Oriental Magic 0140194649

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ORIENTAL MAGIC

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CONTENTS foreword

by Dr. Louis Marin

PREFACE

Poff

xiii XV

The Diffusion of Magic; origins in High Asian shamanism; among the Finns, Lapps and Amerindians; communication between peoples in prehistoric times: Celtic legends and the drift from Asia and Egypt Greeks and Romans and this drift Is there a supernatural power of magic? Field for further scientific investi­ gation. Cbaptrr I. MAGIC IS INTERNATIONAL

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Men’s minds work alike in widely separated communities. The Magician of Chitral; the sorceress Sita of the Chinese border. Activities of this witch. Mediumistic and clairvoyant trances of the Mongolian peoples. The Mexican snake-god and its reflection in India, Uruguay and Asiatic Turkey. Tabu and propitiation rites; the 'Forbidden spot’: similarities of this belief in the West. Objects of magic. The Hindus and the akasa (life-force) theory. The Western grimoires (‘Black Books of the Sorcerers’) and their origins in oriental magic. Diffusion of the Wax-Image type of spell. Spell against sorcery. Established religion and magic. The ‘Christianization * of the Kry of Solomon. Islam and magic. The paraphernalia of magic; the question of the Compact. X. JEWISH MAGIC

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Role of Jewish magicians. The Book of Signs, and the Book of Ba^itl. Transmission to Noah and Solomon. Figures and spells of the book. The Book of Enoch; rabbinical hostility to magic. The Books of Htrmos; Thoth and Theuth. Cicero and the thirty-six thousand volumes. The Zohar-, devils and spirits. Rites of Jewish magic. Abraham, son of Simon. Sacred and profane magic. The Trnt Grimoin and its Jewish ascription. Other sources of Western occultism supposed to derive from Hebrew sources. Magic in the Bible; types of magicians and their activities. Jewish demonology. Lilith. The sacred ‘Word of Power *. Historical instances of magic: Saul and the Witch of En-Dor. Elijah and the King of Damascus. The strange story of Nostradamus the Seer. The terminology of Cabbalism. The Platonists. The method by which magic is revealed to mankind, according to the Mogfts. j.

Solomon: king and magician Solomonic magic an important bridge between several occult systems. Legends and books of the Son of David. His power of

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vi CONTENTS Chapter Page commanding the Genii; the magical ring; the power over winds and knowledge of the language of the birds. Solomon in the Valley of the Ants, according to the Koran. What was the Seal of Solomon? The Most Great Name of God; the Testament of Solomon; conjuration of all evil spirits. The Key of Solomon, the Rook of Asmodeus and their influence on the magic of the Middle East. The Circle; Chinese magic; contribution of Solomon. 4. THE OCCULT IN BABYLONIA

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The demons and spirits of the Babylonians: importance of this civilization in the diffusion of magic arts. The much-neglected rites of the Accadians, founders of Babylonian occultism. Assur-bani-Pal’s library: tablets of incantations. Roots of magical arts known in the West. Process for the healing of a sick man. Description of the Rite Against the Eclipse. Victory over enemies and their gods. Scope of the Mesopotamian magic arts. The gods and goddesses: their links with demons and adoption by other peoples. Rites of exorcism. The power words. Conjuration from the Accadian tablets. The link with the Finns. 5. EGYPTIAN MAGIC

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Connection between Jewish and ancient Egyptian magic. Moses and the duel of the snakes. Alchemy traced to Egypt. Legends of the Pyramids. Magic not considered Black Art, unless directed against the State. The purposes of official magic in dynastic Egypt. Country of Egypt and its effect on the rites: the ritual of the Nile. The miracles of Khufu’s magician Teta: His raising of the dead and maimed. Account of the experiments of Teta. Thebes and Memphis as magical centres. Greek papyri and the Egyptian influence. Porphyry on Egyptian magic. The ritual of the boy with the lamp. The Rook of the Dead. The Scarab and its uses. ‘Binding’ and ‘compelling’ the gods. Actual names of power quoted. Protection against hostile animals. The rites of the dead: embalming and ‘opening the mouth’. Experiences of one student of the occult in Egypt. The Singing Sands and similar phenomena: Colossi of Amunoph III. Lucky and un­ lucky days of the Month of Thoth. 6.

JU-JU LAND OF THE TWIN NILES

Author’s year in the Sudan, unravelling magical rites there. The Nyam-Nyam and their initiation into the sphere of magic. Methods of training and discipleship. Casting spells for clients. The Spell of Victory. The use of the magical whistle. A plant­ collecting expedition. Love charms, how they are cast. Badges and equipment of the student-sorcerer. The Fish Tabu as a magical rite. Auto-hypnosis in the Sudan. How to identify a magician. Mungo—the ectoplasmic force. Men and girls in ritual dancing. Solomon’s Mines. Rites of the Kafirs.

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CONTENTS vii Cbapttr Papp 7. THE FAKIRS ANJ) THEIR DOCTRINES 59 The nature of the mystical practice of Tasawwuf—one of the most widespread of all oriental cults. The organization of the Orders; the Brethren of Purity and the Mahdist warriors. Origins of the cult; beliefs of the Sufis: the mission of the Fakir. ‘Man is destined to live a social life’. Origin of the term ‘Fakir’. The halo of invulnerability, infallibility and supernatural manifesta­ tions. Miracles and powers reported of the saintship of the orders: Shahab-el-Din and his conjuration of fruits, etc.; the Night Journey to Heaven and Hell; the non-existence of time; walking on water; miracles and karamat; the orders. The Four Orders; theory of the creed; the Invisible Rulership; entry and initiation; the Path; stages and degrees of advancement; recita­ tions; Sufi mystical poem of Mirza Khan. Diagrammatic repre­ sentation of the Sufi Path and occult phenomena; diagram of the organization of the ‘stages of power’; organization of the Chishti Order; the world Sufi hierarchy. The Eleven Secret Rules.

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THE ARABIAN CONTRIBUTION

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Pre-Islamic Arabia; later contribution of the Arabs; spread of occultism under the Arab Empire; the system of magic of Rhazes; other Arab authorities; the genii and the lycanthropes. Ibn Khaldun and magic: Pure Magic, Talismans; the ‘power from within the magician’—mana-akasa again. The first scientific commentary on magic. The making and use of talismans of metal according to certain aspects of the stars. Power and Talis­ mans. The Swastika and its adaptations by the Arabs. The making and use of the knot in cursing. Fairies and compelling the power of jinni. The Word of Power. Important treatises on magic among the Arabs.

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LEGENDS OF THE SORCERERS

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The story of El-Arab: his strange activities. Was he in control of lightning? What can be learned from oriental tales about magicians? Sadoma, the magician of Baghdad. His converse with spirits in the trackless desert. The magical Roc; travellers and the magical repasts. Emotion and mental powers raised to higher pitch. Unbalance or greater balance? The Golden River and its spirit. Siltim, the sorcerer, taking any form he chose. The story of Siltim and his beloved. The search for the Elixir of Life. Story of the locksmith and the hearts. Himalayan Leopard Powder against hunger and disease. Story of the English Vampiress. Encounter with a magician. El Ghirby and the Golden Head. IO. CALLING THE SPIRITS

Evocation of spirits comes within a strangely identical system among many peoples. It is the same in all systems of High Magic.

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