while the outer planets are not).
Each pentacle is attributed to a planet and holds an aspect,
yet not all of the qualities ascribed there to.
As in most medieval grimoires,
magical operations are performed
through the power of (the Christian or Hebrew) God,
to whom all the invocations are addressed.
Before any of these operations are performed,
the operator must confess his sins and purge himself of evil,
invoking protection.

It is interesting to note here,
the acknowledgment of other celestial beings beyond Jesus,
the saints and angelic beings,
even the pentacles themselves
(although attributed to the “planets”)
hold the names of the Old God(dess)s.

Over the years I have created many of these seals,
one of which I produce regularly in my line of Jewelry:
the Second Seal of Jupiter.
Many of the seals were made for private use
and not for public view.
I was given permission to display in my gallery:
The Key of Solomon.
This is a two sided Talisman, designed,
developed and produced to be carried on a daily basis.

The Solar side holds the Third seal of the Sun

Solar key of Solomon

Solar key of Solomon

“serve to repress the pride and arrogance of the Solar Spirits,
which are altogether proud and arrogant by their nature,
acquire Kingdom and Empire
and to acquire renown and glory,
especially through the Name of God,
Tetragrammaton,
which therein is twelve times contained”

Because the piece was to be shaped like a key,
I designed the piece to reflect the side of the seal it corresponds:
hence I created a sunburst for the solar side
and extended “Yods” down the shaft of the key itself.

On the reverse side of the seal is the First Pentacle of the Moon:

Lunar Key of Solomon

Lunar Key of Solomon

“serve to call forth and invoke the Spirits of the Moon;
to open doors, in whatever way they may be fastened”

This pentacle uses a hieroglyphic representation of a door or gate,
here I used the flairs of the opposite side to create the crescents of the moon,
the “bright side” of the lunar representation showing out ward.
Again (similar to the other side) Yods extend down the shaft,
similar to the Moon Tarot Card.
The shaft itself is composed of the Cross of Matter,
“Earth”.
This both grounds the piece adding foundation to the piece
and provides a direction for manifestation.

The entire piece is two and a half inches long,
each seal is a one inch by one inch piece
of Sterling silver with the Key cast in bronze.

This Key of Solomon a one of a kind piece and is currently in a private collection.

If you would like something made,
please visit my how to order custom page.