The Tables of Fate

The Tables of Fate are made up of the seven magic squares of the planets. Together they make a divinatory game which we are going to introduce you to. These Tables of Fate illustrate how popular divinatory arts have been since the beginning of time. We do not know very precisely where they originated, but their principle – which is based simultaneously on geomancy, astrology, the science and symbolism of the numbers of the Cabbala, and daily divination – would make us believe that they were perfected by people who had access to all these divinatory sciences and made a compilation of them. They were then made available to everyone so that each person could go and consult the oracle himself.

You will probably not find evidence of the existence of such practices in history books. Historians often have the ability to blot out the things which, according to them, seemed to be devoid of interest for us. But it is known that the Tables of Fate were highly prized by ordinary people and even by the court of King Louis XIII and by Queen Anne of Austria, in the first half of the 17th century. Little booklets containing the Tables of Fate, printed by publishers and booksellers, were then added to the annual almanacs or sold in the streets and markets, for the benefit of those who wished to consult the oracles without having to resort to an astrologer or a soothsayer.

They are found again in the middle of the 19th century, when they experienced a revival in popularity, particularly in the political and society salons of the Second Empire. However, their origin is most probably much older, because they draw their inspiration mainly from astrology, the Cabbala, and arithmomancy. In fact, there are seven of them, like the planets of the zodiac, rulers of the twelve signs, and their chronology is founded on the heavenly hierarchy of the planets. In the same way, these Tables of Fate, shown in the form of squares, correspond to the famous magic squares of the planets. On the other hand, the consulting of this oracle is inspired by the rituals used in geomancy, which you will discover later on.

History and principles of the seven magic squares

It is very probably the Chaldean priests who drew attention to the magic squares ascribed to the planets. Nowadays they are thought of as mathematical games. In fact, the sum of the numbers in each vertical, horizontal, and diagonal line of these squares is always equal. With the help of these magic, mathematical squares, which we call Tables of Fate, the Chaldean priests were in a position to decode and interpret the meaning of mythical or historical Biblical stories, by using, of course, the number-letter code of the Hebrew alphabet, on which all the philosophy of the Cabbala is based. Starting with the symbolic figures of these magic squares, the Cabbalists of the Middle Ages and those of the Renaissance, who were Christians, put together talismans. Astrologers and alchemists often used them in their work, as well.

There is a definite similarity between the principle behind this magic square, which is a product of our Judeo-Christian culture, and the Indian or Tibetan mandala, which is made up of the symbols of the cosmic forces, sometimes shown inside circles but more often within squares. Both played, and still do play, a significant role in meditation, especially in Tibetan Buddhism. Following the example of the Tibetan Lama, the Chaldean priest used the magic squares of the seven planets as instruments for research and meditation, in order to develop his powers of perception and his intellect and to gather together all the original, essential, prerequisite components of life, with the aim of having a unified spiritual order.

Astrologers and alchemists of the Middle Ages, and especially those of the Renaissance, followed the same procedure. That’s how, initially, magic, divination, awareness, science, and spirituality merged together in search of the same thing and were built on a common base. Nowadays, of course, we find it difficult to imagine that science co-existed with magic and divination. However, by bringing these Tables into line with current thinking, you can revive this important principle of initiation.

The seven magic squares or Tables of Fate

The square of Saturn. The magic square of Saturn is divided into 9 cells. The sum of the numbers in the vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines is a constant of 15. The total of all the numbers set out in the cells of this square is 45. The numbers assigned to Saturn are 9, 15, and 45.

The square of Venus. The magic square of Venus is divided into 49 cells. The sum of the numbers in the vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines is a constant of 175. The total of all the numbers present in this magic square is 1,225. So the numbers 49, 175, and 1,225 are assigned to Venus.

The square of Jupiter. The magic square of Jupiter is divided into 16 cells. The sum of the numbers is the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines is a constant of 34. The total of all these numbers is 136. The numbers 16, 34, and 136 are assigned to Jupiter.

The square of Mercury. The magic square of Mercury is made up of 64 cells. the sum of the numbers in the vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines is a constant of 260. the total of the numbers in this square is 2,080. 64, 260, and 2,080 are assigned to Mercury.

The square of Mars. The magic square of Mars is divided into 25 cells. The sum of the numbers in the vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines is a constant of 65. The total of the numbers shown in this square is 325. So, the numbers assigned to Mars are 25, 65, and 325.

The square of the Moon. The magic square of the Moon contains 81 cells. The sum of the numbers in the vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines is a constant of 369. The total of the numbers which make up this square is 3,321. Therefore, 81, 369, and 3,321 are the numbers assigned to the Moon.

The square of the Sun. The magic square of the Sun consists of 36 cells. The sum of the numbers of the vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines is a constant of 111. The total of the numbers inscribed in this square is 666. The numbers assigned to the Sun are, therefore, 36, 111, and 666.