Vega Talisman

Vega is the brightest star in the constellation known in the west as Lyra. As the 14th of the 15 fixed Behenian Stars Vega has long been invoked in talismanic magic. In the Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Agrippa details the making and qualities of a Vega talisman “according to Hermes opinion… Under the Vulture, they made the image of a Vulture or Hen, or of a traveller  it maketh a man magnanimous and proud, it giveth power over devils and beasts." [2] The BM Bodleian expresses a similar sentiment but adds “[is strong against] demons, nightmares and fears to it’s protective qualities.”[3]

There are many mythologies of Vega and Lyra from around the world dating back into antiquity that speak both it’s creativity and protectiveness. Greek mythology tells the tale of the Lyre, said to be made from the shell of a tortoise by Mercury and gifted to Apollo. Apollo in turn gifted his Lyre to his son Orpheus, who played so perfectly that nothing could withstand the charm of his song. “Not only his fellow mortals, but wild beasts were softened by his strains, and gathering round him laid by their fierceness, and stood entranced with his lay. Nay, the very trees and rocks were sensible to the charm.”[4] 

This myth speaks to the way in which Vega protects which is unique when compared to many other protective celestial spirits. Rather than attack or defend with force, Vega charms with an enchanting sweetness. When Orpheus’s wife Euridice was bitten by a snake and died, Orpheus's took his Lyre into the  Stygian realm and played and sung a song of his love and grief so powerful that it enchanted all the beasts of the underworld. 

As he sang these tender strains, the very ghosts shed tears. Tantalus, in spite of his thirst, stopped for a moment his efforts for water, Ixion's wheel stood still, the vulture ceased to tear the giant's liver, the daughters of Danaus rested from their task of drawing water in a sieve, and Sisyphus sat on his rock to listen. Then for the first time, it is said, the cheeks of the Furies were wet with tears.[5]

In ancient Babylonian myth Vega was known as the goat star and the celestial manifestation of the goddess Gula.  

Gula is the goddess of healing; a chthonic goddess with a dog as her companion, and in other respects too resembling Hecate. This aspect of the goddess also explains the fact that votive dogs have been found in great numbers in the Gula temples, including the recently excavated temple in Nippur. [6]

There is evidence that in Babylonia, Gula was a goddess called upon to provide protection. In an ancient ritual invocation to Gula has translated within the last 50 years from the original cuneiform stone tablets this invocation “is an exposition to the Goat star is recommended against the evil machinations of an "ill-wisher" or, as the term bellemutti may also be translated, "adversary."[7]

Meditating on these mythologies before creating the Vega talismans I anticipated that it would be entirely a protective talisman, having no expectations at all for any other effects. Yet after a few days of wear I realised I was experiencing  a surge of creativity within me, I felt a renewed excitement for my work, my current projects as well as ideas for new ones. I consider creativity is one of my strongest qualities and therefore wouldn’t normally make a talisman for myself to assist in that area of my life, but when creativity is central in your everyday work there is a potential for creative burnout and to be honest, I was tired. I had a conversation with Amaya Rourke (Astrologer, astro mage and folk witch) about the renewed creativity I was experiencing and she told me of the Chinese mythology of Vega; The Goddess weaver, who was said to have woven the stars which could be seen crossing the sky as a silver river (now known as the the Milky Way) and young girls would pray to the Weaver star, Vega, to be granted good handicraft skills.[8]

The creative nature of Vega is also expressed in the ancient Hindu mythology of the Nakshatras. Vega is known as Abhijit which means "the Victorious One" or "the One who cannot be defeated". The deity that presided over this star is Brahma the creator himself and Ketu (the south node) was said to have been born under Abhijit. 

Abhijit stands for regenerative mental processes under inner guidance that allow for the spiritual evolution of humanity. The epithet of a house situated in the east refers to the same spiritual nature of the planet suggesting that Ketu heralds the advent of new ideas and new thoughts, which usher in new and higher aspects of life. [9]

There is a through-line connecting all of these mythologies. We can see that protection and creative expression are inextricably linked in Vega’s inherent nature. It is through this creative expression that Vega protects, lifting us into higher aspects of life as she encourages us to drink from the fountain of eternal creativity.

These talismans were made in the image of the vulture and the lyre which I hand carved from jeweller wax and then cast in sterling silver. Peridot was set into the neck of the vulture in ritual during the Heliacal rise of Vega, as according to Hermes, “Chrysolite” (now known as peridot) is the gemstone attributed to Vega. [10] A suffumigation of frankincense was used as well as Nigel Jackson’s invocation of Vega.[11] 

The Heliacal rise of Vega on the 26 Feb 06:04am AEST was chosen as the best astrological election.

Amaya Rourke on Heliacal Rising:

First, it’s important to note that this is not the method that was practiced in the later Medieval and Renaissance traditions of fixed star magical elections. These periods and traditions are what you’ll find in Agrippa and Picatrix, in which they take a fixed star and using the longitudinal lines in the sky project the star back onto the ecliptic (the pathway of the Sun, which the Tropical zodiac is fixed upon).

Heliacal phases of stars were incredibly important to older traditions, dating back to Hellenistic, Egyptian, and Babylonian times (as well as countless other cultures throughout the world). Heliacal rising phase of a star is when the star is rising before the Sun in the eastern horizon, making direct “contact” with the earth.[12] 

In a more “traditional” magical election, you would utilise Moon and/or another planet as the translator of light for a fixed star, with the star applying to conjoin the Ascendant or Midheaven within 3-5 degrees. Within this framework, you’d also want to ensure that the Moon, angles, and star were not afflicted by malefics. 

Vision and observable phenomena were important philosophical concepts amongst most traditional methods of astrology, so it’s shocking that they didn’t require the star to be literally visible in the location that they projected it back onto the ecliptic for a magical election! (For example, if you were to look at Vega by projected degree, it’s at 15 degrees Capricorn. If you try to find this star in the night sky, you’ll find it is nowhere near the astrological zodiac sign it is supposed to be projected onto, and is quite far away altogether!

So using the classic astrological magic framework, this Vega election was cast so that the fixed star was literally touching the Eastern horizon and was visible before the rise of the Sun (heliacal rising), and therefore did not need a translator of light. Theoretically, by removing a “third-party” mediator, the starlight has a more immediate and powerful effect, with less modifying factors that could alter the way it is expressed in the consecration. 

In a fixed star election by the Medieval and Renaissance tradition, modifying factors to the star’s expression could include the speed/direction of planets, their relative dignity, the houses they are placed in, etc. All of this is completely avoided by not having mediator planets translate the light of the star.

Most importantly, this is an honest relationship with the spirit of that star. One in which you can see the star in the sky, and know your talisman was made with its actual location taken into account, rather than a projection back onto a conceptual zodiac that does not require you to look in the night sky or even acknowledge the star in a personal manner. This honours the spirit of that star in a more direct, honest, relational, and respectful way.
[Amaya Rourke, http://heartwarriorpath.com/]

I have 4 Vega Talismans available and you can purchase them HERE

The Vega talisman is solid sterling silver with peridot and comes with a 22”,  24” or 26" sterling silver wheat chain (if you want a size that is unavailable please send me an email with your size preferences). 

References 
[1] Marcus Manilius Astronomica 324-330, trans. G. P. Goold, 1977, Loeb Classical Library 469, Harvard Univ. Press (Cambridge, MA) and William Heinemann (London), p. 31.
[2] Agrippa, H. C., Freake, J., & Tyson, D. (1992). Three Books of Occult Philosophy (Llewellyn’s Sourcebook) (1st ed). Llewellyn Publications, p, 396
[3] Owlet, L. (n.d.). Table of 15 Behenian Fixed Stars - Cornelius Agrippa & Hermes Trismegistus.doc. Academia.Eu. https://www.academia.edu/35015529/Table_of_15_Behenian_Fixed_Stars_Cornelius_Agrippa_and_Hermes_Trismegistus_doc
[4] Bulfinch, T. (2021b). Bulfinch’s Mythology, The Age of Fable: Thomas Bulfinch (Humanities, Classics, World Literature) [Annotated]. Independently published. https://www.amazon.com.au/Bulfinchs-Mythology-Age-Fable-Annotated-ebook/dp/B08XBZMNXR/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=Bulfinch%27s+Mythology%3A+The+Age+of+Fable&qid=1615933786&s=digital-text&sr=1-14, loc, 2825
[5] Bulfinch, T. (2021b). Bulfinch’s Mythology, The Age of Fable: Thomas Bulfinch (Humanities, Classics, World Literature) [Annotated]. Independently published. https://www.amazon.com.au/Bulfinchs-Mythology-Age-Fable-Annotated-ebook/dp/B08XBZMNXR/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=Bulfinch%27s+Mythology%3A+The+Age+of+Fable&qid=1615933786&s=digital-text&sr=1-14, loc, 2845
[6] & [7] Reiner, E. (2017). Astral Magic in Babylonia (Transactions of the American Philosophical Society) (Transactions Vol 85 PT 4) (Transactions of the American P ed.). American Philosophical Society, p, 64
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cowherd_and_the_Weaver_Girl#cite_note-brown06-72-1
[9] Behari, B. (2004). Myths & Symbols of Vedic Astrology (Illustrated ed.). Lotus Press. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0940985519?tag=scribbr00-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1, loc, 1481
[10] Agrippa, H. C., Freake, J., & Tyson, D. (1992). Three Books of Occult Philosophy (Llewellyn’s Sourcebook) (1st ed). Llewellyn Publications, p, 99
[11] Warnock, C. (2019). Fixed Star, Sign and Constellation Magic (First Edition). Lulu.com, p, 59-60
[12] http://www.skyscript.co.uk/gl/heliacal.html