Difference between revisions of "Conjuration" - New World Encyclopedia

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Native American "conjuror" in a 1590 engraving

The verb conjure is used to refer to the use of magic or spells to affect or bring something into being. Conjuring can also refer to the invocation of a spirit or devil, as well as the less sinister use of the term to refer to magic done by entertainers. As a noun, "conjure" generally refers to an act of folk magic performed by practicioners of hoodoo in the southern United States.

Conjuring as Ritual

Conjuring spirits has been part of the spiritual side of many cultures throughout history, including Native American cultures like the Cherokee, as well as cultures in medieval Europe, shamanism in Asia, and West African influenced hoodoo. The conjuring of spirits has also been a part of many Wiccan practices and rituals.

Methods of Conjuring

Spirits can be conjured to aid and benefit, as well as harm an enemy. Spirits were often conjured to insure long life, success in love, the destruction of an enemy. The conjuring of spirits is often associated with a certain amount of ritual, no matter what the culture. Charms have often been used to summon spirits, as well as magic or sacred symbols marked on the floor/ground, an altar, or embroidered on the clothing of the conjurer. Amulets and protective purification rituals to cleanse the body, mind, and soul are often used to ward off any potential harm that could befall the conjurer. Some rituals consider the hour of the day or night and the astrological configuration of the zodiac important to the success of a ritual. Incense and specific herbs may be used, often used in conjunction with candlelight to create a certain atmosphere.

In addition to the conjuring of spirits, the conjuring of the dead has also been practiced. Necromancy, or the act of conjuring the dead for divination, dates back to ancient times. In the Middle Ages, necromancy was widely practiced by magicians, sorcerers, and witches, until it was condemned by the Catholic Church. Necromancy is not currently practiced in New-pagan Witchcraft, but is still a part of Voodoo. Many consider necromancy to be a dark and repugnant practice.^[1]

Good and Evil

Many Christian religions view conjuration, as well as other forms of magic as an inherently evil practice, explicitly forbidden in the Old Testament. In societies that do not view magic as inherintly evil, there exist those who use conjuring and other forms of magic for selfish and evil purposes. Known as black magicians, such individuals are not generally the rule, and have opposition amongst more tradition magicians.

Hoodoo

Not to be confused with the Voodoo religion, hoodoo is the practice of folk magic, primarily by African-Americans in the southern states. Originating in the 19th century or before, hoodoo incorporates African folkloric practices/beliefs with Native American botanical knowledges and European folklore. Hoodoo is also known as "conjuration", "conjure", "witchcraft", "rootwork", and "tricking". Practitioners of hoodoo may be known as "conjure men/women". Contrary to what such a term implies, hoodoo practitioners use neither invocatory magic or sleight of hand illusions; the only connection of hoodoo to true conjuring is the use of the word.^[2]

Conjuring as Entertainment

As entertainment, conjurers use psychological deceptions and manipulative methods to perform feats that are apparently in violation of natural law. Sleight of hand and complicated secret mechanical apparatus help to convince witnesses that they have just seen the conjurer perform the impossible. This type of conjuring existed as early as 2700 B.C.E., where the Ancient Egyptian magician Dedi performed a trick where he decapitated two birds and an ox, then restored their heads. Other Egyptian magicians were known for their skill at slight of hand tricks involving cups and balls.^[3]

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

↑ "Necromancy" The Mystica. Retrieved May 15, 2007.
↑ Yronwode, Catherine. "Hoodoo: African American Magic" Lucky Mojo. Retrieved May 15, 2007.
↑ "Magic (conjuring)" MSN Encarta. Retrieved May 15, 2007.

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[1] "Necromancy" The Mystica. Retrieved May 15, 2007.

[2] Yronwode, Catherine. "Hoodoo: African American Magic" Lucky Mojo. Retrieved May 15, 2007.

[3] "Magic (conjuring)" MSN Encarta. Retrieved May 15, 2007.

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@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 [[Image:White indian conjuror.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Native American]] "conjuror" in a 1590 engraving]]
-The word '''conjuration''' (from Latin 'conjuratio', 'conjurare', to swear together) can be interpreted in several different ways: as an [[invocation]] or [[evocation]] (the latter in the sense of binding by a vow); as an [[exorcism]]; or as an act of [[magic (illusion)|illusionism]].  The word is often used synonymously with "invocation," although the two are not synonyms.  One who performs conjurations is called a conjurer or conjuror.
+The verb '''conjure''' is used to refer to the use of [[magic]] or [[spells]] to affect or bring something into being. Conjuring can also refer to the invocation of a spirit or devil, as well as the less sinister use of the term to refer to magic done by entertainers. As a noun, "conjure" generally refers to an act of folk magic performed by practicioners of [[hoodoo]] in the southern United States.
-==Rituals and equipment==
+==Conjuring as Ritual==
-As an evocation, a conjuration is the act of summoning one or more [[spiritual being|spirits]] with a predetermined purpose by means of a [[charm]]. This typically means that the conjurer will perform some [[ritual]] to call upon the spirit.
+Conjuring spirits has been part of the spiritual side of many cultures throughout history, including [[Native American]] cultures like the [[Cherokee]], as well as cultures in medieval [[Europe]], [[shamanism]] in Asia, and West African influenced [[hoodoo]]. The conjuring of spirits has also been a part of many [[Wiccan]] practices and rituals.
-Some conjurations have as a requisite a previous ritual of [[purification]] of body, mind and soul to attract the spirit or avoid the danger this entity could represent.
+===Methods of Conjuring===
+Spirits can be conjured to aid and benefit, as well as harm an enemy. Spirits were often conjured to insure long life, success in love, the destruction of an enemy. The conjuring of spirits is often associated with a certain amount of ritual, no matter what the culture. [[Charms]] have often been used to summon spirits, as well as magic or sacred symbols marked on the floor/ground, an altar, or embroidered on the clothing of the conjurer. [[Amulets]] and protective [[purification]] rituals to cleanse the body, mind, and soul are often used to ward off any potential harm that could befall the conjurer. Some rituals consider the hour of the day or night and the [[Astrology|astrological]] configuration of the [[zodiac]] important to the success of a ritual. [[Incense]] and specific herbs may be used, often used in conjunction with candlelight to create a certain atmosphere.
-Some think that for a better result the conjurer must wear special clothes and/or ornaments, and [[amulet]]s for attraction and/or protection. Magic symbols drawn on the floor and/or altar and embroidered on the clothes are often used, having each one a specific purpose. The hour of the day or night and the planetary aspects ([[Astrology|astrological]] configuration of the [[zodiac]]) are considered important, depending on the purpose of the conjuration.
+In addition to the conjuring of spirits, the conjuring of the dead has also been practiced. [[Necromancy]], or the act of conjuring the dead for [[divination]], dates back to ancient times. In the [[Middle Ages]], necromancy was widely practiced by [[magician]]s, [[sorcerer]]s, and [[witch]]es, until it was condemned by the [[Catholic Church]]. Necromancy is not currently practiced in New-pagan [[Witchcraft]], but is still a part of [[Voodoo]]. Many consider necromancy to be a dark and repugnant practice.<ref>[http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/n/necromancy.html "Necromancy"] The Mystica. Retrieved May 15, 2007.</ref>
-A special atmosphere is generally preferred in the room or place in which the ritual is going to be performed, using specific aromatic resins and herbs ([[incense]], [[myrrh]], etc.), and lighting the place with candles or torches if possible.
+===Good and Evil===
+Many [[Christian]] religions view conjuration, as well as other forms of [[magic]] as an inherently evil practice, explicitly forbidden in the [[Old Testament]]. In societies that do not view magic as inherintly evil, there exist those who use conjuring and other forms of magic for selfish and evil purposes. Known as [[black magic]]ians, such individuals are not generally the rule, and have opposition amongst more tradition magicians.
-==Texts and language==
+===Hoodoo===
+Not to be confused with the [[Voodoo]] religion, [[hoodoo]] is the practice of folk magic, primarily by African-Americans in the southern states. Originating in the 19th century or before, hoodoo incorporates African folkloric practices/beliefs with Native American botanical knowledges and European folklore. Hoodoo is also known as "conjuration", "conjure", "witchcraft", "rootwork", and "tricking". Practitioners of hoodoo may be known as "conjure men/women". Contrary to what such a term implies, hoodoo practitioners use neither invocatory magic or sleight of hand illusions; the only connection of hoodoo to true conjuring is the use of the word.<ref>Yronwode, Catherine. [http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoohistory.html "Hoodoo: African American Magic"] Lucky Mojo. Retrieved May 15, 2007.</ref>
-The text of the charms to be recited to conjure the spirit varies considerably from simple sentences to complex paragraphs with plenty of magic words. The language usually is that of the conjurer's, but since the [[Middle Ages]] in [[Western tradition]], [[Latin]] was the most common (although many texts have been translated into other languages).
+==Conjuring as Entertainment==
+As entertainment, conjurers use psychological deceptions and manipulative methods to perform feats that are apparently in violation of [[natural law]]. [[Sleight of hand]] and complicated secret mechanical apparatus help to convince witnesses that they have just seen the conjurer perform the impossible. This type of conjuring existed as early as 2700 B.C.E., where the Ancient Egyptian magician [[Dedi]] performed a trick where he decapitated two birds and an ox, then restored their heads. Other Egyptian magicians were known for their skill at slight of hand tricks involving cups and balls.<ref>[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761578840/Magic_(conjuring).html "Magic (conjuring)"] MSN Encarta. Retrieved May 15, 2007.</ref>
-==Objectives of conjuration==
-The conjuration of the [[ghost]]s or [[soul]]s of the dead for the purpose of [[divination]] is called [[necromancy]].
-When it is said that a person is calling upon or conjuring misfortune or disease, it is due to the ancient belief that personified diseases and misfortune as evil [[deity|deities]], spirits or [[demon]]s that could enter a human or animal body; see [[demon possession]].
-==Religious reactions==
-It is traditionally believed by many, particularly in [[Christianity|Christian]] societies, that magic, and thus conjuration, is an inherently evil practice.  According to these beliefs, conjurers summon demons or other evil spirits to cause harm to people or things, to obtain favours from them, or simply to enter servitude to such beings.  The belief in similarly-minded conjurers also exists in belief systems in which magic is not inherently evil, although in these cultures these "[[black magic]]ians" are not the rule and have opposition among more traditional magicians.
-==Contemporary references==
-"Conjurer" or "conjuror" is still the term for what is today called an illusionist or [[Magic (illusion)|magician]] by its practitioners. In the not too distant past, conjurors where suspected of being capable of using magic power to create their entertaining illusions and even cast spells. Thus they became "magicians" to the general public, who were superstitious, anxious, ill-informed and uncurious.
 ==See also==