Black magic

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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 grave yard.

Black 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
[hide]

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[edit]
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[edit]

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 ofSatanism. 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] Interestingly, 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[edit]

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[edit]

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]

Practices and rituals[edit]

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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 inThe 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[edit]

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:

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 around 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.