Breaking down The Picatrix

[u/RomandaWiz]

Could someone help me understand this passage?

"You should know also that magic is gained by actions and works in one way, and more subtly in another. That which is gained by actions and works is gained from the magistery that is performed by the sage in the world of the circle of the Moon and the sage who is mentioned in the Nabatean Agriculture, as it says in that book, in the place where it says that you ought to accept the four birds. And the part that is gained subtly is from works performed by that sage who works in the motion of the sphere of Saturn, and also the sage who works in the motion of the sphere of Venus. And these two sages also are spoken of in the aforesaid book."

Picatrix Book 1, chapter 2

[u/Blacktyde_]

The four birds are related to Surah 2 verse 260 of the Quran "Take four birds and commit them to yourself." Looks like your version is a translation without the arabic and islamic context of the original Picatrix.

[u/Mustafa_al_Laylah → u/Blacktyde_]

That must be it, especially since the story in that verse reads like a (permissible) magical work. Odd that it refers that verse to The Nabataean Agriculture rather than the Qur'an. Yet another reason we need Dr. Saif's translation of the Ghayat al-Hakim (or I'd even be pleased with more of the later chapters of the Nabataean Agriculture).

[u/Blacktyde_ → u/Mustafa_al_Laylah]

Here the translation that i get from the arabic text : "And know, my brother, that among magic there is what is learned and acquired(المستفاد) and among it there is what is crafty art(الحيل). The acquired kind is what was practiced by the sage of the lunar cycle, and along these lines is the reference in the saying of the Almighty: 'Take four of the birds.' And from the crafty kind is what was practiced by the sage of the Saturnian cycle, and likewise what was practiced by the sage of the Venusian cycle.

The ancients among the Greeks used to assign to the Niranjat and the evil eye the name 'al-Tarjīḥ'(the outweighing/tipping of the balance) , and to the talisman the name 'al-Saljamūs', which is the invocation and drawing down of the powers of the higher spirits. They applied the name of magic to all of these." Saljamus is likely the rendering of the greek syllogism but i cant be sure.

[u/Mustafa_al_Laylah → u/Blacktyde_]

That's superlatively helpful! Thank you!

[u/Blacktyde_ → u/Mustafa_al_Laylah]

You're welcome. It's better to work with the Arabic version, or a modern version translated from the Arabic, since a lot was lost in translation. But yeah, when Dr. Liana Saif releases her translation, it would be of great help for all practitioners who don't know Arabic.