The fifth planet of the "Celestial" collection is Mercury, which means "Merchant." It was also revered under the names Hermes (Messenger), Stilbon (Shining one), and Psychopomp (Guide of souls).
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In ancient times, the metal of this planet was considered to be mercury and a white alloy of gold and silver in accordance with the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus: "The father is the Sun, the mother is the Moon".
The sacred number of Mercury was considered to be 8, which in Kabbalah corresponds to divine Glory (Hod, the eighth sephirah of the Tree of Life). That is why the figure of Mercury is an octagon - a symbol of eternal life and unearthly wisdom.
According to medieval French manuscripts, a seal with the symbols of Mercury "gives eloquence and predisposition to sciences and fine arts, makes one fortunate in trade and protects from contagious and popular diseases":
de rendre eloquents et tres propres pour les sciences et les beaux arts ceux qui le portent. De les rendre heureux dans le negoce et les preserver de maladie contagieuse et populaire
French manuscript
In the center the square of Mercury is engraved. It is named so because its mathematical properties are associated with the number 8: it has eight cells horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, the largest digit is 64 (8 squared), and the sum of all the numbers is 2080. According to Agrippa of Nettesheim, this square makes a person "welcomed everywhere, successful in all deals, brings wealth and repels poverty, develops memory and intellect, gives knowledge of the future as well as understanding of the hidden in dreams":
gratum, fortunatum ad impetrandum quicquid voluerit: confert lucrum & pellit inopiam, confert memoriam & intellectum, & divinationem, & notitiam occultorum per somnia
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim
From this square, symbols located above the square, as well as names in the border, are derived. They are associated with the sacred numbers of Mercury 260 and 2080. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that a seal with these symbols rids one "of fear from the tricks of evil spirits, which may try to lead a person astray, as well as merchants transporting goods by water and fishermen, who with its help will catch many fish":
à craindre la malice des esprits malings qui pourroient le detourner de son chemin il est bon à ceux qui trafiquent sur l'eau, et pour les pecheurs car par son moyen ils prendront beaucoup de poissons
French manuscript
Below the square is the "signature" of the archangel according to the concept of medieval Kabbalah about the seven heavens located beyond the earth. In this case, Raphael corresponds to Mercury. In manuscripts about the archangel of Mercury, it is said that "he teaches philosophy, music, playing all kinds of instruments, medicine, gives knowledge of all herbs, as well as all metals and minerals, teaches the creation of the philosopher's stone to transmute metals into gold or silver, gives spirits that transport you from one place to another or wherever you want to go at a speed of 200 leagues per hour, without fear or danger":
il enseigne la philosophie la musique ajouer de touttes sortes dinstrumeno la medecine vous donne la connoissance de touttes les simples comme aussi tous les metause et mineraux, vous enseigne lapierre philosophalle pour la transmutation des metaux en or ou en argent, vous donne des esprits qui vous transportent d’un lieu a un autre ou bien ou vous vouler alles et vous fait faire deux cent lieues en un heure sans crainte ny danger
French manuscript
Mercury's sigils and characters based on the geomantic figures of this planet, known as Albus (White) and Conjunctio (Conjunction), are placed around the square.
Since Mercury corresponds to the number 8, exactly 8 stones are encrusted in this talisman. In ancient lapidaries (books on the properties and nature of stones), topazes are attributed to Mercury for their brilliance and as they are believed to have ability to awaken imagination and improve intellect.
Names of spirits associated with Mercury and its manifestations in the material world are engraved in the border.
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