An author like Shakespeare, one of the most important writers in Western literature, could not escape the beliefs in magic of his time. In his work he managed to bring together the sensibilities of popular culture while using universal references, typical of Greco-Roman traditions.
Merlin, also known as Myrddin or Merlinus, is the great magician of Arthurian legends best known for Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (1469). The character was created by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his History of the Kings of Britain (1136), where he first appears as a wise and precocious young man with prophetic powers.
The character of St. Patrick is known for being the patron saint of Ireland, with one of the largest celebrations worldwide on March 17, following the Irish diaspora of the 19th century. However, linked to the history of this Christian saint are a series of aspects related to folklore and magic, which make the holiday take on a special magical...
"It's a Witches' hat because you wear it. But you're a Witch because you wear the hat" Terry Pratchett
Florida Water is a cologne whose main ingredients are alcohol and flowers, herbs and spices, intended to give the aroma. Florida water has existed since ancient times, although evidence of its manufacture and use as a perfume appears in the mid-16th century. There are those who consider Florida water to be a Spanish invention, following the search...
Tarot appears as a card game around the 13th century, in Renaissance Italy by the Visconti-Sforza family. This historical origin differs from a mystical origin by the French post-Enlightenment where it is traced back to Ancient Egypt, in line with the interest of secret societies in this ancient civilization. It was Antoine Court de Gebelin, a...
Often, when everyday things seem to be stopped or not going well, you hear people say that it is because Mercury is in retrograde. This astrological reference to the planet refers to the fact that, due to the rotation of the Earth and the rotation of the planet itself, there are certain astronomical moments in which there is an apparent...
With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, many people are once again interested in this culture and finding out why they follow the lunar calendar, what their horoscope is like, or what traditions are followed. The Chinese New Year (农历新年, nónglì xīnnián) is also known as the Spring Festival (春节, chūnjíe), and begins on the new moon closest...
Chakra (Sanskrit (चक्र, circle), is the word used in Hinduism to refer to the sources of energy that are believed to be inside the human being, and that are nourished by breathing (prana). Correct breathing, together with other factors, helps all the chakras to be balanced, and therefore, the physical and mental life of the individual to be...
The belief in the existence of another life after death has been present in many cultures throughout history: Some believe in communication with the deceased through dreams, rituals such as necromancy or through mediums who act as intermediaries between the two worlds. These concepts vary greatly depending on traditions and personal beliefs, some...
In previous articles we have seen an introduction to the Etteilla tarot and the meanings of the "arcana". Next we will see the meanings that Alliette gave to the different suits of the deck, in the previous one we saw the wands, this time, it is the turn of the cups. Let us remember that in the Etteilla...
The Hirz or Herz is a written incantation, but it is better known as an amulet whose origins lie in the magical use of the verses of the Koran, for protective and beneficial purposes. For this reason they are also called "prayer boxes". The elongated container that contains this text is commonly known as hirz, but it is really the...
