The Vlachs of Serbia are an ethnic minority of Serbia, culturally and linguistically related to Romanians. Magic is an important part of Vlach life and customs and everything Vlachs believe in has, in a way, magical traits. Vlach magic, by its strength, is next to Voodoo. Relations between humans, saints and devil in present Vlach magic are remains of pagan mythology dominated by dualistic principle – no creation without clash of opposites.
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Magic has always fascinated humans. The ability to do something that requires power we feel can not be controlled or ordered around is a feat of amazement throughout history and the present. Sometimes our technology catches up with these thoughts of magic—the ability to talk to someone thousands of miles away instantaneously or travel at ridiculous speeds high in the air. However, there are still many mysteries that technology of humankind has not mastered and probably never will. These areas like love, perfect health, bad luck, or good luck are places that ancient magic wielders had spells for and even modern ones use too. Each culture and supernatural religion has different spells for specific ends. The most common magic users in the modern world though are generally wiccans—a branch of paganism. Here is a look at some of their spells, just remember though that practicing magic without having the knowledge and belief to back it up will result in a botched spell at least or significant negative consequences and ramifications at the worst.
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The realm of magic is full of “things” that can carry their own secret power. They can be a simple piece of wood used to harness the magical power of an individual—also known as a wand, or they can be a mystical blue sorcerer’s hat that allows the wearer to animate random household objects like in Disney’s Fantasia. Magic itself is generally thought of to be an outside force that flows through anything and everything. The ability of certain objects to be more receptive of that magical force and more pliable when a person wishes to use the object’s link with the supernatural for individual uses truly makes it special though. Some items have a tendency to be more special than others as they are closer to the force of magic. Here is a look at these unique objects thought to be nearer to the magical world and the forces of magic that are of special use when wanting to harness the power for yourself.
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Trees are some of the most majestic natural organisms on the planet. They are the primary suppliers of the oxygen that all land animals need. Without them, multicellular animal life on land would suffocate in their own carbon dioxide production in a manner of a miniscule amount of time with the limited supply of oxygen put out by other plant life. This symbiotic bond between living animals and living trees (they give us oxygen and we give them carbon dioxide) seemed very mystical and magical to ancient civilizations who did not even know of this exchange. They knew that trees had power of their own even though these ancient people did not understand the science of it. Religions of antiquity revolved around the sacredness of trees such as all types of shamanism. Pagans who worship nature as a foundation for their religion feel trees are extra special—the Druids of the Celtic peoples in particular. Each tree has a unique spirit and specific powers that it holds within its bark.
The study of alchemy has been a time honored tradition of interested individuals for at least the past 2,500 years. The ancient practice focused primarily on trying to change base metals like iron or lead into gold and trying to discover an “elixir of life.” The practical aspects and techniques of alchemy actually became the foundation for what is now inorganic chemistry even though the identification of a method that turned other metals into gold or a liquid that allowed eternal life (at least extended longevity) were never found. However, it was also a type of philosophy unto itself whereby the practitioners were attempting to achieve a type of ultimate wisdom and improve their souls in the process of mystical scientific discoveries. A complex yet interconnected system of various philosophies and schools dedicated to these practices spans several thousand years and the entire globe as the Mesopotamians, Greco-Romans, ancient Egyptians, Persians, ancient Chinese, medieval Islamic peoples, and medieval Europeans all practiced a form of alchemy at some point in their history. Alchemists developed system of symbols for their work trying to achieve inner transformations through the philosophical and deeper spiritual meanings of these symbols. These designs became very important to the alchemists of medieval Europe as they needed to disguise their sciences from the very powerful and very intolerant Christian church who warred against them because they thought the ascension offered by alchemy was a way to achieve salvation outside of their chosen methodologies. Yet, the figures that are pictorial depictions have special meanings unto themselves for the entire study of alchemy.
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One of the most common questions asked between newly dating couples is if the other person is a “cat person” or a “dog person.” This seemingly mundane inquiry is supposed to provide adequate assessment for the nature of the individual since he or she tends to like the animal which resembles his or her habits the most. Many like to think of “cat people” as those in the minority since dogs tend to be thought of as man’s best friend in Western society, but cats actually have a regal and long standing tie to humanity all on their own. Even though dogs tend to be steady in their role as side by side companions of mankind, cats have been through a roller coaster of ups and downs with some cultures idolizing them as gods or the height of the presence of the mystical and magical on the earthly plane to being very negative omens or animal embodiment of demons and evil spirits. The fact that cats are still around and still part of many individualized belief systems and folklore shows that they are truly strong animals that can outlast any negative press and a history of being hated only to rise above all that to remain special in the hearts of humans. The magic of cats spans the ages though, and these mystical felines have been the foundation of several different branches of the supernatural realm over the eons.
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Trying to foresee the future has been an aspect of human life for centuries. People always want to know what is to happen next so as to prepare for it or try to change it. Shamans, witches, and oracles have been some of the few positions in particular societies who were in charge of the important duties of forecasting the future. However, as human cultures grew and diversified, many people sought to divine the future for themselves. Rather than going to a specific person with special powers to receive visions or premonitions, humans would learn to use tools that would let just about anyone see future answers for the questions they asked. If you are seeking a tool that can help you see the future for yourself, take a look at these useful items to find one that calls to your spirit.
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Countless stories in traditional folklore all over the world has some type of magic wielder as a character. Humans are obsessed with creatures who can bend the rules of the natural world through unbelievable powers. A human who could control these powers was known as a witch in most cases, although some traditions like to claim witches to only be women or have a different term for a man who uses magic like a wizard or sorcerer. However, these ancient legends were warped over time with the spread of the religions of Abraham—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. For a long period of time, if someone could even be remotely linked to the use of “magic,” the religious establishment would quickly torture a confession from that person before killing them. The ancient pagan religions that had multiple gods and goddesses as well as a link to nature were forgotten and given up as the heretical past of ancestors. However, over the past century, the strict and brutal treatment of followers of these old religions by the dominant religious faction has inspired a curiosity and even a resurgence of the pagan belief system. Just like with every other religion though, there are schisms, sects, and multiple factions with this growth in the ancient uses of magic and belief in nature deities. The one binding foundation of these new, resurgence of pagans is that they all subscribe to a belief in magic and their ability to harness magic with certain rituals and spells after a great deal of practice. They are all witches.
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Every culture over every time period has stories of the spirits that roam the earth. This constant in human civilization leaves no room for doubt on the presence of spirits of the dead coming back to the human plane as an ethereal existence. According to all the stories, folklore, and witness testimonies, the world is full of spirits. Their method of interacting with the human world differs from spirit to spirit as well as their intentions though. Some are evil. Some are benign. Some are indifferent. However, the manifestation of a spirit who wishes to do harm to the living or is intentionally being a bother to living humans does happen from time to time. At the worst it can lead to outrageous fear and trouble and at the least annoyance to the humans the spirit chooses to haunt. Here is a list on how to get rid of any pesky spirits that you wish would leave you alone.
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So, sure. We’ve all had those days where we wish we could say a couple words, wave a wand, and all our problems would be—hey presto! Gone. And we’ve all probably wished this when our mom/grandparent/sibling/aunt/father/annoying boss patronizingly asked us to “use the magic word….!” (No? Only me? Well, work with me here). Below is a list of magic words and their origins you might try for the next time you’re feeling intrepid (or more than a little ticked off).
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