The Olympic Spirits are a fascinating group of spiritual creatures, who Sorita and I discussed in our book Practical Planetary Magick.
“They are called Olympic Spirits, or Spirits of Olympus, which Inhabit in the Firmament, and in the Stars thereof, whose Office is to Declare the Fate and Destiny of Mortals, and to Administer Several other Matters and Things concerning our Terrestrial affairs; and to Teach and Declare those Things that the Stars to which every one is appointed, portendeth and Signifieth, according to the Doctrine of Astronomy and Astrology, wherein the Offices of the Olympic Spirits is most elegantly Set forth”
This description of the Olympic Spirits in Rawlinson D1363 gives an indication of their exalted nature. They are not simple spirits, but stellar governors who rule vast legions of spirits. The best way to describe them is probably as “planetary governors”, as the earliest reference to them in the Arbatel of Magick refers to them in reference to governments and ruling provinces:
“There are seven different governments of the Spirits of Olympus, by whom God hath appointed the whole frame and universe of this world to be governed.”
The nearest spiritual creatures to which the Olympic Spirits could thus be compared are the archangels. Like the archangels they have a degree of autonomy, as seen by reference to their appearance. It is interesting to observe that unlike archangels which are considered to be made of the highest aspect of air, the Olympic Spirits are comprised of a balance of the four elements, indicating a much more physical sphere of influence. This is an extremely important distinction, as all the spiritual creatures described from Hebrew sources, such as archangels, angels and demons, they are all composed of a single element, usually air.
“These Seven Imperial Princes, or Spiritual Governors, with their Hosts, are in all the four Elements, and do move with the equal Motion of the Firmament, and the Inferiors do always Depend upon, and are Servient to the Superiors”
