It took me until adulthood to put together that run-of-the-mill prayer is a form of magic. It is an appeal to the supernatural to take some action.
I didn’t learn until last year about the term “magick”, and how it applies to this concept. Magick is defined as “the ritualization of one’s spiritual practices” by epic weirdo Aleister Crowley. He added the “k” to separate it from less serious “stage magic”
I think there is immense power to magick. Its not necessarily magical power tho, involving the supernatural. We humans are programmed for ritual and narrative and so forth, to receive information in these formats. These make a deep impression on us and are helpful for our sociability and sense of belonging.
Most of us humans practice much magic, whether we realize it or not.
If by magic thee mean to sayeth any thinge whiche doth alter or manipulate ye minde, for goode or ill, then I doth believe it sure! I doth see it in every place upon ye worlde.
As for Artemis, there bee a plant goes by her name in Roman speak. Artemesia Vulgaris. If thee smoke it a plenty afore thee sleep then thee shalle for certaine understandeth how it is gods speak to thy minde. All things bee magic as all things bee mystery. Life & death & all that existed afore & after!
Athanasius Kircher (a German Jesuit scholar and polymath) defined this mystical phrase as Darkness, Light, Earth, Sun, and Truth.
Hesychius (a Greek grammarian who compiled the richest lexicon of unusual and obscure Greek words) says the mystical words were engraved upon the zone or belt of the Diana (Artemis) of Ephesian.
Plutarch says these words were recited by priests over a person who were possessed with demons
The 6x6 magic squares gave rise to the old Greek Cabalistic name of the Sun, "Damnamenos (sun) of the fifty faces." According to a known Akkadian poem, is the blazing sword of Anu, in which was made to destroy malevolent entities. This word “Damnameneus” along with other Cabbalistic words such as “Abracadabra” can be found as a ‘heart’ or ‘grape’ shaped triangle, to protect the mind and heart from evil spirits. (see damnameneus triangle and abracadabra triangle).
No. I believe in psychology. Ooh! There's this magical formala, courtesy of God/, AI , and people who are obviously more intelligent than I am. That might protect me from this chaotic world which I don't understand. Should I use it even though I don't believe in it? Mmmnnn....
Miracles are natural. Words that ward off evil are fanciful. That one believes something doesn’t mean that it exists, no matter how hard one believes. The goal is not to worship the Divine/ Source; but more to unite with it. As Jesus did with his Father; and implored all of us to do the same. As Gautama/ Buddha did with the Divine. Unite, as all is One.
Hmm...so I consulted the article by McCown from 1923, 'The Ephesia Grammata in Popular Belief,' to track down the Marcus Aurelius connection. McCown quotes Meditations XI.26 as 'the rationalising explanation of Marcus,' but the Greek text McCown gives - 'Ephesion grammasi parangelma' etc - is not the now-standard text, which gives 'Epikoureion' instead of 'Ephesion.' Farqharson, for his part, says that the 'correction' to 'Epikoureion' 'relies upon Sen. Test.' (vol. 2, p. 879). This seems to refer to 'testimonia,' specifically Sen. Letters 11.8, quoting from Epicurus about choosing a role model (which perhaps refutes the oft-observed notion that Marcus fails to mention Seneca anywhere??). I'm a bit confused at this stage, but anyway, it seems that McCown may have relied on a textual reading now rejected. So was Marcus, after all, familiar with the Ephesian Letters? It's still a mystery!
While actual magic is doubtful, words certainly do have power as any good orator will attest, and choosing the right ones can move the crowd in the direction desired or have them looking for the hook.
Great piece, thanks!
It took me until adulthood to put together that run-of-the-mill prayer is a form of magic. It is an appeal to the supernatural to take some action.
I didn’t learn until last year about the term “magick”, and how it applies to this concept. Magick is defined as “the ritualization of one’s spiritual practices” by epic weirdo Aleister Crowley. He added the “k” to separate it from less serious “stage magic”
I think there is immense power to magick. Its not necessarily magical power tho, involving the supernatural. We humans are programmed for ritual and narrative and so forth, to receive information in these formats. These make a deep impression on us and are helpful for our sociability and sense of belonging.
Most of us humans practice much magic, whether we realize it or not.
'Most of us humans practice much magic, whether we realize it or not.' - that is a great line... it certainly makes one think where and how we do...
If by magic thee mean to sayeth any thinge whiche doth alter or manipulate ye minde, for goode or ill, then I doth believe it sure! I doth see it in every place upon ye worlde.
As for Artemis, there bee a plant goes by her name in Roman speak. Artemesia Vulgaris. If thee smoke it a plenty afore thee sleep then thee shalle for certaine understandeth how it is gods speak to thy minde. All things bee magic as all things bee mystery. Life & death & all that existed afore & after!
When in doubt an incomprehensible language in Europe is always Basque.
fine, interesting article
“Aski-kataski haix tetrax damnameneus-aision”
Athanasius Kircher (a German Jesuit scholar and polymath) defined this mystical phrase as Darkness, Light, Earth, Sun, and Truth.
Hesychius (a Greek grammarian who compiled the richest lexicon of unusual and obscure Greek words) says the mystical words were engraved upon the zone or belt of the Diana (Artemis) of Ephesian.
Plutarch says these words were recited by priests over a person who were possessed with demons
The 6x6 magic squares gave rise to the old Greek Cabalistic name of the Sun, "Damnamenos (sun) of the fifty faces." According to a known Akkadian poem, is the blazing sword of Anu, in which was made to destroy malevolent entities. This word “Damnameneus” along with other Cabbalistic words such as “Abracadabra” can be found as a ‘heart’ or ‘grape’ shaped triangle, to protect the mind and heart from evil spirits. (see damnameneus triangle and abracadabra triangle).
Words have power to invoke natural responses from the minds of humans which are not understood as rational or irrational, only magical in nature.
It's actually called "Magical Thinking " in the Literature. 😁 Although these days I am not sure it doesn't help!
No. I believe in psychology. Ooh! There's this magical formala, courtesy of God/, AI , and people who are obviously more intelligent than I am. That might protect me from this chaotic world which I don't understand. Should I use it even though I don't believe in it? Mmmnnn....
Miracles are natural. Words that ward off evil are fanciful. That one believes something doesn’t mean that it exists, no matter how hard one believes. The goal is not to worship the Divine/ Source; but more to unite with it. As Jesus did with his Father; and implored all of us to do the same. As Gautama/ Buddha did with the Divine. Unite, as all is One.
Hmm...so I consulted the article by McCown from 1923, 'The Ephesia Grammata in Popular Belief,' to track down the Marcus Aurelius connection. McCown quotes Meditations XI.26 as 'the rationalising explanation of Marcus,' but the Greek text McCown gives - 'Ephesion grammasi parangelma' etc - is not the now-standard text, which gives 'Epikoureion' instead of 'Ephesion.' Farqharson, for his part, says that the 'correction' to 'Epikoureion' 'relies upon Sen. Test.' (vol. 2, p. 879). This seems to refer to 'testimonia,' specifically Sen. Letters 11.8, quoting from Epicurus about choosing a role model (which perhaps refutes the oft-observed notion that Marcus fails to mention Seneca anywhere??). I'm a bit confused at this stage, but anyway, it seems that McCown may have relied on a textual reading now rejected. So was Marcus, after all, familiar with the Ephesian Letters? It's still a mystery!
Fascinating - excellent research and always worth more investigation
While actual magic is doubtful, words certainly do have power as any good orator will attest, and choosing the right ones can move the crowd in the direction desired or have them looking for the hook.
Great point! We need to have a few deep dives into the power of language soon… much fodder to discuss!
https://open.substack.com/pub/warrenbaxter/p/maghdim?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=pg6fv