The Book of the Mysteries

The name of the first firmament is called Shamayim. Within it are encampments filled with wrath. And seven thrones are prepared there and upon them are seated overseers, and around them on all sides encampments (of angels) are stationed and are obedient to men at the time when they practice (magic), to everyone who has learned to stand and pour (libations) to their names and cite them by their signs at the period when (prayer) is heard (so as) to make a magical rite succeed. (Over) all these encampments of angels these seven overseers rule, to dispatch (them) for every (sort of) business so that they will hasten and bring success.

These are the names of the seven overseers who sit upon (the) seven thrones. The name of the first is ‘WRPNY’L, and the name of the second is TYGRH, and the name of the third is DNHL, and the name of the fourth is KLMYY’, the name of the fifth is ‘SYMWR, the name of the sixth is PSKR, the name of the seventh is BW’L. And all of them were created from fire and their appearance is like fire, and their fire is blazing, for from fire they emerged.

And without permission, (the angels who serve them) do not go out to engage in magical actions. [ . . . ] And these are the names of the seven encampments which serve the seven overseers [a list of names and characteristics follows, together with descriptions of relevant rituals]. [ . . . ]

These are the names of the angels who serve KLMYYH in the fourth encampment. [ . . . ]

These are the angels who bring around the opinion of the king and the good will of the nobles, chiefs, and leaders of the kingdom, directing and bestowing favor and mercy upon all who arise in purity to request anything from them. Perform this rite zealously and you will succeed.

If you wish to turn the king’s opinion to your favor, or (that of) the chief of the army, or a rich man, or a ruler, or a judge of a city, or all the citizens of the state, or (if you wish to change) the heart of a great or wealthy woman, or the heart of a beautiful woman, (do this). Take a lion cub and slaughter it with a bronze knife and catch its blood and tear out its heart and put blood in the midst (of the heart) and write the names of these (above mentioned) angels in blood upon the skin between its eyes; then wash it out with wine three years old and mix (the wine) with the blood.

Then take three of the chief spices istorgon [prob. styrax] and myrrh and musk, and stand clean and pure, facing the brilliant star [Venus] and put the spices on the fire; then take in your hand the cup in which are the wine and the blood and say (this spell over it while burning the incense) and call on the name of the overseer and the names of the angels of this encampment. (Do this) twenty-one times over the wine and say to the brilliant star, the name (of the star) which is that of Aphrodite, three hundred (times) and (the name of the) angel ḤSDY’L (and then say):

“I adjure you in the name of the angels of the fourth encampment who serve KLMY’ that you bring around for me King N so that the heart of his army and the heart of his ministers (will be) in my hand, I, N son of N, and I will find favor and mercy before him and he will do what I want and ask, whenever I ask (anything) from him.”

When you finish repeating the adjuration twenty-one times, look up and you will see (something) like a coal of fire descending into the blood and wine.