On 11:11:2019, as Sol ascended in the East and Luna slipped through the Western gate to enter the realm of Amenti, the winged Messenger rose within the blazing Heart-chamber of Humanity’s Own Star.

This condition is referred to in astro·lese as “cazimi”, when a planet is so tightly conjunct the Sun that it becomes empowered and pronounced, rather than outshone and burned up (“combust”) by its blinding rays. The strictest requirement is that a planet be less than 16 astrological minutes from the Sun’s post, whereas looser definitions allow up to 1 degree.

In that pre-dawn hour of Mercury almost one year ago, when the second edition of Sphere + Sundry’s Hermanubis series was called into corporeal form, Mercury was just *6 minutes from Sol’s core, meeting every definition of a cazimi and then some. It also qualified as a true Mercurial Eclipse from a latitude and longitude perspective, putting it visibly front and center of the Sun — a configuration that won’t feature again until 2031.

Mercury was retrograde in Scorpio at the time, lending it a darker, witchier, and more chthonic orientation, perfect for communication between the living and those occupying the realm of the Dead. Many an astrologer has spoken of Mercury in its retrograde phase as transiting the underworld, and for this reason, we do recommend petitioning Hermes Chthonius (if not Hermanubis) instead of the default day-side Hermes under such conditions.

The life-giving luminary spheres which govern the principles of Spirit and Embodiment were straddling the very horizons of Life and Death, the steadfast and exalted Taurus Moon brimming with light, acting as a lamp to anchor our presence and illumine the psychic landscapes of necromantic exchange.

Mercury, backed by the full power and potency of Sol, serves as a gateway through which Hermanubis can come and go, delivering souls and messages from one side of the veil to the other with extraordinary ease and unparalleled efficacy.

This in the 2nd Decan of Scorpio, having to do with connection, communication, and the refinement intimacy provides, which Austin Coppock calls “An Apparatus for Mutual Distillation” in his book 36 Faces.

Select extracts include —

…A vision of ideal exchange between two parties, poignant and perfect…

…the alchemical process of mutual distillation, wherein the matter passes back and forth between one alembic and another, growing increasingly rarefied and potent…

…Taoist sexual energy practice, referred to as dual cultivation, involves exactly this exchange between partners…

On the Titan Leto, attributed to Scorpio II in the Hellenistic text The 36 Airs of the Zodiac —

…Leto is the mother of both Apollo, the Sun God and his twin sister Artemis, goddess of the Moon. Leto was not worshipped alone, but always with her celestial children. This relationship between the Sun and the Moon, or King and Queen, is the very crux of alchemical operations, for they represent the Spirit and the Body of the matter…

On the Sun in Scorpio II —

…The Sun is considered the ruler of this face, and thus serves to unlock the power of this decan. Sol here has the power to bring about mutually satisfying exchanges of all kinds, as well as to invigorate existing relationships. The Saimhain Sun, it is a doorway which opens onto a vision of the ultimate tantra—that of life and death…

On Mercury in Scorpio II —

…Mercury’s power in this face is to emotionally anchor the mind to a subject. Alternatively, this power can be activated to bond people emotionally through conversation…

While this election may not have offered much to be desired outside of the exalted Full Moon (Mercury is not well dignified, for instance, so it wouldn’t be recommended for generalized Mercury Things™, and even still, Luna was conjunct Uranus), numerous facets poetically combined for magical and necromantic potential under the auspices of Hermanubis, a psychopompic deity whose lore and operations are in perfect alignment with a Mercurial Eclipse of the Sun.

Consecrating God + Spirit based materia in times of such comptaible astrological affinity serves to quicken and potentiate the Power’s ability to act, providing a battery of bio-spiritually available energies through which to Work. Such is not always necessary, but it is potent, and our particular specialty ‘round here. To the knowledgeable Mind, experienced Hand, well trained Eye, and Intuitively Adventurous, such unorthodox alignments present interesting opportunities for increased astro-magical exploration #astromage #traditionalchaoswitch

Introducing Our Patron

Hermanubis (Ἑρμανοῦβις) is a hybridized psychopomp worshipped during the Greek domination of Egypt — a chimera of the robed Hermes, dextrous and articulate hands bearing a caduceus and feather, topped by the erect and vigilant jackal head of the ancient Egyptian Anubis.

A statue of Hermanubis can be visited in the Vatican Museum to this day, a small 3D printed rendering of which is included with each order of the Opening of the Mouth + Eyes Ritual Set and Altar Boxes for this series.

Hermes was, among other things, messenger of the Gods and deliverer of the Dead into Hades. Anubis was a protector of graves, master of embalming, and the original Egyptian Lord of the underworld before being later replaced, but remained the primary conductor of souls into the realm of the Dead and oversaw the scale at the heart weighing ceremony, the results of which determined if the individual would gain eternal life in the realm of Amenti.

My first introduction to this life-changing figure was in the “Armies of the Dead” section of Gordon White’s book The Chaos Protocols, where Hermanubis is introduced as “the most magically useful God you have never heard of”. In it, Gordon presents a modified spell from the Greek Magical Papyri and ritual formulas for approaching the God. I recommend the book, both generally and for those looking to work with Hermanubis, but it is not at all mandatory to benefit from this series’ offerings.

Items which act as powerful veil renders between the realm of the living and deceased, and shine as a lighthouse, drawing the Dead to their brilliant flame. Hermanubis can be intentionally invoked as an intermediary to deliver specific souls and help them navigate the death realms (or find their way back to + from the land of the living), facilitate communication between beings incarnate and dis-, and allocate offerings to specific dead, or classes of them.

He essentially serves as divine courier between ours and the under-world, trafficking in all manner of gnostic treasure, magical commodities, and vital communications. An open and direct line to the chthonic, ever standing by. Provider of the fastest, most direct broadband connection, straight to the hearts and minds of Amenti. No buffering, just crystal clear 1080p HD 4K Necromancy.

Hermanubis materia can be used in advance of (or during) Ancestral workings to make communication easier and prime the Operator (you!) for utmost psychic receptivity, automatic writing/ drawing, and even mediumship.

They differ from The Ancestral Series in that they do not color or influence the nature of the dynamic, or achieve any purpose aside from facilitating intimate *interface and deeper, clearer *connection. Both series play exceptionally well together, and can produce shockingly effective, very pronounced trance states, along with the potent results Sphere + Sundry has become (literally, quickly, and with gratitude) famous for delivering.

Personal application can serve as a bridge to death-gnosis, deepening understandings of the revolving door between the states of being Alive or Dead, and the doubly-ouroborotic process they together form; excavating the singularity of the immortal soul beyond the shell of one’s current incarnate experience; and preparing the conscious Self for navigating the transition state. It can aid in shadow work, truth seeking, and the general sort of empowerments Necromancers tend to go for.

For the advanced magical practitioner, use before bed lends itself to especially chthonic lucid dreaming (be sure you are warded). Application before or during intimate exchanges for tantric and gnostic purpose (with a consort Living or Other) may prove interesting.

For the less magically experienced, please use these items with intention and give yourself an energetic rinse after, if not a full blown cleansing.

Offerings from Hermanubis II contain ethically obtained, organic and wildcrafted ingredients — hair from a black dog, extra virgin olive oil, ritually harvested cemetery ivy, fallen autumn leaves, poppy, hops, barley, dried mushroom, blood red wine, dark spiced rum, beeswax and 24k gold to honor Sol, and genuine copper as a representation of the coin paid to ferry souls into the afterlife, alongside sundry herbs + additions of a Mercurial and Necromantic nature.

Two roller editions are available for Hermanubis II Oils — a snowflake obsidian gemstone or (for the first time) custom commissioned 24k gold plated rollerballs, which can be re-purposed in rollers for other oils or kept as altar pieces ad infinitum. These are also available in hyper limited quantities for Sol in Leo, Son of Apollo, Deneb Algedi, and Aldebaran oils. Depending on demand, they will be offered again as more are re-cast in small batches.

Please note that Hermanubis materia acts as a beacon and crossroads for the Dead whether actively engaged or not, so it is best to keep them covered or stowed when not in use, lest we end up drawing random, unwanted, or unsolicited souls to our abodes.

Should you need to disperse such hangers on (or cleanse following significant interface with the materia, both body and space), Water of Asclepius, Kolonía, and Ritual Salt are excellent repellants of the deceased — as is the herb rosemary. Asclepius, Son of Apollo, and Golden Sol items are also perfect for restoring death-life balance (in the living’s favor).

Side effects of interface with Hermanubis may include stomach upset or nausea related to activation of the Earth element within the vessel. Death vibes can register as draining, foreboding, heavy, and serious (shorthand: Saturnian), but with deeper engagement, are also humorous, therapeutic, and rewarding. All part of a balanced magical diet.

Emphasis on *magical…

While I would not characterize this series as “malefic” in the way Algol most definitely is, it won’t be a good fit for the non-magically operant. Those who are engaged in Ancestral lineage healing may find Hermanubis acts as a bridge to deeper pools of Occult and magical practice, but I don’t recommend it for muggles who partake of magic exclusively for the “practical” benefits. Hermanubis is initiatic in nature and can help guide one further into existing practices (or feel out new ones) through meditation, trance, dreaming, and ritual. It’s not a put it on before you leave the house and forget it type of series, though many of our others can be.

Hermanubis II was originally set to debut on March 13th 2020, but out of sensitivity regarding a death themed release in the midst of the burgeoning Covid-19 pandemic, it was delayed, delivering to us now the things Halloween Dreams are made of. Synchronistically, on the election’s lunar and Mercurial return (by sign), and at II:II AM, no less, upon the original soft launch to the client community on 10/3. The public announcement was made on 10/8, also at 11:11, making for dual releases of an underworld + overworld variety.

There is some remaining Oil and Ink of Amenti from the first Hermanubis series. The Oil is being offered at a rounded 33% discount while supplies live and breathe, though the ink remains constant, since no more was created for II’s iteration. For a sense of what Hermanubis items are like, peruse the testimonials from the first series, as most of the items remain similar.

Thanks and praise to our collaborators — the inimitable (I’m biased!) Austin Coppock for selecting our times of working, and thee Mrs. Elizabeth Barrial of BPAL + TAL for transmitting a deeply moving olfactory homage to Hermanubis.

Each order includes basic instructions for use and a prayer, along with an invitation to the private Sphere + Sundry client community for the sharing of field reports, asking of questions, and ongoing support from nigh 1,000 like-Minded, like-Hearted, like-Spirited Others. And those are just the living 😉

Happy Haunting…