Black Magic: a mention 

I have included this brief reference to Black Magic, as an indicator to the reader of what is a common belief and a common misunderstanding between Pagan Magick, Witchcraft and Black Magic. The analysis is by no means complete, but I am planning to include more information in the future. Black Magic has been defined as the conscious use of supernatural powers for the exercise of evil, the perversion of "white magic". In occult lore white magic is concerned with expanding consciousness and improving the common good. Black magic is the selfish and squalid perversion of magical arts to destroy and harm others, or for personal gain.

The black magician is regarded as a person who wants power for herself and for self-gain. She wants to be able to vent her spite on enemies and to satisfy all of her desires. It is regarded that a magician may summon the Devil or one of his demons and remain a white magician, so long as the purpose for the summoning is benevolent. Black magicians are usually defined as those who have made a pact with the Devil. They invoke diabolic and infernal powers for their personal use and gain; in short, a perversion of legitimate mystic science. (Note: By quoting this, I failed to understand what the author regarded as "legitimate mystic science". It is by now widely accepted that for something to be legitimate it must stand the test and trial of the law. By no means do I see any such occurence in regard to occultism, mysticism or witchcraft in general).

Lewis Spence wrote, in his Encyclopedia of Occultism:

"In Black Magic human perversity found the means of ministering to its most terrible demands and the possible attainment of its darkest imaginings. To gain limitless power over god, demon and man; for personal aggrandizement and glorification; to cheat, trick and mock; to gratify base appetites; to aid religious bigotry and jealousies; to satisfy public and private enmities; to further political intrigue; to encompass disease, calamity and death these were the ends and aims of Black Magic and its followers."

However, there are several opositions to this point of view, that the black magician looks and behaves like a "black magician", a point of view very commonly shared by the media, the movie bussines and (sadly) especially the cartoon-movie bussiness. One of the most intriguing authors on the subject, Richard Cavendish, says in his book "The Black Arts":

"No one is a black magician in his own eyes, and modern occultists, whatever their beliefs and practices, think of themselves as high-minded white magicians. [...] In the same way, the writers of the old gimoires, which instruct the reader in methods of calling up evil spirits, killing people, causing hatred and destruction or forcing women to submit to him in love, did not think of themselves as black magicians. On the contrary, the grimoires are packed with prayers to God and the angels, fasting and self-mortifications and ostentatious piety."

It should be also reminded or pointed out that what is commonly called Black Magic revolves mostly around the corruption, mis-interpretation and distortion of CHRISTIAN rites. Christian rites, faiths, beliefs and practices are the ones which the Black Magician knows all too well, studies, and enhances by other means, such as the Kabbalistic mysteries, Hebrew and Jewish mysteries, so on and so forth. 

This notion is obvious from the fact that there are many common aspects and beliefs between Black Magic and Christianity. An example is the belief in Satan, or the Devil. Modern witchcarft, as stands in Wicca and other Pagan traditions does not uphold the existence of a completely benevolent or complete malevolent force, as is in the Christian God and Satan. The Pagan traditions promote a duality within the nature of the Gods and Godesses themselves, as being both benevolent and malevolent, thus imitating the forces and workings of nature. Black Magic enforces, and is in a major part based upon, the belief in the existence of a good God and its evil counterpart. That evil counterpart and his minions are usually the subjects of interest of the Black Magician. 

However, the basic drive, or motive of the Black Magician is the same as that of the Pagan witch:

Quod superius est sicut quod inferius 
Et quod inferius est sicut quod superius
Ad perpetranda miracula rei unius.

"that which is above is like that which is below and that which is below is like that which is above, to achieve the wonders of the one thing". That is the magical doctrine of "as above, so below", and is the foundation of the art of astrology.

Just as the Pagan witch views herself in the divinity and the divinity in herself, so the Black Magician sees God in the heaven, and Man on earth. The slight difference according to me though is that contrary to the Pagan witch, who already feels and communes with the divinity within and without her own self, the Black Magician's goal is to transcend her mortal coil and become God in her own regard.

This site was created by the Black Vine ®