Old Magic

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The Almadel is composed of four Altitudes, or “Choras,” each of which corresponds to a unique set of angels with different domains. The text provides the names of the angels of each Chora (Gelomiros and Aphiriza, for example), the proper way to direct your requests to them (ask only what is “just and lawful”), and the best calendar dates for invoking them. The earliest known written magical incantations come from ancient Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), where they have been found inscribed on cuneiform clay tablets that archaeologists excavated from the city of Uruk and dated to between the 5th and 4th centuries BC. [7] The ancient Egyptians also employed magical incantations, which have been found inscribed on amulets and other items. The Egyptian magical system, known as heka, was greatly altered and expanded after the Macedonians, led by Alexander the Great, invaded Egypt in 332 BC. [8] In Christendom, there also began to develop a widespread fear of witchcraft, which was believed to be Satanic in nature. The subsequent hysteria, known as The Witch-hunts, caused the death of around 40,000 people, most of whom were women. [38] Sometimes, those found with grimoires—particularly demonological ones—were prosecuted and dealt with as witches but, in most cases, those accused had no access to such books. Iceland—which had a relatively high literacy rate—proved an exception to this, with a third of the 134 witch trials held involving people who had owned grimoires. [39] By the end of the Early Modern period, and the beginning of the Enlightenment, many European governments brought in laws prohibiting many superstitious beliefs in an attempt to bring an end to the Witch Hunts; this would invariably affect the release of grimoires.

Beginning in the 17th century, a new, ephemeral form of printed literature developed in France; the Bibliothèque bleue. Many grimoires published through this circulated among a growing percentage [ citation needed] of the populace; in particular, the Grand Albert, the Petit Albert (1782), the Grimoire du Pape Honorius, and the Enchiridion Leonis Papae. The Petit Albert contained a wide variety of magic; for instance, dealing in simple charms for ailments, along with more complex things, such as the instructions for making a Hand of Glory. [43]

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But believe me my friends as a person who knows a little about this subject, “ THERE’S ALWAYS A BIG PRICE FOR WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR” and such things never come for good just to help you!! I enjoyed The Old Magic of Christmas: Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year immensely, for such a small book it was filled with fascinating history, not to mention crafts and recipes from long ago. History such as The pagan Norse, beginning their winter celebrations in October with the Alfablot, or feast of the elves, where wild riders could be seen from November until the end of the 12 nights of Christmas. Yuletides of old were not the bright and shiny festivals of consumerism they are today. They were the seasons of long dark nights, when even darker things prowled beyond the threshold and would venture inside if the correct wardings were not in place. The Greeks had their own form of magic, which was close to a religion, known as Theurgy (the practice of rituals, often seen as magical in nature, performed with the intention of invoking the action of the gods, especially with the goal of uniting with the divine and perfecting oneself). The Book of Abramelin the Mage was written as an epistolary novel or autobiography of a person known as Abraham of Worms. Abraham was a German Jew believed to have lived between the 14th and 15th centuries. The Book of Abramelin the Mage involves the passing of Abraham’s magical and Kabbalistic knowledge to his son, Lamech, and relates the story of how he first acquired such knowledge. a b Davies, Owen (4 April 2008). "Owen Davies's top 10 grimoires". The Guardian . Retrieved 8 April 2009.

There’s many many things to say about magic , voodoo &…. but never the less, although there could be powers with spells and magic acts and most people think like;(ok, what’s the bad thing if i be able to use the power for good!) As long as humanity has had beliefs in a higher power, the use of magic, spells, curses, and incantations have featured widely across cultures. A number of influential texts or ‘grimoires’ (textbooks of magic) were developed over the centuries, many of which became the books of choice for secret societies and occult organizations that endured well into the twentieth century. Here we feature five manuscripts that provide a fascinating window into the magic of the ancients. The Book of Abramelin the Mage, Esoteric Grimoire of Kabbalistic Knowledge Israelite King Solomon was a Biblical figure associated with magic and sorcery in the ancient world. The 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian Josephus mentioned a book circulating under the name of Solomon that contained incantations for summoning demons and described how a Jew called Eleazar used it to cure cases of possession. The book may have been the Testament of Solomon but was more probably a different work. [11] The pseudepigraphic Testament of Solomon is one of the oldest magical texts. It is a Greek manuscript attributed to Solomon and was likely written in either Babylonia or Egypt sometime in the first five centuries AD; over 1,000 years after Solomon's death. Hsia, R. Po-chia (15 April 2008). A Companion to the Reformation World. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-7865-5.The content of all comments is released into the public domain unless clearly stated otherwise. The Library of Congress does not control the content posted. Do You Have the Magic Touch? Chicago Library Appeals to Public for Help Transcribing Magical Manuscripts Those who practice liberal arts, such as arithmetic, geometry, and philosophy, are promised a mastery of their subject if they devote themselves to the Ars Notoria. Within, it describes a daily process of visualization, contemplation, and orations, intended to enhance the practitioner’s focus and memory. Western beliefs about witchcraft grew largely out of the mythologies and folklore of ancient peoples, especially the Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans.

The focus of the Arbatel is on nature, and the natural relationships between humanity and a celestial hierarchy. It centers on the positive relationships between the celestial world and humans, and the interactions between the two. The Arbatel was an extremely influential work for its time. I know some witches shy away from learning anything about the Witch Trials from the past, but for me, it’s fascinating and completely engrossing. Even when the authors are speaking negatively about witchcraft and witches in general, there’s still a lot to be learned and gleaned from these books. In fact, I let some of the topics like familiars, shapeshifting, and flying ointments inspire my current practice. I don’t shy away from witchcraft’s shadows. I embrace ALL of the craft and learn from it. You should too. More Old Witchcraft Books on Spells, Folk Magic, and Folklore The materials in the papyri date from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. The manuscripts came to light through the antiquities trade, from the 18th century onwards. Indeed, the Arbatel is both broadly and deeply rooted in classical culture including Ancient Greek philosophy, the Sibylline oracles, and Plotinus in addition to the contemporaneous theology and occult philosophy of figures such as Iovianus Pontanus and Johannes Trithemius. One of the highlights of this grimoire is an elaborate ritual known as the ‘Abramelin Operation’, which is said to enable a mage to gain the ‘knowledge and conversation’ of his ‘guardian angel’ and to bind demons.The magical papyri include instructions on how to summon a headless demon, open doors to the underworld and, protect yourself from wild beasts. Perhaps most tantalizing of all they describe how to summon a supernatural being an entity from another world who does whatever you desire.

Many of those [in Ephesus] who believed [in Christianity] now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practised sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power." In many ways, Arbatel is unique among texts on magic. Unlike the vast majority of writings, it is clear, concise, and elegantly written. The practical instructions are straightforward and undemanding. A highly controversial book written in 1899 by Charles Godfrey Leland, Aradia: Gospel of the Witches is a sacred witchcraft text detailing the uprising of Italian peasants. And how they overthrew their oppressors with the aid of witchcraft and an incarnate goddess named Aradia. I say it’s controversial because scholars debate its authenticity, as do modern witches and pagans who have read the book. However, I feel it’s an empowering and beautiful read whether or not the historical fact is there. 9. Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry by William Butler Yeats Three of the spells in the Galdrabok do not involve either prayers or signs but are more like a recipe, or a potion, using natural substances that were supposed to work with magical effects. This kind of natural magic is often found in “leech-books”, or physician’s manuals.However, the ability to perform these rituals is only for a person who is “born to magic from his mother’s womb.” All others, the Arbatel warns, are powerless imitators. The Galdrabok is essentially composed of two kinds of spells: groups of spells working by means of prayer formula, invoking higher powers, and by which the magical end is effected indirectly. Only a small number of spells in the Galdrabok (8 in total) fall into this category. Woe to those caught outdoors on the wrong night of the season as all sorts of creatures were seen wandering about. On those holy night Frue Holle could be seen flying about with her retinue. She was also called Perchta and Bertha and a few other names. The base goddess for these was Frigga, mother goddess of the Norse.