Abstract:Liber Israfel, an invocation of the Egyptian god Tahuti or Thoth, is arguably a key text in Aleister Crowley's literary corpus. Not only does it form the basis of a complete theory of magical invocation in his seminal Magick in Theory and Practice, but Crowley made extensive use of it in his personal magical work. That a precursor of Liber Israfel played a role in the events leading up to the reception of The Book of the Law, the founding text of Crowley's religio-magical philosophy of Thelema, only adds to its significance. However, Liber Israfel has thus far received little by way of scholarly attention. And whilst it is widely recognized that Liber Israfel is highly indebted to a ritual of evocation composed by Crowley's magical mentor, Allan Bennett, a comprehensive analysis of the iterative creative processes to which it owes its composition is lacking. Such analysis can arguably tell us much about how modern ritual magic texts are constructed and therefore give us a glimpse into how key ideas in the history of modern ritual magic originate and develop. Additionally, we can gain valuable insights into the key role this particular text plays in the development of Aleister Crowley's religio-magical system of Thelema.
{"title":"Inventing a Modern Ritual Magic Text: Assembling and Dis(a)ssembling Liber Israfel","authors":"M. Fletcher","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0027","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract:Liber Israfel, an invocation of the Egyptian god Tahuti or Thoth, is arguably a key text in Aleister Crowley's literary corpus. Not only does it form the basis of a complete theory of magical invocation in his seminal Magick in Theory and Practice, but Crowley made extensive use of it in his personal magical work. That a precursor of Liber Israfel played a role in the events leading up to the reception of The Book of the Law, the founding text of Crowley's religio-magical philosophy of Thelema, only adds to its significance. However, Liber Israfel has thus far received little by way of scholarly attention. And whilst it is widely recognized that Liber Israfel is highly indebted to a ritual of evocation composed by Crowley's magical mentor, Allan Bennett, a comprehensive analysis of the iterative creative processes to which it owes its composition is lacking. Such analysis can arguably tell us much about how modern ritual magic texts are constructed and therefore give us a glimpse into how key ideas in the history of modern ritual magic originate and develop. Additionally, we can gain valuable insights into the key role this particular text plays in the development of Aleister Crowley's religio-magical system of Thelema.","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"297 - 333"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48217034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract:The demonic possession of Nottingham man John Fox and his dispossession by Puritan minister Richard Rothwell (c. 1563-1627) remains as one of the few possession cases in early modern England not to be the subject of any serious scholarly inquiry. These events are solely covered in The Life of Master Richard Rothwel, a brief biographical work written by his pupil Stanley Gower (c. 1600-1660) that appears in certain editions of Samuel Clarke's prolific Lives series. As depicted in this work of Godly biography, Rothwell's life is characterized by perpetual conflict with demonic temptation, and it is this experience that establishes his exceptional credentials as a spiritual healer. Remarkably, Rothwell underwent a demonic possession prior to his exorcism of John Fox and this notion of a demoniac turned exorcist is unparalleled in the English context. This article hence examines the textual construction of Rothwell's lifelong conflict with temptation and, for the first time in the scholarship, brings to light his dispossession of John Fox. Importantly, Rothwell's appearance in Clarke's Lives series indicates that dispossession by prayer and fasting remained a fundamental spiritual practice for many English Protestants (especially Puritans) following the John Darrell Exorcism Controversy and the subsequent enactment of Canon 72 of the Church in England (1604). Through situating Rothwell's perpetual battle with temptation and his dispossession of Fox within the broader historical context, this article justifies his inclusion alongside many of the other great Puritan ministers and exorcists of this period.
{"title":"The Demoniac-Exorcist: Richard Rothwell and the Dispossession of John Fox in Early-Seventeenth-Century England","authors":"B. Walsh","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0026","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract:The demonic possession of Nottingham man John Fox and his dispossession by Puritan minister Richard Rothwell (c. 1563-1627) remains as one of the few possession cases in early modern England not to be the subject of any serious scholarly inquiry. These events are solely covered in The Life of Master Richard Rothwel, a brief biographical work written by his pupil Stanley Gower (c. 1600-1660) that appears in certain editions of Samuel Clarke's prolific Lives series. As depicted in this work of Godly biography, Rothwell's life is characterized by perpetual conflict with demonic temptation, and it is this experience that establishes his exceptional credentials as a spiritual healer. Remarkably, Rothwell underwent a demonic possession prior to his exorcism of John Fox and this notion of a demoniac turned exorcist is unparalleled in the English context. This article hence examines the textual construction of Rothwell's lifelong conflict with temptation and, for the first time in the scholarship, brings to light his dispossession of John Fox. Importantly, Rothwell's appearance in Clarke's Lives series indicates that dispossession by prayer and fasting remained a fundamental spiritual practice for many English Protestants (especially Puritans) following the John Darrell Exorcism Controversy and the subsequent enactment of Canon 72 of the Church in England (1604). Through situating Rothwell's perpetual battle with temptation and his dispossession of Fox within the broader historical context, this article justifies his inclusion alongside many of the other great Puritan ministers and exorcists of this period.","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"270 - 296"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49543517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JosephsonStorm is also completely overlooked. In a similar fashion, Zander’s theoretical chapter leaves an impression that the debate concerning definitions of esotericism happened exclusively in Western and Northern Europe, which is clearly not the case. This, however, seems to be a common problem in the field in general and is not limited to the present volume. Despite some minor issues, Occult Roots of Religious Studies is an exciting addition to the body of literature on the early history of religious studies that will benefit a wide range of readers from students to seasoned scholars while open access makes it easily available to everybody interested in the subject.
{"title":"The Scent of Ancient Magic by Britta K. Ager (review)","authors":"Charlotte Spence","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0035","url":null,"abstract":"JosephsonStorm is also completely overlooked. In a similar fashion, Zander’s theoretical chapter leaves an impression that the debate concerning definitions of esotericism happened exclusively in Western and Northern Europe, which is clearly not the case. This, however, seems to be a common problem in the field in general and is not limited to the present volume. Despite some minor issues, Occult Roots of Religious Studies is an exciting addition to the body of literature on the early history of religious studies that will benefit a wide range of readers from students to seasoned scholars while open access makes it easily available to everybody interested in the subject.","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"357 - 359"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43383676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Take Back What the Devil Stole: An African American Prophet's Encounters in the Spirit World by Onaje X. O. Woodbine (review)","authors":"Taylor Tate","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0018","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"165 - 167"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48552676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract:This article looks at a score of English and American records from the early 1700s to the early 1800s involving Bible weighing. This was an ordeal by which a suspected witch was weighed against a church Bible: if the suspect proved heavier than the Bible he or she was judged to be innocent; if lighter guilty. Taken together, our sources allow for a reconstruction of the mechanics of a test which was kinder to accused witches than swimming or other ordeals.. Despite taking place after the end of the British and American witchcraft trials, Bible weighing sometimes involved the guiding hand of the local authorities – secular or ecclesiastical. Indeed, it is argued that Bible weighing was well-suited to the period after the end of the legal persecution of witches. The origins of Bible weighing are not known: England, Germany or the Lowlands are suggested as possibilities..
{"title":"Witch in the Scales: Bible Weighing in England and America","authors":"Simon N. M. Young","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0009","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract:This article looks at a score of English and American records from the early 1700s to the early 1800s involving Bible weighing. This was an ordeal by which a suspected witch was weighed against a church Bible: if the suspect proved heavier than the Bible he or she was judged to be innocent; if lighter guilty. Taken together, our sources allow for a reconstruction of the mechanics of a test which was kinder to accused witches than swimming or other ordeals.. Despite taking place after the end of the British and American witchcraft trials, Bible weighing sometimes involved the guiding hand of the local authorities – secular or ecclesiastical. Indeed, it is argued that Bible weighing was well-suited to the period after the end of the legal persecution of witches. The origins of Bible weighing are not known: England, Germany or the Lowlands are suggested as possibilities..","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"106 - 135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48923204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Defence of Witchcraft Belief: A Sixteenth-Century Response to Reginald Scot's 'Discoverie of Witchcraft.' ed. by Eric Pudney (review)","authors":"S. Clark","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0012","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"148 - 150"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43782558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Witch as Invention and as Archetype: Hutton's Heraclitan Historiography","authors":"M. Ostling","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"31 - 40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46846623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract:Histories of the Devil in the Scottish witch trials have often focused on the confessions of accused witches and have tended to center on notions of practical demonology, that is beliefs about the Devil and witches that surfaced during the interrogation process. But the Devil of practical demonology was only one permutation of wider Christian demonic belief. Drawing on Christina Larner's idea of "the new popular demonic," recent studies of English and German witchcraft confessions, and several overlooked anecdotal narratives in manuscript and printed Scottish witchcraft confessions, this article argues that the doctrines of total depravity and mental temptation extended to the legal environment of the interrogation, and even influenced some accused witches' understanding of the Devil. By exploring Protestant spirituality in accused witches' confessions, this article works to develop a better understanding of how ordinary parishioners expressed orthodox Christian knowledge about the Devil.
{"title":"The \"Spiritualized Devil\": Practical Demonology and Protestant Doctrines in Scottish Witchcraft Confessions","authors":"C. Jones","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0008","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract:Histories of the Devil in the Scottish witch trials have often focused on the confessions of accused witches and have tended to center on notions of practical demonology, that is beliefs about the Devil and witches that surfaced during the interrogation process. But the Devil of practical demonology was only one permutation of wider Christian demonic belief. Drawing on Christina Larner's idea of \"the new popular demonic,\" recent studies of English and German witchcraft confessions, and several overlooked anecdotal narratives in manuscript and printed Scottish witchcraft confessions, this article argues that the doctrines of total depravity and mental temptation extended to the legal environment of the interrogation, and even influenced some accused witches' understanding of the Devil. By exploring Protestant spirituality in accused witches' confessions, this article works to develop a better understanding of how ordinary parishioners expressed orthodox Christian knowledge about the Devil.","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"105 - 85"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41402535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Man with the Waistcoat and Cravat: Ronald Hutton's Contributions to Anthropology, Folklore, and Pagan Studies","authors":"Sabina Magliocco","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"12 - 4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45094849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The In-Betweens: The Spiritualists, Mediums, and Legends of Camp by Mira Ptacin (review)","authors":"J. Hagan","doi":"10.1353/mrw.2022.0015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2022.0015","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41353,"journal":{"name":"Magic Ritual and Witchcraft","volume":"17 1","pages":"155 - 158"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2022-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42207471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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