"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God..."
"One little lie can ruin my day.
Words are like weapons, they betray.
When I am afraid.
One word of kindness, it can save me."
Words are like weapons, they betray.
When I am afraid.
One word of kindness, it can save me."
The very act of communication is nothing short of a miracle.
I cannot agree with the people who insist that the “intelligible” language and
writings are what makes us human beings, thus on some level, and in some
amount, separates us from the rest of the animals. But I will say, that I
firmly believe, that it’s what perpetuates our self-consciousness, and
“human-nature”. Moreover, it’s safe to say that the communication, language(s)
and the writing, are one of the first products of human kind, which were
self-aware, and reasonable to whatever point.
So what is
language, anyway? One of the definitions, provided by the Merriam-Webster’s
dictionary is as follows:
“a systematic means of
communicating ideas or feelings by the use of conventionalized signs, sounds,
gestures, or marks having understood meanings” [1]
Quite clear, and
quite on point. And the reason why You and I can read it, understand and
perhaps even share with others, is exactly because we are, as humans capable,
to name, describe and communicate things to each other. It is wildly held by
anthropologists, that what preceded the communications, language, and
ultimately the words and symbols, is the event of hominids becoming aware of
themselves. Then they become aware of significance of others, and relaying of
emotions, notions, ideas and information’s to them.
In the Leary’s
Eight-circuit model of Consciousness, this would have occurred, when the third
mental circuit appeared in human mind, or when the “human” (most likely a hominid
at that point), evolved into it. The third mental circuit is, according to this
“model” concerned with handling the environment, language, invention,
prediction, calculation, physical dexterity, and so on. [2]
Such event marks
the evolutionary changes, and the raise of human consciousness, which made our
“primitive” ancestors more organized, united, and productive, enabling them to
teach, and spread the experiences and knowledge.
According to many
occultists, the birth of language, marks the birth of use of magick by humans,
as we know it today. Humans could then name the objects or other humans, and
thus influence or even control them.
Spiritual dimension of words and language
Many religions,
philosophies and mystical systems in the world, assign crucial place to the
language, and the spoken and written word likewise, in the spiritual practice
in general.
The Egyptian
deity Thoth, held dominion over the writing, science, words, language, and is
believed to be the one that taught the human kind the art of magick. He was not
conceived, like most of the other Egyptian deities, at the time, but had rather
“emerged” directly from the thoughts of Amon Ra. What more, Ancient Egyptians
had held, that without Thot’s influence, Universe would never come to be in the
form we know it, for he had role in defining and shaping things, noting them
down etc. [3] Heka practitioners, thus, always warn of the needed caution when
speaking, expressing wishes or writing
the words down, for every word, particularly a spoken one, creates a sort of a
ripple effect and changes in one’s life. According to their teachings, the
essence of the words is magickal, creative energy, a notion, which as we will
discuss later here too, was held by the like of Agrippa too. The names, were
also crucial in both Egyptian religion and Magick, as they were the way to
secure the afterlife.
In Christianity,
Judaism, the words precede creation, and the Lord has created the very universe
in which we live through the means of word:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the
beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and
that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in
the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it” ( John 1:1-5 NIV ) [4]
Another term used
for Word here ( in many translations ) is the “logos” and while the Gnostics may argue that it does not truly mean
“word”, but rather (self)consciousness, it’s more likely that the earlier is
the case here. Logos does come from the Greek “lego” which literarily means “I
say”, and furthermore, the Gospel of John clearly identifies the Logos with the
Second personification of the Holy Trinity, which would be the Lord Jesus
Christ. So the Logos in this section can be understood also a creative power of
the words, fueled by the Divine power.
Which brings us
to the our next point, an idea, or a notion, which is fairly popular in
Ceremonial magick, and mentioned in “Arbatel de magia veterum”, also in the
Agrippa’s “There Books of Occult philosophy” which claim that the words and
characters ( letters, seals, signatures etc. ) hold magickal power because G’d
has ordained so, and it is basically through his divine power that they take
effect. [5]
Thanks to such,
the words, contain also a sort of “essence” ( “natural-power” ) in Agrippa’s
words, which pertains to the things they describe. Which enables that a living
being, or an object, once named, or described, in a way becomes eternal, for
even if it’s physical composition disappears, it can always be “conjured” from
the memory, or even writings, even if not literally so.
“Here magicians say, that proper names of things are certain
rays of things, everywhere present at all times, keeping the power of things,
as the essence of the thing signified, rules, and is discerned in them, and
know the things by them, as by proper ,and living images.” [6] ( Agrippa, Three
Books of Occult philosophy, I Book )
The words and
symbols were thus, in the antiquity, primarily of the concerns of the intuitive
priesthood, who were the original scribes, forming the languages and alphabets
as we know them. For they could receive the information in forms of words and
signs, form Higher Power and spirits, and capture the essence of things relayed
through them.
One final
dimension of words, and language, which should be mentioned here, before
proceeding on more practical, and common use of words and language in magick,
is that the language enables sharing of information, concepts, ideas, in their
raw form from one mind to another. Kind of light wireless transfer, or even
some crude form of telepathy. We could never really decipher what’s inside
another mind, If we were not capable of understanding universal symbols like
letters and pictures, charts, etc, and using them ourselves. This is of
particular importance in communication with any form of disembodies spirits.
The spirits will “speak” to via form of telepathy, but they can only relay
information to us in a way we can comprehend, compare, analyze, or illustrate somehow.
In short, things we can conceptualize. From this, it’s only logical to expect
that the person with more broad education, knowledge, vocabulary will be able
to more precisely understand the often cryptic messages of spirts, who can only
convey something to us in terms of concepts we already have in our mind. If we
can not comprehend or associate something the spirits are trying to tell us, it
may not even be “visible” to us at all, or we could even misinterpret it.
Incantation, charms, magick words
There are many
terms, and phrases used both throughout the word, and in the English language
alone. They all more or less loosely encompass the use of words and sometimes
also sounds in magick.
So let’s try to
define some of them, and see how they are used in magick, and spiritual
practice in general.
An incantation,
is simply put, a charm or a spell created by using words. The word is of a
Latin origin, being that in Latin “inacntare”
(present active infinitive) means: “to say (a magickal spell) upon/on/over
something” . Sensu lato, it’s often directly translated to: “to charm”, “to
enchant” or “to bewitch”. [7] Hence incantations are said over someone or
something, to influence them or it magickally. A term, which is held to be
synonymous with “incantation” in the
English language, is the term “enchantment”
borrowed from the French around XIV century, and means basically the same (
they even have the same roots ), the only difference is that the verb “enchant”
can also be used to describe inducing any fascinating, or charming effect upon
someone, oftentimes mundane. Hence, the very noun enchantment, or incantation,
is not completely unlike the “mantra”
of the Sanskrit.
In magick,
incantations are often repeated over potions, amulets or talismans to enchant
them, that is infuse with additional magickal power, and designate them towards
a goal. They can also be sung, and combined with music, in which case, they’d
become “chants”, which we will explain later on, here.
 |
| Babyllonian terracota bowl with incantation in the Aramaic lang. inscribed in spiral pattern, often buried upside down under doorsteps and used to trap evil spirits |
Some incantations
rhyme, yet others don’t. When used in magick, prayers and Psalms, strictly
technically speaking, are in fact incantations, spoken words to produce a
spiritual, magicka effect. Hence, when a Hoodoo practitioner, for example,
raises an opened mojo bag close to his mouth, and speaks the words of prayer or Psalm into it, he is in
fact enchanting the mojo, and “breathing life into it” at the same time. Even
though I doubt any rootworker would call it enchanting, by name.
Also the common,
short prayers from the books such as “Egyptian Secrets” or “Pow wows of a long
lost friend” are a typical examples of incantations. Some even rhyme, but most
do not.
A charm, on the other hand, is a rather
ambiguous term, often synonymous with the term “spell”, and used to describe
anything from a magick word to an object such as amulet or talisman. In mundane
terms, it represents a quality of someone, which is much like charisma, a
quality of likability, allure, or appeal.
As a verb, it can be understood as making a delightful, astonishing
effect upon someone, making someone like you. Here are some definitions from
the Merriam-Webster dictionary:
“: something that is believed to have magic powers and
especially to prevent bad luck
: a small object that is worn on a chain or bracelet
: a quality that causes someone or something to be very
likeable : an attractive quality
…
1
a : the chanting or reciting of a magic
spell : incantation
b : a practice or expression believed to
have magic power
2
: something worn about the person to ward off
evil or ensure good fortune : amulet “ [8]
Here, we shall
focus on the charms as magickal words, or symbols formed with the use of words,
as the other meanings have already been explained, or do not fit under the
subject of this particular article ( ea. Amulets and talismans, bracelets, appeal etc. ).
A charm in magick
would therefore be a word, or phrase believed to possess special power.
Kabbalistic Divine names, which are inscribed upon talismans, chanted or etched
into candles even, are in their own way charms. It should be noted here, though,
that observance or use of the Holy Names as charms, is in Judaism prohibited,
and condemned, but alive and prominent in mystic systems that sprout from it,
or Christianity.
There are many
charms which consist of words, magickal phrases, Barbarous names, deities names
etc. written in a certain fashion, or in a geometric pattern, that thus become
magickal, and exhibit splendid powers. Some wellknown examples would include
Abramelin squares, or other magickal squares like the SATOR square, ABRACADABRA
triangle, OKNOTINOS charm for removing fever, and various other folk healing charms , of which I wrote before in greater length, providing various examples. Some
of them need to be written down, but some can be spoken, making them thus a
cross between an incantation and a charm, as it were. Such example is one of
the uses of the Shebriri charm, which is recited, to defeat the demon that can
cause blindness, and poor eyesight, often associated with the water metabolism
disorders too. Such patients are instructed to chant:
“My mother told me to
beware of Shabriri, briri, riri, iri, ri!” [8]
Sometimes, the
very characters, graphemes, and signature, in magickal alphabet or a common
one, alone, or combined minding some specific arrangement, are used as magickal
charms. Each letter of Hebrew alphabet, for example, is in the Western traditions correspondent to
a certain Tarot card from the Major Arcana, planet, numeric value, symbol, or
even element. Vibrating them ( pronouncing in a vibrating voice ), on inscribing
on amulets and talismans, produces a
magickal effect.
Magick words,
sensu stricto, are any words use in magick, or as a magick formula. Incantations,
charms, or lengthy and complex invocations and evocations in Latin, random
barbarous names, or spoken charms, are all words of power, hence magik words.
Thus all that’s said before, in regards of incantations and charms, applies
here too.
Chants and the power of sound and singing
Chanting for
example, is the continuous act of singing verses, words of names, with a
spiritual meaning or significance, often in repetitive manner, and all for the
purpose of producing a spiritual effect. At least in religion and magick, that
is. Hence, chants, which oftentimes rhyme, or have certain metric regulations,
alternating rhythmic patterns and so on, serve to both
a)
invoke the aid of some Higher power,
b)
to alter the state of consciousness.
Continuous loud
recital or singing of the mantras, is what we call chanting, in magick. When
part of a religious rite or a ceremony, and the act involves more individuals,
the resulting effect may be, that the chanting people raise an enormous amount
of energy, and start feeling how the boundaries between them are melting away,
and they become united in worship, and/or religious ecstasy. An example of such
is the “Canto Gregoriano” or short Gregorian chants, used in Christian masses.
It’s often reported that the pious people have learnt the melody and the
meaning of the chants through merely partaking the mass, without even previous
knowledge of the Latin. [9]
Furthermore, the
very sound of words and letters, which is created by uttering them, has a
magickal effect. Vibrating the letters or words may induce trance, or broaden
the spiritual awareness.
Each note, is
assigned a color and planetary correspondence, combining thus the magickal
power of music and sound, with the words and rhymes alters the state of consciousness, and
produces powerful magickal effects.
The Language(s) of magick
While many
New-Age practitioners would laugh at the very mention of a “magickal language”
or the “language of magick”, it’s really not a risible notion at all, but one
with a lot of common sense and experience behind it.
Of course that
any language can be used in magick, in fact pretty much any sound can. But,
using a specific language, which is not Your mother tongue, for magickal
practices, had been a legitimate, and glorified magickal practice at least
since the medieval times. We can conclude such, by observing the influence of
Kabalistic magick, and use of Psalms in
to affect one’s luck, health, prosperity
etc. This medieval concept relayed that the Psalms, particularly those by
David, contain certain “seed sounds” or “hidden syllables”, which being
uttered, would complete specific tasks, and
reach specific goals, magickally. [10] Furthermore, Divine names, and
Angelic names, as well as all sort of acronyms ( take “AGLA” as an example ),
sometimes genuine Hebrew phrases, sometimes corrupted versions, appear in the
host of invocations and evocations of Higher, that is, Ceremonial magick,
particularly Solomonic ( Grimoire – style ), type of magickal works. They remain untranslated, although sometimes
phoneticisied in the respective language of the book editions, because they are
believed to hold power to compel spirits and command them to do our biddings,
restrict their power that could otherwise hurt us and more. All sort of Divine
names, from Kabbalah, including the ineffable, unutterable and the most Holy
Name of the Lord ( “IHVH” ) as such, are inscribed on talismans and amulets
even of completely unrelated mystical or religious traditions, because the experience has taught the
magickal practitioners that their efficacy would be foolish to neglect.
Hence, some
magickal languages are traditionally associated with spiritual practice and
magick,
and even believed to hold magickal energy in their very graphemes,
symbols and alphabet. Combining them in specific ways, can born new magickal
phrases or names of power, and the Sanskrit and the Hebrew are great examples
of this.
 |
| Magickal alphabets comparison table, from top to bottom: Theban, Enochian ( Celestial ), Malachim, and "The Passing of the river" |
In the Hebrew
spiritual and mystical practices, we can find many names of G’d. Ranging from
monogrammata, or the Hebrew letter “Hey” that represents the breath of Lord,
through which the Ruach (living beings )
came to be on the 5th day of Creation, to the 216 letters
name of G’d, or rather 72 three-letter names of G’d, that are generally
most well-known due to the popularity of
all sort of Practical Kabbalah movements and schools that make great deal of
using them. These 72 names of G’d are
attained by means of permutation of the letters from the specific there verse
of the Old Testament in Hebrew (14:19-21, all three verses having exactly 72 letters),
that is by combining the first letter from the first verse, with the last
letter from the second verse, and the first letter from the third verse, and so
on, following the same patter for each of the letters. The result are 72 triads
of names, referred to as “Names of G’d” , which depict and embody specific
qualities of the Divine and manifestation of His power. In the theoretical
Kabbalah, these are meditated upon, for spiritual insight, and development,
whereas in the practical Kabbalah they are used in a more pragmatic way, being
inscribed on amulets, such as two 36-names amulets, each to be worn on one
hand. [11] Being that these very names/words and phrases, are used in spiritual
practice only, in their natural form, it would certainly not be unprecedented
to call them a form of magickal language on their own. Or a part of one at
least.
So we have seen
that a language, can, due to its
prominent use in spirituality and magickal qualities contained in its
symbols ( once again, we can compare them to the “rays” of the “natural power”
Agrippa has written of ), be treated as a magickal language. But there are more
criteria that can set a language apart as a magickal one.
One of them is
general consensus of the spiritual people and practitioners, greatly due to
universality of the language, which can be seen as either parental or
influential to the languages they speak, as their first language. This would be
Latin. In my humble opinion the most magickal language of them all. Not only
that it’s universal ( or at least it was ) in magickal writings and texts, such
as the medieval grimoires, but it’s greatly favored by all sort of spirits,
particularly the celestial and infernal spirits. As most of the practicing
mages of Ceremonial magick will readily attest. The language itself, initially,
had most likely found its way to
magickal European grimoires thanks to Christian monks and their diligent work
on preserving and copying books of interest, and their occasional, personal interest in the occult.
Keeping the texts of interest from the profane people, or even general masses,
writing them in Latin, was pretty much an act of cryptic coding, more so taking
in consideration the level of literacy and education back in those turbulent
times. Therefore, it’s somewhat a traditional value to use it in spiritual
works and writing about it. Finally,
learning to use and understand Latin, at least the bits used in magickal
workings, is an act of devotion, and a sort of a “curtain” that separates our
spiritual work from the mundane. The same way some people leave daily offerings
to their deities, even though that deities themselves do not need them, but
always appreciate or even demand them, the Latin language in magick is a form
of specific action system that is reserved for spiritual practices, and dealing
with spiritual, physically intangible ( most of the time, anyway ) beings.
So to summarize,
while the use of a specific language in Your magickal working is definitely not
mandatory, it is beneficial for more than a few reasons, namely:
·
Separating the spiritual and mundane work,
keeping and perpetuating the traditional values
·
Showing respect and devotion to the spirits,
favouring the spirits
·
Keeping words of power secret from the preying,
curious or ill-intended eyes
·
Making the magickal information we gather, or
write down accessible to practitioners all over the globe, if they use the
given language in their works, regardless of their mother-tongue, or
ethnical/religions/other-kind background
Hence, one does
not have to become a fluent Hebrew, Sanskrit or Latin speaker, but taking care
to learn and use some of it, be it just the phrases, adds to the sanctity,
importance, and uniqueness of Your spiritual practices, separating them from
the mundane one, while developing devotion and awareness and pleasing spirits.
It also adds that timeless quality to something that very well deserves
it. Certainly worth of try If You ask
me.
NOTES: This article was written and composed by myself, so
If You wish to use any part of it elsewhere online, fee free, but do add
credits; Shadow of the Shadows magick place, Shadow-333@hotmail.com or a direct link to this post
CREDITS AND REFERENCES :
[1] Retrieved from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/language
[2] According to/read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-circuit_model_of_consciousness
[3] According to : Joann Fletcher in “Ancient Egypt”
[4] Retrieved from: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NIV
[5] Leitch, Aaron “Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires; the
classical texts of magick deciphered”
[6] Retrieved from: source listed under [5] page 144th
[7] According to http://www.wordsense.eu/incantare/ ; http://latin-dictionary.net/definition/23079/incanto-incantare-incantavi-incantatus
[8] acc. To “Amulets and Talismans” by E. A. Wallas Budge
[9] acc. To “Encyclopedia of Magic and Ancient Wisdom: The
Essential Guide to Myth, Magic and the Supernatural” by Cass Eason
[10] acc. To http://www.luckymojo.com/secretspsalms.html
[11] acc. To http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/Esoteric/esoteric.html and http://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/1388270/jewish/72-Names-of-G-d.htm
IMAGE CREDITS:
Picture 1
Picture 2 https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/63/4c/08/634c08d38c13adff5d564f660ba5b424.jpg
Picture 3 https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0e/02/31/0e023173897ba90e1ba7904fc9da5462.gif
The 1st and 3rd are edited digitally by myself, all used here
for illustrative, and
educational/explanatory purposes without any ill will
