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Magic of the Ancients: Five IncredibleTexts of Spells, Curses, and Incantations

 As long as humanity has had beliefs in a higher power, the use of magic, spells, curses, and

incantations have featured widely across cultures. A number of influential texts or ‘grimoires’

(textbooks of magic) were developed over the centuries, many of which became the books of choice

for secret societies and occult organiations that endured well into the twentieth century. !ere we

feature five manuscripts that provide a fascinating window into the magic of the ancients.

The Book of Abraelin the Mage, !soteric "rioire of#abbalistic #no$ledge

The Book of Abramelin the Mage was written as an epistolary novel or autobiography of a person

known as Abraham of "orms. Abraham was a #erman $ew believed to have lived between the

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%&th and %'th centuries. The Book of Abramelin the Mage involves the passing of Abraham’s magical

and abbalistic knowledge to his son, amech, and relates the story of how he first ac*uired such

knowledge.

 Abraham begins his narration with the death of his father, who gave him ‘signs and instructions

concerning the way in which it is necessary to ac*uire the !oly +abalah’ shortly before his death.

esiring to ac*uire this wisdom, Abraham said he travelled to -ayence (-ain) to study under a

abbi, called -oses. Abraham studied under -oses for four years before travelling for the next six

years of his life, eventually reaching /gypt.

0t was in /gypt that Abraham met Abramelin the -age, an /gyptian mage who was living in the

desert outside an /gyptian town called Arachi or Araki. Abramelin is said to have then taught

 Abraham his abbalistic magic and gave him two manuscripts to copy from. 1ne of the highlights of

this grimoire is an elaborate ritual known as the ‘Abramelin 2peration’, which is said to enable a

mage to gain the ‘knowledge and conversation’ of his3her ‘guardian angel’ and to blind demons. 4he

manuscript was later used in occult organiations such as !ermetic 2rder of the #olden awn and

 Aleister 5rowley’s mystical system of 4helema.

The Ars %otoria & An Ancient Magical Book to 'erfect Meor(and Master Acadeia

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 As part of a larger collection known as the esser eys of 6olomon, the Ars 7otoria is a book that is

said to allow followers a mastery of academia, giving them greater elo*uence, a perfect memory,

and wisdom. 4he Ars 7otoria is one of five books within a grimoire called the esser eys of

6olomon, an anonymous text that was compiled from other works in the %8th century, and focuses

on demonology.

4he Ars 7otoria is the oldest portion of the esser of the eys grimoire, dating back to the %9th

century. !owever, the texts contained within are a collection of orations, prayers, and magical words

which date back to well before the %:;;s. 4he prayers are in several languages, including !ebrew,

#reek, and atin. 0t was not a book of spells or potions, but a book of prayers and orations that are

said to strengthen and focus one’s mental powers, by beseeching god for intellectual gifts. Among

these intellectual gifts is the concept of a <perfect memory.=

4hose who practice liberal arts, such as arithmetic, geometry, and philosophy, are promised a

mastery of their sub>ect if they devote themselves to the Ars 7otoria. "ithin, it describes a daily

process of visualiation, contemplation, and orations, intended to enhance the practitioner’s focus

and memory.

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)evils, )eons, and )angerous Creatures of the'seudoonarchia )aeonu

1seudomonarchia aemonum, also known as the ?alse !ierarchy of emons, is a great

compendium from the %@th century dictating the names of sixtynine demons. 4he list initially

appeared as an appendix to a book about demonology and witchcraft by $ohann "eyer. 4he son of

a civic service merchant, $ohann "eyer was a utch doctor and occult practitioner born in the

7etherlands in %'%'. "ell versed in atin from a young age, "eyer *uickly became a student of

!einrich 5ornelius Agrippa, a famous magician, theologian, and occultist in Antwerp.

0t appears that "eyerBs fascination with magic began while working under Agippa, but later escalated

after he became a doctor in his own rightC he was summoned to a particular fortune tellerBs court

case and thereby asked by the >udge for advice on the topic. 4his court case started his interest in

researching the witchcraft way of life, culminating with his decision to attempt to defend those who

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were accused of practicing. 4wentyseven years after this case, when "eyer was sixtytwo years

old, he published 1seudomonarchia aemonum.

"eyer’s work claims that while demons and the monsters from hell could have illusionist power over

people, the affected people were not witches on trialDthe Ementally illE, as "eyer statedDbut rather

the magicians who played tricks on common folk for an easy coin. "eyerBs intention was to create a

creed to vet out the accused who were, in fact, innocent. !ow helpful "eyerBs efforts for the accused

witches were remains unseen, yet there is evidence that his pleas for their mercy went

predominately ignored.

'icatrix: The Ancient Arabian Book of Astrolog( and *ccultMagic

4he 1icatrix is an ancient Arabian book of astrology and occult magic dating back to the %;th or %%th

century, which has gained notoriety for the obscene nature of its magical recipes. 4he 1icatrix, with

its cryptic astrological descriptions and spells covering almost every conceivable wish or desire, has

been translated and used by many cultures over the centuries, and continues to fascinate occult

followers from around the world.

4he 1icatrix was originally written in Arabic, titled #hFyat al!  GakHm, which translates to <4he Aim of

the 6ageE or E4he #oal of the "ise.= -ost scholars believe it originated in the %%th century, although

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there are wellsupported arguments that date it to the %;th. /ventually, the Arabic writings were

translated into 6panish, and later into atin in %:'@ for the 5astilian king Alfonso the "ise. At this

time it took on the atin title 1icatrix.

4he text is composed of both magic and astrology. 2ne element that has contributed to the notoriety

of the 1icatrix is the obscene nature of its magical recipes. 4he gruesome concoctions are intended

to alter one’s state of consciousness, and may lead to outofbody experiences, or even death.

0ngredients includeC blood, bodily excretions, brain matter mixed with copious amounts of hashish,

opium, and psychoactive plants. ?or example, the spell for <#enerating /nmity and iscord= readsC

<4ake four ounces of the blood of a black dog, two ounces each of pig blood and brains, and one

ounce of donkey brains. -ix all this together until well blended. "hen you give this medicine to

someone in food or drink, he will hate you.=

Arbatel: The Magic of the Ancients + An *ccult "rioire $ith a'ositive Message

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4he Arbatel de magia veterum (ArbatelC 2f the -agic of the Ancients) is a enaissanceperiod

grimoire I a textbook of magic I and one of the most influential works of its kind. Jnlike some other

occult manuscripts that contain dark magic and malicious spells, the Arbatel contains spiritual advice

and guidance on how to live an honest and honorable life.

4he Arbatel is claimed to have been written in %'8' A. 4he author remains unknown, although it

has been speculated that it was written by a man named $ac*ues #ohory, a 1aracelsian (a group

who believed in and followed the medical theories and therapies of 1aracelsus).

4he focus of the Arbatel is on nature, and the natural relationships between humanity and a celestial

hierarchy. 0t centers on the positive relationships between the celestial world and humans, and the

interactions between the two. 4he Arbatel was an extremely influential work for its time.

Featured image: 1erson holding an ancient grimoire. ( abovetopsecret.com )

Ky April Holloway