Adapted from William Lilly's 17th century text Christian Astrology, pp.65-68
Adapted and annotated by Deborah Houlding References in the footnotes include explanatory remarks and modern translations of Lilly's terms
Notes & References:
1]
From the Greek, Kronos, 'time', from which a number of Saturn words such as chronic or chronology are derived. Back to text
2]
Phainon: 'Shining one', one of a set of Greek names for the planets coined as alternatives to the practice of naming them after gods. These were never in general use.
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3]
Falcifer: 'Scythe-bearer', a Latin epithet of Saturn.
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Characterised by the accumulation of watery fluid in the tissues.
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17]
A stroke or sudden loss of consciousness caused by the restriction of a blood vessel in the brain.
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18]
The British bearsfoot, to which Lilly was referring is Helleborus niger, commonly known as the Christmas Rose, or Christ Herb because it may flower in midwinter.
For details of its history and use in herbalism, link to Botanical.com Back to text
Asplenium ceterach, also known as 'common spleenwort'. Reputed to cure disorders of the spleen and cause barrenness.
For details, link to
Botanical.com Back to text
Culpeper places this under the rule of Venus - the plant was notable for the sweetness of its taste. Lilly's Saturn rulership may have been due to the plant being a common winter vegetable. Tournefort, in The Compleat Herbal (1730), wrote of parsnips:
'they are the sweetest, by reason the juice has been concocted during the winter, and are desired at that season especially, both for their agreeable Taste and their Wholesomeness. For they are not so good in any respect, till they have been first nipt with Cold.'
For details, link to
Botanical.com Back to text
28]
Probably gum tragacanth, also called 'gum dragon' which is cooling and binding in nature, like Saturn. For details of this plant, link to
Botanical.com Back to text
29]
I suspect this was a common name for a plant such as Green Hellibore, which was known for its effect upon lowering the pulse. The Hellebores are listed under Saturn, and the plant is highly toxic, as many Saturn herbs are.
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Also known as 'Satan's Apple', mandrake was widely used as a cure for demonic possession.
For details link to
Botanical.com Back to text
32]
Also listed under Moon, to which Culpeper concurs. This is probably the white poppy, which was more noted for its medicinal effects.
For details link to
Botanical.com Back to text
Lilly's reference to 'bythwind' is recorded as the only reference to a herb of that name in English literature. He may have been referring to the Greater Bindweed, also known as 'Old Man's Night Cap'.For details link to
Botanical.com Back to text
Hypericum androsaemum: It is closely related to St. John's Wort. Modern herbals give it no medicinal value, but traditionally it was valued for healing wounds. Its leaves were picked in summer and kept as 'book leaves' for their long-lasting scent.
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Tamarix anglica: introduced in the sixteenth century as a medicinal herb; recommended by Gerard against disease of the spleen. (Sir Kenelm Digby, 1669)
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Willows are generally placed under the rulership of the Moon, but there are many varieties of the tree; the sallow is also known as 'goats willow' which would connect with its Saturn ruleship. For an interesting article on willows in Druidic lore, link to
OBOD Tree Lore Back to text
Or Kassiel. Any magical operation is under the rule of a particular planet (e.g., Venus for love, Mercury for knowledge), whose archangel or angel is invoked. Such names are also used on talismans. They all end in el, the Hebrew word for god or spirit. Kassiel 'throne of God' is the angel of Saturn; usually the archangel Tzaphkiel (meaning contemplation of God) is used.
For details link to The Marshall Mint Back to text
57]
This is the planetary day that starts at sunrise, not midnight.
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58]
Swartish: a derivation of swarthy — dark-complexioned.
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