5 Interesting facts from The History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult
A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult charts the extraordinary narrative of one of the most interesting and often controversial subjects in the world, covering everything from ancient animal worship and shamanism, through alchemy and divination to modern Wicca and the resurgence of the occult in 21st-century literature, cinema, and television. Here are some facts to pique your interest from the book!
Ancient Romans feared necromancy
Some Romans practiced a particularly feared form of magic: necromancy—magic involving the dead, who were believed to see the future and pass messages along to the gods. When Germanicus, adopted son of Tiberius, died suddenly in 19 CE, rumour linked his death to necromancy. His room was said to be full of cursed tablets, spells, and the remains of burned bodies. Emperors with cruel reputations were rumoured to use necromancy, too: Nero was said to have conjured the ghost of his mother, whom he had murdered, to beg her forgiveness.
Pagan Finns believed people had three souls
Pagan Finns believed that a person had three souls: heinki (life force), luonto (a guardian spirit), and itse (personality). Both luonto and itse could be separated from the body, and could therefore get lost or become stranded in the netherworld. This was thought to cause misfortune and illness. Shamans chanted spells and performed rituals that were believed to heal people or reverse bad luck by strengthening weak spirits or finding lost ones.
Alchemists tried to create the Philosopher’s Stone for immortality
The story of alchemy is one of magic versus science. Alchemists sought perfection of the body and soul, and explored the nature of matter, pursuing a holy grail of turning "base" metals such as lead into "noble" metals such as gold. This concept of transmutation and purification—turning something base into something better—was what drove attempts to discover the Philosopher's Stone. The Stone was believed to enable great feats: not only the ability to turn base metals into precious ones, but also the curing of illness, the attainment of immortality, and the purification of the soul.
Magical dolls could save or harm people
Dolls used in magic include poppets—which are effigies made to look like a particular person—and fetishes—objects thought to be inhabited by spirits, which give them powers to protect or punish. The idea is that the practitioner performs actions on the doll, such as sticking it with nails or pins to inflict injury, which they wish to happen to the person. Some dolls are used to protect a community rather than targeting an individual.
Modern Witchcraft was founded by Gerald Gardner in 1960s
The founder of modern witchcraft, Gerald Gardner spent many years in Malaya, where he observed the native veneration for magical practices. In Dorset in the late 1930s, he claimed to have been initiated into a local witches’ coven, and he subsequently gave his life over to the furthering of witchcraft. Gardner wrote a series of books on the subject that had popular appeal, and he had an instinct for publicity. By the early 1960s, he had achieved the acceptance of witchcraft as an attractive system of belief chosen as a result of its psychological, social, and community benefits.
