This thread is my 77th post and a compilation of my research on the 6/7 BoM.
Study on the books originally began due to a Goetia spirit suggesting working with the spirits associated with the Schemhamphorasch.
This is not the only grimoire that contains information pertaining to the Schemhamphorasch spirits,
however, it contains a significant amount of useful material relating to them.
The majority of this body of work can be found on the esoteric archives website.
I have provided some alternative methods for working with the spirits of the seals.
Discussion in this thread should be solely concerned with working the procedures in this book.
Spoilers used to make the thread easier to navigate.
I. Overview of General Information & Contents
A: History and General Use
Spoiler (Click to View)
The seals contained within these books, as well as the psalms with godnames in the appendix portion,
are often employed in American folk magic traditions (Pow-wow/Braucherei, conjure/rootwork, hoodoo, &tc).
[Source 1][Source 2] [Source 3] [Source 4]
"These two grimoires (originating from the same book) are often cited as being used by Vodun/Obeah practitioners.
Although they claim to be Kabbalistic in nature, there is very little if any actual Kabbalah to be found in them.
Rather this appears to be a traditional ritual magick system with incantations to summon and dismiss spirits to achieve worldly ends.
Published in 1849, and translated into English in 1880, the 6th and 7th Books of Moses claim to include material from 1338, 1383 and 1501, including portions reputedly translated from the "Cuthan-Samaritan" language, which has been extinct since the 12th Century A.D., and about which very little is known. The most interesting aspects of this book are the unique illustrations of magickal seals, with letters in Hebrew and an unknown script; and the lists of names of demonic entities...
Note: the first five books of Moses are the traditionally the first five books of the Bible." - [Source]
Kabbalah vs. Qabalah & Cabala: [Explanation and Comparisons] [Source]
The text has several sections, but the work is framed into two different types:
white magic or "magia alba" & black magic or "magia negra".
The seals, tables, and various formulas/talismans do not bring forth the reported qualities if they are simply held,
but must be consecrated & blessed or empowered according to the instructions given.
Main Texts
"MAGIA ALBA"
B: The Seven Mysteries and Twelve Tables
Spoiler (Click to View)
Portions Containing Various Seals
[Sixth BoM Seals]
[Seventh BoM Seals]
These seals and tables are included in the main portion of the text classified as "magia alba" or white magic.
Each seal or table has an accompanying conjuration to compel the spirit to appear and behave cooperatively.
"The Seven Seals of The Seven Mysteries" [Source 1] [Source 2]
"The Four Tables of Elemental Spirits & The Seven Tables of Planetary Spirits" [Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3]
Given Procedure For Using Seals & Tables
"The General Citation Circle & Generation Seal" [Source]
The ritual outline provided near the end of the Seventh BoM simply states that the magical operation or conjuration takes place
within the circle and the Generation Seal simultaneously held in the right hand during recitations of "The General Citation".
The magician is directed to say the conjurations or names provided for the seal they have chosen to work with,
then recite "The General Citation", pray, and surrender themselves to God.
Following the first recitation and prayer, the magician is further instructed to hold up the chosen seal or table in hand
(assumed to be the left since the Generation Seal is to be held in the right "at the time of citation"),
and recite the General Citation once more until they are satisfied or assured that their requests have been met.
C: Extracted Seals & Formulas
Treatises of 6/7 BoM; Biblia Arcana Magica Alexandria
Spoiler (Click to View)
Portions Containing Various Talismans
[Table of Comparisons]
These talismans are indicated to only be made useful through the ritual provided in the portion of the text labeled "Treatise Sion".
Treatise Sion contains references to the use of the foremost mentioned seals, the Breastplates and Helmet of Moses and Aaron,
and also provides prayers and instructions on use of the horn for the consecration of these talismans.
[J.H. Peterson's Comparisons]
"Extracted Formulas from Magical Kabala" [Source 1] [Source 2]
"Treatise of Sixth BoM" [Source 1] [Source 2]
"Treatise of Seventh BoM" [Source 1] [Source 2]
"(Biblia Arcana Magica Alexander) Tradition of Sixth/Seventh BoM"[Source 1] [Source 2]
Given Procedure For Using Various Talismans
"Treatise Sion & The Laws of Entrance" [Source 1] [Source 2]
The Laws of Entrance rite includes the use of a ram's horn or 'shofar'.
William Alexander Oribello's The Sealed Magical Book of Moses includes a ritual approach towards the 6/7 BoM
that bears similarities to The Laws of Entrance and gives a recipe for the "holy three king's water" consecration.
However, the only astrological movements observed in Oribello's rite are those of the Moon,
and it omits/excludes any observation of the movements of Saturn, Mars, & Jupiter that are emphasized in the original ritual.
Appendices 1 & 2
"MAGIA ALBA ET NEGRA"
D: Spirit-Commando Seals & Citations
The Black Raven; Tabellae Rabellinae
Spoiler (Click to View)
Portions Containing Various Citation Seals or Characters
[The Black Raven Seals]
There are several versions of Faust's Black Raven/Black Bible/Harrowing of Hell;
However, the analysis of the Faustian text will be restricted to the rendition found in the 6/7 BoM.
The Black Raven portion of the text provides citations or spoken conjurations for each of the Princes which consists of god names,
the names of angels, and the names of "good familiars" listed in The Rabellini Table.
"The Seven Great Princes of Spirits and Their Seals" [Source 1] [Source 2]
Given Procedure For Using Various Citations
The Black Raven portion of the text also includes a time table that indicates the best hours for conjuring the spirits on the days of the week,
and there are instructions provided for making the Spirit-Commando Circle of Citation and the Citation Seals of the Princes from specific types of ink.
(Please take note that the Spirit-Commando Circle and the Circle of General Citation provided for the Seven Mystery Seals & Twelve Tables are not the same.
This does not rule out the possibility that they can be used interchangeably, but it is best to proceed with caution.)
"Tabellae Rabellinae" or The Rabellini Table provides a separate table of spirits and set of instructions on how to cite and conjure them for appearance and assistance.
(The procedures given in The Black Raven, as well as in The Rabellini Table and "The Laws of Entrance" of the Treatise Sion portion are
the only parts of the text that emphasize the observation of lunar phases [ie. the text instructs the characters of the Princes to be made "at the time of full moon" but the time of conjuration must "be new moon".]
"Instructions for The Black Raven's Citations" [Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3] [Source 4]
"The Rabellini Table's Citations and Invocations of Good & Evil Spirits" [Source 1] [Source 2]
Additional "Harrowing of Hell" Materials [Exhibit 1] [Exhibit 2] [Exhibit 3]
Saturn+Jupiter+Mars+Sol+Venus+Mercury+Luna+Cancer+Aquarius
APPENDICES 3-6
E: Prayers, Psalms, & More Prayers
Semiphoras & Schemhamphoras; Sepher Shimmush Tehillim
Supplement; Astrological Influences & Magical Cures
Spoiler (Click to View)
Portions Containing Various Characters, Prayers, & Procedures
[Schemhamforas Characters]
The Schemhamforas portion of the text includes prayers of Solomon, Adam, & Moses, and an invocation of angels
that rule over the 28 Houses of the Moon or Lunar Mansions, the 7 Heavens, the 4 Quarters, and the 4 Elements.
"Composition of the Schemhamforas or Name of 72 Letters" [Source 1] [Source 2]
"Schemhamforas & Semiphoras Prayers of Solomon" [Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3]
"Semiphoras Prayers of Adam and Moses" [Source 1] [Source 2]
"Angelic Powers & Prayers of The Schemhamforas" [Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3] [Source 4]
"Astrological & Planetary Divisions of The Angelic Schemhamforas" [Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3]
Similarities between Semiphoras prayers and lists of angels can be observed in "Excerpt from Clavicula Salomonis", the "General Citation of Moses on All Spirits",
"Sefer Raziel or Liber Salomonis", "Liber Juratus Honorii or The Sworn Book of Honorius", and Agrippa's Third Book of Occult Philosophy.
[Exhibit 1] [Exhibit 2] [Exhibit 3] [Exhibit 4] [Exhibit 5] [Exhibit 6] [Exhibit 7] [Exhibit 8]
The Sefer Schimmush Tehillim part of the text explains various uses for the 150 Psalms, and provides associated procedures and prayers.
"Sefer Schimmush Tehillim or Uses of The Psalms" [Source]
The supplement portion of the text provides more prayers and uses for scripture, including the names of helpful angelic spirits.
"Supplement" [Source]
Portion gives explanation on planetary influences, best days and times to conduct certain activities, explanation on the miraculous
powers of prayer regarding sickness, procedures to construct healing amulets & charms, and recitations of healing prayers.
"Astrological Influences and Magical Cures" [Source]
II. Techniques, Tools, & Procedures
[Comparative List of Literature on 6/7 BoM]
A: Spiritual Preparation
Spoiler (Click to View)
Self-purification + consecration of creative materials & created tools = better result.
Purification, Consecration, & Blessing
Enflaming with Prayer
The prayers listed in the Schemhamforas appendix are wonderful as protective and purifying prayers,
especially when doing any form of high or low work with seals, characters, tables, and talismans listed in the books.
The recitation of the included godnames help emphasize the divine authority and promote needed spiritual
enlightenment or knowledge on working with the spirits of the book through the invocation of ruling angels.
The procedure given in "The Laws of Entrance" instructs that 13 days before the appropriate lunar phase be used for "purification" before attempting consecration.
The practitioner is encouraged also to purify themselves before attempting to make the tools or seals intended for any sort of magical work.
Consecration vs. Blessing
Both consecration and blessing give spiritual importance to objects, persons, places, and events, but in two different ways.
Consecration involves the dedication of a present thing/event to a specific, spiritual (or magical) purpose.
The spiritual significance and context of something, someone, or present space of time is intentionally transformed or reformed,
giving special, spiritual recognition to the target in connection to a specific purpose or circumstance.
(ie. consecrating the circle at the moment of ritual for the conjuration of a specific entity, consecrating a candle or seal to only be used for a specific entity)
For Consecration:
Can be done by simply speaking over the object, stating its name and its intended ritual purpose, and then hiding it away.
It would only be taken out and used in conjunction with ritual or the creation of ritual tools.
Blessing is a theurgical act that involves the petition of an deity/entity for their intervention in bringing special virtue or spiritual momentum to a thing/event.
Unlike consecration, blessing does not change an object, but empowers its essence by explicitly connecting it to the divine via prayer or offering.
(ie. blessing a planetary or elemental talisman in name and time of respective divinity to allow their qualities to be radiated through the object)
For Blessing:
Sepher Shimmush Telhillim provides framework for Psalmic magic and blessing, and can be used (in combination with prayer)
to bless an object with particular properties of Adonai, the divinity recognized by the entities listed within the text.
The practitioner will often use their own judgement to determine the type of blessing warranted by an event or object,
but divination can be used to discover what aspect of the object should be spiritually emphasized or empowered
(usually with better results than the former method).
B: Creation of Tools
Spoiler (Click to View)
Making Seals, Circles, Tables, & Talismans
Writing Material
The text asserts that the seals, tables, talismans, and circles should be drawn upon parchment.
However, there are also instructions for drawing the seals/characters of the Seven Great Princes on virgin parchment.
[Exhibit]
It is suggested to make and keep one durable set of the seals, tables, and talismans for high magic workings,
and have enough parchment in hand to create temporal versions for low magic workings.
The durable would be used for evocation of the spirit, and the temporal used for more specified complementary work
after successfully confirming the assistance of a spirit for your intended purpose.
Inks
Instructions are given for drawing the Spirit-Commando Circle of Citation "with the blood of young white doves"
and the Seals/Characters of the Seven Great Princes in "with the blood of butterflies".
These are references to magical inks of similar names, doves' blood ink and butterfly's blood ink.
The text does not indicate that any specific inks be used for the other characters in the books.
A possible reason for the particular use of doves' blood and butterfly's blood for rituals concerning the Great Princes is that both inks possess
pronounced Venusian characteristics or magical virtues relating to the goddess and god of love, both in their names and their ingredients.
For Doves' Blood:
The dove is attributed to Venus as one of her sacred symbols.
The ingredients of rose, bay leaf, and cinnamon are also sacred plants that belong to other gods:
rose = Venus; cinnamon = Bacchus; bay leaf (laurel) = Apollo.
The rose is explicitly associated with Venus and blatant symbol of passionate love; and cinnamon,
though attributed to Bacchus/Dionysus,
is also commonly considered an aphrodisiac, further relating the plant to Venus. [Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3]
The bay leaf (laurel) is tied to both the olympic god Apollo and Eros, god of love (son of Venus), through the nymph Daphne (the greek name for laurel).
Bay is often used for its protective virtues in magical practice, and cinnamon similarly proceeds from the laurel plant family. [Source 1] [Source 2]
For Butterflies' Blood:
Following in the context of the Greek mythos, the butterfly can be linked to Psyche (greek word for both soul and butterfly).
Psyche is the consort of the love god Eros, another arrow pointing towards the qualities of Venus. [Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3]
The main ingredient in butterflies' blood is saffron, which is another spice that is considered an aphrodisiacs.
Saffron (crocus) is also the sacred plant of Mercury/Hermes, supplying the ink with Mercurial qualities in addition to Venusian influences.[Source 1] [Source 2]
Saffron/safflower ink is used in Islamic magic to write sacred prayers or make protective amulets for warding off the evil eye.
The sacred ink is often mixed with rose water. [Source 1] [Source 2]
If you intend to draw seals from scratch, then a feather quill pen or calligraphy/fountain pens will do for using specified inks.
You can outline printed seals with a detail paint brush dipped in the appropriate ink.
Additional Materials
Required materials for following the ritual procedure outlined in "The Laws of Entrance", in addition to parchment for the circle and Breastplate:
a ram's horn (shofar)
"Three-Kings Holy Water"
at least three wax candle lighting tapers.
For a permanent set of seals, characters, or talismans, lamination or book tape can be used to help prolong their durability.
Characters can further be reinforced by adhering them to a sheet metal base that has been cut with metal cutting shears into the shape of the seal.
Both sheet metal and metal cutting shears can be purchased at craft stores or online.
C: Simplified Seal Magic
Spoiler (Click to View)
Divination Techniques
Anna Riva's "Secrets of Magical Seals" [1975]
Aima's "Perfume Oils, Candles, Seals, and Incense" [1971]
D: Reconstructed Rituals
Spoiler (Click to View)
Vorland's Outline [2008]
William Alexander Oribello's "The Sealed Magical Book of Moses" [1986]
EDIT: Ack! Accidentally pressed the post thread button. This is not complete... Feel free to ask away anyway.
So much for completing the draft and submitting the finished product of my research...