What's the history behind wizardry and magic?
Long before the birth of Christ; before the building of the Great pyramids of Egypt; before man had formed his first civilisations; the employment of magic was utilized.
Although no written work exists to prove this statement, by observing the rise of civilisations and how they were skilled in the art of sorcery and witchcraft it is evident that supernatural processes were employed long before they were recorded.
From ancient Persia, Mesopotamia, the land of the Zoroastrians there evolved an art that would forge its way into every civilisation, and heart of every person who encountered it. This art was employed in all manner of life, from childbirth to death, controlling every aspect of people's lives from their thoughts, their motives and their actions. These magicians, sorcerers, wise men, whatever you wish to call them, controlled the lives of man by being in direct contact with them and the forces of nature.
These magicians were a powerful authority in their communities and were greatly respected by the people; fear also produced the need for respect. These people were skilled in the art of Astronomy, and medicinal uses of plants; it is also believed that they had the power to summon the forces of nature and held other supernatural abilities that would provide them with what they desired.
Many relics exist from the first civilisations that confirm the employment of sorcery or magic, and as time progressed the establishment of this art in other countries became recorded and practiced.
Abram (Abraham) came from a district of Sumner in Mesopotamia; during his time the worship of many Gods or Idols was undertaken and the practicing of what we might term sorcery or black magic, was also in use. Abram left all of this and went to worship 'a one God.'
As magic found its way into all lives it also found its way into the Bible and the three wise men that went to Bethlehem were also practicers of it. The bible says very little in connection to these three men and it took several centuries for the story to change, altering their occupations, their origination and providing them with names. The truth is that they were three sorcerers from Mesopotamia and who were of the Zoroastrian faith. After they found Jesus in the stable they returned to Persia where they continued with their occult practices.
Jesus too, was said to be able to work miracles; bringing the dead back to life, causing the lame to walk orhe blind to see, but he was also empowered to control the forces of nature, for e.g. when he walked on the water or when he caused a fig tree to whither and die. It is also recorded that Jesus was able to command demons, expelling them from the bodies of living people.
But was Jesus a magician, a sorcerer or a wizard; was he?
The same could be said for King Solomon; apparently God gave Solomon a seal; iron on one side, bronzed on the other, and it was said to be able to enable him command of the spirits (angels and demons), both good and bad. It is said that Solomon profited greatly from this amulet, becoming rich and wise.
These three observations lead to the conclusion that magic or sorcery was associated to the spiritual or the supernatural, through God, and that the dedication to the spiritual would produce connection with the spiritual world.
During sometime around the 12th century the Kabbalist movement is thought to have arisen; it I not know for certain but it is thought to have originated with Solomon ibn Gabirol (1021-1058) or Bahya ben Asher a Spanish Kabbalist of the 13th century CE.
It originated entirely from Jewish thought, constantly using classical Jewish sources to explain and demonstrate its esoteric teachings.
It is a school of thought concerned with the mystical aspect of Judaism, and it is also used as a form of discipline. These teachings are meant to explain the relationship between an infinite, eternal and unknowable Creator and the finite and mortal universe of his creation. It seeks to determine the nature of the universe and the essence of man, which includes the nature and purpose of existence, with the intention of attaining spiritual realization.
Kabbalists claim that the magic, divination and astrology was passed on to humans by the two angels, Aza and Azaz'el, who 'fell' from heaven; (these were fallen angels who disobeyed God). According to Islam it was the angels 'Harut' and 'Marut' who were sent to teach magic, but only as a test for man.
The employment of demons to do the bidding of normal people is associated to Black magic, which is basically used to advance the practicer in one way or another. During the 16th century witchcraft was at it peak, and a witch-finding mood enveloped Europe. Here normal people were accused of being witches and punished for the crime of for e.g. bringing harm to other people.
But most people accused of the crimes were innocent, and it was just the fear of the unknown which caused their downfall.
Yet witchcraft did not die out nor become less practised, it continued as it did from the outset, yet it took on the cloak of secrecy to shield it.
One of the best known and self confessed modern day Black magicians was Aleister Crowley. Aleister Crowley was born Edward Alexander Crowley on October 12, 1875 and died on December 1, 1947. The media referred to him as "The Wickedest Man in the World," and during his lifetime he participated in several satanic groups; he became well known and revered in these circles and he was believed to possess supernatural abilities. His most famous magical writing was the Book of the Law, also referred to as The Book of Thelma.
Black magic has been associated with the practice of sorcery, where its power is used in a negative manner, to supernaturally or unnaturally, changes the course of events. Because of its use of supernatural influences obtaining the ability to control them, can be learnt, and mastered, making it possible for the student to become the master.
Today, although there are those still those practicing the Black art, there are many others who practice White magic which is practiced for useful purposes, for the good of others.
Here witchcraft employs the use of magic spells or the paranormal to harness the occult forces to obtain results, but these results are never used for anything bad. The 'witch' regards that witchcraft in not an art form which is taught, but one that is inherent within the person.
However, those who practice witchcraft or white magic do claim that it is possible to learn the techniques and processes that enable certain result to be achieved; this includes the ability to achieve the mystical power.
Modern witches are regarded as wiccans; they live and exist in the natural world employing the natural process that aid development and life. They use natural elements in their 'potions;' the natural things we find upon the earth.
Wicca comes from the old English word Wicca, which originated from the Germanic root 'wic,' which means 'to bend or turn.' The term means to bend or turn the course of events with the intention of producing 'good.' In bygone days the word witch was applied to a female practiser, while the word wizard was applied to a male practiser, but modern terminology of witch includes both male and female practicers.
Witchcraft is professed and practiced as religion in most English speaking countries such as Britain, the United States, and Australia, but it also exists in many traditional societies and cultures around the world. Here the societies which are primitive the witch is replaced by the witchdoctor and the society becomes reliant upon them. But all of these practicers concoct and cast their spells for good reasons such as love, health and wealth, and they do nothing to harm others.
I suppose if you asked them who their God was, they would reply, 'Mother Nature,' an influence which expresses both masculine and feminine attributes, but they do emphasise the female aspect of the deity. It goes way back to those pagan days, when the earth was new; when mankind looked to the seasons and the cycles that dictated his world, looking to the sun, the moon, the seasons and the time.
Today, like then, the art is used to maintain the balance or the karma; the balance and karma of life.
{credit source: Will Sprout, helium.com}