Natural magic - Revision history

Occultwiki at 04:55, 30 August 2025

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	Many core principles and beliefs about natural magic have continued to the modern era as a key element of [[New Age]] beliefs which have been rejected by the scientific establishment.		Many core principles and beliefs about natural magic have continued to the modern era as a key element of [[New Age]] beliefs which have been rejected by the scientific establishment.



	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]
	~~[[Category:Poor Articles]]~~

Occultwiki at 04:55, 30 August 2025

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	[[File:Natural Magick.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Title page of ''Natural Magic'' (1658)]]		[[File:Natural Magick.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Title page of ''Natural Magic'' (1658)]]
	'''Natural magic''' is a part of the [[occult]] which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to [[ritual magic\|ceremonial magic]] which deals with the summoning of spirits like [[~~angels~~]] and [[~~demons~~]]. In Renaissance Europe, it was one of the most common and popular forms of magic, sharing some commonality with early scientific methodology.		'''Natural magic''' is a part of the [[occult]] which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to [[ritual magic\|ceremonial magic]] which deals with the summoning of spirits like [[angel]]s and [[demon]]s. In Renaissance Europe, it was one of the most common and popular forms of magic, sharing some commonality with early scientific methodology.

	Natural magic sometimes makes use of physical substances from the natural world such as [[crystal]]s or herbs.		Natural magic sometimes makes use of physical substances from the natural world such as [[crystal]]s or herbs.

Occultwiki at 04:54, 30 August 2025

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			[[File:Natural Magick.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Title page of ''Natural Magic'' (1658)]]
	'''Natural magic''' is a part of the [[occult]] which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to [[ritual magic\|ceremonial magic]] which deals with the summoning of spirits like [[angels]] and [[demons]]. In Renaissance Europe, it was one of the most common and popular forms of magic, sharing some commonality with early scientific methodology.		'''Natural magic''' is a part of the [[occult]] which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to [[ritual magic\|ceremonial magic]] which deals with the summoning of spirits like [[angels]] and [[demons]]. In Renaissance Europe, it was one of the most common and popular forms of magic, sharing some commonality with early scientific methodology.

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	[[Egyptian religion\|Ancient Egyptians]] strongly connected the natural world with the spiritual world, believing them to be linked in many ways. This is evidenced by the presence of minerals and gemstones used to amplify the power of specific stars worshipped as the [[Egyptian decans]]. Each star had a mineral that could be used to increase the connection to the god it represented. These beliefs were later carried and expanded in the [[King Solomon\|Solomonic]] magical tradition found in books such as the ''[[Key of Solomon]]''.		[[Egyptian religion\|Ancient Egyptians]] strongly connected the natural world with the spiritual world, believing them to be linked in many ways. This is evidenced by the presence of minerals and gemstones used to amplify the power of specific stars worshipped as the [[Egyptian decans]]. Each star had a mineral that could be used to increase the connection to the god it represented. These beliefs were later carried and expanded in the [[King Solomon\|Solomonic]] magical tradition found in books such as the ''[[Key of Solomon]]''.

			Agrippa believed that the three wise men who attended the birth of [[Jesus Christ]] were practitioners of natural magic because each one brought a natural item which carried magical properties as well as their reliance on celestial phenomena to guide their travel.

			The ''[[Picatrix]]'' is considered an early [[grimoire]] of natural magic.

	===Renaissance Europe===		===Renaissance Europe===

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	==History==		==History==
			Early beliefs concerning magic were not entirely confined to spiritual practices. [[Magician]]s in ancient times understood that natural phenomena such as planets, stars, stones, and plants exerted an unseen influence over human beings.

			[[Egyptian religion\|Ancient Egyptians]] strongly connected the natural world with the spiritual world, believing them to be linked in many ways. This is evidenced by the presence of minerals and gemstones used to amplify the power of specific stars worshipped as the [[Egyptian decans]]. Each star had a mineral that could be used to increase the connection to the god it represented. These beliefs were later carried and expanded in the [[King Solomon\|Solomonic]] magical tradition found in books such as the ''[[Key of Solomon]]''.

			===Renaissance Europe===
	Within academic discourse of the Renaissance, natural magic became part of epistemological debates through its engagement with the knowledge and manipulation of imperceptible phenomena. This emphasis on [[occult]] operations in nature demanded a constant reevaluation of the boundaries of nature and, by extension, the limitations of human influence over nature that would be crucial to the development of scientific thought in the late Renaissance.		Within academic discourse of the Renaissance, natural magic became part of epistemological debates through its engagement with the knowledge and manipulation of imperceptible phenomena. This emphasis on [[occult]] operations in nature demanded a constant reevaluation of the boundaries of nature and, by extension, the limitations of human influence over nature that would be crucial to the development of scientific thought in the late Renaissance.

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	===Industrial Age and Modern era===		===Industrial Age and Modern era===
	Practitioners of [[ritual magic]] and [[witchcraft]] maintained an active interest in natural magic and incorporated elements of astrology, herbs, and crystals into their work with healing, [[tarot]], and spirit invocation. ~~It has~~ continued to the modern era as a key element of [[New Age]] beliefs which have been rejected by the scientific establishment.		During the Age of Enlightenment, occult beliefs increasingly came to be seen as intrinsically incompatible with the concept of science. Practitioners of [[ritual magic]] and [[witchcraft]] maintained an active interest in natural magic and incorporated elements of astrology, herbs, and crystals into their work with healing, [[tarot]], and spirit invocation.

			''[[The Magus]]'' by English [[occultist]] [[Francis Barrett]], was a major work which bridged the gap between the Renaissance examination of natural magic and the later development of [[ritual magic]].

			Many core principles and beliefs about natural magic have continued to the modern era as a key element of [[New Age]] beliefs which have been rejected by the scientific establishment.



	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]
	[[Category:Poor Articles]]		[[Category:Poor Articles]]

Occultwiki at 04:29, 30 August 2025

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	'''Natural magic''' ~~in the context of Renaissance magic~~ is ~~that~~ part of the [[occult]] which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to [[ritual magic\|ceremonial magic]] which deals with the summoning of spirits.		'''Natural magic''' is a part of the [[occult]] which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to [[ritual magic\|ceremonial magic]] which deals with the summoning of spirits like [[angels]] and [[demons]]. In Renaissance Europe, it was one of the most common and popular forms of magic, sharing some commonality with early scientific methodology.

	Natural magic sometimes makes use of physical substances from the natural world such as ~~stones~~ or herbs.		Natural magic sometimes makes use of physical substances from the natural world such as [[crystal]]s or herbs.

			[[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] discusses natural magic in his ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy]]'' (1533), where he calls it "nothing else but the highest power of natural sciences." The Italian Renaissance philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, who founded the tradition of [[Christianity\|Christian]] [[Kabbalah]], argued that natural magic was "the practical part of natural science" and was lawful rather than [[heresy\|heretical]].

	==Definition==		==Definition==
	~~Natural~~ magic ~~so defined~~ includes [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], and disciplines that we would today consider fields of natural science, such as astronomy and chemistry (which developed and diverged from astrology and alchemy, respectively, into the modern sciences they are today) or botany (from herbology). The Jesuit scholar [[Athanasius Kircher]] wrote that "there are as many types of natural magic as there are subjects of applied sciences."		The ''Encyclopedia of Renaissance Philosophy'' defined natural magic as "active endeavors that were reliant upon or directed toward forces or mechanisms in nature whose causation or manner of operation were hidden, or distinctly obscured from an empirical understanding of nature."

			Following that definition, natural magic includes [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], and disciplines that we would today consider fields of natural science, such as astronomy and chemistry (which developed and diverged from astrology and alchemy, respectively, into the modern sciences they are today) or botany (from herbology). The Jesuit scholar [[Athanasius Kircher]] wrote that "there are as many types of natural magic as there are subjects of applied sciences."

	Natural magic was characterized variously as the manipulation or application of higher (celestial) influences in the terrestrial world or as the active or applied aspect of natural philosophy, involving the knowledge and manipulation of occult properties, especially sympathetic correspondences in nature. Understood in this sense, natural magic can be seen to inform many diverse ideas and practices including chemistry, medicine, and mechanics.		Natural magic was characterized variously as the manipulation or application of higher (celestial) influences in the terrestrial world or as the active or applied aspect of natural philosophy, involving the knowledge and manipulation of occult properties, especially sympathetic correspondences in nature. Understood in this sense, natural magic can be seen to inform many diverse ideas and practices including chemistry, medicine, and mechanics.

	[[~~Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa~~]] ~~discusses~~ natural magic in his ''~~[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy]]~~'' (~~1533~~), ~~where~~ he ~~calls it~~ "~~nothing else but~~ the ~~highest power~~ of natural sciences.~~" The Italian Renaissance philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola~~, ~~who founded~~ the ~~tradition~~ of [[~~Christianity\|Christian~~]] [[~~Kabbalah~~]]~~, argued that~~ natural magic ~~was "~~the ~~practical part~~ of ~~natural science" and was lawful rather than~~ [[~~heresy\|heretical~~]].		==History==
			Within academic discourse of the Renaissance, natural magic became part of epistemological debates through its engagement with the knowledge and manipulation of imperceptible phenomena. This emphasis on [[occult]] operations in nature demanded a constant reevaluation of the boundaries of nature and, by extension, the limitations of human influence over nature that would be crucial to the development of scientific thought in the late Renaissance.

			Followers of Marsilio Ficino advocated the existence of spiritual beings and spirits in general, though Ficino himself theorized a "purely natural" magic that did not require the invocation of spirits of any kind. In doing so, he came into conflict with [[Johannes Trithemius]], who refused to believe in Ficino's theory but created spells and incantations of his own related to beneficial communication with spirits. Giambattista della Porta expanded on many of these ideas in his ''Magia Naturalis''.

			===''Magia Naturalis''===
			''Magia Naturalis'' (in English, ''Natural Magic'') is a work of popular science by Giambattista della Porta first published in Naples in 1558. Its twenty books include observations upon geology, optics, medicines, poisons, cooking, metallurgy, magnetism, cosmetics, perfumes, gunpowder, and invisible writing. ''Natural Magic'' is an example of pre-Baconian science. Its sources include the ancient learning of Pliny the Elder and Theophrastus as well as numerous scientific observations made by Della Porta.

			The Porta family belonged to the ancient nobility of Solerno, but the nature of Giambattista's formal education is unknown. It is believed that he was largely self-taught with an informal education that consisted of jovial discussions of scientific and pseudoscientific topics. Giambattista began collecting what he called "secrets of nature" when he was just fifteen. These secrets were eventually compiled and made into the twenty books of ''Natural Magic''.

			===Scientific Revolution===
			Toward the end of the Renaissance, as proper scientific techniques and methodology were developed in Europe, belief in the magical properties of stars, stones, and herbs was supplanted by increased interest in their intrinsic properties. For example, the motions and characteristics of celestial objects could be studied more intently after the invention of the telescope. The same proved true for the invention of the microscope and the eventual discovery of microorganisms in 1676. These inventions revealed natural forces which had previously been considered hidden or "occult" because they could not been seen with the naked eye.

			The later development of the scientific method led to a sharp division between the natural sciences and any kind of magical experimentation. Once the mysteries of nature had largely been investigated using sophisticated scientific techniques, the questions of magic ceased to generate interest among most academics.

			===Industrial Age and Modern era===
			Practitioners of [[ritual magic]] and [[witchcraft]] maintained an active interest in natural magic and incorporated elements of astrology, herbs, and crystals into their work with healing, [[tarot]], and spirit invocation. It has continued to the modern era as a key element of [[New Age]] beliefs which have been rejected by the scientific establishment.

	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]
	[[Category:Poor Articles]]		[[Category:Poor Articles]]

Occultwiki at 17:11, 24 August 2025

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	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]
			[[Category:Poor Articles]]

Occultwiki at 17:26, 12 October 2023

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	'''Natural magic''' in the context of Renaissance magic is that part of the [[occult]] which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to ceremonial magic which deals with the summoning of spirits~~. Natural magic sometimes makes use of physical substances from the natural world such as stones or herbs~~.		'''Natural magic''' in the context of Renaissance magic is that part of the [[occult]] which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to [[ritual magic\|ceremonial magic]] which deals with the summoning of spirits.

	Natural magic ~~so defined includes [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], and disciplines that we would today consider fields~~ of natural ~~science,~~ such as ~~astronomy and chemistry (which developed and diverged from astrology and alchemy, respectively, into the modern sciences they are today)~~ or ~~botany (from herbology). The Jesuit scholar [[Athanasius Kircher]] wrote that "there are as many types of natural magic as there are subjects of applied sciences"~~.		Natural magic sometimes makes use of physical substances from the natural world such as stones or herbs.

	[[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] discusses natural magic in his ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy]]'' (1533), where he calls it "nothing else but the highest power of natural sciences". The Italian Renaissance philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, who founded the tradition of [[Christianity\|Christian]] [[Kabbalah]], argued that natural magic was "the practical part of natural science" and was lawful rather than heretical.		==Definition==
			Natural magic so defined includes [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], and disciplines that we would today consider fields of natural science, such as astronomy and chemistry (which developed and diverged from astrology and alchemy, respectively, into the modern sciences they are today) or botany (from herbology). The Jesuit scholar [[Athanasius Kircher]] wrote that "there are as many types of natural magic as there are subjects of applied sciences."

			Natural magic was characterized variously as the manipulation or application of higher (celestial) influences in the terrestrial world or as the active or applied aspect of natural philosophy, involving the knowledge and manipulation of occult properties, especially sympathetic correspondences in nature. Understood in this sense, natural magic can be seen to inform many diverse ideas and practices including chemistry, medicine, and mechanics.

			[[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] discusses natural magic in his ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy]]'' (1533), where he calls it "nothing else but the highest power of natural sciences." The Italian Renaissance philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, who founded the tradition of [[Christianity\|Christian]] [[Kabbalah]], argued that natural magic was "the practical part of natural science" and was lawful rather than [[heresy\|heretical]].

	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]

Occultwiki at 21:31, 5 March 2022

2022-03-05T21:31:40Z

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	Natural magic so defined includes [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], and disciplines that we would today consider fields of natural science, such as astronomy and chemistry (which developed and diverged from astrology and alchemy, respectively, into the modern sciences they are today) or botany (from herbology). The Jesuit scholar [[Athanasius Kircher]] wrote that "there are as many types of natural magic as there are subjects of applied sciences".		Natural magic so defined includes [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], and disciplines that we would today consider fields of natural science, such as astronomy and chemistry (which developed and diverged from astrology and alchemy, respectively, into the modern sciences they are today) or botany (from herbology). The Jesuit scholar [[Athanasius Kircher]] wrote that "there are as many types of natural magic as there are subjects of applied sciences".

	[[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] discusses natural magic in his ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy]]'' (1533), where he calls it "nothing else but the highest power of natural sciences". The Italian Renaissance philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, who founded the tradition of [[Christian Kabbalah]], argued that natural magic was "the practical part of natural science" and was lawful rather than heretical.		[[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] discusses natural magic in his ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy]]'' (1533), where he calls it "nothing else but the highest power of natural sciences". The Italian Renaissance philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, who founded the tradition of [[Christianity\|Christian]] [[Kabbalah]], argued that natural magic was "the practical part of natural science" and was lawful rather than heretical.

	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]

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Created page with "'''Natural magic''' in the context of Renaissance magic is that part of the occult which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to ceremonial magic which deals wit..."

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'''Natural magic''' in the context of Renaissance magic is that part of the [[occult]] which deals with natural forces directly, as opposed to ceremonial magic which deals with the summoning of spirits. Natural magic sometimes makes use of physical substances from the natural world such as stones or herbs.

Natural magic so defined includes [[astrology]], [[alchemy]], and disciplines that we would today consider fields of natural science, such as astronomy and chemistry (which developed and diverged from astrology and alchemy, respectively, into the modern sciences they are today) or botany (from herbology). The Jesuit scholar [[Athanasius Kircher]] wrote that "there are as many types of natural magic as there are subjects of applied sciences".

[[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] discusses natural magic in his ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy]]'' (1533), where he calls it "nothing else but the highest power of natural sciences". The Italian Renaissance philosopher Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, who founded the tradition of [[Christian Kabbalah]], argued that natural magic was "the practical part of natural science" and was lawful rather than heretical.

[[Category:Magic]]