chthonic-sorcery

[chthonic-sorcery]

love how Dio popularized the 🤘(La Corna) at concerts because he saw his Italian grandmother doing it. The Horns are an ancient form of magic (apopotraia) that wards off evil, like the Nazar, dating back all the way to Mycenaean creece (some argue Minoan Crete)

[chthonic-sorcery]

Incantation to Evoke the God Helios:

[According to the Greek Magical Papyri]

BIATHIARBAR BERBIR SCHILATOUR BOUPHROUMTRŌM

DANOUPHI CHRATOR BELBALI BALBITH IAŌ

ECHEBYKRŌM

AAA ŌŌŌ SABAŌTH ARBATHIAŌ ZAGOURĒ

ARATHY ADŌNAIE

ARAI

LAILAM

ANOCH BIATHIARBATH BERBIR ECHILATOUR BOUPHROUMTROM

ALDABAEIM

ABRASAX

CHI CHI CHI CHI CHI CHI CHI TIPH TIPH TIPH

MENEPHŌIPHŌTH CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA

The popping and hissing which follow are examples of poppysmos, or magical ritual utterances associated with the creator god mentioned in the London-Leiden Papyri. Of course, more than 9 names are listed here but they seem to be differing translations of one another, spanning Egyptian, Greek, Hebrew, and even Gnostic belief and language.

[chthonic-sorcery]

Tired of zionists claiming it's anti-Semetic to talk about the origins of Judaism from the Yahwists following their break off from the Caananites, or to talk about the Babylonian and Egyptian influences. Tbh it feels racist "ew those dirty filthy Egyptians/Babylonians/Caananites they were so evil" like girl bffr

[chthonic-sorcery]

You clearly didn't read the book, either. And no, the introduction is not enough.

First of all, you're right. The Zohar was only written down in the 12-13th centuries and was an oral tradition previously. However, if you had read the book I referenced, you would have noticed this passage:

"Here too [with the discovery of the PGM] we can replace hostile outsider literature with primary insider sources"

revealing the Greek Magical Papyri as a syncretic Jewish text.

The PGM was used by Magi, who were of Jewish, Egyptian, Greek and even Persian origin. It wasnt "theft" nor was it racism, syncretism occurs when one culture or religion lives alongside another. You're confusing syncretism with appropriation, which it would be, if Jewish people didn't also practice this.

The Greek Magical Papyri itself, despite its name, originates in Egypt written by EGYPTIAN lector-priests and Jewish practitioners, not "racist Greeks" as you assumed based on the title, any scholar who's studied the PGM knows this, even Preisendanz who wrote the original translation. It incorporates a beautiful syncretism of Jewish, Egyptian and Greek belief that exemplifies the highly syncretic cultures of the time period and location.

As for your claims that Jewish magic is older, yes it is older than at least the later sources on goêteia like the PGM, but we are specifically discussing Kabbalah, a very specific type of Jewish practice that is FAR different than ancient Jewish 'magical' practices like we see from Babylon.

As for your claims of goêteia being newer, that is vastly untrue. Yes, the Greek Magical Papyri itself was written between the 100s BCE and the 400s CE, however goêteia was practiced as an oral tradition itself back to the Archaic Period of Greece, attested by writers like Homer. Much of goêteia itself doesn't even originate in Greece, rather, there was a complex syncretism between Egypt and Greece that occurred over a few thousand years. Even Herodotus, albeit not the best source, states that Greek religion was mainly "of Egyptian import."

There is another book you should try reading reaffirming the influences of goêteia as well as the later Pythagoreans and Gnostics onto Kabbalah,

Pythagoreanism and neo-platonic philososophy specifically being where we get ideas like the Tree of Life from, the concept of the universal spheres, which themselves have earlier origins in Mesopotamia.

Jewish scholar Rebecca Macy Lesses also writes on this, specifically stating how the PGM is an example of early Jewish magic:

In "How to Make a Magician: Kabbalah, Psychotherapy, and the Mechanics of Syncretism in Colette Aboulker-Muscat’s Waking Dreamwork" by Marla Segol, we can read this of Rebecca Macy Lesses:

This passage cites multiple Jewish scholars who are speaking on how early Judaism shared a cosmology with their neighbors, i.e the Greeks, Egyptians, and Babylonians.

Michael Shwartz notes that parallels to a Jewish magical passage can be found in Hellenistic (Greek) magic.

You are perpetuating Zionist BS claims of Judaism being a religion that has no outside influence or predecessors, which is entirely inaccurate no matter how you "feel" about that.

Much of Judaism was influenced by Babylonian and Egyptian beliefs, as they lived among each other for centuries. Even before that, Judaism formed from the Yahwists, a separatist group that broke away from the Caananite pantheon.

And ohno, look here, more of the book you didn't read explaining how Greeks and Egyptians aren't the only ones to synchronize Jewish belief, early Muslims did too:

Are you going to call them racist thieves, in addition to the Egyptians? Hm?

And oh look, MORE in the book you didn't read!

Quite literally a SCHOLOR OF KABBALAH stating how Kabbalists use THEURGIC SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE, Theurgy being a tradition that comes from goêteia. It is the same practice, the term "theurgy" only makes the distinction between magical practice for personal use vs getting closer to the divine.

Calling an Indigenous person "racist" for simply stating historical facts, then going on to call [who you assumed were Greek bc of your ignorance] Egyptians and Muslims "racist" thieves yourself is absolutely disgusting and again, ignorant.

Stop perpetuating Zionist ideals, and stop insulting the beautiful origins of Judaism. Just because Judaism had outside influences doesn't make it "bad" or "wrong" and certainly doesn't mean we should ignore them or re-write history.

It is NOT anti-Semetic to talk about the historic influences and origins of Judaism. Cope.

Before you get angry next time, try reading the cited text and actually studying the sources being discussed beyond a simple Google search yourself.

People keep confusing the Ars Goetia with goêteia. Your use of "goetia" and not "goêteia" in your reply shows that you think I'm speaking about the Ars Goetia, a later medieval text rather than the bronze age tradition. Kabbalah originated in the 12th–13th centuries- The Zohar, the foundational text of Kabbalah, was authored in the late 13th century. Whereas goêteia was practiced by Greeks, Egyptians and Jews well before the 1st CE. According to anthropologist Yuval Harari in "Jewish Magic before the Rise of Kabbalah" goêteia was a predecessor to later concepts of Jewish magic. In the Greek Magical Papyri, a Greco-Egyptian text written in the Late Temple Period in Thebes, Egypt, there are numerous spells and evocations written by Egyptian and Greek Jewish magi calling upon angels and the ineffable names of god, all predating Kabbalah by thousands of years. This is your history too. Instead of being ignorant, try reading up before fighting. If you can't accept facts, idk what to tell you. @apolloforetoldus

[chthonic-sorcery]

Reblogging again bc some of y'all are hot headed dumbasses

The Ars Goetia (goetia) and Goêteia are two different things y'all please.

The Ars Goetia is a medieval text on demons which gets it's magical procedures and name from Greek Goêteia, which just means sorcery. Goêteia is ruled over by Hekate.

[chthonic-sorcery]

People keep confusing the Ars Goetia with goêteia. Your use of "goetia" and not "goêteia" in your reply shows that you think I'm speaking about the Ars Goetia, a later medieval text rather than the bronze age tradition. Kabbalah originated in the 12th–13th centuries- The Zohar, the foundational text of Kabbalah, was authored in the late 13th century. Whereas goêteia was practiced by Greeks, Egyptians and Jews well before the 1st CE. According to anthropologist Yuval Harari in "Jewish Magic before the Rise of Kabbalah" goêteia was a predecessor to later concepts of Jewish magic. In the Greek Magical Papyri, a Greco-Egyptian text written in the Late Temple Period in Thebes, Egypt, there are numerous spells and evocations written by Egyptian and Greek Jewish magi calling upon angels and the ineffable names of god, all predating Kabbalah by thousands of years. This is your history too. Instead of being ignorant, try reading up before fighting. If you can't accept facts, idk what to tell you. @apolloforetoldus

[chthonic-sorcery]

There is an ancient spell to summon a mysterious god to change your fate: the only catch; you can't cry when he tells you what yours is supposed to be. That, and sacrificing two roosters

[chthonic-sorcery]

The demiurge might be real after all because why is life just all this suffering

[chthonic-sorcery]

Books for Hellenic polytheists! 📚

For an easy overview of ancient Greek religion, read Jon D. Mikalson’s Ancient Greek Religion and Ancient Greek Cults: A Guide by Jennifer Larson.

For a complete overview of the key concepts of ancient Greek religion, read The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion and A Companion to Greek Religion.

[chthonic-sorcery]

i love my job, sorcery is cool don't get me wrong, but sometimes it feels like a futile DND quest. Because what do you MEAN I need a circean falcon and the feather of a Phoenix?? Circes's island is a myth...how do I track down TWO MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES

[chthonic-sorcery]

Ancient magic is so funny bc you'll see a spell that's like "use for favor and charm of all around you" and it'll seem simple enough, just some incantations...then suddenly ur tracking down the suckling calf of a black bull and a white faced falcon or Phoenix

[chthonic-sorcery]

If you’re ever having a breakdown, just remember the wise words of the lord himself

[chthonic-sorcery]

A lot of online pagan/polytheistic communities act batshit with constant infighting, drama, and weird rules they pull out of their ass because - and i am saying this as someone who has BEEN in these communities since the LIVEJOURNAL days - a LOT of the community is made up by kids coming from fandom spaces and bringing this weird fandom discourse mindset with them. They treat religions like fandoms and gods like their blorbos

[chthonic-sorcery]

It's actually fascinating to note that the murder of Osiris (who represented harvest) by his brother Sutekh (represents impotence) represents the end of the harvest season, Osiris' body being represented by grain. And his death, and resurrection, not only represents life after death, but also the rebirth of the spring and the next growing season!

Evangelicals: Jesus was the only one to resurrect! All the old gods are dead! They never lived again like ours :)

Osiris being raised from the dead by his sister-wife who he then slept with as a resurrected god and begat their son Horus, then went to rule the Duat (Underworld) 2,400 years before Jesus:

[chthonic-sorcery]

Evangelicals: Jesus was the only one to resurrect! All the old gods are dead! They never lived again like ours :)

Osiris being raised from the dead by his sister-wife who he then slept with as a resurrected god and begat their son Horus, then went to rule the Duat (Underworld) 2,400 years before Jesus:

[chthonic-sorcery]

worshipping the chthonic gods

first, a note on cthonic vs ouranic: the line between these gods is one that is not really as stark as it can be portrayed. many gods have both ouranic and chthonic aspects, and neither make them any more "good" or "bad" than the other. chthonic gods are not evil gods, at least no more than any ouranic god. all deities have the capability of doing good and evil, but are largely ambivalent in nature. the advice listed below is not set in stone, simply provided as gentle guidance. if you have suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments/reblogs! :)

LIBATIONS/OFFERINGS

In Ancient Greece it was very common for offerings to the chthonic gods to be given in the form of libation--a drink (or any liquid) poured into the ground. Solid offerings, like food, were often burned in their entirety to ash or left to rot, instead of being partially shared by the offeror. Incense was not as commonly used since the smoke travels upwards, towards the heavens.

I suggest disposing of/keeping ashes and rotted food outside or burying them, seeing as chthonic sometimes refers to "-of the earth." This would be similar to how curse tablets were treated in Ancient Greece, as Hermes, messenger of the gods, would deliver them unto their underworld-ly receiver from there.

If you can't do that, consider pouring your libations down the sink or flushing them down the toilet (ONLY do this with water-based liquids, oil and honey will clog up your sink in no time flat). It's not ideal, but it gets the job done.

Common libations include: coffee, blood (animal or your own, we'll get to that at the end), honey (instead of wine), milk

Common offerings include: meat, barley/grain, oil, cheese

PRAYER

In many cases, prayers to ouranic deities are directed upwards, into the sky or delivered unto the wind by voice, song, or some sort of poem. In the case of the chthonic gods, we should be directing them downwards, towards the underworld where they reside. This may include extending your hands with palms facing down, putting your head down, or just imagining your prayers being sent below. The only exceptions to this may be Persephone, who resides in the heavens for half of the year, and Hermes, who can be considered both ouranic and chthonic.

Other recommendations I can make are: light a candle, even if you're not going to use it for pyromancy; light some incense (I do this for focus and cleansing, not so much for the deity); and perform it at night. It's not mandatory, of course, to perform your prayers at night, it's just that in antiquity ouranic activities (festivals, prayer, etc.) were done during the day and often directly enshrouded in sunlight. We can assume, therefore, that a chthonic prayer or festival should occur during the night, especially if being directed towards Hekate or Nyx.

ALTARS/SHRINES

In Ancient Greece, temples to the ouranic gods were constructed so that their doorways would directly face the sun, thus illuminating the inside (and often the main statue(s), too). We can assume, then, that our chthonic altars/shrines should be located somewhere out of the direct sunlight. This can be in a dark spot, like a closet or isolated room--or it can just simply be in a corner furthest from the sun's rays.

Again, there may be some exceptions to this: Hermes, under his ouranic epithet(s), Persephone, for her time in the heavens, and Hekate, for her association with the moon.

DIVINATION

For the most part divination with the chthonic gods is conducted in much the same way as with the ouranic. Of course, when calling upon these deities you'll want to face towards the ground, and perhaps even conduct these sessions in partial darkness. Again, maybe you could light a candle or even pour a libation before a really big reading.

I mostly use pendulums and tarot, but I've been experimenting with meditation and have had some luck. What works for ouranic deities should work just as good for chthonic, you just might have to shift your approach a little.

Some good tarot spreads for working with chthonic deities:

"Fork in the Road" spread-- for Hermes or Hekate

"The Tower" spread-- for Hermes or Hades

"The Self Exploration" spread-- for any

"The Bat" spread-- for Hades or Persephone or Nyx

EXTRAS

--Consider offering blood if you're able! Animal blood that is sourced from ethical farms is neither morally reprehensible or illegal and can be sourced from a variety of places. Offering your own blood is also a possibility, but for this I would not recommend more than a pinprick. There are limits to how much pain you should be incurring on yourself for your deities. If you have to check your blood sugar often, maybe you can soak up excess blood with some cotton and bury it outside. Make sure to always clean your wounds properly and do not engage in this behavior for the purpose of self-mutilation. That, I can assure you, your deities would not appreciate. Don't be stupid.

--Snakes are commonly associated with almost all chthonic deities, or just the Underworld in general. We see this the most with Hermes, who is pictured with two snakes wrapped around his caduceus. The god Asclepius is also pictured with a staff with a single snake on it. Asclepius is the god of medicine, and (before being deified) was killed by Zeus for making people practically immortal.

--Chthonic deities are the best places to turn to for spirit work, protective, and baneful magic. You're looking to contact a spirit? Turn to Hades. You're looking for protection against spirits/demons? Turn to Hekate or Hermes. You're looking to cast a curse? Turn to Persephone or Hekate.

dividers by @vibeswithrenai

[chthonic-sorcery]

oh you're a wizard huh? are you delving deep into the mysteries of the arcane? or are you just copying invocations from other people's spellbooks that you found on cauldronoverflow without fully understanding what they mean?