A little bit of everything...plus a bag of chips- Jessica Morales

Jessica Morales
Blog Post Assignment

 

 

I thought it was insanely interesting the topic of Necromancy and Clerics. I could hardly believe that these clerics that were supposed to be doing holy practices and studying holy beliefs would take part in the magic and "demonic ways." What I couldn't understand is why these "holy" clerics would even want to take part in the magic if they know the consequences of their actions. However, reading into Kieckhefer's chapter 7, he further develops the ideas of why one would want because “…it is used to affect other people’s minds and wills. Secondly, the necromancer can create illusions. Third, is to discern secret things, whether past, present, or future” (Kieckhefer 158). That’s certainly a powerful ability to have and to think you could have that power over someone could definitely be tempting. Just imagine, being able to convince someone, like for example, how freaking cool would it be to convince like Barack Obama to give me a million dollars just because I had asked him to! Not one single person could tell me that would not be amazing!! Then again, we definitely have to take into consideration that these clerics were very much skilled to perform these sorts of acts. They had the specific knowledge or “Basic knowledge of the rites of exorcism, and perhaps an acquaintance with astrological images and other kinds of magic, might well lead them to experiment with conjuration” (Kieckhefer 154). We also must see that they serve their own form of punishment in their own way because Kieckhefer tells of story where a man “…was snatched from the demons’ jaws…Finally a monastery in Vienna took him in, and he gained fame for his holiness and preaching, but even so found himself molested by demons through life” (Kieckhefer 156). What I also thought was INSANELY interesting was that necromancers have the ability to perform something called: image magic. Essentially what image magic and it was defined: “…the action carried out on the image is transferred to the person represented. Thus, love magic may involve writing the names of demons on an image of the intended person, so that these demons will afflict her until she submits to the necromancer’s will. To gain favor from some dignitary the magician carves an image of that person, bearing a crown if he is a king, or other symbols of power as the case demands” (Kieckhefer 163). Holy Jesus, was my initial thought. I thought that it was absolutely INSANE that a person who had these capabilities could influence you and control you to an absolute degree and force you to be under their control until you essentially give in to them. What I actually found to be quite humorous was not only did Clerics participate in all these crazy demonic forces but they also had a book or “instructional” manual to tell them of how to do so. Some of these texts included: the Munich Handbook, Treasury of Necromancy, and the Book of Solomon. Oddly enough one would assume that the book would entail of rituals of how to harm people or just overall control them, however, it is quite the contrary. These books told of really explicit rituals such as: “…baptizing images, fumigating the head of a dead person, adjuring one demon by the name of a higher demon, inscribing characters and signs, and invoking unfamiliar names” (Kieckhefer 157). Later, we see Kors and Peters tell of many outcomes people faced and suffered because of “witchcraft.” On page 178, it states, “…many persons of both sexes, heedless of their own salvation and forsaking the catholic faith, give themselves over to devils male and female…ruin and cause to perish the offspring of women.” That’s a very strong statement to make and a very crucial one at that because at the time so children were considered very precious. Children were so precious because of the fact they had a tendency to not make it. Although throughout parts of our text, we see many accusations of witches made, specifically who were women, it was quite interesting to see the accusation made that women were more than likely to be witches based on biblical texts. Kors and Peters make the argument that a woman is likely to be a witch because, “...it should be noted that there was a defet in the formation of the first woman, since she was formed from a bent rib, that is, rib of the breast, which is bent as it were in a contrary direction to a man. And since through this defect she is an imperfect animal, she always deceives” (K/P 184). I thought that was absolutely and HIGHLY controversial because as the creation of woman happened, God intended to create her from the rib of a man to essentially make her equal and one with him. Now, we see an alternative view as Kors and Peters try to declare that there was a defect in the making of women. Damn, if only we had the return option, right? Continuing with this chapter’s topic, I thought it was QUITE humorous that they claimed another defect to women and it being their voice, haha!!!! The humor kicks in when the text states, “For as she is a liar by nature, so in her speech she stings while she delights us. Wherefore her voices like the song of the Sirens, who with their sweet melody entice the passers-by and kill them. For they kill them by emptying their purses, consuming their strength, and causing them to forsake God ” (K/P 187). Wow, talk about sounding like a back-handed compliment! As the chapter continues, I find it very odd how it makes a strange transition from witches and women to demonic forces. Then I definitely became undoubtedly confused because the text proceeds to say of demons that, “they can see absent things as if they were present; they can turn the minds of men to inordinate love or hatred; they can at times strike whom they will with lightning, and even kill some men and animals” (K/P 190). What the hell? They just spent the last few chapters arguing of how women suck because they’re actually awesome (at least would be in our time period) and then turn around and say oh sorry guys it was really the demons who do all the “heavy-lifting.” I suppose my question really is: why put so many through tortures and then proclaimed that it was really a complete separate entity that causes these demonic forces. I guess it’s the fact that a witch or necromancer comes into contact or connection with demonic forces does it make it that much work. If you asked me my opinion, I would honestly be more afraid of a demon or the Devil than I would be of a witch or necromancer. However, I can certainly see why people were of afraid of these witches and necromancers and it was most likely because they had those “additional readings” of the: the Munich Handbook, Treasury of Necromancy, and the Book of Solomon. Oddly, enough a conjuration of a devil in the Munich Handbook is derived and adapted from an exorcism which would be used to expel an evil entity from a person or place. This conjuration states, “The Word made flesh commands you. He who was born of a virgin commands you. Jesus of Nazareth, who created you, commands you, to fulfill at once all that I ask of you, or all that I wish to have or to know. For the longer you delay in doing what I command or order, the more your punishment will increase from day to day. I exorcise you, O accursed and lying spirit, by the words of truth” (Kieckhefer 167). What the actual hell! Does anyone see the insanity in this? It is absolutely for me to think how it is even possible for this to be considered an adapted exorcism used to conjure demons. I am very puzzled by this. Now I supposed this would be my last puzzling question, is if the world knew texts like these existed and they were trying to prevent necromancy, witches, and overall the magic realm then why not get your hands on the texts and destroy them?

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