Phul is the Olympic planetary spirit of the Moon, a name derived from the Greek phōs (light) or possibly a variant of the Hebrew Pul, meaning “wonderful” or “strong.” In the Arbatel of Magic, a 16th-century grimoire, Phul is one of the seven Olympic Spirits who rule over the celestial spheres, each governing a specific planet’s influences and legions of spirits.

Position on the Tree of Life

Phul corresponds to Path 13 on the Tree of Life, the path connecting Yesod (Foundation) to Tiphareth (Beauty). This path is associated with the Moon and the Hebrew letter Gimel, symbolizing the camel’s journey across the desert—a metaphor for the soul’s passage through the lunar sphere toward the solar center. As the spirit of this path, Phul governs the reflective, receptive, and transformative energies of the Moon, bridging the subconscious (Yesod) and the conscious self (Tiphareth).

Astrological and planetary correspondence

Phul is the Olympic spirit of the Moon, embodying its astrological qualities: changeability, intuition, fertility, and the tides of emotion. In the Olympic system, each spirit rules a specific planetary sphere, and Phul’s domain includes all lunar influences—dreams, magic, travel, and the hidden currents of nature. The Moon’s phases are central to Phul’s power, with the full moon being a time of heightened efficacy for works of divination, love, and illusion.

Historical context

The Arbatel of Magic, first published in Latin in 1575, is the primary source for the Olympic Spirits. It describes Phul as ruling over the Moon and commanding 40,000 spirits, with a seal and character used to invoke his aid. The Arbatel emphasizes ethical use of these spirits, warning against frivolous or harmful requests. Phul appears in later occult works, such as the Lemegeton and The Magus by Francis Barrett (1801), where he is listed among the spirits of the Moon. In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Phul was incorporated into the system of correspondences in Liber 777, where he is assigned to Path 13, linking him to the lunar current in the Qabalistic Tree of Life.

In the table of Liber 777, Phul appears at step 13 (Path 13) under the column of Olympic Planetary Spirits, corresponding to the Moon. His presence here aligns with the lunar path of Gimel, reinforcing his role as a guide through the mysteries of the night and the subconscious.