The Sky Library · Mansion 18 of 28
Al Qalb
Qalb al-'Aqrab · The Heart of the Scorpion
Span8°34′17″ Scorpio – 21°25′43″ Scorpio (tropical)
Determinant starsAntares (Alpha Scorpii), with Sigma and Tau Scorpii at its sides
A red heart beating against kings, and kind to the imprisoned.
The mansion of Antares, the Scorpion's burning heart, listed by Agrippa as Alchas or Altob. It is double-natured, dangerous to the mighty and merciful to the low; the same hour that shakes a throne can open a cell.
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
- the freeing of captives
- the strengthening of buildings
- redress against enemies, in the old usage
Contraries
Causes discord, sedition and conspiracy against princes and the mighty; keep it far from matters of state.
The sidereal frame: this sky also belongs to Jyeshtha .