In all the earliest developments of human thought we find a strong tendency to ascribe mysterious powers over Nature to men and women especially gifted or skilled. Survivals of this view are found to this day among savages and barbarians left behind in the evolution of civilization, and especially is this the case among the tribes of Australia, Africa, and the Pacific coast of America.
Even in the most enlightened nations still appear popular beliefs, observances, or sayings, drawn from this earlier phase of thought.
Between the prehistoric savage developing this theory, and therefore endeavouring to deal with the powers of Nature by magic, and the modern man who has outgrown it, appears a long line of nations struggling upward through it.
Both in the Old Testament and in the New we find magic, witchcraft, and soothsaying constantly referred to as realities.
Necromancy is the act of conjuring the dead for divination. It dates back to Persia, Greece and Rome, and in the Middle Ages was widely practiced by magicians, sorcerers, and witches. ...
The Gypsies, who call themselves Rom or Romany, are a nomadic culture which originated in India during the Middle Ages. They migrated widely, particularly to Europe, where they worked as farm laborers, metalworkers, scrapdealers, and horsetraders. ...
Amulets - protective devices worn around the body, or placed next to other objects, to protect them from various evils --were common in all societies and all periods of antiquity, and their use was accepted as normal by secular, religious, and "scientific" authorities (i.e., the physicians)....
In legends of most countries there are lots of stories about powerful wizards. Some of them could grind gold, others could sing songs that melt snow, the third protected their country covering it with the thiñk fog when the enemies were approaching. ...
When a Vampire commits diablerie, he must make a contested Willpower roll against his victim, difficulty 6. If the victim is of lower generation than the Diablerist then the Diablerist must remove one die from his Willpower pool for each level difference over one. ...
There are two types of vampires in Africa, the obayifo and the asasabonsam. The obayifo was a witch living within the community. Becoming a witch was not genetic, so community members had no preconceived knowledge of the witch....
Many systems have been developed over the ages to help us control our thoughts. A great amount of dogma too has been kicked around in an attempt to make us into better people. ...
The roots of magic come from the Celts, a people living between 700 BC and 100 AD. Believed to be descendants of Indo-Europeans, the Celts were a brilliant and dynamic people - gifted artists, musicians, storytellers, metalworkers, expert farmers and fierce warriors....
The major Wiccan and witchcraft holidays are called Sabbats - a yearly wheel of the seasons and the harvests. Each Sabbat is based on a major seasonal event, and the half-way points between them, such as Equinox, Solstice, etc. ...
Today, the typical witch is generally portrayed as an old hag in a black robe, wearing a pointed black cap and flying on a broomstick across a full moon....
Magick is associated with all kinds of paranormal and occult phenomena, including but not limited to: ESP, astral projection, psychic healing, the cabala, and chakras....
Magick is associated with all kinds of paranormal and occult phenomena, including but not limited to: ESP, astral projection, psychic healing, the cabala, and chakras....
There are a number of practices, the origins of which are more or less obscure, that may be described as "popular superstitions." All that may be said of them is that they are traditional, that they have been observed since "time immemorial," and are, therefore, worthy of some notice, even if their only value lies in the fact that they are merely quaint and amusing. ...
