Difference between revisions of "Template:Occult.live:Today's featured article"

From Occult Encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(58 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Ishtar Akkadian seal.jpg|250px|left]]
[[File:The Black Mass.jpg|200px|left]]
'''[[Ishtar]]''' is the ancient goddess of love, war, and fertility worshipped in the Akkadian Empire, by the Babylonians, and Assyrians. She was originally worshipped in Sumer as Inanna. She is also associated with beauty, sex, divine law, and political power. Her primary title was "the Queen of Heaven."
'''[[Black magic]]''' has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or [[ritual magic|magic]] for evil and selfish purposes; or magic associated with [[the Devil]] or other evil spirits. It is also sometimes referred to as the "[[left-hand path]]," (its right-hand path counterpart being benevolent white magic). In modern times, some find that the definition of black magic has been convoluted by people who define magic or ritualistic practices that they disapprove of as black magic.


Inanna was associated with the planet [[Venus]], which is named after her Roman equivalent Venus. In Inanna's Descent to the Underworld, unlike any other deity, Inanna is able to descend into the netherworld and return to the heavens. The planet Venus appears to make a similar descent, setting in the West and then rising again in the East. Because the movements of Venus appear to be discontinuous (it disappears due to its proximity to the [[Sun]], for many days at a time, and then reappears on the other horizon), some cultures did not recognize Venus as a single entity; instead, they assumed it to be two separate stars on each horizon: the morning and evening star.
While "[[natural magic]]" became popular among the educated and upper classes of the 16th and 17th century, [[ritual magic]] and folk magic remained subject to persecution. 20th century author Montague Summers generally rejects the definitions of "white" and "black" magic as "contradictory," though he highlights the extent to which all magic, regardless of intent, was considered "black," even magic involving [[angel]]s, because it attempted to subvert the will of [[Yahweh|God]] in favor of the [[magician]].


'''([[Ishtar|Full Article...]])'''
'''([[Black magic|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 15:54, 12 June 2025

The Black Mass.jpg

Black magic has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for evil and selfish purposes; or magic associated with the Devil or other evil spirits. It is also sometimes referred to as the "left-hand path," (its right-hand path counterpart being benevolent white magic). In modern times, some find that the definition of black magic has been convoluted by people who define magic or ritualistic practices that they disapprove of as black magic.

While "natural magic" became popular among the educated and upper classes of the 16th and 17th century, ritual magic and folk magic remained subject to persecution. 20th century author Montague Summers generally rejects the definitions of "white" and "black" magic as "contradictory," though he highlights the extent to which all magic, regardless of intent, was considered "black," even magic involving angels, because it attempted to subvert the will of God in favor of the magician.

(Full Article...)