[Monday] Request for real world magic traditions.

[innis]

other real world traditions (cont)...

and i can already feel the heat of the fundamentalist fires;

satanism (diabolism), a type of ceremonial magic which can be very complex considering many of the practices are basically of the same formulae of catholic systems. satanists summon demons using ritual wards and magic circles after binding the protection of arcangels by invoking their names. many "satanists" would not consider satan their lord, as such, or even worship him at all- they simply use these things as an aide to personal power. having said that, it's a dark world out there, and "the black path" could refer to the practices of a lot of unsavoury practices and beleifs

 

[innis]

Shemeska: I agree 100% with what you said. Wicca is not the same religion as the ancients practiced but does have some elements that resemble what the ancients did.

...."based on a true story"....

 

[LostSoul]

Sumerian Demon Bowls

Those would make a nice Wondrous Item. I have no idea how they would work, but it would be cool. Maybe something like having any "demon" who comes within range be forced into the bowl as if they had been called using Lesser Planar Binding.

 

[Shemeska]

Those would make a nice Wondrous Item. I have no idea how they would work, but it would be cool. Maybe something like having any "demon" who comes within range be forced into the bowl as if they had been called using Lesser Planar Binding.

I used them recently as part of the ritual that was used to bind a balor to an Untheric (aka Sumerian) burial mound on Toril that the PCs in my campaign were investigating. Effectively I had portions of the fiend's essence tethered to the interior of the sealed bowls and so long as they were intact and seperated it couldn't manifest a physical form, nor could it stray from or act beyond the boundaries of the tomb it was charged to protect.

 

[WayneLigon]

Crystal and Gem magic

Many minerals and elements have reputed magical properties; in general, the rarer or more unusual a substance was, the more occult trappings it acquirred. Gems are one of the rarest things in the ancient world and one of the most unusual. Thus they have many legends associated with them. Most of us know the basics of these from D&D; amethyst is proof against poison, for instance.

In a world where belief creates effects, gem magic will still be somewhat difficult, though the distribution network is much better than it used to be of course. It's no problem to acquite high-quality semi-precious stones. Rock shows give them away (and what are these travelling magic merchant marts really up to, hmmm?).

The type of gem magic most familiar to modern users will be Crystal magic. Crystals have always had a good reputation in magical circles, what with crystal balls and the like, but underwent a rennaisance with the New Age movement. Probably nothing screams 'New Age' like crystals, to most people. 'Crystals', in this sense, refers to any semiprecious stone. It can be cut or uncut, faceted or not, shaped any particular way. Quartz crystals are probably the more familiar, simply because they are cheap and everyone know what quartz is.

Crystals are used for healing, focusing, 'centering' or 'grounding'. Several words are usually used regarding crystals: focus, absorbsion, deflecting, 'gathering energy' or some type of energy transfer (usually involving chakras - see above about the potpourri approach to magic that the New Age practicioner usually uses). Interestingly enough this seems to parallel the modern application of mechanical/scientific terminology to non-mechanical things. We know that crystals refract light, concentrate it, can be used to make lasers and crystal radios, etc, and some of these ideas seem to cross over to the magical practices. In a world where belief causes effect, a practicioner might have considerable scientific skill as well as magical power.

Spells and effects: Many crystal practitioners are going to be people that enhance the abilities of things, affect communication, protection or heal. A more advanced (and wealthy) practitioner will use gemstones and unlock their mystical properties through ritual. Once done, the stone itself will be obviously magical and require no further thought or effort on the part of the mage. Think of them as minor artificers, since rarely will they actually cut and mount gemstones; they will use ones already prepared. That degree of seperation will mean that the stones might not work as well for them (a common idea in most magic is that something you do yourself has a much greater power than something you gain from the labor of another). They can give stones to others and have that other person protected, but again it introduces another degree of seperation. The stone will be even less effective but will still be better than nothing.

I don't usually see any references to things or monsters. There are some mentions about making sure the gems come from collectors that do not unduly harm the Earth. A 'dark gemsmith' might be possible, taking bloodstone and moonstone from the rock and leaving the area spoiled by tailings and erosion. Angry earth elementals might want their stuff back, too.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Voodoan

FYI: I'm not even from Louisiana or one of the areas it is routinely practiced so this is mostly book learnin' but several of those books are from a few of the voodoo temples.

There are a number of terms that are french/creole and I'll include them for a bit of flavor. Some of the texts seem a bit prone to....hyperbole so I'll try to note anything that originates with them. I doubt it's something an adherent would agree with but some of it could make for good gaming.

The basic core of the vodooan tradition is the belief in spirits, the loa. The Great Loa are the most powerful but there is no intrinsic difference between the Great and "common" loa except power. In theory, the weaker loa may become a great loa.

Each voodoan practictioner, sometimes referred to as an houngan, has a main tete, an affiliated great loa one who is most similar in nature. (think a totem or spirit animal relationship) The houngans can still deal with the other great loa but their dealings are colored by the opinions of the main tete by the called loa. Lesser loa may include spirits of the dead or souls of those who may one day be born.

Common loa are often referred to as loa achete ("bought loas") because they are mercenary spirits out to garner more power and work their way up the ranks. Houngans bargain with the loa for various services using sacrifices of food, objects, animals, or construction of shrines & the like. Gifts of rum and chickens (things slaves could have acquired) are traditional gifts. Smaller loa who agree to perform a task later may reside within a govi, a clay spirit jar kept within the houngan's shrine.

Bargains with the great loas may require more significant tasks and in some cases require allowing the loa to turn the houngan or a follower into a cheval (horse) and be ridden (aka possession). During this time the cheval assumes the mannerisms of the loa and often demonstrate unusual abilities. The Cheval of the gatekeeper can speak foreign languages while one ridden by the Iron Warrior may be struck with swords or knives without breaking the skin. The possession may be required to perform the task (like an Iron Warrior cheval seeking vengeance) or is itself payment to the loa (when Ghede goes on a drinking spree)

Loa in general have no distinct leanings towards good or evil. Many of the great loa have a "light" and a "dark" aspect. One loa is known as both Erzuli (the beautiful, loving wife) and She of the Red Eyes (the archetype of the spiteful woman scorned). Some loa, such as the Farmer and the Gatekeeper, only have one nature. (Probably for the best since the "dark" farmer would probably Famine.)

Some houngans believe the dark loa are reflections of their followers and are being corrupted by angry, violent, unthinking inidividuals. It's not a universal belief but is something to keep in mind.



Much of voodoan magic is herbalistic and tied to talismans. Small bundles of specially prepared herbs and other bits are tied in flannel as gris-gris bags (pronounced "gree-gree") as the most common talisman. Gris-gris can be protective (good luck, warding, etc) of an attack (bad luck, illness, weakness, etc). There are also quite a few potions for healing, love, charms, etc. Most require more than just drinking; often it is a series of proscribed steps with a common routine being bathing with the potion while a particularly colored candle is burning (possibly including a bit of the target's hair) followed by giving the target the remainder of the potion within the next few hours.

Voodoo dolls and zombies are the two most publicized aspects of voodoan. Voodoo dolls are nothing particularly special as many forms of magic involve a representation of the target of a spell that has some form of material link (hair, nail clippings, blood, etc).

There are two forms of zombies. One form is a drugged, mind-controlled individual that more than likely exists. This "living death" involves a series of drugs administered to the victim that remove all the free will and put them in a dream-like hypnotic state. It is rumored to have been used as a form of punishment for the worst individuals.

A variant of the drugged zombie includes very potent drugs that make the victim appear to be dead (heartbeat and respiration slow to minimum levels) and in the days before embalming would cause the victim's family to have a funeral and bury the zombie, who would be retrieved by the houngan. The zombie would then be used to serve the houngan and usually terrorize the family and the rest of the town.

A "true" zombie would be the result of a loa summoned into a host body that may or may not be alive. (Cheval are willing, zombies are not) There's not much said about loa zombies that isn't sensational but what else do you expect? If a loa is used to possess a living body that the displaced spirit may be moved to a govi for the duration.

The Great loa I can remember are listed below with Light/Dark and descriptions. My memory's a little weak on some names so I've just put their title. If it's only got one name/title then it does not have multiple natures (that I know of)

Erzuli/Red Eyes beautiful, loving wife of the iron warrior/spiteful, vengeful woman
Papa Legba master of the crossroads, full of wisdom
the farmer first person/houngan to learn the art of cultivation
Husband the first man, married to wife
Wife first woman, marred to husband
Iron Warrior/Destroyer a just soldier married to erzuli/destructive mayhem
Samedi/Ghede bringer of souls, life, joy/death, plague
damballah world creating serpent
marassa first houngan
agwe/stormlord ruler of the sea/bringer of storms

 

[GuardianLurker]

Hermetic/Kabbalistic/Alchemical

When you think of Sorcerors/Wizards from the Europe of the Middle Ages, you're probably envisioning a practicioner of these three traditions.

Kabbalism, at its roots, is a Jewish Mystical Tradition, and the Hermetic tradition is highly derivative of it. Kabbalism is what provides Christianity with the names and hierarchy of angels. It's also the basis for Numerology. It's biggest influence on the Hermetic tradition is the Tree of Life, with its paths and spheres. (See Alan Moore's Promethea comic books for a good, and highly entertaining, layman's summary of this.)

The alchemical tradition sought the perfection of the human body and soul through the study of the natural world and various chemical concotions. It's big foci were the Philosopher's Stone, the transmutation of lead into gold, and immortality. Many of its techniques became the foundation for modern science.

All three traditions are highly esoteric, and strong adherents to providing instructions to the initiates through symbolic language that only they would understand. All three traditions are highly ritualistic.

Finally, the mystical parts of the traditions evolved over time and are the direct ancestors of the Victorian/Turn-of-the-Century Mysticism, which gave the world the Order of the Golden Dawn, the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, and Aleister Crowley.

 

[Woas]

Hi.

I'm procrastinating at the moment... and would like to add to this thread.

In ancient Eygpt, there was a belief in HEKA. Heka was synonymus with "magic" and was believed to be creative/positive magical power. Heka is the positive force that created life and order from APEP. It was believed that Parohs controlled Heka and the goddess Werathekau was the principle diety. Apep which was mentioned earlier was a serpent/dragon that represented the primeval world. Apep lived in a chaotic dark and watery world, and from this world, with the use of Heka, islands arose and thus life and order was formed.
In addition, the god Thoth was also associated with magic/Heka. But magic in written form as ancient Egyptians also believed magic could be manifested in a written format = i.e.: the famous Book of the Dead.

In ancient Greece we find MAGIA. Magia are rituals or recipies that would assist the ritual doer in activites or could be used to negatively effect another person. Magia were connected with the wonders of nature.
Ancient Greeks also believed in DAIMONES which are like Demons. However the negative connotation that we know of Demons today was not there in ancient Greece. Daimones were neutral spirits that had the power of the Magia. Demons would only get the negative meaning later in history when some of the original Catholic Church fathers write about them. Magia however was totally "arcane" in the sense that the Magia magic came from the Daimones and the earth. There was also a "divine" magic called THEORGIA which was magic channeled through the gods. Activities such as oracles and blessings would fall under Theorgia and the source of the power was an act of a deity.
In ancient Greece there was also two negative magic societies. First, the MAGOS, whom where eastern/persian "magic" users but seen as frauds. Also, there were GOETES who were potion/incantation users who were also seen as frauds, as it was believed they just gave out plesebos.
Some of the great thinkers of Greece were believers in magic. Plato believed that magic was for the most part false, but Prophecy and astronomy were real. Also believed rhetoric was a form of magical enchantment as it made people believe things that went against logical thought. Aristotle believed heavily in astronomy and that the stars and heavenly bodies had power over humans on earth. Also he believed that certain plants and animals had magical powers.
It is interesting to note that both Greek and Egyptian magic had lots to do with the protection and rites of the dead.

In ancient Rome, we get PLINY the Elder. He wrote an encyclopedia of natural medicines. Basically he believes that plants and animals have magical healing powers, but the sorcery of the Magi in the east were frauds. In addition, Seneca writes "The Natural Questions" which is a book that trys to explain weather and environmental events and how these can be used in prophecy for the future.

As Rome slowly changes to the Western Christian church, several attitudes towards "magic" changes. As the Bible is translated from hebrew to greek to latin, the image of Satan gains more "evil" significants and it is only then that it is translated to DIABLOS. It is in fact the BOOK OF REVOLATIONS that first detail the "modern" view of Satan and Hell as a firey place in the center of the earth.
In much of early Christianity, there is a fine line that developes between what is MAGIC and what is MIRACLE. We can see the difference in the discriptions/views written by Augustine of Hippo. Augustine writes some dioluges in response to the Cult of Isis. His argument is that Magic comes from Demons. Amd Demons have the power to fly/teleport (or in general, be able to see things in distant locations), be invisible, and have spiritual bodies. Thus, Magicians or Sorcerers (witches) who used magic were in cahoots with these Demons. The Demons would secretly tell the Sorcerer what to say, like "I'll make that dam explode!" and then the Demon, being able to instantly move to the dam would do the deed.
On the other hand, Miracles were described as: Single Author - that is, only god grants miracles, no one else. The miracles are controlled by the church - that is, only members of the church can perform miracles. And finally the miracle had to rationalize superstitions or supernatural. This is because at the time, Christianity was spreading through Europe. Thus Christian "magic" needed to superseed, or better the magic of the pagans. Pagan magic came from the Demons, who were also translated as being false gods who spread lies to the people to gather their worship. Thus Christiany explained the polythestic gods simply as demons coercing the humans.
Eventually though, certain "magic" was okay be Christianity. These two realms of magic were Astrology and Alchemy. The reasoning behind this was because God made the universe. Thus he made astrology and alchemy for mankind to use and discover. They are basically part of nature, and not powered by demons or false gods.
Then we get into a lot of politics. Magic becomes synonomus with Witchcraft and used as a political tool. Magic really sputters off into self destruction as it enters the realm of political backstabbing and what not.

However, there are some interesting people/movements that arise seperate from the Witch craze in Europe - mainly the idea of Jewish Mysticism. Pico della Marandola wrote STRIX. Basically, Pico looked at original texts from antiquity. His arguement was that because these people, so long ago wrote and refrenced magic, that somehow somewhere, magic exsisted. He was also a believer in the KABBALAH. The Kabbalah was a school of thought that believed: at the beginning of time, God was boundless and infinite. Then God retracted himself, but some of God's divine light was left in certain vehicles/objects. By shattering these objects evil would grow. Also, it was believed that the ancient hebrew writings had magical powers. But these powers did not translate when the holy writings were translated to greek and latin. Johannes Reuchlin wrote "De Arte Cabalistica" which details all the powers that the Kabbalah held, etc.
Further Jewish mysticism included the idea/legend of the GOLEM. Yes, the Golem that we all know and love in D&D has its roots in Jewish mysticism. The idea was the God had the power to create man by scultping him out of dirt or clay depending on the source. And that man would be "perfect". But it was believed that man could then do the same and create servants for themselves. This was the Golem. It was believed that the ancient text called SEFER YETSIRAH contained all the holy information to teach one to create their own golem. The belief was that the Golem would serve the Jewish community as a protector. Strong and deadly the golem would defend the Jewish people from all harm. The golem was controlled by writting instuctions on its forehead or erasing them to turn him "off".


Okay, that is enough for now. I have procrastinated much too long. If people want, I also have a nice book called "Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer's Manual of the Fifteenth Century" by Richard Kieckhefer which details what medieval witches/sorcerers actually DID in their rituals and what not... I can give examples of that.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Enochian magic

Enochian is presumably the language of the angels and was discovered by John Dees, or at least his scrier. Dees was a reknowned Elezibethan alchemist capable of turning lead to gold and had agreed to trade his alchemical knowledge for the services of a scryer that could communicate with angels through crystals. The scrier, whose name I've forgotten, established contact with crystals provided by Dees and developed a series of Keys.

The keys are tables of letters, some forwards some backwards, along with a series of patterned shapes to read off names of angels. The Keys became progressively larger and involved more complicated shapes. (I must confess, I could never make sense of the "pattern" in the shapes. Looked like the results of drunken Tetris to me.)

The theory was that use of Enochian would allow one to call upon the angels for various services. Since "Man is created in God's image" the angels will obey one who is pure.

IIRC this was combined with the tetragrammaton, the four-fold name of God. The four hebrew letters that make up the name of God. The letters are yod , he (h), ve (v), and another he. YHVH ("jehova") is an interesting bit of Kabbalism with quite a few numerological tricks (the letters make the shape of a man, spell out "man + woman = family", etc).

The fundament is that God is beyond complete knowledge. The four letter name is composed of three unique letter because three is the simplest stable form (3-legged stool, triangle, etc) and we are too simple to comprehend the higher, 4th order, and see it eclipsed by one of the 3 we can perceive. This is somewhat amazing to me as it is a good explanation for a 4-dimensional being perceived by 3-dimensional entities.

Regardless, by invoking the name of God and focusing on him, the angels perceive that spark of divinity within us and obey. Each of the letters is assigned a cardinal direction and element (yod = north & air, ve = south & earth, etc). The caster gestures towards towards the elements while intoning the letters in a fashion appropriate to the task.

E.g. if trying to peacefully call an angel with an earth affinity you would first gesture southward (earthward) and intone Ve, west to Hod, east to Hod, and lastly north (air) to Yod. This is a peaceful invocation that shows the earth spirit respect. To command you would reverse the process, calling on the power of Air to overcome the non-responsive earth.

Offtopic: What results is an amazingly fast and intuitive somatic & verbal mechanism that I would love to see implemented in a computer game (mouse over the four icons in sequence, possibly with variations of right/left clicking).

For the record, the scryer was apparently never taught how to turn lead into gold and left in a huff.

 

[kigmatzomat]

On the subject of golems, one ritual supposedly required 5 rabbi. Four stood at around the cardinal points (representing the elements) and walked clockwise while chanting. The fifth stood in the center and inscribed the word "life" on its forehead. To banish the golem the four walked counterclockwise chanting as the fifth changes the word "life" to "death." (supposedly in hebrew there's only 1 letter difference)