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For other uses, see Black magic (disambiguation). closeness with spiritual beings, the rituals that developed
Dark magic redirects here. For other uses, see Dark into modern black magic were designed to invoke those
magic (disambiguation). same spirits to produce benecial outcomes for the prac-
Black magic or dark magic has traditionally referred titioner. Place also provides a broad modern denition
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 employ-
ing them. He acknowledges, though, that this broader
denition (of high and low) suers 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
Like its counterpart white magic, the origins of black In particular, though, the term was most commonly re-
magic can be traced to the primitive, ritualistic worship of served for those accused of invoking demons and other
spirits as outlined in Robert M. Place's 2009 book, Magic evil spirits, those hexing or cursing their neighbours,
and Alchemy.[3] Unlike white magic, in which Place sees those using magic to destroy crops and those capable of
parallels with primitive shamanistic eorts to achieve leaving their earthly bodies and travelling great distances
1
2 3 VOODOO
in spirit (to which the Malleus Malecarum devotes one vocation of demons or spirits is an accepted part of black
long and important chapter). Summers also highlights magic, this practice is distinct from the worship or dei-
the etymological development of the term nigromancer, cation of such spiritual beings.[7]
in common use from 1200 to approximately 1500, (Latin: Those lines, though, continue to be blurred by the inclu-
Niger, black; Greek: Manteia, divination), broadly one sion of spirit rituals from otherwise white magicians in
skilled in the black arts.[6] compilations of work related to Satanism. John Dee's
In a modern context, the line between white magic 16th century rituals, for example, were included in Anton
and black magic is somewhat clearer and most mod- LaVey's The Satanic Bible (1969) and so some of his prac-
ern denitions focus on intent rather than practice.[3] tises, otherwise considered white magic, have since been
There is also an extent to which many modern Wicca associated with black magic. Dees rituals themselves
and witchcraft practitioners have sought to distance them- were designed to contact spirits in general and angels in
selves from those intent on practising black magic. Those particular, which he claimed to have been able to do with
who seek to do harm or evil are less likely to be accepted the assistance of colleague Edward Kelley. LaVeys Bible,
into mainstream Wiccan circles or covens in an era where however, is a complete contradiction of Dees inten-
benevolent magic is increasingly associated with new-age tions but oers the same rituals as a means of contact with
gnosticism and self-help spiritualism.[7] evil spirits and demons.[8] LaVeys Church of Satan (with
LaVeys Bible at its centre), ocially denies the ecacy
of occult ritual but arms the subjective, psycholog-
ical value of ritual practice, drawing a clear distinction
2 Satanism and devil-worship between.[8] LaVey himself was more specic:
3 Voodoo
Main article: Louisiana Voodoo
The Hobbit (lm series) - The lms based on J. R. [4] Evans-Pritchard. Sorcery and Native Opinion. Africa:
R. Tolkien's book The Hobbit feature elements of Journal of the International African Institute Vol. 4, No.
black magic centered on a character known as the 1 (Jan., 1931) , pp. 22-55.
Necromancer, however this is very seldom men- [5] White Magic, Black Magic in the European Renaissance by
tioned in the book. It later is discovered that the Paola Zambelli (BRILL, 2007)
Necromancer is Sauron who is the principle dark
character of the whole Lord of the Rings series. [6] Witchcraft and Black Magic by Montague Summers
(1946; reprint Courier Dover Publications, 2000)
The Lord of the Rings - The Lord of the Rings essen-
[7] Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraft by James R.
tial antagonist is Sauron. Sauron and his followers
Lewis (SUNY Press, 1996)
use black magic on many events such as the creation
of many of his followers and the forging of the One [8] Modern Satanism: Anatomy of a Radical Subculture by
Ring. Chris Mathews (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2009)
Sherlock Holmes (2009 lm) - The rst of the two [9] Voodoo 2.0. Newsweek Global 163.9 (2014): 92-98.
Sherlock Holmes lms directed by Guy Ritchie in- Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
cludes elements of black magic although they are [10] Long, Carolyn Morrow. Perceptions of New Orleans
later discovered to be false. Voodoo: Sin, Fraud, Entertainment, and Religion. Nova
Religion: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Reli-
Versailles (band) released a short lm in 2009 which gions, Vol. 6, No. 1 (October 2002), pp. 86-101
depicted zombies that were resurrected by Jasmine
You through black magic. [11] Voodoo Rituals: A Users Guide by Heike Owusu (Sterling
Publishing Company, 2002)
Pizza II: Villa - An Indian Tamil suspense supernat-
[12] Black Mass. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclope-
ural thriller lm, written and directed by debutant
dia (2014): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls New World Ency-
Deepan Chakravarthy. clopedia. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
The Necromancers: The Best of Black Magic And [13] Macmullen, Ramsay, and Eugene Lane. From Black
Witchcraft - A collection of folklores and stories Magic To Mystical Awe. Christian History 17.1 (1998):
about black magic edited by Peter Haining. 37. History Reference Center. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
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