special inks

Ingredients

mineral substances, vegetable substances, animal substances

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The Ghāyat al-hakīm (ca. 1050 AD) specifies that in the talismanic branch of celestial magic, rituals include drawing spirits into material objects using 'terrestrial objects of mineral, plant, animal or compound natures' (p. 4). A key part of the ceremony is the use of 'words appropriate to the celestial body, either written with special inks or chanted' (p. 4). These inks are described later in the text as being 'composed of mineral, vegetable and animal substances associated with the planets' (p. 11). The text classifies 'ink' (along with oil, roots, and seeds) as one of the four primary 'plant products' within its Neoplatonic framework of compound natures (p. 3).

Evidence

"the rituals by which the drawing down is effected involve the use of... words appropriate to the celestial body, either written with special inks or chanted"

Remarks

The Ghāyat al-hakīm, later known as the Picatrix, was authored in Spain towards the middle of the 11th century (p. 1). It synthesizes various esoteric traditions, including those attributed to Jābir ibn Hayyān, which classify ink as a product of nature. The author claims these inks have properties inherent to specific celestial bodies (p. 4). The use of 'special inks' is intended to facilitate communication between the divine and human spheres (p. 15).