Black magic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Black magic (disambiguation).
"Dark magic" redirects here. For other uses, see Dark magic (disambiguation).

John Dee and Edward Kelley using a magic circle ritual to invoke a spirit in a church graveyard.
Black magic or dark magic has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic
for evil and selfish purposes.[1] With respect to the left-hand path and right-hand path dichotomy,
black magic is the malicious, left-hand counterpart of benevolent white magic. In modern times,
some find that the definition of "black magic" has been convoluted by people who define magic
or ritualistic practices that they disapprove of as "black magic".[2]

Contents

1 History

2 Satanism and devil-worship

3 Voodoo

4 Black magic and religion

5 Practices and rituals

6 In popular culture and fiction

7 See also

8 References

History
Like its counterpart white magic, the origins of black magic can be traced to the primitive,
ritualistic worship of spirits as outlined in Robert M. Place's 2009 book, Magic and Alchemy.[3]
Unlike white magic, in which Place sees parallels with primitive shamanistic efforts to achieve
closeness with spiritual beings, the rituals that developed into modern "black magic" were
designed to invoke those same spirits to produce beneficial outcomes for the practitioner. Place
also provides a broad modern definition of both black and white magic, preferring instead to
refer to them as "high magic" (white) and "low magic" (black) based primarily on intentions of
the practitioner employing them. He acknowledges, though, that this broader definition (of
"high" and "low") suffers from prejudices as good-intentioned folk magic may be considered
"low" while ceremonial magic involving expensive or exclusive components may be considered
by some as "high magic", regardless of intent.[3][4]
See also: Renaissance magic
During the Renaissance, many magical practices and rituals were considered evil or irreligious
and by extension, "black magic" in the broad sense. Witchcraft and non-mainstream esoteric
study were prohibited and targeted by the Inquisition.[5] As a result, natural magic developed as a
way for thinkers and intellectuals, like Marsilio Ficino, abbot Johannes Trithemius and Heinrich
Cornelius Agrippa, to advance esoteric and ritualistic study (though still often in secret) without
significant persecution.[5]
While "natural magic" became popular among the educated and upper classes of the 16th and
17th century, ritualistic magic and folk magic remained subject to persecution. 20th century
author Montague Summers generally rejects the definitions of "white" and "black" magic as
"contradictory", though he highlights the extent to which magic in general, regardless of intent,
was considered "dark" or "black" and cites William Perkins posthumous 1608 instructions in that
regard:[6]
All witches "convicted by the Magistrate" should be executed. He allows no exception and under
this condemnation fall "all Diviners, Charmers, Jugglers, all Wizards, commonly called wise
men or wise women". All those purported "good Witches which do not hurt but good, which do
not spoil and destroy, but save and deliver" should come under the extreme sentence.
In particular, though, the term was most commonly reserved for those accused of invoking
demons and other evil spirits, those hexing or cursing their neighbours, those using magic to
destroy crops and those capable of leaving their earthly bodies and travelling great distances in
spirit (to which the Malleus Maleficarum "devotes one long and important chapter"). Summers
also highlights the etymological development of the term nigromancer, in common use from
1200 to approximately 1500, (Latin: Niger, black; Greek: Manteia, divination), broadly "one
skilled in the black arts".[6]

In a modern context, the line between "white magic" and "black magic" is somewhat clearer and
most modern definitions focus on intent rather than practice.[3] There is also an extent to which
many modern Wicca and witchcraft practitioners have sought to distance themselves from those
intent on practising black magic. Those who seek to do harm or evil are less likely to be accepted
into mainstream Wiccan circles or covens in an era where benevolent magic is increasingly
associated with new-age gnosticism and self-help spiritualism.[7]

Satanism and devil-worship

Illustration by Martin van Male, of a Witches' Sabbath, in the 1911 edition of La Sorciere, by
Jules Michelet.
Main article: Satanism
The influence of popular culture has allowed other practices to be drawn in under the broad
banner of "black magic" including the concept of Satanism. While the invocation of demons or
spirits is an accepted part of black magic, this practice is distinct from the worship or deification
of such spiritual beings.[7]
Those lines, though, continue to be blurred by the inclusion of spirit rituals from otherwise
"white magicians" in compilations of work related to Satanism. John Dee's 16th century rituals,
for example, were included in Anton LaVey's The Satanic Bible (1969) and so some of his
practises, otherwise considered white magic, have since been associated with black magic. Dee's
rituals themselves were designed to contact spirits in general and angels in particular, which he
claimed to have been able to do with the assistance of colleague Edward Kelley. LaVey's Bible,
however, is a "complete contradiction" of Dee's intentions but offers the same rituals as a means
of contact with evil spirits and demons.[8] LaVey's Church of Satan (with LaVey's Bible at its
centre), "officially denies the efficacy of occult ritual" but "affirms the subjective, psychological
value of ritual practice", drawing a clear distinction between.[8] LaVey himself was more specific:

White magic is supposedly utilized only for good or unselfish purposes, and black magic, we are
told, is used only for selfish or "evil" reasons. Satanism draws no such dividing line. Magic is
magic, be it used to help or hinder. The Satanist, being the magician, should have the ability to
decide what is just, and then apply the powers of magic to attain his goals.
Satanism is not a white light religion; it is a religion of the flesh, the mundane, the carnal - all of
which are ruled by Satan, the personification of the Left Hand Path.
The latter quote, though, seems to have been directed toward the growing trends of Wiccanism
and neo-paganism at the time.[8]

Voodoo

A Voodoo doll.
Main article: Louisiana Voodoo
Voodoo, too, has been associated with modern "black magic"; drawn together in popular culture
and fiction. However, while hexing or cursing may be accepted black magic practices, Voodoo
has its own distinct history and traditions that have little to do with the traditions of modern
witchcraft that developed with European practitioners like Gerald Gardner and Aleister Crowley.
[7][9][10]

In fact, Voodoo tradition makes its own distinction between black and white magic, with
sorcerers like the Bokor known for using magic and rituals of both. But their penchant for magic
associated with curses, poisons and zombies means they, and Voodoo in general, are regularly
associated with black magic in particular.[11]

Black magic and religion

The links and interaction between black magic and religion are many and varied. Beyond black
magic's links to organised Satanism or its historical persecution by Christianity and its
inquisitions, there are links between religious and black magic rituals. The Black Mass, for
example, is a sacrilegious parody of the Catholic Mass. Likewise, a saining, though primarily a
practice of white magic, is a Wiccan ritual analogous to a christening or baptism for an infant.[12]
[13]

17th century priest, tienne Guibourg, is said to have performed a series of Black Mass rituals
with alleged witch Catherine Monvoisin for Madame de Montespan.[14]
In Islam, al-Fatiha al-Falaq, al-Nas and other Surahs are recited to protect against sorcery. They
may be recited and blown on Olive Oil or water. In addition, using a Taweez (talisman)
containing some of the 99 Names of Allah, Quranic verses and/or names of Saints have been
used for centuries and have origins in the Hadith.

Practices and rituals

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The lowest depths of black mysticism are well-nigh
as difficult to plumb as it is arduous to scale
the heights of sanctity. The Grand Masters of
the witch covens are men of genius - a foul genius,
crooked, distorted, disturbed, and diseased.
Montague Summers
Witchcraft and Black Magic

During his period of scholarship, A. E. Waite provided a comprehensive account of black magic
practices, rituals and traditions in The Book of Black Magic and Ceremonial Magic.[15] Other
practitioners have expanded on these ideas and offered their own comprehensive lists of rituals
and concepts. Black magic practices and rituals include:

True name spells - the theory that knowing a person's true name allows control over that
person, making this wrong for the same reason. This can also be used as a connection to
the other person, or to free them from another's compulsion, so it is in the grey area.

Immortality rituals - from a Taoist perspective, life is finite, and wishing to live beyond
one's natural span is not with the flow of nature. Beyond this, there is a major issue with
immortality. Because of the need to test the results, the subjects must be killed. Even a
spell to extend life may not be entirely good, especially if it draws life energy from
another to sustain the spell.[16]

Necromancy - for purposes of usage, this is defined not as general black magic, but as
any magic having to do with death itself, either through divination of entrails, or the act
of raising the dead body, as opposed to resurrection or CPR.[17]

Curses and hexes - a curse can be as simple as wishing something bad would happen to
another, through a complex ritual.[18]

In popular culture and fiction

Concepts related to black magic or described, even inaccurately, as "black magic" are a regular
feature of books, films and other popular culture. Examples include:

Black Magic (Little Mix song) - Lead single by British girl-group Little Mix released in
May 2015, for their third studio album "Get Weird".

The Devil Rides Out - a 1934 novel by Dennis Wheatley - made into a famous film by
Hammer Studios in 1968

Rosemary's Baby - a 1968 horror novel in which black magic is a central theme.

The Craft - a 1996 film featuring four friends who become involved in white witchcraft
but turn to black magic rituals for personal gain.

The Harry Potter series - black magic, including various spells and curses, is referred to
as "the dark arts" against which students are taught to defend themselves.

Final Fantasy - a video game in which white and black magic are simply used to
distinguish between healing/defensive spells (such as a "cure") and offensive/elemental
spells (such as "fire") and do not carry an inherent good or evil connotation.

Charmed - a television series in which black magic is also known as "the black arts",
"dark arts", "dark magic" or even "evil magic", and is used by demons and other evil
beings.

The Secret Circle - A short-lived television series featuring witches, in which there are
two kinds of magic. While traditional magic helps you to connect to the energy around
you, more lethal and dangerous dark magic is rooted in the anger, fear and negativity
inside you. Only a few born with it can access dark magic and some are inherently
stronger than others.

The Power of Five is an entire series by Anthony Horowitz about black magic and evil
sorcerers. The antagonists are all black sorcerers and are all practitioners of black magic,
black magic is a means of summoning the Old Ones from their prison, Hell. Black magic
often takes the form of mass murder and animation of inanimate objects.

Night Watch - In the Night Watch book (and movie) series the magicians are grouped into
two sides "Light Others" and "Dark Others". The dark magicians are more motivated by
selfish desires.

Supernatural (U.S. TV series) - The television series Supernatural features many events
and characters that feature and participate in black magic.

The Hobbit (film series) - The films based on J. R. R. Tolkien's book The Hobbit feature
elements of black magic centered on a character known as "the Necromancer", however
this is very seldom mentioned in the book. It later is discovered that the Necromancer is
Sauron who is the principle dark character of the whole Lord of the Rings series.

The Lord of the Rings - The Lord of the Rings' essential antagonist is Sauron. Sauron and
his followers use black magic on many events such as the creation of many of his
followers and the forging of the One Ring.

Sherlock Holmes (2009 film) - The first of the two Sherlock Holmes films directed by
Guy Ritchie includes elements of black magic although they are later discovered to be
false.

Versailles (band) released a short film in 2009 which depicted zombies that were
resurrected by Jasmine You through black magic.

Pizza II: Villa - An Indian Tamil suspense supernatural thriller film, written and directed
by debutant Deepan Chakravarthy.

The Necromancers: The Best of Black Magic And Witchcraft - A collection of folklores
and stories about black magic edited by Peter Haining.

See also

Occult portal

Demonology

Gray magic

Left-hand path and right-hand path

Magical texts

Maleficium (sorcery)

Necromancy

Seir

Ya sang

References
1.
J. Gordon Melton, ed. (2001). "Black Magic". Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology.
Vol 1: AL (Fifth ed.). Gale Research Inc. ISBN 0-8103-9488-X.
Jesper Aagaard Petersen (2009). Contemporary religious Satanism: A Critical
Anthology. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 220. ISBN 0-7546-5286-6.
Magic and Alchemy by Robert M. Place (Infobase Publishing, 2009)
Evans-Pritchard. "Sorcery and Native Opinion". Africa: Journal of the International
African Institute Vol. 4, No. 1 (Jan., 1931) , pp. 22-55.
White Magic, Black Magic in the European Renaissance by Paola Zambelli (BRILL,
2007)
Witchcraft and Black Magic by Montague Summers (1946; reprint Courier Dover
Publications, 2000)
Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraft by James R. Lewis (SUNY Press, 1996)
Modern Satanism: Anatomy of a Radical Subculture by Chris Mathews (Greenwood
Publishing Group, 2009)
"Voodoo 2.0." Newsweek Global 163.9 (2014): 92-98. Academic Search Complete. Web.
19 Feb. 2015.
Long, Carolyn Morrow. "Perceptions of New Orleans Voodoo: Sin, Fraud, Entertainment,
and Religion". Nova Religion: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, Vol. 6, No. 1
(October 2002), pp. 86-101
Voodoo Rituals: A User's Guide by Heike Owusu (Sterling Publishing Company, 2002)
"Black Mass." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2014): 1p. 1. Funk &
Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
Macmullen, Ramsay, and Eugene Lane. "From Black Magic To Mystical Awe." Christian
History 17.1 (1998): 37. History Reference Center. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
Geography of Witchcraft by Montague Summers (1927; reprint Kessinger Publishing,
2003)
The Book of Black Magic and Ceremonial Magic by Arthur Edward Waite (1911; reprint
2006)
"Immortality." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2014): 1p. 1. Funk &
Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
"necromancy". Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.). Springfield, MA:
Merriam-Webster. April 2008.
1.

"Hex." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. Literary

Reference Center. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
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