Magic, Magician (from Persian magus a wise man, great; cf magi)

The great art; a knowledge of the mysteries of nature and the power to apply them. In its true sense it is gupta-vidya (divine knowledge), the aim of those who tread the path of wisdom; but in ages of decline its chief secrets are withdrawn from public access, and what remains passes through transformations and gradually degenerates.

"The ancients believed in the power of man by magic practices to command the services of the gods: which gods, are in truth, but the occult powers or potencies of Nature, personified by the learned priests themselves, in which they reverenced only the attributes of the one unknown and nameless Principle. As Proclus the Platonist ably puts it: 'Ancient priests, when they considered that there is a certain alliance and sympathy in natural things to each other, and of things manifest to occult powers, and discovered that all things subsist in all, fabricated a sacred science from this mutual sympathy and similarity. . . . and applied for occult purposes, both celestial and terrene natures, by means of which, through a certain similitude, they deduced divine virtues into this inferior abode.' Magic is the science of communicating with and directing supernal, supramundane Potencies, as well as of commanding those of the lower spheres; a practical knowledge of the hidden mysteries of nature known to only the few, because they are so difficult to acquire, without falling into sins against nature" (TG 197).

White magic or theurgy is knowledge used for impersonal and beneficent purposes, the bringing into human life of the pattern and powers of nature as these exist on the spiritual planes. Black magic or goetia is knowledge used for selfishly personal or evil purposes. Natural magic is the knowledge and employment of the natural powers, forces, and substances of nature -- practically what today is called science. If the knowledge gained through the study of natural science is distorted in its use to selfish or ignoble ends, it becomes de facto black magic. While a hard and fast distinction may not be applicable to all cults of magic, where the student or practitioner has not yet made a conscious choice between the two paths, yet in the end he must choose the one or the other. For nature's forces must be controlled, either by a pure or an impure will, if the practicer is not to fall victim to them. The motive and use that a person makes of his faculties and will are the deciding factors as to whether the magic is beneficent or maleficent. Any selfish, self-seeking, or selfishly restricted use of nature's laws or powers is against the impersonality and universality of nature:

"The smallest attempt to use one's abnormal powers for the gratification of self makes of these powers sorcery or Black Magic" (Key 346).

In theosophical writings, advanced students of occultism who have acquired some knowledge and use of spiritual powers but misuse them for selfish purposes are called black magicians, Brothers of the Shadow, followers of the left-hand path, or sometimes dugpas. In their highest class they are adepts in spiritual evil.

Whenever the forces of nature are used for selfish purposes, such misuse by anyone marks such person as a black magician, whether conscious or unconscious. Those who follow the pathway of self-renunciation, self-sacrifice, self-conquest, and an expansion of the heart, mind, and consciousness in love and service for all that lives are called white magicians or Sons of Light.

(See also: Magic, Magician, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Dark Magician - Sage's Stone. Card Description: You can only activate this card by when there is a face-up "Dark Magician Girl" on your side of the field. Special Summon 1 Dark Magician from your hand or Deck. Yugi himself never uses Sage's Stone in the series but used it against Kaiba/Anubis in the movie, as it is used by Téa Gardner (Anzu Mazaki in the English manga and Japanese versions) during the Virtual World arc against one of the Big Five, Crump, who had taken the ...

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Dark Magician, Dark Magician - Anime/Manga History, Dark Magician - Mahado's Monsters, Dark Magician - The Dark Magician Series, Dark Magician - Dark Sage, Dark Magician - Dark Paladin, Dark Magician - Dark Flare Knight, Dark Magician - Mirage Knight, Dark Magician - Dark Magician Knight, Dark Magician - Skilled Dark Magician, Dark Magician - Magician of Black Chaos, Dark Magician - Dark Magician of Chaos, Dark Magician - Sorcerer of Dark Magic, Dark Magician - Amulet Dragon, Dark Magician - Spell, Dark Magician - Sage's Stone, Dark Magician - Thousand Knives, Dark Magician - Knight's Title, Dark Magician - Dark Magic Attack, Dark Magician - Diffusion Wave-Motion, Dark Magician - Dedication through Light and Darkness, Dark Magician - Pictures

Read more here: » Dark Magician: Encyclopedia II - Dark Magician - Spell

Readers familiar with Genesis will recognise the parallels to it in Lewis's work. With respect to creation, it also has some core similarities with Ainulindalë, the Song of the Ainur, the story of creation in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, due, presumably, to both drawing on the Biblical accounts for some of their material and to the close professional relationship between Tolkien and Lewis, who may have discussed together some themes such as a song of creation seen in both Ainulindalë an ...

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The Magician's Nephew, The Magician's Nephew - Synopsis, The Magician's Nephew - Commentary, The Magician's Nephew - The Rings, The Magician's Nephew - Christian Parallels

Read more here: » The Magician's Nephew: Encyclopedia II - The Magician's Nephew - Commentary

Black Magicians. See MAGICIANS

(See also: Black Magicians, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

The story begins in 1900 London with two children, Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, meeting as neighbours. Digory tells Polly that his mother is dying, and the two become friends over the course of the summer. One day, while exploring the attic which is common to all the adjoining houses in their block, they take the wrong door and surprise Digory's Uncle Andrew in his study. Uncle Andrew, a bumbling self-taught magician, tricks Polly into putting on a magic ring, which causes her to disappear. Andrew then blackmails Digory into trying on ano ...

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The Magician's Nephew, The Magician's Nephew - Synopsis, The Magician's Nephew - Commentary, The Magician's Nephew - The Rings, The Magician's Nephew - Christian Parallels

Read more here: » The Magician's Nephew: Encyclopedia II - The Magician's Nephew - Synopsis

Popes-Magicians. There are several such in history; e.g., Pope Sylvester II., the artist who made an "oracular head", like the one fabricated by Albertus Magnus, the learned Bishop of Ratisbon. Pope Sylvester was considered a great "enchanter and sorcerer" by Cardinal Benno, and the "head" was smashed to pieces by Thomas Aquinas, because it talked too much. Then there were Popes Benedict IX., John XX., and the VIth and VIIth Gregory, all regarded by their contemporaries as magicians. The latter Gregory was the famous Hildebrand. As to Bishops and lesser Priests who studied Occultism and became expert in magic arts, they are numberless.

(See also: Popes-Magicians, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Mandrake had a prominent role in the Magic Comics and the Big Little Books of the 30s and 40s. Dell Comics published a Mandrake the Magician issue in their comic series with various main characters. The Mandrake issue was #752 and featured original stories by unknown creators. In 1966-67 King Comics published 10 issues of a Mandrake the Magician comic magazine. Most of the stories were remakes of newspaper strip stories, and featured art by Andre LeBlanc, Ray Bailey and others. Mandrake stori ...

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Mandrake the Magician, Mandrake the Magician - Other Characters, Mandrake the Magician - Supporting characters, Mandrake the Magician - Villains, Mandrake the Magician - Comic books, Mandrake the Magician - In other media, Mandrake the Magician - Reprints

Read more here: » Mandrake the Magician: Encyclopedia II - Mandrake the Magician - Comic books

In 1939, Columbia produced a 12-part serial based on the Mandrake strip. It starred Warren Hull as Mandrake and Al Kikume as Lothar. The serial is widely available on DVD. The Mandrake Radio Serial aired over the Mutual radio network from November 11, 1940 until February 06, 1942. Originally it was a three day a week serial, and from 1941 a five day a week serial. Raymond Edward Johnson starred as Mandrake and Juano Hernandez as Lothar. NBC made a pilot for a Mandrake TV series in 1954, but no other episodes were made. Co ...

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Mandrake the Magician, Mandrake the Magician - Other Characters, Mandrake the Magician - Supporting characters, Mandrake the Magician - Villains, Mandrake the Magician - Comic books, Mandrake the Magician - In other media, Mandrake the Magician - Reprints

Read more here: » Mandrake the Magician: Encyclopedia II - Mandrake the Magician - In other media

Mandrake the Magician - Supporting characters. Lothar is Mandrake's best friend and crime-fighting companion. In the comic strip, Mandrake first met Lothar during his travels in Africa. Lothar was then "Prince of the Seven Nations", a mighty federation of jungle tribes, but passed on the chance to become king and instead followed Mandrake on his world travels, fighting crime and villains from all over the world (and the rest of the universe as well). ...

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Mandrake the Magician, Mandrake the Magician - Other Characters, Mandrake the Magician - Supporting characters, Mandrake the Magician - Villains, Mandrake the Magician - Comic books, Mandrake the Magician - In other media, Mandrake the Magician - Reprints

Read more here: » Mandrake the Magician: Encyclopedia II - Mandrake the Magician - Other Characters

The Dark Magician was once an ancient Egyptian High Priest called Mahado (Mahad in the English anime), the original holder of the Millenium Ring. He was also a mentor to Mana, who eventally became the Dark Magician Girl (Black Magician Girl). He gave his life in service to the throne during a Shadow Game against Bakura in the training ground of the spellcasters. Upon his failure to defeat Bakura's Diabound, Mahado sacrificed himself in order to fuse his soul with his 'Ka' monster Illusion Magician, creating the Dark Magician. T ...

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Dark Magician, Dark Magician - Anime/Manga History, Dark Magician - Mahado's Monsters, Dark Magician - The Dark Magician Series, Dark Magician - Dark Sage, Dark Magician - Dark Paladin, Dark Magician - Dark Flare Knight, Dark Magician - Mirage Knight, Dark Magician - Dark Magician Knight, Dark Magician - Skilled Dark Magician, Dark Magician - Magician of Black Chaos, Dark Magician - Dark Magician of Chaos, Dark Magician - Sorcerer of Dark Magic, Dark Magician - Amulet Dragon, Dark Magician - Spell, Dark Magician - Sage's Stone, Dark Magician - Thousand Knives, Dark Magician - Knight's Title, Dark Magician - Dark Magic Attack, Dark Magician - Diffusion Wave-Motion, Dark Magician - Dedication through Light and Darkness, Dark Magician - Pictures

Read more here: » Dark Magician: Encyclopedia II - Dark Magician - Anime/Manga History

In the so-called "Marseilles" woodcut images that precede the overlay of occult imagery of the 19th century, The Magician is identified as Le Bateleur ('The Wand-user'), and is represented as a stage magician rather than a figure of real power. The 18th-century woodcuts apparently reflect earlier iconic representations and can be compared to the free artistic renditions in 15th-century hand-painted taro ...

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The Magician Tarot card, The Magician Tarot card - Description and symbolism, The Magician Tarot card - History, The Magician Tarot card - Interpretation, The Magician Tarot card - Kabbalistic Approach, The Magician Tarot card - Mythopoetic Approach, The Magician Tarot card - Examples, The Magician Tarot card - Note

Read more here: » The Magician Tarot card: Encyclopedia II - The Magician Tarot card - History

The Magician Tarot card - Kabbalistic Approach. This card signifies the divine motive in man, reflecting God, the will in the liberation of its union with that which is above. It is also the unity of individual being on all planes, and in a very high sense it is thought, in the fixation thereof. With further reference to the "sign of life" and its connection with the number 8, it may be remembered that Christian Gnosticism speaks of rebirth in Christ as a change "unto the Ogdoad." The mystic number is termed Jeru ...

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The Magician Tarot card, The Magician Tarot card - Description and symbolism, The Magician Tarot card - History, The Magician Tarot card - Interpretation, The Magician Tarot card - Kabbalistic Approach, The Magician Tarot card - Mythopoetic Approach, The Magician Tarot card - Examples, The Magician Tarot card - Note

Read more here: » The Magician Tarot card: Encyclopedia II - The Magician Tarot card - Interpretation

White Magic, White Magicians.

See MAGIC, MAGICIAN

(See also: White Magic, White Magicians, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Practitioners of chaos magic attempt to be outside of all categories - for them, worldviews, theories, beliefs, opinions, habits and even personalities are tools that may be chosen arbitrarily in order to understand or manipulate the world they see and create around themselves. Chaos magicians are frequently described as funny, extreme or very individualistic people. They also may consider themselves exceptionally tolerant, remarking that whatever one might disagree over is merely an opinion, and hence interchangeable, anyway. For a list of notable chaos mag ...

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Chaos magic, Chaos magic - Pre-History, Chaos magic - History, Chaos magic - Magical paradigm shifting, Chaos magic - The Gnostic state, Chaos magic - Chaos magicians, Chaos magic - Symbols and deities, Chaos magic - In pop culture

Read more here: » Chaos magic: Encyclopedia II - Chaos magic - Chaos magicians

Practitioners of chaos magick attempt to be outside of all categories - for them, worldviews, theories, beliefs, opinions, habits and even personalities are tools that may be chosen arbitrarily in order to understand or manipulate the world they see and create around themselves. Chaos magicians are frequently described as funny, extreme or very individualistic people. They also may consider themselves exceptionally tolerant, remarking that whatever one might disagree over is merely an opinion, and hence interchangeable, anyway. For a list of notable chaos mag ...

See also:

Chaos magic, Chaos magic - Pre-History, Chaos magic - History, Chaos magic - Magical paradigm shifting, Chaos magic - The Gnostic state, Chaos magic - Chaos magicians, Chaos magic - Symbols and deities, Chaos magic - In pop culture

Read more here: » Chaos magic: Encyclopedia II - Chaos magic - Chaos magicians

Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Henry Duvall. The main antagonist of the second book, The Golem's Eye, Duvall uses a golem to wreak havoc in London. He is also a werewolf. Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Nathaniel. Main article: Nathaniel (Bartimaeus trilogy) One of the trio of main characters in the trilogy, he is the also one of the largest characters in the books. In the first book, The Amulet of Samarkand, he foils a co ...

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Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Magicians, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Henry Duvall, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Nathaniel, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Quentin Makepeace, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Simon Lovelace, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Others, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Historical magicians, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Commoners, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Kitty Jones, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Others, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Demons, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Bartimaeus, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Faquarl, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Jabor, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Nouda, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Ramuthra, Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Others

Read more here: » Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy: Encyclopedia II - Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy - Magicians

The series began in June 1951 as a horror anthology from Marvel's 1950s precursor, Atlas Comics. Initially modeled after the gory morality tales of the popular and groundbreaking EC line of comics, Strange Tales became lesss outré with the 1954 imposition of the Comics Code, which prohibited graphic horror, as well as vampires, zombies and other classical monsters. The comic changed again with the return of industry legend Jack Kirby, the artist who had co-created Captain America for the company and then worked elsew ...

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Strange Tales, Strange Tales - Monsters and magician, Strange Tales - Steranko and spies, Strange Tales - Warlock and voodoo, Strange Tales - Cloak and Dagger, Strange Tales - Bibliography, Strange Tales - Other uses

Read more here: » Strange Tales: Encyclopedia II - Strange Tales - Monsters and magician

Some historical or legendary magicians, wizards, witches, or people who have been claimed to be so, are: List of occultists - Classical mythology:. Cassandra, oracle Circe, legendary sorceress Hecate, goddess of witchcraft Medea, legendary sorceress Semiramis, semi-legendary queen and sorceress List of occultists - Ancient world:. Apollonius of Tyana, wizard Apuleius ...

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List of occultists, List of occultists - Famous magicians:, List of occultists - Classical mythology:, List of occultists - Ancient world:, List of occultists - Mediæval Europe:, List of occultists - Renaissance:, List of occultists - Enlightenment and early modern period:, List of occultists - Nineteenth century:, List of occultists - Twentieth century:, List of occultists - People subjected to magical legends, List of occultists - Magical movements societies and organisations:, List of occultists - Rosicrucian Movements:, List of occultists - Other Mystical Movements:, List of occultists - Fictional wizards magicians and witches:

Read more here: » List of occultists: Encyclopedia II - List of occultists - Famous magicians:

Magician-caliber persons take center stage in many of the Xanth novels. While each human (and many non-human) residents of Xanth have a specific magic talent, many of them are spot-on-the-wall variety, such as literally forming a colored spot on a wall. However, a select few are born with significant, extraordinary magical talents. The term Sorceress is synonymous with Magician and, later in the series, that interchange provides the method by which females could become kings of Xanth. List of ...

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List of Xanth characters, List of Xanth characters - Magicians, List of Xanth characters - Good Magician/King Humfrey, List of Xanth characters - Evil Magician/King Trent, List of Xanth characters - Bink, List of Xanth characters - Jonathan The Zombie Master, List of Xanth characters - Dor, List of Xanth characters - The Storm King, List of Xanth characters - Iris, List of Xanth characters - Irene, List of Xanth characters - Ivy, List of Xanth characters - Dolph, List of Xanth characters - Ida, List of Xanth characters - Melody Harmony and Rhythm, List of Xanth characters - Murphy, List of Xanth characters - Surprise, List of Xanth characters - Grey, List of Xanth characters - Sherlock, List of Xanth characters - Jordan the Barbarian, List of Xanth characters - Crombie The Soldier, List of Xanth characters - Millie The Ghost, List of Xanth characters - Beauregard The Demon, List of Xanth characters - Jewel The Nymph, List of Xanth characters - Demon XA/Nth, List of Xanth characters - Crunch The Ogre, List of Xanth characters - Threnody, List of Xanth characters - The Brain Coral, List of Xanth characters - Grundy The Golem, List of Xanth characters - Chet Centaur, List of Xanth characters - Roland of The High Council, List of Xanth characters - Bianca, List of Xanth characters - Chameleon, List of Xanth characters - Herman The Hermit Centaur, List of Xanth characters - Cherie Centaur, List of Xanth characters - Chester Centaur

Read more here: » List of Xanth characters: Encyclopedia II - List of Xanth characters - Magicians

Whilst Brown must be deemed a great success as a 'psychological magician' by the yardstick of media exposure and television appearances, he is not alone in pioneering or originating this form of entertainment. From the 1990s onwards American psychologist turned entertainer Marc Salem has appeared with his project 'Mind Games' to critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, in the theatre as well as on television. British-Dutch magician David Berglas was a household name in the 1960s and early 1970s with his intense, interactive television shows which drew heavily on his trainin ...

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Derren Brown, Derren Brown - Television shows, Derren Brown - Mind Control, Derren Brown - Russian Roulette, Derren Brown - Séance, Derren Brown - Messiah, Derren Brown - Trick of the Mind, Derren Brown - The Gathering, Derren Brown - The Heist, Derren Brown - Other 'Mind' magicians, Derren Brown - Other productions and publications

Read more here: » Derren Brown: Encyclopedia II - Derren Brown - Other 'Mind' magicians

The term "street magic" was highlighted in magician David Blaine's 1997 ABC television special David Blaine: Street Magic. New York based artist and magician Jeff Sheridan is, however, credited and revered as the father of modern Western street magic, authoring the 1977 book, Street Magic. He was the performer who inspired and taught the young Blaine after he saw Sheridan perform in Central Park and many years later was approached by Blaine to work with him although he declined. Street magic most often consists of close-up mag ...

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Street magic, Street magic - Modern history in the West, Street magic - Notable street magicians

Read more here: » Street magic: Encyclopedia II - Street magic - Modern history in the West