The Sky Library · Mansion 5 of 28
Al Haq'ah
Al-Haq'ah · The White Spot
Span21°25′43″ Taurus – 4°17′09″ Gemini (tropical)
Determinant starsLambda Orionis (Meissa) with Phi-1 and Phi-2 Orionis, on the head of Orion
A pale mark on the hunter's brow, kindly to all who turn toward home.
A small triangle of stars on Orion's head, read by the Arabs as a white blaze or circle of hair. Agrippa calls it Alchatay or Albachay and makes it one of the friendliest stations, favoring the scholar, the builder and the returning traveller alike.
The Spirit of the Mansion
the square of Jupiter, 34 in every line
a small fire keeps the sill; on the far side, the pin at the heart of the plate answers a touch
Agrippa and the Picatrix transmit different names for the mansion spirits; both are given.
What the number square means
The grid is a kamea, one of the planetary magic squares from Agrippa's second book; every planet has one, from Saturn's three by three to the Moon's nine by nine. In a true square every row, every column, and both diagonals add to the same number, and Jupiter's adds to 34 in every line. Count any line and see. Practitioners engraved these on talismans as the planet's signature written in number, and the gilded cell marks this mansion's own number.
Elections in this mansion
- safe return from journeys, homecomings
- the instruction of scholars
- confirming and strengthening buildings
- health and goodwill
Agrippa prints the ruling spirit as Gabiel; other transmissions give Gabriel.