Before buying an astrological talisman

This is a list-based article to help you not fuck up your life by buying a talisman that is either harmful or a terrible fit for you. I’ve written about these considerations in past articles, so I might sound like a broken record at this point, but given the stakes, I’d rather belabour the point!

Before purchasing an astrological talisman, it’s worth asking yourself:

• What does your divination say?

• Do you have a devotional relationship to the power ensouled?

• If not, why?

• What do you know about the power in question?

• What’s its reputation like?

• What does your divination say?

• What do you know about the seller?

• What’s the seller’s MO about testing their talismans?

• When were the talismans ensouled?

• What do the seller offer in the way of decommissioning if it comes to that?

• Have you talked to people who can provide good feedback about the seller?

• Is the seller truly bringing a track record of trustworthiness or are they really good at glamour magic?

• What does your divination say?

• How are the talisman’s effects advertised?

• Do you actually need more of this in your life?

• Do you have an actual green light from your trusted spirits or is this a FOMO-based decision?

• Do you intend to wear this talisman in a visible manner?

• Is the talisman efficacious and trustworthy or is it just gorgeous?

• What does your divination say?

Now, let’s break it down a bit.

• What does your divination say?

→ I would not ever recommend making that big of a decision without divining. If you don’t trust your divination for whatever reason, ask someone you really trust and/or who goes well recommended by people whose discernment you trust1. Bypassing proper divination here is not only silly, it’s downright dangerous, there are curse talismans on the market. Mind your safety and check-in with spirits who can help you have your head on straight. Specifically ask to cut through noxious glamour and to be guided towards what will support you as needed.

• Do you have a devotional relationship to the power ensouled?

• If not, why?

• What do you know about the power in question?

• What’s its reputation like?

→ It’s generally a little riskier to get a talisman of a power without a pre-established devotional relationship. It’s not impossible, nor even necessarily hard per se, and it happens that it is genuinely a good call2, but sometimes people get into a “Catch ‘em all” mentality wanting to collect all the shiny things, so check yourself on that. A natal relationship can be helpful but is not in and of itself a sign that a talisman is what’s needed, either. Just because you have Algol on an angle does not mean you will benefit from an Algol talisman right this second (or ever), for instance. Again, divine on it.

• What do you know about the seller?

• What’s their MO about testing their talismans?

• When were the talismans ensouled?

• What do they offer in the way of decommissioning if it comes to that?

• Have you talked to people who can provide good feedback about the seller?

• Is the seller truly bringing a track record of trustworthiness or are they really good at glamour magic?

• What does your divination say?

→ Talismans sellers are more likely than not to be surrounded by tremendous amounts of glamour magic3, so keep sharp. Look for the niche info that’s actually crucial. What are their credentials, who instructed them, what are their stated priorities and how does it show in their praxis? Someone can be an inspired artist-mystic and a terrible electional astrologer, yielding beautiful, potent and genuinely devotional but dangerous and unstable talismans. Your priority as a buyer should always be to not fuck up your life. Don’t just trust a spontaneous feeling of “They seem really cool and like they know what they’re doing”, or even what other people are saying on average or in a couple testimonials4. Consider the facts you have carefully, divine on it and ask your spirits to cut through any bullshit. If the talismans are sold less than a month after they were made and there isn’t any mention of a safety protocol, run for the hills and don’t look back because this shows the seller is most likely a reckless fool5.

• How are the talisman’s effects advertised?

• Do you actually need more of this in your life?

• Do you have an actual green light from your trusted spirits or is this a FOMO-based decision?

• What does your divination say?

→ I personally feel a bit meh when the descriptions of a talisman’s effects are very vague. I understand that not everyone wants to get into a lot of detail about a talisman has effected their life, but it’s worth expanding a little on the two-line delineation from Agrippa if people are going to spend hundreds on a talisman, right? On the other hand, heavily marketing a talisman seems in poor taste to me as well6. A cool-headed description with as many relevant details as possible is what strikes me as most appropriate. Either way, I recommend taking the time to consider what the description says, and whether it actually fits your needs or just sounds cool—and whether it sounds cool because it was engineered like a snazzy ad. Everyone can benefit from a health-supportive talisman or a protective one, but not everyone needs The Most Aggro Protective Talisman, you know? And lots of talismans might be genuinely amazing, but just not what you need right now (or ever). Ask for wise advice from trusted spirits to parse out what’s FOMO and what’s actual inspiration and discernment.

• Do you intend to wear this talisman in a visible manner?

• Is the talisman efficacious and trustworthy or is it just gorgeous?

• What does your divination say?

→ Don’t get fooled by beauty. Looks definitely aren’t everything where talismans are concerned. A small, innocuous-looking gem could 200% change your life for the best if it’s been properly ensouled. You most likely do not require the pricier talismans out there to get what you need.

I’ve written other articles about astrological magic in the past, wherein you can find more details about various aspects discussed here:

• So you’re thinking about welcoming an astrological talisman

• Astrological talismans and ethical responsibilities

• Astrological talismans, beauty and frivolity

• Astrological talismans and expectations

Comments are welcome so long as they’re constructive! I have no time to debate whether people’s safety7 should be a priority or not when selling astrological magic artifacts, I firmly believe that it should be, period—if you disagree with this basic paradigm, I must say I do not value your input and do not care to engage in conversation.

Until next time ✨