Did you know that it was once thought advantageous to use virgins for scrying? While crystal balls are probably the most common form of scrying known now, and maybe second to that mirrors (you probably know John Dee's famous mirror). But other reflective surfaces have been used, including onychomancy (divination by a polished fingernail).
Claire Fanger makes a good argument for the late medieval link between scrying and summoning spirits. While summoning angels and binding demons might appear on the surface to be completely different skill sets or activities, clearly the two are easily linked because of the cosmological outlook both share:
I'm delighted that a long-anticipated book is out at last! The Picatrix: A Medieval Treatise on Astral Magichas been long in production for the Penn State Magic in History line. As a member of Societas Magica I have seen bits of the work in progress which tantalised. From the blurb:
A manual for constructing talismans, mixing magical compounds, summoning planetary spirits, and determining astrological conditions, Picatrix is a cornerstone of Western esotericism. It offers important insights not only into occult practices and beliefs but also into the transmission of magical ideas from antiquity to the present. Dan Attrell and David Porreca’s English translation opens the world of this vital medieval treatise to modern-day scholars and lay readers.
Anthony Gresham
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Anthony Gresham
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Did you notice that Jed wasn't there every day? That's because he, and some others of his ilk, travel a circuit of multiple campuses. Max was the main...
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Jamie
Archer,As usual, great stuff!Maine is one of our favorite places to vacation, and I have also pondered eternity at the seashore. Your words reminded m...
