Liber Runarum

Translated By Polyphanes
https://
digitalambler.wordpress.com/
rituals/liber-runarum/
Compiled By Havamal93

Itwell, not really part of a collection, but it hard for me to say. I found the text while translating the Lectura
Geomantiae in the collection Hermes Trismegistus: Astrologia et divinatoria published in the series Corpus
Christianorum. There are other texts in there, some in Arabic, some in Hebrew, and some in Latin. The Liber
Runarum was seen multiple times throughout Europe, so it not just a one-off thing, and the editor to the text in
CC mentions alternative glyphs that some manuscripts give. The translation given above is basically the whole
thing for the Liber Runarum.
Concerning The Corpus Christianorum;
Some parts were on astrological talismans and using the fixed stars. A few others were on scapulimancy and
bone divination, and one about the occult virtues of the human brain. Then there was the Lectura Geomantiae
and Liber Runarum.
The following is a text I translated in 2013 taken from the bookHermes Trismegistus, Astrologia et
divinatoria (Corpus Christianorum, Continuatio Medievalis 144C, Brepols: Turnhout, 2001). The following
section is the 15th century text the Book of Runes, the Latin for which was taken from four manuscripts:
1.
Vaticano (Citt del), Diblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 1439, ff.346r-347v.
2.
Dresden, Schsiche Landesbibliothek, N, 100, ff. 198r-200v.
3.
London, British Library, Sloane 3854, ff. 97rv, 101rv.
4.
Wien,sterreichische Nationalbibliothek, 12834, ff. 1r-6r.
This translation describes a method of image magic, talismanic writing, or magical inscription using a variant
of medieval runes ascribed to the signs of the Zodiac and the elements.

Liber Runarum
The Book of Runes
To possess the knowledge of experiments, the effects of which are causedfrom the influence of the sky or
the planets, it is briefly to be known whatthe Zodiac, what a sign, what a degree, what a face, [and] whata
triplicity may be, and because it is common among us; therefore I leave this to rest.And to what the order
of the planets etc.~may be, this I leave. But as it isnecessary, I return to the having and thinking of that
which is said above.
Now it must be spoken of the names of the parts of the signs from which thefigures called the runes are
extracted.
further
it is tothat
be the
known
the stars
are in the end ofAries and in the start and center
And further And
it is to
be known
starsthat
which
are inwhich
the end

called
Salmadis.
ofAries and of
in Taurus
the startare
and
center
of Taurus are called Salmadis.
Thatit is true in the end of Taurus and in the start and center of

Gemini arecalled Lathlim.

The end of Gemini with the start and center of Cancer are called

Celecht.

Rohob
are
the
stars
in
the
end of Cancer
and in the start and in the

center ofLeo.

of
Virgo.

Ayleyl is called
the end of
Leo with
the
start
and center

Alyobe is the end of Virgo and the start and center of Libra.

Truly the end of Libra with the start and center of Scorpio is

called Affoguil.
however

Baltarie
are the stars in the end of Scorpio and in the

start and centerof

Sagittarius.

Hanapel is the end of Sagittarius with the start and center of

Capricorn.
Balyoel is the
end of Capricorn
and
the start and center

of
Aquarius.
Cariophel
is the end of Aquarius with the start and center of

Pisces.

Rynybel
is the end of Pisces with the start and center of Aries.

the names of the parts of the signs from which the runes are taken, it isto

And

be considered of the
abstractions and natures
of
them.
it isto

intwo

benoted that
Salmadis
is distinguished
parts, of which the first is

thestart of Aries, the second the start and center of Taurus. And thus
the

is

similarlyknow [this]
about Lathlaym:
for
first
of
its parts
the
end

of Taurus, thesecond
is the
start
and center of Gemini, and it is to be
known thus in order of all the rest of the parts of the signs.

From Samlandis therefore are extracted two figures, of which the first is calledAR (A), the second BERKE (B).
The first is abstracted from the first part of Salmandisand is fiery, the other from the second is earthy.

From Lathlym two [are extracted]: KON (C) and YISTUNGIAN (D): the first from the firstpart of Lathlym and

is earthy, the second from the second part and is airy.

From Teleth two: known as ISTUNGENIS (E) and FOE (F): the first from the first part isaery, the second from

the second part is watery. And thus in whatever part ofthe signs two figures are abstracted, except Rinibel, of which is

as much
takenup
by
ZAZU.

From
Rohob
two
figures
are taken
up, which
are called
KOEN
(G)
and HAGEL
(H): the
watery,
the

firstis

second
fiery.

earthy.

From
Ayleyl
two, LYS (I) and BARKE
(K) : the first
is fiery, the second

Alyobe

From
two, LAGER (L) and MATH (M): the first is earthy, the second airy.

(N)

first

From Affoguil
two, NOTHER
and OTHER(O):
the
is airy,the
second
watery.

Baltharien

STUNGEN

BIERDE

(Q):

From
two,
BIERDE
(P) and
BLESENA
the first iswatery,
thesecond

fiery.

From Hanepel two, RETHER (R) and SOEL (S): the first is fiery, the second earthy.

From Balyoel two, TIR (T) and UR (V): the first is earthy, the second airy.

From Cariopel two, XERS (X) and YOS (Y): the first airy, the second watery.

From Rinibel, which is the end of Pisces and the start and center of Aries,only one figure is abstracted, one
(Z),

may see
as ZAZIR
which is watery.

With the seen natures of the figures, it is to be seen in what way the figuresthemselves should be placed in the
order of the names of the spirits of theplanets, by means of which any such work of experimentation may be
broughtabout. It will be thus, I say, as you should observe to know the influence of the supercelestial bodies
suitable to such works.Therefore it is to be noted that these 23 figures abstracted from the stars inthe place of
the 23 figures which are according to the Latins placed in this manner,which of these are first placed for the
first of those, and [placed] second forthe second, and thus in order according to the order of the figures; this
is,as it may be said as an example, AR for A, BERKE for B, and thus it is to beplaced for each remaining one.
And it is to be noted that it is not appropriate for something that isworked through some planet except in the
matter to which [the planet]pertains, for good or evil. We shall see, moreover, what may be worked according
to whichever of the planets.
Under the hour of Saturn and his sign, those [works] which are of Saturn maybe worked, such as pain,

perdition, witchcraft, and similar things.

Under the hour of Jupiter and his sign, those [works] which are of Jupiter may beworked, such as
wealth, reconciliation, and justice.

Under the hour of Mars and his sign, those [works] which are of Mars may be worked,such as victory,
sedition, envy, and battles.
Under the hour of the Sun and his sign, those [works] which are of the Sun mayworked, such as praise,

domination, and power.

Under the hour of Venus and her sign, those [works] which are of Venus may beworked, such as joy,

pleasure, charm, and everything that [people] watch for fun.

Under the hour of Mercury and his sign, those [works] which are of Mercury maybe worked, such as
that which is for wealth, such as business,accounting, and teaching.
By the Moon you may work for whatever thing you wish, even though thisoperation may be seen to

pertain as much to that which exists in the house ofanother planet.

Consequently it is to be considered of the angels of the planets. And it is tobe known that any and all of
the planets has an angel by means of whom flowsand acts in lesser things that they receive in [the
planet] impressions. And ofthese angels the names are these.
The name of the angel of Saturn is Athelateyl.

Truly the angel of Jupiter is called Lathleym.

The angel of Mars Mamarayl.

The angel of the Sun Mathmeyl.

The angel of Venus Behonydiun.

The angel of Mercury Antyim.

The name of the angel of the Moon Lyeleyl.

With the names of the spirits of the planets had, it is to be seen inwhat way these names should be engraved on
metals or stones attributed tothe planets, indeed, that the natures of the figures may support themselves toone another
just as both the signs and triplicities: this is to say thatthe fiery figures areplaced before the earthy, and airy before
watery in sequences and sculptures,just as Aries which is a fiery sign is placed before Taurus which is earthy,and
Gemini which is airy placed before Cancer which is watery.And it is to benoted that two figures of one and the same
nature will never stay in a sculpture atthe same time, as one may know as well neither two nor more of the same
triplicity will stay at the same time. It is to be started from any figure, ofwhatsoever nature or triplicity it will be,
according to the need of thesculptures.
Now it is to be said about the changing of the figures abstracted from thestars according to the different parts of the
signs, in the way that a figureentering under is put in the place of an opposing figure, and in this mannera change of
the figures is made, which is nothing other than the removing ofan opposing figure and a placing forth of another
figure suitably entering under. So as to understand this change, moreover, the difference of the abstractedfigures is to
be noted by some standing alone, some obstructing, some entering under. Figures standing by themselves are those
which do not need change but aresuitably placed in a sculpture according to the need of a goodcombination.Figures
entering under are those which are well-put in the place ofopposition.It is also to be noted that the figuresstanding by
themselves make opposing figures and vice versa, and similarlyfigures entering under make those standing by
themselves and will oppose.However, of the figures standing by themselves it is to be known thatthey are
unchanging and always placed in the sculpture without change andmake the sculpture to ascend into the circle or the
parts of the signs by whichit had fallen, which are the figures that from the upper parts of the circle, or rather the
Zodiac, [that] are taken with respect to the figureswhich are those placed in the sculpture.
But because this mode of sculpting may be seen asdifficult by some listeners and readers, its form stands is seen in
the names ofthe angels of the Moon and of Venus, which are thus inscribed so. It must benoted also that the figures
entering under, which are set in the place of theopposition, will always be taken up by the inferior parts of the circle
lookingback on those parts from which the figure stands by itself.
Therefore, when it will have pleased you to work by some of the planets, writethe name of the angel of the Moon and
of the planet according to all that hasbeen determined before. With these written you will invoke the nagels by
theirnames: O Lyeleyl and Behonidyn, or Machmeyl or whichever angel it will be, Iinvoke you by the virtue of
the First Cause, influencing, leadingeverything to be, that you make such a thing for me and the names of thething
which you wish, and you will gain it if you will have worked sensibly.
But since bodies of diverse kinds are the support of impressions orfigures of this manner, for example plants, gems,
and metals, it may be seen that they may in any case be attributed to the planets.

And in saying so briefly, lead is of Saturn, and in it are made things andcreations and images to
become a recluseand for all evil and for no good.

Tin is truly shared by Jupiter and the Moon, and in it are made things forbenevolence and not for

any evil.

Copper is of Venus and is shared in it by Mars, with whose sigils tongues orrods may be bound,

and of it images and things for malevolence and all evilare made.

Iron and diamond

are
by Mars
and
Venus,
and
in it are made
things
forbenevolence

shared

and

favor.

of
men

Gold is
of
the Sun,
with it the
hearts
are softened and theyare
broughttogether
willingly,

and an image made of it is virtuous for much benevolence. If you will have made a bracelet of it and
inscribed on it the name of theangel of the Sun as is proper, all who should see it will love and fear the

onebearing
it.

Living silver is of Mercury, that enters in many goodcreations, yet this is not the place to speak of

it, but if
you weretoscatter
it in
a bed
where
two lovers
hate each other,
and
manyalchemical

lie
they
will

things
are
worked
in
it.

Silver
is of the
Moon,
and
sculptures for
love
and
will are made.

in
itimages
and

thesafety
of

from

and

Now
it
remains
to give an example
of
sculptures
the foregoing,
I willnot
putforth
but one, which

may be seen as of Venus, according to which youwill be able to work if you so wish by any of the planets,

just as is said before. And this [example] is that you engrave the name of the angel of the Moonand of

Venus and the name of a girl or woman in a plate of tin or silver,which is better, [and] with these written

the plate is to be buried in aplace of fire that it may be constantly warm, but that the heat of the fire maynot

destroy the sculpture.And while you do this, invoke the angels, just assaid above, and say the following:

Now let the heart of so-and-so N.~burn in thefire of my love, just as this tablet is set aflame by fire. Thus

you willinvoke seven times, and carry out your work, [and] if you will have labored well,you will obtain it.

I will leave
behind all
that
to
the intellect,because
intelligent
enough issaid,
I may not be

is
left

to
the

that

seen to revealphilosophical
secrets
to
the foolish. Of this
art,therefore,
speechsuffice,
that

let
brief

sagacious memories may take hold of [these words] of operations.

And this is the end.
Addendum
The Zodiac is an oblique circle divided into twelve equal parts, which arecalled the twelve signs by the
philosophers. A sign is a proportion in atwelfth of the Zodiac. A degree is a thirtieth part of a sign. A face
is athird part of a sign. Of the triplicities it is to be known that they are allthree signs, which are seen to
agree in one and the same nature, that make asingle triplicity. Whence these three [signs] Aries, Leo, and
Sagittarius makeone triplicity, because a triplicity is three signs in a concordance of similarqualities, and so
four triplicities are distinguished in the signs. Of whichthe first is fiery, which consists of Aries, Leo, and
Sagittarius. The secondis earthy, and consists of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. The third is airy,which
consists of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. The fourth is watery, whichconsists of Cancer, Scorpio, and
Pisces.

Similarly, the qualities of the signs and triplicities are held in theseverses:
Est Leo sic Aries calidus siccusque Sagittariusfrigidus est siccus Thaurus Virgo Capricornusnempe Libra
calet Gemini et Aquarius humetScorpio cum Pisce Cancero frigescit et humet.
Leo, Aries, and Sagittarius are hot and warmcold and dry are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorntruly Libra,
Gemini, and Aquarius warm, wet beScorpio with Pisces and Cancer cool and humidify.
Similarly, the order and names of these signs truly lie open in these verses:
Est Aries Thaurus Gemini Cancer Leo VirgoLibraque Scorpius Architenens Caper Anphora Pisces.
It is Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgoand Libra Scorpio Bow-holder Goat Amphora Pisces.
Now the order of the planets and their qualities are to be said. It is to benoted so as to examine of these
that there are seven wanderingstars, which are held as the masters and leaders of the superior and
inferiororbs. For the superior change and alter the inferior, and they are said to be the planets as if [they
were] wandering. For planet in Greek is wanderer in Latin, because they move sometimes in direct
motion, sometimes in indirect against the course of the firmament. Of the sevenplanets are circles or
spheres, which are said to be the heavens. In thesupreme circle, which stands the greatest distance from
the earth, is placedSaturn, whose nature is cold and dry intemperate. In the following circle isJupiter
placed, whose nature is warm and humid temperate. In the third circledescending is Mars set, in which is
heat and dryness distemperate. In thefourth circle is placed the Sun, whose nature is hot and dry
temperate. In thefifth sphere Lucifer is placed, who is called by the other name Venus and whosenature is
cold and humid temperate. In the sixth circle is the star Mercurylocated, equal to the Sun in speed, mixed
with the natures of the planets. Inthe seventh sphere, which is closer to the Earth, is placed the Moon,
cold,moist, and swift.
Similarly, the qualities of the planets [are] in these verses:
Frigens Saturnus siccus distemperat eccetemperat hic calidus at humet Iupiter astrisMars calidus siccus
distemperate agmina belliSol calidus siccus qui temperat et regem orbemhumida frigescens Venus,
inquam, temperat artemquodlibet ad signum vertit Mercurius orbemhumida dat ventum resplendens
frigida Luna.
Behold, chilling Saturn, madly stark with drythen mild star Jove, warm to humidifyHot dry Mars,
extreme troop of warHot dry Sun, the kind kingly starHumid cooling Venus, with art so fairthough
Mercury changes with sign orb so far,resplendent sweet Moon gives humid cool air.
An example of Jupiter.
O Lyeleyl and Lathleym, I invoke you by the virtue of the FirstCause influencing and leading everything
to be so for me etc.
An example of Mercury.
O Lyeleyl and Antyym, I invoke you by the virtue of the First Cause etc. be younear to virtue and teach
me one by one the illnesses and colors to realizeof urines and to be able and willing in medicines.
or in some otherart you desire.
An example of the Sun.
O Lyeleym et Machymeyl, I invoke you by the virtue of the First Cause etc.thatyou make me powerful in
gold or silver through some certain demonstration.
An example of Jupiter.
O Lyeleym et Lathleym, I invoke you by the virtue of the First Cause,influencing etc. that you reconcile
John to me and that you make good peacebetween him and me.

Appendix I
Variant names of the signs:
Salmadis: Salmandis, Salmadys, Salmalis
Lathlym: Lathlim, Lathlaym, Lachlim,
Lachlym
Celecht: Teleth, Celcech, Scecelech, Celeth,
Celech
Rohob: Rohos, Rops
Ayleyl: Eyleyl, Nyleyl, Ayeyl
Alyobe: Alpos, Blyale, Alyabe
Affoguil: Affoquil, Affoguyl
Baltharie: Baltharien, Baltarie, Kalcharie,
Balcharie
Hanapel: Hanepel, Hanape
Balyoel: Hahoel, Ballioel, Balyal
Cariopel: Cariophel, Gariofel, Fariopel,
Gariophel
Rynybel: Rinibel, Nimbel, Kicubel,
Rymbel, Kynybel, Kynibel

Variant names of the runes (the name in the text given first,
followed by the actual runic name where possible):
AR (r): ay
BERKE (bjarkan): bietke, byrzke, byrke
KON (kaun): con
YISTUNGIAN (tyr stungian): iystingen, iyistungien, gostarigen,
tyr sinnigen, cystungen
ISTUNGENIS (ss stungian): stungenis, ystingeren
FOE (f): for, forpa
KOEN (kaun stunginn): keon, luen
HAGEL (hagall): hahel
LYS (ss): lis, ilys
BARKE (kaun): karike, byarke, ilyarbe
LAGER (logr): rager, lag
MATH (mar): mathiy, mag
NOTHER (nau): noch
OTHER (ss): och, oos
BIERDE STUNGEN (bjarkan stunginn): birbe stuncken, byerke
stungin
BIERDE BLESENA: berke blesent, bierde blesena, berke
blessent, bierbe blesena, byerke blesend, byerke blosena
RETHER (rei): raher
SOEL (sl): sol, soel
TIR (tyr): tyr
UR (r):
XERS: yers, xere
YOS: zyois, yois, ydis
ZAZU: zazir

Variant names of the angels:

Atelateyl: Athelateyl, Acelateyl, Acelaceyl, Acelayl

Lathleym: Lachleym, Llachleym, Lachlym

Mamarayl:

Mathmeyl: Machmeyl, Machymeyl, Machmereyl, Mathmereyl

Behonydiun: Behonidyn, Behonydyn

Antyim: Antyym, Ancytym

Lyeleyl: Lyeleym, Llyeleyl

So, the text starts off with listing twelve signs based on the signs of the Zodiac. These twelve signs, starting with
Salmadis and ending with Rynybel, appear to be of equal size and area, just as the signs of the Zodiac are
themselves. However, they start off a little skewed from the Zodiac proper, with the start of Salmadis beginning at
the end of Aries, or the start of the third decan (20 into Aries). Since these signs are called extracted or
abstracted in the text, Il call them extracted signs here. To list the Zodiac signs beside their corresponding
extracted signs:

Appendix II
Each of the extracted signs is associated with two runes, or letters of the medieval runic alphabet still in
use in the 15th century in parts of Europe and which have a more-or-less one-to-one correspondence with
the Latin script in use at the time, which is the Latin alphabet wee used to minus the letters J (a variant of
I), and U and W (variants of V) . Each of the extracted signs is associated with two letters, with the
exception of Rynybel, which only has one letter. These letters are given to the extracted signs in the order
of the standard Latin alphabet; thus, Salmadis is given A and B, Lathlym is given C and D, and so forth
through Rynybel, which is given only Z. Interestingly, each of the letters is also given an elemental nature
from the four classical elements: fire, earth, air, and water. However, these letters are given elements
based on the Zodiacal sign, not the extracted sign, that they most closely are associated with. So, for
example, the extracted sign Salmadis starts off in Aries, a fire sign, and ends in Taurus, an earth sign; A
is taken from the first part of Salmadis, and B from the second. So, A, being closer to Aries, is given
to the element of fire and B, being closer to Taurus, is given to earth. This pattern follows all the way
through, with Z being given to water due to its placement with Pisces.

And yes, although I using the Latin alphabet, the texts use a version of medieval runes. Imagine that youe using
the runes, and youl be set. Below are one such version of the runes as given in the Liber Runarum, coupled with
their standard medieval runic counterparts and their Latin transcriptions. For the sake of this post, Il just refer to
the runes by their Latin letter equivalents.
So, why does this matter? For inscribing magical talismans and image magic, of course, as was the fad in
medieval and Renaissance Europe. The Liber Runarum is, like many other texts at the time, a book of angelic
magic, and the text gives a list of angels, their associated planets, things they govern or rule, and the like. All
this, plus a specific method for writing the names of angels or other things on talismans for magical purposes, by
associated the elements with the letters so that inscribed words may be properly aligned to the forces of the
cosmos.
However, the method for writing words on magic items according to the Liber Runarum isconvoluted and
obscure. I had to bust out Google Translate to understand the introduction to the text written in Italian to get a
better grasp of the method, and it still pretty hard to explain. Basically, the text proposes a kind of magical
cipher to obscure or occlude the written word itself by means of the elements themselves. The text says this on
the manner of working:
Now it is to be said about the changing of the figures abstracted from thestars according to the different parts of
the signs, in the way that a figureentering under is put in the place of an opposing figure, and in this mannera
change of the figures is made, which is nothing other than the removing ofan opposing figure and a placing forth
of another figure suitably entering under.So as to understand this change, moreover, the difference of the
abstractedfigures is to be noted by some standing alone, some obstructing, some entering under.Figures standing
by themselves are those which do not need change but aresuitably placed in a sculpture according to the need of
a goodcombination. Opposing figures are those which cannot be placed in the sculpture due to themixing of the
arrangement of figures. Figures entering under are those which are well-put in the place ofopposition. It is also to
be noted that the figuresstanding by themselves make opposing figures and vice versa, and similarlyfigures
entering under make those standing by themsleves and will oppose. However, of the figures standing by
themselves it is to be known thatthey are unchanging and always placed in the sculpture without change
andmake the sculpture to ascend into the circle or the parts of the signs by whichit had fallen, which are the
figures that from the upper parts ofthe circle, or rather the Zodiac, [that] are taken with respect to the
figureswhich are those placed in the sculpture.
Believe me, it not because I a shitty translator of Latin that it obscure (though I do credit myself a bit with
that). Even the curator of the text himself called the method hard to understand, but given a few examples
presented in the texts themselves, the method does become apparent. The method of writing in this manner relies
on understanding the flow of the elements according to the Zodiac: fire, earth, air, water (just like Aries, Taurus,
Gemini, Cancer, and so forth). The starting element of the cycle depends on the first letter found in the word;
the other letters must either fit naturally with this order or be changed to another letter of the alphabet to agree
with it. Thus, the meanings of the terms in the passage above become a little clearer:
Figure standing by itself: a letter whose elemental nature agrees with the elemental position of the word.

Figure opposing: a letter whose elemental nature is different from the elemental position of the word.

entering under:
a letterreplacing
an opposing letter to
the needed
element
for
that
Figures

supply

elemental
position.

Of course, the method still isn clear as to which of suitable elemental letters to pick to replace a letter. There are five
or six letters per element, and the examples given in the original manuscripts do seem to follow some sort of pattern.
After looking at the examples myself and trying to figure out which is which (no easy task),the method of writing a
cipher using this elemental system can be described (as best as I can understand it) as follows:
1.
Write out the full word.
2.
Inspect the element associated with the first letter of the word. This letter begins the cycle of elements for the
rest of the word.
3.
Inspect the successive letters of the word, noting the elements of the letters and the prescribed element for
that position in the word.
4.
If a given letter has the same element as the position itself, leave it be.
5.
If a given letter has a different element as the position itself, change this letter to be replaced to the next letter
in the alphabetic cycle with the needed element, the letter itself being taken from the extracted sign closest to the
zodiac sign with a triplicity of the same element as the letter to be replaced.
Complex? Of course it is, it from the 15th century. Let walk through a few examples. Consider a name from the
same text as this cipher is pulled from, Acelaceyl:

The first letter of this word is A, the element of which is Fire. Since the word is nine letters long and
the first letter of the word is associated with Fire, the cycle of elements that the letters must obey will be FireEarth-Air-Water-Fire-Earth-Air-Water-Fire. The letters themselves in the word are A (fire), C (earth), E (air),
L (earth), A (fire), C (earth), E (air), Y (water), L (earth). Most of the letters in the word follow this pattern,
except the first L and the last L, which have different element than the order prescribes; the first L is earthy
when a water letter is needed, and the last L is earthy when a fire letter is needed; both of these letters must be
replaced to another with a proper elemental nature.

The first L needs to be replaced by a water letter; the next water letters in the alphabet after L are O
and P. O is taken from the second part of Affoquil, which starts in the third decan of Libra, and P is taken
from the first part of Baltharie, which starts in the third decan of Scorpio. L itself is earthy, so whichever of
the signs Affoquil (holding O) and Baltharie (holding P) is closest to an earth sign will be selected. Affoquil is
closer to Virgo than Baltharie is to Capricorn, so Affoquil is chosen, replacing the first L with O.
The second L needs to be replaced by a fire letter; the next fire letters are Q and R. Q is taken from the

second part of Baltharie and R from the first part of Hanapel. Whichever of these signs is closest to an earth
sign will be chosen. Hanapel is closer to earthy Capricorn than Baltharie is to Virgo (indeed, Baltharie
overlaps into Capricorn!), so Hanapel is chosen, replacing the second L with R.

By replacing these letters in this way, we get the resulting cipher ACEOACEYR.

Another example: let look at the word IAO SABAOTH, the Latinate rendition of a fairly popular godname. Here,
wel encipher a whole phrase based on the first letter of the phrase:

The first letter is I, which is Fire. The phrase IAO SABAOTH has ten letters, so the cycle must be
Fire-Earth-Air-Water-Fire-Earth-Air-Water-Fire-Earth. The letters themselves are I (fire), A (fire), O (water),
S (earth), A (fire), B (earth), A (fire), O (water), T (earth), H (fire). Of these, only the I of IAO and the first
A, B, and O of SABAOTH fit according to this pattern; all the other letters must be changed. In other words,
to use underlined letters to signify the letters to be changed, IAO SABAOTH.

The A of IAO is fiery and needs to be replaced by an earth letter. The

next two earth letters are B and C, from Salmadis and Lathlym, respectively.
Salmadis is closer to a fire sign (Aries) than Lathlym is (Leo), so
Salmadisletter B replaces A.

The O of IAO is watery and needs to be replaced by an air letter. The

next two earth letters are V and X, from Balyoel and Cariopel, respectively.
Cariopelis closer to a water sign (Pisces) than Celecht is (Scorpio), so
Cariopelletter X replaces O.
The S of SABAOTH is earthy and needs to be replaced by a water

letter. The next two water letters are Y and Z, from Cariopel and Rynybel,
respectively. Cariopel is closer to a water sign (Pisces, overlapping it) than
Rynybel is (Cancer, though it overlaps Pisces as well), so Cariopel letter Y
replaces S.

The second A of SABAOTH is fiery and needs to be replaced by an

air letter. The next two air letters are D and E, from Lathlym and Celecht,
respectively. Lathlym is closer to a fire sign (Aries) than Celecht is (Leo), so
Lathlym letter D replaces A.
The T of SABAOTH is earthy and needs to be replaced by a fire

letter. The next fire letter is A, from Salmadis. Because the A from Salmadis
is alone without a companion fire letter, A is chosen by default to replace T.

The H of SABAOTH is fiery and needs to be replaced by an earth

letter. The next two earth letters are K and L, from Ayleyl and Alyobe,
respectively. Ayleyl is closer to a fire sign (Leo) than Alyobe is
(Sagittarius), so Ayleyl letter K replaces H.

By replacing these letters in this way, we get the resulting cipher

IBX YABDOAK.

So, with the rule and examples understood (as surely you have, dear reader), here my conversion chart for
any letter of the Latin runic alphabet into any element as needed. Bold letters indicate no change needed, and
also the natural element of a given letter. To read this chart, find the letter to be enciphered in the leftmost
column, then read across to find its enciphered equivalent according to the element needed.

About polyphanesI'm a software developer and

Hermetic occultist living near Washington, DC, USA.
I claim that I'm youthful, dashing, daring, and other
things. I make things and chant stuff, and periodically
write about them.