58. Amy: a president of the Ars Goetia

How to read the labels Historical what the old sources say. Later tradition what later writers added. Modern modern practice and my own notes.

Amy is number 58 in the catalog of 72 spirits that opens the Lesser Key of Solomon. The 1904 edition by S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley calls him a president ruling 36 legions, and the first office it gives him is this: Amy makes one “Wonderful Knowing in Astrology and all the Liberal Sciences.”

He appears as a flame and teaches astrology, one of the plainest teaching entries in the book. Each part below carries a label for its layer, explained in how to read a spirit page.

At a glance

The 1904 entry

Historical The full entry from the 1904 edition, with footnote numbers and the dash after the heading left out and the heading set in ordinary type:

Amy, or Avnas. The Fifty-eighth Spirit is Amy, or Avnas. He is a Great President, and appeareth at first in the Form of a Flaming Fire; but after a while he putteth on the Shape of a Man. His office is to make one Wonderful Knowing in Astrology and all the Liberal Sciences. He giveth Good Familiars, and can bewray Treasure that is kept by Spirits. He governeth 36 Legions of Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc.

Amy appears “at first in the Form of a Flaming Fire” and then as a man. His office is “to make one Wonderful Knowing in Astrology and all the Liberal Sciences”. Mathers flagged “Wonderful Knowing” with the note “Thus in the actual Text”, keeping the odd grammar. He gives “Good Familiars” and “can bewray Treasure that is kept by Spirits”. “Bewray” means reveal or betray.

Appearance

Historical Amy appears “at first in the Form of a Flaming Fire; but after a while he putteth on the Shape of a Man.”

Offices in the Ars Goetia

Historical The offices of Amy, in the order the 1904 text gives them:

• Makes one “Wonderful Knowing in Astrology and all the Liberal Sciences.”
• Gives good familiars.
• Can betray treasure kept by spirits.

Source comparison: Weyer and Scot

Historical Weyer, in Scot’s English, gives “Amy” as “a great president,” who “appeareth in a flame of fier,” and in man’s shape “maketh one marvelous in astrologie, and in all the liberall sciences.”

He procures excellent familiars and “bewraieth treasures preserved by spirits.” Weyer adds that he “is partlie of the order of angels, partlie of potestats,” and hopes to return after 1,200 years, details the Goetia omits. Both give 36 legions.

Historical Weyer’s Latin is “apparet in flamma ignea”, he appears in a fiery flame, and he makes a man “admirabilem in astrologia”. The treasures are “à spiritibus custoditos”, guarded by spirits. Weyer’s comment on his hope of the seventh throne is blunt: “quod credibile non est”, which is not believable. (About Weyer and Scot.)

Name and etymology

Historical The 1904 text gives Amy or Avnas; Weyer and Scot have Amy only. No meaning is known.

Seal and images

Historical The seal above is Amy’s as printed in 1904, and by the rules of the Observations it would be made in mercury, the metal of his rank. Mercury is toxic, so a modern copy belongs on paper. Why seals were worn, why editions draw them differently and how to study one are explained in seals, circle and triangle.

Later tradition and modern practice

Later tradition No later demonology adds much to Amy’s entry.

Modern Amy is often recommended in modern writing to students of astrology. The flame form has led some to associate Amy with fire and inspiration.

Lore about Amy’s personality, likes or chosen people is modern, not grimoire material; modern approaches explains where such claims come from.

Beginner’s quick reference

Before you burn or handle anything listed for Amy, read incense, plants and offerings.

Practical notes

Amy fits the beginner criteria well. He is a president, and his main offices are astrology and the liberal sciences. A question about your study of astrology would suit a first contact.

In the directory, Amy is one of the 30 spirits that fit the beginner criteria.

Try this: one question to study

Weyer ends Amy’s entry with “quod credibile non est”. Find the other spirits whose hope of the seventh throne Weyer doubts, such as Focalor (41).

What next

To compare Amy with other spirits of his rank, read Ose and Volac.

Later tradition In the Golden Dawn scheme of the decans, Amy is the night spirit of the first decan of Scorpio, which belongs to the Five of Cups; the day spirit of the same decan is Ipos (spirit 22).