Astiro is a spirit or angelic intelligence whose name likely derives from a Hebrew or Aramaic root meaning 'to bind' or 'to tie.' This etymology suggests a function of connection, constraint, or the linking of disparate forces—a role appropriate to its position on the Tree of Life.

Position on the Tree of Life

Astiro corresponds to Path 28, the twenty-eighth path of the Qabalistic Tree. This path connects the sephirah Hod (Splendor) to Netzach (Victory), traversing the lower astral realms. It is a path of intellectual and emotional synthesis, where the rigid forms of reason (Hod) are harmonized with the fluid energies of emotion (Netzach). Astiro, as the intelligence of this path, governs the binding together of these opposing principles into a coherent whole.

Astrological and planetary correspondence

In the system of Liber 777, the 28th Path is associated with the planet Mercury in its more esoteric and binding aspect. Mercury, as the messenger and connector, aligns with Astiro's function of tying together disparate elements. This is not the swift, mercurial communication of common astrology, but rather the alchemical binding of spirit and matter, or the linking of the conscious and subconscious minds.

Historical context

Astiro appears in the grimoire tradition, specifically within the Lemegeton (or Lesser Key of Solomon), where it is listed among the spirits of the Goetia. In that context, it is a spirit that can 'bind' or 'tie' things, including the thoughts and actions of others. This binding power is not necessarily malevolent; it can be used to create oaths, enforce contracts, or stabilize volatile situations. The name Astiro also appears in the Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, where it is listed as one of the 'evil spirits' to be controlled by the magician. In the Qabalistic reinterpretation of these grimoires by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Astiro was elevated to a more neutral or even beneficial role as an angelic intelligence of the 28th Path, its binding power seen as a necessary force for cosmic order and magical stability.

In the table of Liber 777, Astiro appears at the 28th step (Path 28) in the column corresponding to the Succendent (the 'successor' or 'follower' spirits). This placement indicates that Astiro is a spirit that follows or succeeds the primary forces of the path, acting as a secondary or supportive intelligence. Its function is to bind and stabilize the energies of the path, ensuring that the synthesis of Hod and Netzach is not chaotic but orderly and productive. As such, Astiro is a key figure for any magical working that requires the harmonization of reason and emotion, or the creation of stable connections between different planes of existence.