Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Jan 5, 2008 11:31:12 GMT -5
Magic spells which are placed upon people with the intention of harming
them. The misfortune intended by curses can range from illness, and
harm, to even death. Curses are declared to be the most dreaded form of
magic, often called black magic, and are believed to be universally
used. The principle purposes for them to be "laid" or "thrown" are for
revenge, and also for protection of homes, treasures and grave sites.
Curses can become effective immediately or may be dormant for years.
Curses laid on families have been known to have plagued them for
generations.
History of Curses:
The use of curse has been practiced by many cultures. The most
universal method of laying on a curse is by effigy, which is an image
or
representation of the victim, or the person who is wished to be harmed.
Waxed effigies were common in ancient India, Persia, Egypt, Africa and
Europe, and currently are still used. Also, effigies can be made of
clay, wood and stuffed cloth (poppets). Often the effigy is marked or
painted to looked like the victim. It is thought that the closer the
effigy resembles the victim, the more the victim will suffer when the
effigy is harmed or destroyed. The theory behind the harming or
destroying an effigy to do harm to a victim is pure sympathetic magic.
As the effigy is harmed, so the victim is harmed. Likewise, when the
effigy is destroyed, so the victim dies.
The ancient Egyptians often used waxed figures of Apep, a monster who
was the enemy of the sun. The magician would write Apep’s name in
green ink on the effigy, wrapped it in new papyrus and throw it into a
fire As it burned he kicked it with his left foot four times. The ashes
of the effigy were mixed with excrement and thrown into another fire.
The Egyptians also left waxed figures on tombs.
Like blessings, curses have universally been bought and sold throughout
the centuries. With the exclusion of the neo-Pagan Witches, witches and
sorcerers throughout history have performed both blessings and curses
as
a service to others because both are calling upon supernatural powers
to
effect a change. They have rendered these services to client for fees,
or in carrying out judicial sentences. Plato mentioned in the Republic,
"If anyone wishes to injure an enemy; for a small fee they (sorcerers)
will bring harm on good or bad alike, binding the gods to serve their
purposes by spells and curses."
Waxed figures were popularly used during the Middle Ages and
Renaissance in Europe by numerous witches. King James I, of England,
described such activities in his book Daemonologie (1597):
To some others at these times he [the Devil] teaheth how to make
pictures of wax or clay. That by the roasting thereof, the persons that
they beare the name of, may be continually melted or die away by
continually sickness.
They can bewitch and take the life of men or women, by roasting of the
pictures, as I spake of before, which likewise is verie possible to
their Maister to performe, for although, as I said before, that
instrument of waxe has no vertue in that turne doing, yet may he not
very well, even by the same measure that his conjured slaves, melts
that
waxe in fire, may he not. I say at these times, subtily, as a spirite,
so weaken and scatter the spirites of life of the patient, as may make
him on the one part, for faintnesses, so sweate out the humour of his
bodie. And on the other parte, for the not concurrence of these
spirites, which causes his digestion, so debilitate his stomake, that
this humour redicall continually sweating out on the one part, and no
new good sucks being put in the place thereof, for lacke of digestion
on
the other, he shall at last vanish away, even as his picture will die
in
the fire.
Alternatives to melting of effigies have been to stick them with pins
thorns or knives. Animal and human hearts have been used for
substitutes. Hearts, animal corpses or objects which quickly decompose,
such as eggs, are buried in the ground with spells that the victim will
die as the objects deteriorate.
In Ireland "cursing stones" are stones that are stroked and turned to
the left as the curse is recited. It has been frequently claimed that
gems and crystals possess the power to hold curses. . The Hope Diamond
purchased by Louis XVI from Tavernier in 1668, is thought to be cursed,
because its owners have suffered illness, misfortune, and death.
The alleged "mummy curse" is on the tomb of Tutankhamen. It was
discovered when the Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter excavated
Tutankhamen’s burial chamber in 1922. Legend has it that in an
antechamber they found an inscribed clay tablet which read:
Death will slay with its wings whoever disturbs the peace of the
pharaoh.
Six moths later Carnarvon died of an infected mosquito bite. Even
though six of the seven principle members of the excavation team
experienced strange or sudden deaths, thought to have been the result
of
the curse, the tablet was never photographed and strangely disappeared
from the artifacts. Bob Brier, an American parapsychologist and
Egyptologist, speculated the tablet never existed. In Ancient Egyptian
Magic (1980), Briar notes that it is not typically Egyptian to write on
clay tablets or to refer to death as having wings. Also, no other
reliable sources exist that cite the curse.
Various legends abound in the United Kingdom and Europe of curses laid
upon families, especially of the aristocracy. One of the most horrible
curses was that of childlessness or death to the heirs, to the family
lineage died out.
Current use of curses:
The word hex is sometimes used synonymously with curse. Among the
Pennsylvania Dutch Witches hex can designate either a good or bad
spell.
In neo-Pagan Witchcraft, some Witches use the term hex to designate a
binding spell, which is different from a curse.
A curse is the expression of desire of harm to come to a particular
person. Anyone can lay a curse on another person, but it is believed
that the authority of the person who lays the curse on increases its
potency and makes it more dangerous. Such persons are believed to be
priests, priestesses or royalty; persons possessing magical skill, such
as Witches, sorcerers and magicians; and persons who have no other
recourse to justice, such as women in many societies, the poor, the
destitute and the dying. Deathbed curses are the most potent, since all
the curser’s vital energy goes into the curse.
There is a belief that if the victim knows that he has been cursed and
believes that he is doomed, that the curse is all the more potent for
the victim helps to cause his own demise. However, many Witches and
sorcerers claim that curses can be just as effective without the
victim’s knowledge of them. They further say that they would never
let the victim know the curse had been laid on him because then he
might
go to another Witch seeking to get it removed.
This has happened. Persons feeling that they have been cursed have will
go to a Witch or sorcerer, sometimes in ignorance to the same person
who
put the curse on them, to have the spell broken. If the Witch or
sorcerer has laid the curse on the person, then he makes an additional
fee for taking it off. When two opposing Witches or sorcerers are
involved, a magical war might erupt to see whose has the stronger
magical powers.
In the various traditions of neo-Pagan Witchcraft it is against the
ethics and laws of the Craft to lay curses. Most Witches abide by this,
thinking that the curse will return to the curser in the same form as
given. Although there are those that believe that cursing against
one’s enemies is justified. Witches from ethnic cultures such as
the Italian Striga, the Mexican Bruja, and branches of the Pennsylvania
Dutch also believe that cursing is justified.
Just as many methods exit for breaking cursers as there are for making
them. If a magically charged object has been hidden in someone's
dwelling it may be discovered by divination or clairvoyance and
ceremonially destroyed. Sometimes other banishing rituals or protective
workings are used to overpower the curse, protective talismans and
amulets can be worn, and magical oils and washes can be used to attempt
to lift the curse's effect. A major side effect in removing a curse is
that when the curse is broken, its energy can recoil on the person who
cast it, and if such person has not taken adequate precautions, he/she
may end up receiving the entire effect intended for the curse's victim.
them. The misfortune intended by curses can range from illness, and
harm, to even death. Curses are declared to be the most dreaded form of
magic, often called black magic, and are believed to be universally
used. The principle purposes for them to be "laid" or "thrown" are for
revenge, and also for protection of homes, treasures and grave sites.
Curses can become effective immediately or may be dormant for years.
Curses laid on families have been known to have plagued them for
generations.
History of Curses:
The use of curse has been practiced by many cultures. The most
universal method of laying on a curse is by effigy, which is an image
or
representation of the victim, or the person who is wished to be harmed.
Waxed effigies were common in ancient India, Persia, Egypt, Africa and
Europe, and currently are still used. Also, effigies can be made of
clay, wood and stuffed cloth (poppets). Often the effigy is marked or
painted to looked like the victim. It is thought that the closer the
effigy resembles the victim, the more the victim will suffer when the
effigy is harmed or destroyed. The theory behind the harming or
destroying an effigy to do harm to a victim is pure sympathetic magic.
As the effigy is harmed, so the victim is harmed. Likewise, when the
effigy is destroyed, so the victim dies.
The ancient Egyptians often used waxed figures of Apep, a monster who
was the enemy of the sun. The magician would write Apep’s name in
green ink on the effigy, wrapped it in new papyrus and throw it into a
fire As it burned he kicked it with his left foot four times. The ashes
of the effigy were mixed with excrement and thrown into another fire.
The Egyptians also left waxed figures on tombs.
Like blessings, curses have universally been bought and sold throughout
the centuries. With the exclusion of the neo-Pagan Witches, witches and
sorcerers throughout history have performed both blessings and curses
as
a service to others because both are calling upon supernatural powers
to
effect a change. They have rendered these services to client for fees,
or in carrying out judicial sentences. Plato mentioned in the Republic,
"If anyone wishes to injure an enemy; for a small fee they (sorcerers)
will bring harm on good or bad alike, binding the gods to serve their
purposes by spells and curses."
Waxed figures were popularly used during the Middle Ages and
Renaissance in Europe by numerous witches. King James I, of England,
described such activities in his book Daemonologie (1597):
To some others at these times he [the Devil] teaheth how to make
pictures of wax or clay. That by the roasting thereof, the persons that
they beare the name of, may be continually melted or die away by
continually sickness.
They can bewitch and take the life of men or women, by roasting of the
pictures, as I spake of before, which likewise is verie possible to
their Maister to performe, for although, as I said before, that
instrument of waxe has no vertue in that turne doing, yet may he not
very well, even by the same measure that his conjured slaves, melts
that
waxe in fire, may he not. I say at these times, subtily, as a spirite,
so weaken and scatter the spirites of life of the patient, as may make
him on the one part, for faintnesses, so sweate out the humour of his
bodie. And on the other parte, for the not concurrence of these
spirites, which causes his digestion, so debilitate his stomake, that
this humour redicall continually sweating out on the one part, and no
new good sucks being put in the place thereof, for lacke of digestion
on
the other, he shall at last vanish away, even as his picture will die
in
the fire.
Alternatives to melting of effigies have been to stick them with pins
thorns or knives. Animal and human hearts have been used for
substitutes. Hearts, animal corpses or objects which quickly decompose,
such as eggs, are buried in the ground with spells that the victim will
die as the objects deteriorate.
In Ireland "cursing stones" are stones that are stroked and turned to
the left as the curse is recited. It has been frequently claimed that
gems and crystals possess the power to hold curses. . The Hope Diamond
purchased by Louis XVI from Tavernier in 1668, is thought to be cursed,
because its owners have suffered illness, misfortune, and death.
The alleged "mummy curse" is on the tomb of Tutankhamen. It was
discovered when the Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter excavated
Tutankhamen’s burial chamber in 1922. Legend has it that in an
antechamber they found an inscribed clay tablet which read:
Death will slay with its wings whoever disturbs the peace of the
pharaoh.
Six moths later Carnarvon died of an infected mosquito bite. Even
though six of the seven principle members of the excavation team
experienced strange or sudden deaths, thought to have been the result
of
the curse, the tablet was never photographed and strangely disappeared
from the artifacts. Bob Brier, an American parapsychologist and
Egyptologist, speculated the tablet never existed. In Ancient Egyptian
Magic (1980), Briar notes that it is not typically Egyptian to write on
clay tablets or to refer to death as having wings. Also, no other
reliable sources exist that cite the curse.
Various legends abound in the United Kingdom and Europe of curses laid
upon families, especially of the aristocracy. One of the most horrible
curses was that of childlessness or death to the heirs, to the family
lineage died out.
Current use of curses:
The word hex is sometimes used synonymously with curse. Among the
Pennsylvania Dutch Witches hex can designate either a good or bad
spell.
In neo-Pagan Witchcraft, some Witches use the term hex to designate a
binding spell, which is different from a curse.
A curse is the expression of desire of harm to come to a particular
person. Anyone can lay a curse on another person, but it is believed
that the authority of the person who lays the curse on increases its
potency and makes it more dangerous. Such persons are believed to be
priests, priestesses or royalty; persons possessing magical skill, such
as Witches, sorcerers and magicians; and persons who have no other
recourse to justice, such as women in many societies, the poor, the
destitute and the dying. Deathbed curses are the most potent, since all
the curser’s vital energy goes into the curse.
There is a belief that if the victim knows that he has been cursed and
believes that he is doomed, that the curse is all the more potent for
the victim helps to cause his own demise. However, many Witches and
sorcerers claim that curses can be just as effective without the
victim’s knowledge of them. They further say that they would never
let the victim know the curse had been laid on him because then he
might
go to another Witch seeking to get it removed.
This has happened. Persons feeling that they have been cursed have will
go to a Witch or sorcerer, sometimes in ignorance to the same person
who
put the curse on them, to have the spell broken. If the Witch or
sorcerer has laid the curse on the person, then he makes an additional
fee for taking it off. When two opposing Witches or sorcerers are
involved, a magical war might erupt to see whose has the stronger
magical powers.
In the various traditions of neo-Pagan Witchcraft it is against the
ethics and laws of the Craft to lay curses. Most Witches abide by this,
thinking that the curse will return to the curser in the same form as
given. Although there are those that believe that cursing against
one’s enemies is justified. Witches from ethnic cultures such as
the Italian Striga, the Mexican Bruja, and branches of the Pennsylvania
Dutch also believe that cursing is justified.
Just as many methods exit for breaking cursers as there are for making
them. If a magically charged object has been hidden in someone's
dwelling it may be discovered by divination or clairvoyance and
ceremonially destroyed. Sometimes other banishing rituals or protective
workings are used to overpower the curse, protective talismans and
amulets can be worn, and magical oils and washes can be used to attempt
to lift the curse's effect. A major side effect in removing a curse is
that when the curse is broken, its energy can recoil on the person who
cast it, and if such person has not taken adequate precautions, he/she
may end up receiving the entire effect intended for the curse's victim.