If you’ve been paying attention, I talk about the Rosary quite a bit on this blog. Why? Because I’ve found the Rosary to be a complete system of magic and magical training.

In How to Pray the Rosary and Get Results, I went into more detail about the Rosary as a magical system than ever before, explaining pathworkings, troubleshooting for results, and even discussing how certain commonly-occurring prayer/magical intentions line up to certain Mysteries.

(Related Blog Post: How to Do Basic Rosary Magic)

Below I give the list from Appendix C of that book, coupled with images of the Mysteries for meditation.

This post was originally inspired by a question posted over at r/ChristianOccultism, asking about images for the 15 Mysteries, and also intended as a reference sheet for my upcoming class The Magic of the Rosary, coming soon!

[UPDATE (1/29/2020): In response to last night’s class, I have also added the planetary attributions I’ve associated with each of the Mysteries over time, along with the reasons for so doing. If you notices any differences from the attributions I gave in An Occult-ish Guide to the Rosary some 20+ years ago, that’s because I’m now speaking from the benefit of 20+ years in which to develop and refine my thinking.]

[UPDATE #2 (1/30/2020): This should be the last update, in which I’ve added a complete set of Scriptural Passages – Douay-Rheims Version, of course – and “Theurgic Meditations” for each of the Mysteries. These are the traditional meditations as given in My New Everyday Prayer Book (pages 36-42), with a summary of the Theurgic reflections added to the end.]

The Joyous Mysteries

(Related Blog Post: Theurgic Reflections for the Joyous Mysteries)

First Joyous Mystery: The Annunciation

Planetary Associations:
Luna (initiation)

Scriptural Passage: (Luke 1:35-38)
And the angel answering, said to Mary: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: Because no word shall be impossible with God.” And Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the angel Gabriel saluted our Blessed Lady with the title “Full of grace,” and declared unto her the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Beg of her to obtain for us the virtue of humility in imitation of our Lord, who lowered Himself in taking the form of a servant, that we may be better able to discern the voice of God in our lives and in all creation, and that our hubris may no longer get in the way of our perceptions.

Intentions: Learning the virtue of humility, discerning or strengths and shortcomings, finding ways toward new beginnings, speeding our intentions into manifestation.

Second Joyous Mystery: The Visitation

Planetary Associations:
Venus (relationships)

Scriptural Passage: (Luke 1:39-42)
And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the Blessed Virgin Mary, understanding from the angel that her cousin St. Elisabeth had conceived, went with haste into the mountains of Judea to visit her, bearing her Divine Son within her womb, and remained with her three months. Ask through the intercession of our Lady the Grace of perfect charity toward our neighbor, so that we may recognize who our neighbor is, where our neighbor is coming from, and how best to reach out to our neighbor.

Intentions: Learning the virtue of charity, manifesting prayers involving love, family, and relationships, business associations, romantic partnerships, awareness of the interconnections of all life.

Third Joyous Mystery: The Nativity

Planetary Associations:
Earth / Sublunary Sphere (materialization)

Scriptural Passage: (Luke 2:1-7)
And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the time of her delivery was come, brought forth our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, at midnight, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for Him in the inns at Bethlehem. Ask that we may be detached from all the things of earth in imitation of Him who was born in a stable for our sakes, that by so doing we may be loosed from whatever limitations the world would put upon us.

Intentions: Learning detachment without falling into derangement, learning to focusing one’s mind without becoming distracted, hastening the physical manifestation of necessities (money, food, etc.) to sustain one’s current physical condition, seeing what needs to be done in getting out of unfavorable situations, and working ourselves into a position where we have more control over our lives.

Fourth Joyous Mystery: The Presentation

Planetary Associations:
Jupiter (authority)

Scriptural Passage: (Luke 2:21-24)
And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb. And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: As it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:” and to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the day of her purification, presented the child Jesus in the Temple, where holy Simeon, giving thanks to God, with great devotion received Him into his arms. Like Mary, we should cultivate the virtue of obedience to the Divine Law, so that by understanding the Law of God, we may likewise transcend the law of Nature.

Intentions: Learning obedience to divine law, learning and application of the natural and social sciences, engineering, mechanical work, and so forth. By extension this Mystery can help us in matters of human law, authority relationships, and matters involving ethical or moral decisions.

Fifth Joyous Mystery: The Finding in the Temple

Planetary Associations:
Sol (enlightenment)
Mercury (knowledge)

Scriptural Passage: (Luke 2:41-47)
And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch, and when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast. And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day’s journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers.

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the Blessed Virgin Mary, after having lost (through no fault of hers) her beloved Son in Jerusalem, sought Him for the space of three days; and at length found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, disputing with them, being then but twelve years old. Ask that we may ever seek Jesus with our whole heart, and be converted totally, so that we may be filled with his Love, his Knowledge, and with his Power.

Intentions: Conversion to a deeper following of Christ, breaking away of ignorance in ourselves and others, opening our eyes to realize our proverbial “blind spots” and options for self-improvement, overcoming and/or healing our weaknesses (physical, mental, emotional), and for helping others come around to see our point of view.

(Related Blog Post: Why Don’t I Use the Luminous Mysteries)

The Sorrowful Mysteries

(Related Blog Post: Theurgic Reflections for the Sorrowful Mysteries)

First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden

Planetary Associations:
Mars (purification)
Jupiter (authority)

Scriptural Passage: (Matthew 26:36-39)
Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called Gethsemani; and he said to his disciples: “Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad. Then he saith to them: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with me.” And going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying, and saying: “My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus was so afflicted for us in the garden of Gethsemane, that His body was bathed in a bloody sweat, which ran trickling down in great drops to the ground. As our Lord submitted Himself to the will of His Father, ask that we also may obtain the grace of a perfect submission to the Divine Will, that our own will may dominate that of the spirits and of the world.

Intentions: Discovering and overcoming our own problems, confronting deep-seated issues keeping us from reaching our full potential, giving us courage to start a new task, overcoming competition or lawsuits when our cause is just, overcoming trust issues in ourselves and others, and finding the courage and energy to realize our full potential.

Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar

Planetary Associations:
Mars (purification)
Venus (physicality)

Scriptural Passage: (Mark 15:15-16)
And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the court of the palace, and they called together the whole band.

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ was most cruelly scourged in Pilate’s house for our sins, and let us beg the grace to gain control over our physical urges and passions, that we may better manifest our intentions on this physical plane.

Intentions: Gaining control over physical urges (sex, overeating, etc.), getting an unreciprocated admirer to back off, ending relationships that have gone on “past their expiration date,” finding one’s way out of an abusive situation.

Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns

Planetary Associations:
Mars (purification)
Sol (pride)

Scriptural Passage: (Matthew 27:27-29)
Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band; and stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: “Hail, king of the Jews.”

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how those cruel ministers of Satan plaited a crown of sharp thorns, most cruelly pressed it on the most sacred head of our Lord Jesus Christ, and saluted Him in derision as King of the Jews. Let us seek to gain control over our thoughts and emotions, and send pride flying from our being, that may better grasp the humility learned at the Annunciation, and likewise better manifest our intentions on the mental and astral planes.

Intentions: Learning to control our minds and emotions, finding peace within oneself, establishing peace within a community, encouraging people to work past their differences and objects of contention to cooperate as far as possible.

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross

Planetary Associations:
Saturn (patience, perseverance)

Scriptural Passage: (Mark 15:21-22)
And they forced one Simon a Cyrenian who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and of Rufus, to take up his cross. And they bring him into the place called Golgotha, which being interpreted is, “The place of Calvary.” [or, “Place of the Skull”]

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, being sentenced to die, bore with great patience the Cross, which was laid upon Him for His greater torment and ignominy. Let us ask for the grace to persevere in all our spiritual works, that we may find success therein and thereby.

Intentions: The virtue of perseverance, the strength and willpower to keep at something, patience, the will to see a project through to completion, empowerment in the ability to persevere. This Mystery can be useful especially to spiritual novices and entrepreneurs, and others whose goals involve sticking it out through long-range planning.

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion

Planetary Associations:
Mars (purification)
Saturn (death)

Scriptural Passage: (Luke 23:33-46)
And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there; and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And Jesus said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” But they, dividing his garments, cast lots. And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided him, saying: “He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the elect of God.” And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying: “If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.” And there was also a superscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of those robbers who were hanged, blasphemed him, saying: “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: “Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil.” And he said to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom.” And Jesus said to him: “Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.” And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” And saying this, he gave up the ghost.

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, being come to Mount Calvary, was stripped of His garments, and His hands and feet most cruelly nailed to the Cross, in the presence of his most afflicted Mother. As He prayed for His executioners, so let us forgive those who injure and persecute us, so that we ourselves may be forgiven and made pure.

Intentions: Letting go of our old selves, bringing an end to bad or no-longer-necessary circumstances in our lives, manifesting forgiveness as proper and necessary, and emptying out the old to make way for the new.

The Glorious Mysteries

(Related Blog Post: Theurgic Reflections for the Glorious Mysteries)

First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection

Planetary Associations:
Sol (enlightenment)

Scriptural Passage: (Luke 24:1-6a)
And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled back from the sepulchre. And going in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were astonished in their mind at this, behold, two men stood by them, in shining apparel. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their countenance towards the ground, they said unto them: “Why seek you the living with the dead? He is not here, but is risen.”

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, triumphing gloriously over death, rose again the third day, immortal and impassible. May we be ever steadfast in the profession and practice of our faith, of which this mystery is the foundation, so that we may overcome all obstacles that may be in our way.

Intentions: Learning to defend one’s faith (apologetics), protecting loved ones from being evangelized by people who want them to abandon their own beliefs, gaining constancy of will and works of renewal after a massive loss or a bad downturn, whether this renewal is needed in the sphere of love, business, health, or any other area of life.

Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension

Planetary Associations:
Sol (enlightenment)
Luna (next level of initiation)

Scriptural Passage: (Mark 16:19)
And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God.

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, for forty days after His resurrection, ascended into heaven, attended by angels, in the sight of His most holy Mother, His Apostles and disciples, to the great admiration of them all. Let us ask for an increase of the virtue of hope and ardent longing for Heaven, our true home, so that during this lifetime we may transcend the limitations of this physical plane.

Intentions: Bringing into one’s life an abundance of clarity and hope, gaining a big-picture view on a deeper level, best worked in conjunction with the Nativity and the Scourging.

Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Ghost

Planetary Associations:
Mars (power)
Sol (enlightenment)
Mercury (knowledge)

Scriptural Passage: (Acts 2:1-4)
And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ, being seated on the right hand of God, sent, as He had promised, the Holy Ghost upon His Apostles, who, after He was ascended, returning to Jerusalem, continued in prayer and supplication with the Blessed Virgin Mary, expecting the performance of His promise. Ask that we too may be filled with the Fire of the Holy Ghost, so that we may manifest our intentions with Wisdom, with Love, and with Power.

Intentions: Bringing about a heavy influx of Divine Power, Divine Love, understanding, self-transformation, can be useful in work involving social issues.

Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption

Planetary Associations:
Saturn (death)
Sol (happiness)

Scriptural Passage: (Luke 1:48-49)
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the glorious Virgin, twelve years after the resurrection of her Son, passed out of this world unto Him, and was by Him assumed into heaven, accompanied by the holy Angels. Let us every day beg our blessed Lady to obtain for us, when our hour has come, the grace of a happy death, so that as we contemplate reaching the next level of our spiritual journey, we become unshackled from all remaining limitations which hinder us in the here and now.

Intentions: Bringing a work towards its completion, protecting the work until it is completed, helping and applying our earned indulgences to deceased loved ones and the Poor Souls in Purgatory.

Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation

Planetary Associations:
Sphere of Fixed Stars (transcendence above all restrictions)
Saturn (end of the the current cycle)
Sol (conquest of light over darkness)
Venus (relationships, now on new level)

Scriptural Passage: (Apocalypse 12:1)
And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

Meditation: Let us contemplate, in this mystery, how the glorious Virgin Mary was, to the great jubilee and exultation of the whole court of heaven, and with particular glory of all the Saints, crowned by her Son with the brightest diadem of glory. May we be always found faithful to our baptismal promises, and in so doing obtain the crown which waits for us in Heaven, that when the time comes, we may assist others in the way the Saints assist us now.

Intentions: Manifesting justice, revealing those falsely accused and guilty parties who’ve been overlooked, establishing unity towards completing a purpose This Mystery can also be appealed in conjunction with the others to lend extra blessing to the work at hand.

The astute reader will notice that the Mysteries’ intentions work both on an individual level and on a social level, in tandem with Catholic Mysticism’s conceptions of both the Contemplative Life and the Active Life involving private spirituality and public action, respectively. In addition to these (and in accordance with Catholicism’s preference for the both/and approach) is the Mixed Life which combines both active and contemplative, and is said to be more perfect than both:

From Devine’s Manual of Mystical Theology, page 23. A seminary textbook from the 1920s.

For more information on the Rosary, please check out the related blog posts linked above, and also my books We Pray the Rosary, The Occult-ish Guide to the Rosary, and How to Pray the Rosary and Get Results, all available at the Books Page.

To learn more about the Magic of the Rosary class, please check out the preview video below!