White magic

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For other uses, see White magic (disambiguation).
"White witch" redirects here. For other uses, see White Witch (disambiguation).
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White magic has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or

wizards. Many of these people claimed to have the ability to do such things because of knowledge or power that was passed on to them through hereditary lines, or by some event later in their lives. White magic was practiced through healing, blessing, charms, incantations, prayers, and songs.[2] White magic is the benevolent counterpart of malicious black magic
.

History

Early origins

See also: Western esotericism

In his 1978 book, A History of White Magic, recognised occult author Gareth Knight traces the origins of white magic to early adaptations of paleolithic religion and early religious history in general, including the polytheistic traditions of Ancient Egypt and the later monotheistic ideas of Judaism and early Christianity.[3]

In particular, he traced many of the traditions of white magic to the early worship of local "gods and goddesses of fertility and vegetation who were usually worshipped at hill-top shrines" and were "attractive to a nomadic race settling down to an agricultural existence".

Hebrew-speaking tribes and suggests that early Jews saw the worship of such deities more in terms of atavism than evil. It was only when the polytheistic and pagan Roman Empire began to expand that Jewish leaders began to rally against those ideas.[3]

Early origins of white magic can also be traced back to the Cunning Folk.

During the Renaissance

See also: Renaissance magic

By the late 15th century, natural magic "had become much discussed in high-cultural circles".

De occulta philosophia libri tres which contained an outline of, among other things, classical elements, numerology, astrology and kabbalah and detailed ways of utilizing these relationships and laws in medicine, scrying, alchemy and rituals and ceremonies. Giambattista della Porta expanded on many of these ideas in his Magia Naturalis.[5]

It is the coming-together of these ideas - early "natural" religions and later philosophical thinking - that Knight suggests is "at the root of the Western tradition of white magic".

Neo-paganism.[3] It continues to be of importance of white magic practitioners in the form of the pentagram
and night-time ritual.

Zambelli goes further and suggests that white magic, though then not specifically distinct from its counterpart black magic, grew as the more acceptable form of occult and pagan study in the era of the Inquisition and anti-witchcraft sentiment.[4] If black magic was that which involved Trithemius' invocation of demons, Ficino's "purely natural" white magic could be framed as the study of "natural" phenomena in general with no evil or irreligious intent whatsoever. Zambelli places academics like Giordano Bruno in this category of "clandestine" practitioners of magic.[4]

Modern interpretations

In his 2009 book, Magic and Alchemy,

low magic" (black) based primarily on intentions of the practitioner employing them.[6] His modern definition maintains that the purpose of white magic is to "do good" or to "bring the practitioner to a higher spiritual state" of enlightenment or consciousness.[6] He acknowledges, though, that this broader definition (of "high" and "low") suffers from prejudices as good-intentioned folk magic may be considered "low" while ceremonial magic involving expensive or exclusive components may be considered by some as "high magic", regardless of intent.[6]

According to Place, effectively all prehistoric

good luck or well-being.[6]

Goddess worship

Main article: Mother goddess

Though not exclusively a female pursuit, modern white magic is often associated with stereotypically feminine concepts like that of a Mother goddess,

fae, nature spirits, oneness with nature and goddess worship.[7] In modern stories or fairy tales, the idea of "white witchcraft" is often associated with a kindly grandmother or caring motherly spirit. The link between white magic and a Mother Earth is a regular theme of the practitioner Marian Green's written work.[7]

See also

  • Gray magic – Form of supernatural magic
  • Renaissance magic – Magical science during the Renaissance
  • Theurgy – Practice of rituals with the intention of invoking the action/presence of one or more deities

References

  1. S2CID 162843793
    . Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  2. ^ Temple, Ian. Magic and the Common People of Early Modern Europe.
  3. ^ a b c d e A History of White Magic by Gareth Knight (Skylight Press, 2011 reprint)
  4. ^ a b c d e White Magic, Black Magic in the European Renaissance by Paola Zambelli (BRILL, 2007)
  5. ^ The Occult Sciences in the Renaissance: A Study in Intellectual Patterns by Wayne Shumaker (University of California Press, 1972)
  6. ^
    Infobase Publishing
    , 2009)
  7. ^ a b White Magic by Marian Green (Southwater, 2004)
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