29.11.2020

“Magic and Impotence in the Middle Ages” by Catherine Rider

Magick Matters

"Magic and Impotence in the Middle Ages investigates the common medieval belief that magic could cause impotence, focusing particularly on the period 1150-1450. The subject has never been studied in detail before, but there is a surprisingly large amount of information about it in four kinds of source: confessors' manuals; medical compendia that discussed many illnesses; commentaries on canon law; and theological commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard. Although most historians of medieval culture focus on only one or two of these kinds of source, a broader comparison reveals that medieval writers held surprisingly diverse opinions about what magic was, how it worked, and whether it was ever legitimate to use it. Medieval discussions...>>

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29.11.2020

“Magic and Ritual in Tibet: The Cult of Tara” by Stephan Beyer

Magick Matters

"The real history of man is the history of religion. The truth of the famous dictum of Max Muller, the father of the History of Religions, is nowhere so obvious as in Tibet. Western students have observed that religion and magic pervade not only the forms of Tibetan art, politics, and society, but also every detail of ordinary human existence. And what is the all-pervading religion of Tibet? The Buddhism of that country has been described to us, of course, but that does not mean the question has been answered. The unique importance of Stephan Beyerís work is that it presents the vital material ignored or slighted by others: the living ritual of Tibetan...>>

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29.11.2020

“Magic: The Basics” by Michael D. Bailey

Magick Matters

"Magic: The Basics is a concise and engaging introduction to magic in world history and contemporary societies. Presenting magic as a global phenomenon which has manifested in all human cultures, this book takes a thematic approach which explores the historical, social, and cultural aspects of magic. Key features include: * attempts to define magic either in universal or more particular terms, and to contrast it with other broad and potentially fluid categories such as religion and science; * an examination of different forms of magical practice and the purposes for which magic has been used; * debates about magic’s effectiveness, its reality, and its morality; * an...>>

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29.11.2020

“Not In Kansas Anymore: A Curious Tale of How Magic Is Transforming America” by Christine Wicker

Magick Matters

"Magic has stepped out of the movies, morphed from the pages of fairy tales, and taken root in the modern mind. Soccer moms are getting voodoo head washings in their backyards, young U.S. soldiers send chants toward pagan gods of war, and a seem-ingly normal family has determined that they are in fact elves. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are turning toward the supernatural in new ways, blending the ancient and the modern for a hyper-charged spirituality. They are reaching back in time to powers that have sustained the human imagina-tion for thousands of years. For many of us, magic is taking hold in less obvious ways. Almost unconsciously we find ourselves noting mysterious synchronicities...>>

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29.11.2020

“The Art of Black Mirror Scrying” by Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Magick Matters

"The black mirror is a powerful divinatory and visioning tool, revered for centuries for its ability to penetrate the veil between worlds. Mirror gazing, or scrying, is an ancient art for making contact with the dead, opening the gates to the angelic realm, seeing into the future and past, and seeing distant locations. All kinds of shiny surfaces have been used as tools, but the black mirror stands above them all. This complete and concise guide covers the history of black mirrors and scrying, and famous people who have relied on mirrors to reveal secrets and truth. It explains how black mirrors work in psychic seeing, and gives detailed advice on how to use...>>

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