Incantation
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An incantation, a spell, a charm, an enchantment, or a bewitchery, is a magical formula intended to trigger a magical effect on a person or objects. The formula can be spoken, sung, or chanted. An incantation can also be performed during ceremonial rituals or prayers. In the world of magic, wizards, witches, and fairies are common performers of incantations in culture and folklore.[1]
In
Words of incantation are often spoken with inflection and emphasis on the words being said. The tone and rhyme of how the words are spoken and the placement of words used in the formula may differ depending on the desired outcome of the magical effect.[3]
Surviving written records of historical magic spells were largely obliterated in many cultures by the success of the major monotheistic religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity), which label some magical activity as immoral or associated with evil.[4][unreliable source?]
Etymology
The
The words that are similar to incantations such as enchantment, charms and spells are the effects of reciting an incantation. To be enchanted is to be under the influence of an enchantment, usually thought to be caused by charms or
Magic words
Magic words or words of power are words which have a specific, and sometimes unintended, effect. They are often nonsense phrases used in fantasy fiction or by stage prestidigitators. Frequently such words are presented as being part of a divine, adamic, or other secret or empowered language. Certain comic book heroes use magic words to activate their powers.
Examples of traditional magic words include
In Babylonian, incantations can be used in rituals to burn images of one's own enemies. An example would be found in the series of Mesopotamian incantations of Šurpu and Maqlû. In the Orient, the charming of snakes have been used in incantations of the past and still used today. A person using an incantation would entice the snake out of its hiding place in order to get rid of them.[1]
Udug-hul
In Mesopotamian mythology, Udug Hul incantations are used to exorcise demons (evil Udug) who bring misfortune or illnesses, such as mental illness or anxiety. These demons can create horrible events such as divorce, loss of property, or other catastrophes.[5]
In folklore and fiction
In traditional fairy tales magical formulas are sometimes attached to an object.[citation needed] When the incantation is uttered, it helps transform the object. In such stories, incantations are attached to a magic wand used by wizards, witches and fairy godmothers. One example is the spell that Cinderella's Fairy Godmother used to turn a pumpkin into a coach, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", a nonsense rhyme which echoes more serious historical incantations.[6]
Modern uses and interpretations
The performance of magic almost always involves the use of language. Whether spoken out loud or unspoken, words are frequently used to access or guide magical power. In The Magical Power of Words (1968), S. J. Tambiah argues that the connection between language and magic is due to a belief in the inherent ability of words to influence the universe. Bronisław Malinowski, in
Not all speech is considered magical. Only certain words and phrases or words spoken in a specific context are considered to have magical power.
Malinowski argues that "the language of magic is sacred, set and used for an entirely different purpose to that of ordinary life."
Another potential source of the power of words is their secrecy and exclusivity. Much sacred language is differentiated enough from common language that it is incomprehensible to the majority of the population and it can only be used and interpreted by specialized practitioners (
Examples of charms
- The Anglo-Saxon metrical charms
- The Carmina Gadelica, a collection of Gaelic oral poetry, much of it charms
- The hymnsor incantations
- Hittite ritual texts
- The Greek Magical Papyri
- Maqlû, Akkadian incantation text
- The Merseburg charms, two medieval magic spells, charms written in Old High German
- Scandinavian folk spells
- Pow-Wows; or, Long Lost Friend
- Babylonian incantations[9]
- Mesopotamian incantations were composed to counter anything from witchcraft (Maqlû) to field pests (Zu-buru-dabbeda).
See also
- Carmen, a term for an Ancient Roman incantation
- Curse (disambiguation)
- Finnic incantations
- Hex (disambiguation)
- Incantations in the Harry Potter series
- Incantation bowl, an ancient Middle Eastern protective magical tool
- Jinx (disambiguation)
- Kotodama, the Japanese belief in the power of words and names
- Lorica, Irish protective prayer
- Mantra, a sacred sound, word, or phrase, often repeated multiple times, in meditation
- Spell (ritual)
- Yajna, Hindu sacrificial offering
- Zagovory, East Slavic spells
References
- ^ a b Cushman, Stephen (2012). Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics : Fourth Edition. Princeton, ProQuest Ebook Central: Princeton University Press. p. 681.
- ISBN 978-1-57863-434-7.
- ISBN 978-1-57863-434-7.
- ^ Davies, Owen (8 April 2009). "The top 10 grimoires". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- ISBN 9781614515326.
- ISBN 0-7656-1260-7.
- ^ ISBN 978-1136417733.
- ^ JSTOR 2798500.
- ^ "The Recordings: BAPLAR: SOAS". speechisfire.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
External links
- Media related to Incantations at Wikimedia Commons