Is black magic a real practice or just a label for what we fear?
In short: Traditionally defined as the use of supernatural powers for selfish or malevolent ends, black magic has shifted from a medieval obsession with demonic invocation to a modern moral judgment. From inquisitorial trials to contemporary political accusations, the line between dark arts and simple prejudice remains as murky as the rituals themselves.
The term black magic, or nigromancy, traces its English roots to Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene. Etymologically, it stems from the Latin niger, meaning black, and the Greek manteia, meaning divination. While medieval scholars like Johannes Hartlieb in 1456 categorized seven prohibited arts, the term specifically evolved to describe demonic magic. During this era, practitioners were often members of the educated elite who utilized Latin grimoires. In 1444, for instance, Inquisitor Gaspare Sighicelli prosecuted a group in Bologna, including Marco Mattei of Gesso and friar Jacopo of Viterbo, for their involvement in such practices.
Historically, the definition of black magic was inextricably linked to religious persecution. During the Renaissance, thinkers like Marsilio Ficino and Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa adopted natural magic to study esoteric subjects safely, avoiding the Inquisition’s wrath. However, the distinction between good and evil was often arbitrary. William Perkins, in his 1608 instructions, argued that all witches—even those who claimed to do good—should be executed by the magistrate. This broad condemnation targeted diviners, charmers, and those accused of hexing neighbors or destroying crops.
Modern interpretations have shifted from ritualistic practice to the practitioner's intent. Robert M. Place suggests that black and white magic both originated in primitive spirit worship, but he prefers classifying them as high and low magic based on the user's goals. Yet, even this framework is criticized for its inherent class bias, where expensive ceremonial magic is labeled high and folk traditions are dismissed as low. Today, many Wiccan practitioners actively distance themselves from black magic, associating it with harm, while popular culture continues to conflate unrelated traditions like Voodoo with dark sorcery.
The persistence of these labels is evident even in modern conflict. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, state media alleged that Ukraine employed black magic to resist the military, specifically accusing Oleksiy Arestovych of using blood magick to consecrate weapons. Whether through historical inquisitions or modern propaganda, the concept of black magic remains a powerful tool for defining the other, reflecting more about the accuser's anxieties than the reality of the practices themselves.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Black magic
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