Hermes Trismegistus
The legendary 'thrice-great' sage named as teacher or author in Hermetic writings; not a single historically identifiable writer of the whole corpus.
Reference · Glossary
Glossary
A guide to the words used across this site and in the texts behind it. Definitions describe historical usage, not proven supernatural effects. A term may mean different things in different traditions; the tradition label tells you which sense is meant here.
Looking for a sign rather than a word? Symbols draws the signs of astrology, alchemy and geomancy and links each to what this study says about it.
12 terms · page 1 of 1
Hermeticism
A family of ancient and later writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. The philosophical treatises of late antiquity are distinct from many later magical works bearing his name.
Hexagonal Figure of Solomon
A ritual tool in Ars Goetia. A parchment hexagram worn at the skirt of the white vestment and uncovered before an appearing spirit.
Holy Lamp
A ritual tool in Crowley, Book 4. The unattainable light above the altar: a deliberately paradoxical lamp said to burn without wick or oil and to require no maker's approval.
Holy oil
A ritual tool in Crowley, Book 4. A golden consecrating oil that Book 4 interprets as aspiration descending from above rather than personal ambition reaching upward.
Holy Table
A ritual table described in Dee's angelic sessions with specified letters and arrangement; later reproductions are not always identical to the diary directions.
Horary astrology
A practice of casting and judging a chart for the time a particular question is posed or understood.
Horoscope
Historically, a chart or judgment based on celestial positions; in modern speech, often a much shorter sign-based prediction.
House
One of the chart's divisions anchored to time and place. Houses describe areas of life in astrological reading; they are not identical to the twelve zodiac signs.
House cusp
The boundary or starting point of a chart house; its longitude depends on the house system and the chart's time and place.
Hylic
In some Gnostic schemes, a category described as material or matter-oriented. It is a claim within those systems, not a label to apply to people.
Hyssop and water
A ritual tool in Key of Solomon. Consecrated spring water, salt, and an herbal sprinkler used throughout the Key's preparations.