This was made to help me understand planetary correspondences in accordance with the medieval Arbatel de magia veterum (Arbatel of Planetary Magick). I wanted to create a diagram that put everything I know on the subject into one unified image, but I discovered a few unexpected surprises while creating it. The baseline of the diagram is based upon the planetary order sequence derived from the Chaldean order of the planets, and the arrangement of operations echoes the alchemical image of Azoth, where there are seven points, each associated with a planet, and each point represents a letter in the alchemical acronym V.I.T.R.I.O.L., which means, “Visit the interior of the earth and by doing so you will rectify the hidden stone.” This medieval phrase alludes to the Philosopher’s Stone, the mysterious process that turns matter into gold. This can be taken both literally or allegorically. In this diagram, it is meant to represent a spiritual stone.

Classically, VITRIOL maps a progressive spiritual ascent from matter to spirit, which you see in many vertical systems such as Kabbalah or the chakra system. In this diagram, each planet is assigned a unique corresponding color, which you can simply match to the planet by referring to the planet glyph next to it. Each planet has seven correspondence categories. Those categories are as follows:

1. Classic Metal
2. Archangel
3. Goetic Spirit
4. Olympian Spirit
5. Planetary Spirit
6. Hebrew double letter
7. Planetary Intelligence

For each planet, Metal will always point to the nature of Saturn, Archangels to Jupiter, Goetic Spirits to Mars, Olympian Spirits to the Sun, Planetary Spirits to Venus, Hebrew double letters to Mercury, and Planetary Intelligence to the Moon. Within each correspondence category there are seven unique identifiers, totaling forty nine unique correspondences, which make up the seven planetary circles.

At the center lies the purest expression of the seven planetary circles, placed into a master circle to represent the seven planets collectively. Lead for Saturn represents its Metal correspondence, Sachiel for Jupiter represents its Archangel expression, Asmoday for Mars represents its Goetic expression, Och for the Sun represents the Olympian Spirit, Kedemel for Venus represents the Planetary Spirit, the Hebrew letter Beth for Mercury represents the Hebrew double letter, and Malcha for the Moon represents the Planetary Intelligence.

The left side of the diagram, with the Sun being in the middle, represents Active or Masculine principles, comprising Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. The right side represents Passive or Feminine principles, comprising the Moon, Mercury, and Venus, with the Sun acting as the bridge that harmonizes the two opposites.

The diagram can also be broken down into the four worlds of Kabbalah, which can be equated to the four elements, each with an active or passive principle representing each world. Those correspondences are as follows: Saturn and Moon represent Assiah or Earth, Jupiter and Mercury represent Yetzirah or Air, Mars and Venus represent Briah or Water, and the Sun represents Atziluth or Fire. If we include the five elements of the pentagram, the fifth world of Spirit would be at the center, bridging Assiah and Yetzirah with Briah and Atziluth. More appropriately, this is where the Veil of Paroketh would sit on the Kabbalah Tree of Life.

The diagram can also be broken down into the seven directions of Kabbalah mentioned in the Sefer Yetzirah, the Book of Formation: Jupiter to East, Saturn to South, Moon to West, Mercury to North, Mars to Above, Venus to Below, and the Sun to Center. In addition, we can look at Mars, Venus, and the Sun as the planetary equivalents of the Tria Prima: Mercury to the Sun, Sulphur to Mars, and Salt to Venus.

This diagram shows two three step paths to the source. On the left side is a path of ascent, from matter to spirit, while on the right side is a path of descent, from spirit to matter. Earlier I mentioned forty nine unique correspondences. This also aligns with the forty nine angelic intelligences of Enochian magick, a branch of magick transmitted by occultist John Dee.

The seven colors pertain to the seven colors of the color spectrum, with Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars representing lower frequency and being the densest energetically speaking, and the Moon, Mercury, and Venus representing higher frequency, corresponding to aetheric energies. Simply put, this is Red, Green, and Blue light (RGB) simplified. RGB light, when refracted, splits into every color of the rainbow, with white (pure light) at the center.

Each planet can also be likened to the seven Hindu chakra system, with Saturn representing Muladhara, Jupiter representing Svadhisthana, Mars representing Manipura, the Sun representing Anahata, Venus representing Vishuddha, Mercury representing Ajna, and the Moon representing Sahasrara. In this diagram we also see the echo of the three channels of the chakra system, Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna, as well as the three pillars of the Kabbalah Tree of Life, which naturally fall into place alongside other systems that depict correspondences of three.

If you have anything you’d like to add or have any questions, let me know. I’m always open to honest critique and respectful, constructive criticism.