The Sky Library · Mansion 9 of 28
Al Tarf
At-Tarf · The Glance
Span12°51′26″ Cancer – 25°42′51″ Cancer (tropical)
Determinant starsXi Cancri and Lambda Leonis (Alterf), the eye of the old Arabic Lion
The Lion's sidelong glance, which unsettles more than it sees.
The eye of the Lion, which Agrippa calls Archaam or Arcaph. He gives it nothing kindly; it is a station of hindrance and falling-out, and the old books elect it only for workings that mean to obstruct.
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
- hindering an enemy's venture
- sundering ill-matched company
- workings of discord, in the old grim usage
Contraries
Contrary to harvests, to travellers, and to concord between people.