Necromancy conjures to mind everything from the summoning of the dead to foretell the future to the conjuring and binding of spiritual forces, good and evil, to accomplish a wide range of ends. But, just what does real, historical necromancy look like? In this episode I explore a handwritten necromancer's manual from Tudor England - MS Add.3544 (c. 1536-9) - to discover just what kinds of magical practices it contains. From erotic binding magic (love magic), to divination, to conjuring spirits and plants to summoning various spirits, this manual gives us a wonderful insight into the religious and magical world of the late Medieval period.
#magic #necromancy #divination
Recommended Readings:
Young - The Cambridge Book of Magic - 978-0992640422
Other volumes in the Penn State History of Magic Series
26 авг 2021