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Post by Scruffy Brooky on Jan 20, 2011 16:45:31 GMT
I have watched with interest since I started this forum as this board became the absolute last to gain its first thread.
I was wondering why this should be? Do you practice magic? If not I have my explanation.
If you do practice magic, as do I its intriguing that none of us myself included has felt any inclination to post on this board. Is it because it is too personal to talk about?
The main reason I haven't posted is because I was going to post some incense blends to kick this board off, but my incense recipes are in Rugby and my PC is in Birmingham!
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marcus
Earth Dreamer
Posts: 14
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Post by marcus on Jan 21, 2011 16:57:05 GMT
Well since you ask - I do.
I mostly try to construct Anglo-Saxon & Norse forms of seidr but more recently I've been looking at historical records of early (English) cunning men and saying if it's possible to backdate back into what we know of seidr (mostly it isn't - some things are ... it's hard but rewarding work anyway).
Somethings work, most things don't. Of the things that do work - it falls into two categories - "things that might likely happen anyway" & "things which you probably want to keep quiet about".
In internet forums there's often a lot of people talking about magic - and every newbie seems capable of amazing spells of sorcery. I think in reality magic isn't for everybody and the really proficient learn quickly to keep quiet.
Marcus
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Post by Scruffy Brooky on Jan 24, 2011 10:34:34 GMT
I think in reality magic isn't for everybody and the really proficient learn quickly to keep quiet. Personally I think magic is for everybody and it is just an underdeveloped skill. Most Pagans I have discussed this with can point to instances in their childhood where they needed/wanted (children don't have a great concept of ethics) something and it came to be through means that their rational adult mind cannot explain (or you might argue doesn't want to as it validates magic and by proxy religion). The issue is we then all have this ability talked out of us by family, school, the church... whatever it may be. Society tells us this is impossible. It's a case of deconditioning the mind to believe that magic will work, that in itself requires a lot of work to become a genuinely held belief. I agree it is important to keep quiet about the specifics for various reasons. More generally I personally wouldn't have an issue discussing techinques from the point of view of comparaing notes. I would not be willing nor interested in discussing the why's, wherefore's and indeed results of particular workings because that would form some kind of crass competition devaluing magic. I would imagine indulging in that kind of discussion would make it harder to work magic in the future as your motivation would be diluted. Magic works best when the motivation is the unbridled need or desire of the person working it. If your motivation is partially this and partially bragging rights I would expect the effects to be vastly lessened. I mostly try to construct Anglo-Saxon & Norse forms of seidr but more recently I've been looking at historical records of early (English) cunning men and saying if it's possible to backdate back into what we know of seidr (mostly it isn't - some things are ... it's hard but rewarding work anyway). This sounds fascinating. Fancy sharing a summary of what you've found or pointing me in the directions of some of your sources?
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marcus
Earth Dreamer
Posts: 14
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Post by marcus on Jan 29, 2011 13:57:28 GMT
I mostly try to construct Anglo-Saxon & Norse forms of seidr but more recently I've been looking at historical records of early (English) cunning men and saying if it's possible to backdate back into what we know of seidr (mostly it isn't - some things are ... it's hard but rewarding work anyway). This sounds fascinating. Fancy sharing a summary of what you've found or pointing me in the directions of some of your sources? Well it's still very much experimental and practicing what works and what doesn't but if you look at the various charms contained in the Lacnunga & other 10th century sources, what you'll see is a synthesis of heathen & christian prayers and magic. Now a lot of it is difficult to interpret because it seems so distant. However, if you then look at the practices and charms of the christian anglo saxons of the 11th to 12th century (a good source here is Pollington's Leechcraft - especially the stuff on charms) then you can see consistent themes (and it makes it a little easier to remove the Christian inputs). You then look at the practices of Cunning Men from the 14th to 18th century (a good starting point here is Owen Davies "Popular Magic" and his cited sources). Now I'm not suggesting there is an unbroken tradition from AngloSaxon leechcraft to cunning men of the 18th century but what we do have is various people throughout the ages trying to research historical magic. Many of the cunning men were scholars in their own right - and of course they experimented as I do today. However they were a little closer to the original sources than me in the 21st century. Anyway very much work in progress but it seems quite rewarding research. Marcus
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Post by Scruffy Brooky on Feb 1, 2011 9:58:23 GMT
Sounds excellent! A couple more added to my "to read" list! Thanks!
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