|
 |
Witchcraft: By Charm and Spell
This article was written by Scott Cunningham on May 10, 2002
posted under Witchcraft Folk magic was born in an age of wonder. Tens of thousands of years ago, nature was a mysterious force. Points of light swung far overhead in the sky. Invisible forces ruffled matted hair and kicked up dust storms. Water fell from above. Powerful forces, inconceivable to humans, sent flashes of light from the skies, blasting trees into raging infernos. Women miraculously bore young. All that moved eventually died. Blood was sacred. Food was sacred. Water, the Earth, plants, animals, the wind and all that existed was infused with power.
Magic—as well as religion and science—sprang from the actions of the first humans who tried to understand, contact and gain some control over such forces. Ritual developed as a means of uniting with the source of this universal energy. Gestures, rhythm, symbols, music, dance and the spoken word were used in ritual to shift the awareness to these higher powers.
Folk magic slowly developed from these beginnings. Every group, every tribe and civilization had its own forms of ritual. Folk magic differed from structured religion and state magic—this was the realm of personal magic, performed for personal reasons. A woman dressed a wound with a plantain leaf that she had gathered with her left hand to increase its healing properties. The fisherman rubbed his bone hooks with flowers to attract fish. Love-sick youths gathered heart-shaped stones and presented these to the objects of their desire.
These simple rituals continued to be used for many thousands of years, particularly in isolated areas. Then, a new organized religion, sprung up in the Near East after the death of a Jewish prophet, flexed its growing political muscles, sweeping across Europe. As country after country "converted," many of the old ways of folk magic were forgotten. Others were altered to outwardly conform to the new religion. That magic that could not be made to at least vaguely conform to the new religion was practiced in secret. The days were over when the old European charms and spells were a part of everyday life.
|
|
In this article we’d like to discuss the teaching and learning of Tarot. We’ll start with a few questions: if you only had ten minutes with a stranger straight off the street, who had no experience of Tarot other than perhaps having seen a few cards on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, how much do you think you could teach them? How much do you think you... read this article |
 |
Most recent posts:
LenormandThere is a lot of buzz in the tarot community now about reading with Lenormand cards. Lenormand cards are a deck of 36 cards with simple images... Beware the Grand Poobahs!The term "Grand Poobah" is derived from the brilliant comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, The Mikado. In it, there's a character named "Poo-Bah."... My Interview Tomorrow: Did Tantra Influence the West?Tomorrow, Saturday, May 12, I'll be on the
Forbidden America Internet Radio Show
With host Steve McManus
It begins at 11:00 p.m. Eastern (8:00...
|
 |
 |
|
We're doing it again! Llewellyn is giving away signed, uncut press sheets from one of our breathtaking tarot decks!
That's right! We're giving...
|
 |
|
