The Second Pentacle of Mercury is one of the most enigmatic pentacles in the Solomonic corpus. Unlike many pentacles that are tied to a more clearly defined purpose—such as protection, knowledge, eloquence, or opening obstacles—this one is described in strikingly unusual terms.
In the classic Mathers presentation of the Key of Solomon, the pentacle is said to work through spirits that “bring to effect and to grant things which are contrary unto the order of Nature; and which are not contained under any other head.” The same description adds that these spirits “easily give answer, but they can with difficulty be seen.”
This makes the Second Pentacle of Mercury highly distinctive. Rather than being a simple “wish talisman,” it is better understood as a Mercurial seal for exceptional cases—a pentacle for unusual situations, subtle solutions, hidden pathways, and problems that do not fit neatly into ordinary magical categories.
What Is the Second Pentacle of Mercury?
Traditionally, the Second Pentacle of Mercury is a Solomonic pentacle whose letters are said to form the names of Böel (Boel) and other spirits associated with Mercury. Unlike some other pentacles, its common summary does not foreground a specific Psalm or Biblical versicle in the way many others do. Instead, its power is described primarily through its operational effect and its associated spirits.
This already tells us something important: the Second Pentacle of Mercury is a spirit-forward pentacle, not primarily a verse-forward one.
In modern interpretive language, Sara L. Mastros gives this pentacle the nontraditional title “The Seal of Lost Causes.” While that is not a historical name, it is an unusually apt summary of the pentacle’s classical function.
Traditional Meaning of the Second Pentacle of Mercury
The classical description is brief but unusually powerful:
“The Spirits herein written serve to bring to effect and to grant things which are contrary unto the order of Nature; and which are not contained under any other head. They easily give answer, but they can with difficulty be seen.”
This description suggests three major themes:
1. Exceptional or improbable outcomes
The pentacle is linked to results that appear highly unlikely, difficult, or beyond ordinary expectation.
2. Matters not contained under any other head
This is perhaps the most important phrase. It implies that the pentacle belongs to a category of special cases, edge cases, or uncategorizable operations—situations that do not clearly fall under another pentacle’s more obvious purpose.
3. Subtle answers rather than dramatic manifestation
The spirits associated with the pentacle are said to “easily give answer,” yet they are “with difficulty” seen. This points toward quiet responses, subtle guidance, omens, dreams, unexpected leads, and Mercurial insight rather than theatrical spirit appearances.
In practical terms, the Second Pentacle of Mercury is best understood as a talisman for hidden possibilities—especially when the path forward is unclear or when no ordinary method seems sufficient.
Second Pentacle of Mercury Meaning in Modern Practice
In a modern magical context, the Second Pentacle of Mercury is often best approached as a pentacle for lost causes, difficult situations, and hidden openings.
That does not mean it should be treated as a blank-check talisman or a magical substitute for every other pentacle. Instead, it is most appropriate when:
- a situation feels blocked, but not fully dead
- ordinary methods have failed
- the request does not fit a clear planetary category
- the operator needs an unusual path, loophole, or hidden angle
- answers are needed through subtle signs rather than force
Some modern derivative material frames the pentacle as useful for “wishes that seem to go against the laws of nature” and for finding information not easily available. That reading is compatible with the classical text, but should be treated as a secondary modern paraphrase rather than the primary historical basis.
Best Uses of the Second Pentacle of Mercury
1. Lost causes and dead-end situations
This is the most compelling modern use. When a matter appears blocked, improbable, or beyond ordinary recovery, this pentacle can be approached as a Mercurial seal of hidden options.
2. Problems that do not fit another pentacle
The phrase “not contained under any other head” makes this pentacle especially suitable for hybrid situations—cases involving multiple overlapping needs, unclear classifications, or requests that do not fit neatly into love, money, protection, knowledge, or reconciliation.
3. Subtle answers and indirect guidance
Because the spirits are said to “easily give answer” but are difficult to see, the pentacle may be particularly well suited to:
- symbolic dreams
- unusual synchronicities
- sudden insights
- unexpected communications
- quiet but decisive turns of events
4. Hidden openings and Mercurial loopholes
Mercury is the planet of mediation, adaptability, thresholds, and intelligence. In that sense, the Second Pentacle of Mercury can be seen as the pentacle of:
- the unexpected opening
- the unanticipated workaround
- the answer that comes sideways
- the path no one first noticed
What the Second Pentacle of Mercury Is Not
Because its wording is so unusual, this pentacle is easy to misunderstand.
It is not best treated as:
- a generic manifestation talisman
- a “make anything happen” seal
- a replacement for all other Mercury pentacles
- a pure knowledge pentacle (that role belongs more naturally to the Fourth Pentacle of Mercury)
- a pure writing or eloquence pentacle (more aligned with the Third Pentacle of Mercury)
- a pure opening-doors pentacle (more aligned with the Fifth Pentacle of Mercury)
The Second Pentacle of Mercury is better understood as the pentacle for exceptional cases—not for ordinary use, but for those situations where the usual categories fail.
The Spirits of the Second Pentacle of Mercury
The classical editorial note says that the letters of the pentacle form the names of Böel (Boel) and other spirits. This is one of the few details explicitly given in the standard summary.
Because the available summary does not clearly list every spirit name in this pentacle, it is best to avoid overconfident reconstruction unless working directly from a high-resolution manuscript or carefully prepared facsimile. For LivingTalismans purposes, the most responsible approach is simple:
- acknowledge Böel / Boel
- note the presence of other spirits
- avoid speculative etymologies unless directly verified
This keeps the interpretation grounded in the textual tradition rather than inflated by guesswork.
Second Pentacle of Mercury as “The Seal of Lost Causes”
Although the historical pentacle is not traditionally named this way, Sara L. Mastros’s modern title—“The Seal of Lost Causes”—is one of the most elegant modern summaries available.
It works because it captures the spirit of the classical description:
- results that seem improbable
- matters outside ordinary categories
- answers that arrive through subtle channels
- hidden possibilities where no obvious route exists
For that reason, “lost causes” is a useful modern interpretive lens, so long as it is clearly presented as such—not as a historical manuscript title.
Spiritual Character of the Second Pentacle of Mercury
The deeper magical tone of this pentacle is not loud, fiery, or forceful. It is Mercurial in the highest sense:
- liminal
- intelligent
- adaptive
- elusive
- precise
- responsive without spectacle
This is a pentacle of quiet intervention, not dramatic display.
A good way to understand it is this:
The First Pentacle of Mercury calls the spirits.
The Second Pentacle of Mercury handles the cases no ordinary method can solve.
That is not a manuscript quote, but it expresses the pentacle’s place in the Mercury sequence beautifully.
Warnings and Shadow Side
The shadow of the Second Pentacle of Mercury is subtle and important.
Because it is associated with exceptional cases, it can tempt the operator into:
- wishful thinking
- magical rationalization
- chasing loopholes endlessly
- mistaking fantasy for guidance
- treating every closed door as if it must hide a secret opening
In that sense, the danger of this pentacle is not simply deception. It is Mercurial overreach: trying to turn discernment into cleverness, and cleverness into denial.
A mature approach uses the pentacle for:
- clarity in unusual situations
- refined timing
- unexpected but plausible openings
- subtle, intelligent response
Not for:
- magical entitlement
- bypassing all limits
- forcing the impossible at any cost
Final Interpretation
The Second Pentacle of Mercury is one of the most refined pentacles in the Solomonic tradition. Its classical wording places it in a category almost of its own: a pentacle for improbable outcomes, unusual petitions, subtle answers, and matters that do not fit ordinary headings.
For modern practitioners, it is best understood as:
a Solomonic Mercury pentacle for lost causes, hidden paths, and exceptional cases where no ordinary method seems to apply.
Or, more simply:
When no category fits, Mercury finds the hidden path.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Traditionally, the Second Pentacle of Mercury is said to bring about results “contrary unto the order of Nature” and in matters “not contained under any other head,” making it especially suitable for unusual, difficult, or uncategorizable cases.
Historically, the pentacle is not given that title in the classical text. However, the phrase “The Seal of Lost Causes” is a strong modern interpretive name used by Sara L. Mastros, and it fits the traditional description remarkably well.
In your current quick-reference library, the Second Pentacle of Mercury is not foregrounded by a specific Psalm entry in the same way many other pentacles are. Instead, it is primarily described through its associated spirits and its unusual function.
The standard editorial note says the letters form the names of Böel (Boel) and other spirits. Without a direct manuscript-level extraction of every character, it is best not to overstate the full list.
Only secondarily. Some modern practical guides suggest it can help with hard-to-access information, but the Fourth Pentacle of Mercury is the more explicit Mercury pentacle for knowledge, hidden things, and spirit embassies.
