The Heptameron, or Magical Elements, is a grimoire organized around the seven days of the week. It circulates under the name of Peter of Abano, although that attribution is disputed. Its title draws on Greek words for seven and day.[1]

Days and ritual conditions#

The text supplies angelic names and other correspondences for each day. It also gives names of seasons, winds, and hours that can be inserted into the ceremony. The magical circle is constructed with attention to the time of the operation, making the diagram a changing ritual setting rather than a single fixed decoration.[1]

Conjurations appeal to divine authority. The text's angelic hierarchy, prayers, and ritual preparations situate the work within a Christian magical world. The operator addresses spirits through names and powers believed to authorize their appearance.

Attribution and printed transmission#

The work was printed alongside material attributed to Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. That association contributed to its later circulation, but does not prove that Agrippa or Peter of Abano wrote it. Peterson's edition compares early printings and manuscript witnesses, showing differences that affect names and instructions.[1][2]

The Heptameron is frequently consulted in studies of Ceremonial magic because it offers a relatively compact operational structure. Its relation to the seven traditional planets also connects it with Planetary magic. Describing its procedures historically does not require treating the promised spirit appearances as established events.

See also#

References

  1. Heptameron, Joseph H. Peterson edition · Primary text with early printed and manuscript variants. (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩
  2. Pseudo-Agrippa, Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy · Related printed transmission; attribution to Agrippa is not accepted at face value. (accessed 2026-10-01) ↩
heptameronangelsplanetary magictexts

This encyclopedia covers traditions beyond the High Satanic Church. Church doctrine is identified as such when it appears.