praxis
Word Power Incantation
The doctrine and practice that spoken or sung word carries causal-magical force — that uttering names, formulas, songs, or incantations alters reality directly rather than merely communicating about it. Vainamoinen's runo-songs that move mountains and command iron, Norse galdr, Vedic mantra, Shinto kotodama, the magician's barbarous names in the Greek Magical Papyri, Iamblichean arcane signatures and inexplicable symbols, biblical creation-by-word. Distinct from sacred_names (the ontological power of names themselves) and prayer (address to the divine); word_power_incantation is the magical-causal efficacy of the spoken word as such.
337 passages · 7 traditions
finnic177
◆The Kalevala | Rune IIb
“Wainamoinen, old and trusty, Thought awhile, and well considered, How to kill the mighty oak-tree, First created for his pleasure, How to fell the tree majestic, How to lop its hundred branches.
Sad the lives of man and hero, Sad the homes…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune IIc
“Straightway to the oak-tree turning, Thither stalks the mighty giant, In his raiment long and roomy, Flapping in the winds of heaven; With his second step he totters On the land of darker color; With his third stop firmly planted, Reaches h…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune IId
“Down from heaven came the eagle, Through the air be came a-flying, That he might this thing consider; And he spake the words that follow: "Wherefore, ancient Wainamoinen, Hast thou left the slender birch-tree, Left the birch-tree only stand…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune IIe
“Here a few days pass unnoted And as many nights fly over.
When the seventh day had journeyed, On the morning of the eighth day, Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, Went to view his crop of barley, How his plowing, how his sowing, How his labors…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune IIIa
“AND YOUKAHAINEN.
Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, Passed his years in full contentment, On the meadows of Wainola, On the plains of Kalevala, Singing ever wondrous legends, Songs of ancient wit and wisdom, Chanting one day, then a second, Si…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune IIIb
“Instantly the prancing racer Springs away upon his journey; On he, restless, plunges northward, All day long be onward gallops, All the next day, onward, onward, So the third from morn till evening, Till the third day twilight brings him To…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune IIIc
“Slowly perches swim in Autumn, Wry-backed, hunting deeper water, Spawn in shallows in the summer, Bounding on the shore of ocean.
Should this wisdom seem too little, I can tell thee other matters, Sing thee other wizard sayings: All the No…”
◆The Kalevala | Rune IIId
“Thou wert never seen or heard of When the earth was first created, When were made the ether-spaces, When the air was crystal-pillared, When the Moon was placed in orbit, When the silver Sun was planted, When the Bear was firmly stationed, W…”
Show all 177 →western_esoteric73
◆The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Ceremonial Magic and Sorcerya
“CEREMONIAL magic is the ancient art of invoking and controlling spirits by a scientific application of certain formulæ.
A magician, enveloped in sanctified vestments and carrying a wand inscribed with hieroglyphic figures, could by the pow…”
◆The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Ceremonial Magic and Sorceryd
“For the third time I asked my question and he answered, 'I am as swift as human thought.' 'You shall serve me,' I replied.
This spirit was faithful for a long time, but to tell you how he served me is not possible in a document of this len…”
◆The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Ceremonial Magic and Sorcerye
“On the place where you intend to make the circle, you must first draw a great cross with a large sword with which no one ever has been hurt.
Then you must make three concentric circles.
The innermost circle is made of a long narrow strip…”
◆The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Hermetic Pharmacology, Chemistry, and Therapeuticsf
“In other words, germs were minute creatures born out of man's evil thoughts and actions.
The fourth cause of disease was what the Orientals called Karma , that is, the Law of Compensation, which demanded that the individual pay in full for…”
◆The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Hermetic Pharmacology, Chemistry, and Therapeuticsk
“They know that every spoken word has tremendous power and that by certain arrangements of words they can create vortices of force in the invisible universe about them and thereby profoundly influence physical substance.
The Sacred Word by…”
◆The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | American Indian Symbolismi
“Concerning these rolls, Colonel Carrick Mallery writes: "To persons acquainted with secret societies, a good comparison for the Midewiwin charts would be what is called a trestleboard of a Masonic order, which is printed and published and p…”
◆Transcendental Magic I: The Doctrine (Éliphas Lévi) | Introductiona
“Behind the veil of all the hieratic and mystical allegories of ancient doctrines, behind the darkness and strange ordeals of all initiations, under the seal of all sacred writings, in the ruins of Nineveh or Thebes, on the crumbling stones…”
◆Transcendental Magic I: The Doctrine (Éliphas Lévi) | Introductionf
“Here I must pause, and I fear that already I have said too much.
I testify in fine that there is one sole, universal and imperishable dogma, strong as supreme reason; simple, like all that is great; intelligible, like all that is universal…”
Show all 73 →celtic48
◆The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAINc
“The man looked upon me, and he smiled and said, ‘If I did not fear to distress thee too much, I would show thee that which thou seekest.’ Upon this I became anxious and sorrowful, and when the man perceived it, he said, ‘If thou wouldest ra…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAINg
“And as long as thou concealest it, it will conceal thee.
When they have consulted together, they will come forth to fetch thee, in order to put thee to death; and they will be much grieved that they cannot find thee.
And I will await thee…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAINl
““My lord Arthur,” said Gwalchmai, “here is Owain, who has vanquished me, and will not take my arms.” “My lord,” said Owain, “it is he that has vanquished me, and he will not take my sword.” “Give me your swords,” said Arthur, “and then neit…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWCn
“And Peredur put on garments like those that Gwalchmai wore, and they went together unto Arthur, and saluted him.
“Behold, lord,” said Gwalchmai, “him whom thou hast sought so long.” “Welcome unto thee, chieftain,” said Arthur.
“With me th…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWCr
“And being elated with the liquor, he said to the black man, “It is a marvel to me, so mighty as thou sayest thou art, who could have put out thine eye.” “It is one of my habits,” said the black man, “that whosoever puts to me the question w…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC|
““I will give thee,” said the King, “my daughter in marriage, and half my kingdom with her, and the two Earldoms as a gift.” “Heaven reward thee, lord,” said Peredur, “but I came not here to woo.” “What seekest thou then, chieftain?” “I am s…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale GERAINT THE SON OF ERBINz
“But the third turned upon him, and struck him with his club, so that he split his shield, and crushed his shoulder, and opened his wounds anew, and all his blood began to flow from him.
But Geraint drew his sword, and attacked the giant, a…”
◆The Mabinogion | Tale GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN}
“And Geraint called for his horse and his armour, and he accoutred both himself and his horse.
And all the hosts went forth until they came to the side of the hedge, and the hedge was so lofty, that it reached as high as they could see in t…”
Show all 48 →norse20
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1b
“Hail to the giver!
| a guest has come; Where shall the stranger sit?
Swift shall he be who, | with swords shall try The proof of his might to make.
[1.
This stanza is quoted by Snorri, the second line being omitted in most of the Prose…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1c
“Gunnloth : the daughter of the giant Suttung, from whom Othin won the mead of poetry.
For this episode see stanzas 104-110.
14.
Fjalar : apparently another name for Suttung.
This stanza, and probably 13, seem to have been inserted as il…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1f
“Fire for men | is the fairest gift, And power to see the sun; Health as well, | if a man may have it, And a life not stained with sin.
69.
All wretched is no man, | though never so sick; Some from their sons have joy, Some win it from kin…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1g
“The stanza-form is so irregular as to show either that something has been lost or that there have been interpolations.
The manuscript indicates no lacuna; Gering fills out the assumed gap as follows: "Certain is that which is sought from r…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1i
“50 Foul scorn was my meed | from the crafty maid, And nought from the woman I won.
* * * 103.
Though glad at home, | and merry with guests, A man shall be wary and wise; The sage and shrewd, | wide wisdom seeking, Must see that his speech…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1j
“On his ring swore Othin | the oath, methinks; Who now his troth shall trust?
Suttung's betrayal | he sought with drink, And Gunnloth to grief he left.
* * * 111.
It is time to chant | from the chanter's stool; By the wells of Urth I was,…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1k
“I saw a man | who was wounded sore By an evil woman's word; A lying tongue | his death-blow launched, And no word of truth there was.
119.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir!
| and hear thou my rede,-- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy ga…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1l
“| and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: I bid thee be wary, | but be not fearful; (Beware most with ale or another's wife, And third beware | lest a thief outwit thee.) [129.
Line 5 is a…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1m
“I ween that I hung | on the windy tree, Hung there for nights full nine; With the spear I was wounded, | and offered I was To Othin, myself to myself, On the tree that none | may ever know What root beneath it runs.
[138.
In the manuscrip…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1n
“Knowest how one shall write, | knowest how one shall rede?
Knowest how one shall tint, | knowest how one makes trial?
Knowest how one shall ask, | knowest how one shall offer?
Knowest how one shall send, | knowest how one shall sacrifice…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1o
“A sixth I know, | if harm one seeks With a sapling's roots to send me; The hero himself | who wreaks his hate Shall taste the ill ere I.
153.
A seventh I know, | if I see in flames The hall o'er my comrades' heads; It burns not so wide |…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1p
“An eighteenth I know, | that ne'er will I tell To maiden or wife of man,-- The best is what none | but one's self doth know, So comes the end of the songs,-- Save only to her | in whose arms I lie, Or who else my sister is.
[163.
Some edi…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1b
“The roving Norsemen of the tenth century, very few of whom had as yet accepted Christianity, were nevertheless in close contact with Celtic races which had already been converted, and in many ways the Celtic influence was strongly felt.
It…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1c
“stanza 47 and note), of the dark elves (Svartalfaheim), of the dead (Niflheim), and presumably of the dwarfs (perhaps Nithavellir, cf.
stanza 37 and note, but the ninth world is uncertain).
The tree: the world-ash Yggdrasil, [fp.
4] symb…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1f
“Lothur : apparently an older name for Loki, the treacherous but ingenious son of Laufey, whose divinity Snorri regards as somewhat doubtful.
He was adopted by Othin, who subsequently had good reason to regret it.
Loki probably represents…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1g
“Lines 5-6, one or both of them probably interpolated, seem to symbolize the refining of gold by fire.
Hor ("The High One"): Othin.
22.
Heith ("Shining One"?): a name often applied to wise women and prophetesses.
The application of this…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1h
“Here the Volva turns from her memories of the past to a statement of some of Othin's own secrets in his eternal search for knowledge (stanzas 27-29).
Bugge puts this stanza after stanza 29.
The horn of Heimdall : the Gjallarhorn ("Shrieki…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1m
“This stanza refers to the story that he was sent by the gods with Hönir as a hostage to the Wanes after their war (cf.
stanza 21 and note), and that the Wanes cut off his head and returned it to the gods.
Othin embalmed the head, and by m…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1o
“The sun turns black, | earth sinks in the sea, The hot stars down | from heaven are whirled; Fierce grows the steam | and the life-feeding flame, Till fire leaps high | about heaven itself.
58.
Now Garm howls loud | before Gnipahellir, Th…”
◆The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1p
“More fair than the sun, | a hall I see, Roofed with gold, | on Gimle it stands; There shall the righteous | rulers dwell, And happiness ever | there shall they have.
65.
There comes on high, | all power to hold, A mighty lord, | all lands…”
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◆Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter II — What Magic Is, What Are the Parts Thereof, and How the Professors Thereof Must Be Qualified | Chapter II, Section 1b
“It instructs us also concerning Faith, Miracles, the virtues of Words and Figures , the secret operations and mysteries of Seals; and, as Apuleius saith, it teacheth us rightly to understand and to be skilled in the Ceremonial Laws, the equ…”
◆Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter XL — Of Bindings; What Sort They Are Of, and in What Ways They Are Wont to Be Done | Chapter XL, Section 1
“CHAPTER XL. Of Bindings; What Sort They Are Of, and in What Ways They Are Wont to Be Done . We have spoken concerning the virtues and wonderful efficacy of natural things. It remains now that we understand a thing of great wonderment—and it…”
◆Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter LI — Of Certain Observations, Producing Wonderful Virtues | Chapter LI, Section 1a
“CHAPTER LI.
Of Certain Observations, Producing Wonderful Virtues .
They say that certain acts and observations have a certain power of natural things; that they believe diseases may be expelled, or brought thus and thus.
So they say that…”
◆Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter LXIX — Of Speech, and the Occult Virtue of Words | Chapter LXIX, Section 1
“CHAPTER LXIX. Of Speech, and the Occult Virtue of Words . It being shown that there is a great power in the affections of the soul, you must know, moreover, that there is no less virtue in words and the names of things, and greatest of all…”
◆Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter LXX — Of the Virtue of Proper Names | Chapter LXX, Section 1
“CHAPTER LXX. Of the Virtue of Proper Names . That the proper names of things are very necessary in Magical Operations, almost all men testify. For the natural power of things proceeds, first, from the objects to the senses, and then from th…”
◆Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter LXXI — Of Many Words Joined Together, as in Sentences and Verses; and of the Virtues and Astrictions of Charms | Chapter LXXI, Section 1a
“CHAPTER LXXI.
Of Many Words Joined Together, as in Sentences and Verses; and of the Virtues and Astrictions of Charms .
Besides the virtues of words and names, there is also a greater virtue found in sentences, from the truth contained in…”
◆Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter LXXI — Of Many Words Joined Together, as in Sentences and Verses; and of the Virtues and Astrictions of Charms | Chapter LXXI, Section 1b
“By the quality, therefore, of this spirit, and by the celestial similitude, thereof (besides those things which have already been spoken of) verses, also, from the opportunity of time, receive from above most excellent virtues; and, indeed,…”
◆Agrippa: The Philosophy of Natural Magic, Chapter LXXII — Of the Wonderful Power of Enchantments | Chapter LXXII, Section 1
“CHAPTER LXXII. Of the Wonderful Power of Enchantments . They say that the power of enchantments and verses is, so great, that it is believed they are able to subvert almost all Nature. Apuleius saith that with a magical whispering, swift ri…”
Show all 10 →zoroastrianism6
◆Avesta (Gathas) | Ahunavaiti Gatha, Yasna XXVIII, Section 1a
“1.
(A strengthening blessing 1 is the thought, a blessing is the word, a blessing is the deed of the righteous Zarathu s tra.
May the Bountiful Immortals 2 accept and help on 3 the chants.
Homage to you, O sacred Gâthas 4 !) 2.
With ven…”
◆Avesta (Gathas) | Ahunavaiti Gatha, Yasna XXXI, Section 1a
“1.
These doctrines (therefore) we are earnestly declaring to You as we recite them forth from memory, words (till now) unheard 1 (with faith) by those who by means of the doctrinal vows 2 of the harmful Lie are delivering the settlements o…”
◆Avesta (Gathas) | Ahunavaiti Gatha, Yasna XXXII, Section 1c
“(And) this entire 3 (reward of the righteous) is from that Best One who teaches 4 in the wide (mental) light of the pious 5 , ruling (as supreme), O Mazda Ahura 6 !
whose are my woes and my p.
67 doubtings 1 (yea, they lie in His power to…”
◆Avesta (Gathas) | Ushtavaiti Gatha, Yasna XLIII, Section 1b
“102 righteous may I be a mighty help and joy 1 , since to preparations 2 for Thy Kingdom, and in desire (for its approach), I would devote myself so long as to Thee, O Mazda!
I may praise, and weave my song.
9.
Yea, I conceived of Thee a…”
◆Avesta (Gathas) | Ushtavaiti Gatha, Yasna XLIV, Section 1b
“This I ask Thee, O Ahura!
tell me aright, how to myself shall I hallow 7 the Faith of Thy people, p.
116 which the beneficent kingdom's lord hath taught me, even the admonitions which He called Thine equal, hath taught me through His loft…”
◆Avesta (Gathas) | Spenta Mainyu Gatha, Yasna L, Section 1a
“Y.
XLIX, 12 1 .
What aids of grace hast Thou for Thine invoking Zarathu s tra, (O Ahura Mazda!) to grant him through Thy Righteous Order?
Yea, what (aids of 2 grace hast thou for me as) through Thy Good Mind given (within my soul), for m…”
mesopotamian3
◆Adapa and the Food of Life | Section 1a
“ADAPA AND THE FOOD OF LIFE .
TABLET NO.1 He possessed intelligence .
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, His command like the command of Anu ...
He (Ea) granted him a wide ear to reveal the destiny of the land, He granted him wisdom, but he did not grant him eterna…”
◆Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet I — The Tyranny of Gilgamish and the Creation of Enkidu | Tablet I, Section 1b
“Gilgamish leaveth no son to his father, [his arrogance swelling] (Each) day and night; aye, he is the shepherd of Erech, [the high-wall’d], 25.
He is their shepherd .
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masterful, dominant, subtle .
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Gilgamish leaveth no maid to…”
◆Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet VI — Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven | Tablet VI, Section 1c
“But if thou’lt [not] make [this Bull], then .
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100.
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________________________________ Anu [made answer, (thus) spe…”