For Thabit Ibn Qurra, 9th century Harranian Sabian sage, there was no point in trying to gain any sort of knowledge without mastering “the science of images,” what we now call astrological image magic. An “image” or talisman, aka a pendant or small sculpture made of wax or metal was created at a significant astrological time for a specific purpose. Thanks to them, celestial influences would be called down to work in your favor. For instance to “obtain favor of the king,” to “get two people to hate each other” but also to acquire wealth and get rid of a plague of scorpions. 

But now the screen has replaced the sky as that magical place we cannot help but gaze at in search for meaning and guidance. Algorithms have become the cosmic mysteries that hold the key to understanding ourselves. Moscow Hotel is Sick of Your Tears by Ruba Al-Sweel connects our contemporary physical and spiritual enmeshment with tech to a collage of ancient, esoteric knowledge and those who attempt to revive it, from the self-help inspired presidential campaign of Marianne Williamson to YouTube female Islamic scholars and TikTok palm readers. Could it be possible to use these disparate yet connected influences to reawaken a belief in that which was previously inconceivable, such as a world with no war?