ABRACADABRA

The word abracadabra - in it's earliest
known use - was written in this
 pattern and worn around the neck
 or sewn into clothing in order to cure fever.

In our class on tuesday, we talked about the occult in the history of knowledge.  The discussion really sparked my interest (just as anything I don't know much about piques my curiosity).  Coincidentally, another professor in my religion class a few days ago mentioned something interesting.  He talked about the possible origin of the word abracadabra.  Although there are many different ideas as to where the word came from, many believe that the word originates from the Aramaic for "I will create as I speak" or possibly from the Hebrew words "ab" (Father) "ben" (Son) "ruach hakodesh" (Holy Spirit).  Maybe it as a stretch but we might also interpret the general idea as the Father creating through his Word - "I the Father will create by my Word".  Interesting stuff.  It might change the way you feel about the next children's magic show you see or maybe you will think twice before saying what may have been at one point in time a very sacred phrase.



It might seem almost cliché to talk about the 'power of the pen' or 'power of words', but written words have had an intrinsic power in them since the beginning.  We now take it for granted, but just imagine what it means to human beings to create words and ideas from a few lines on paper.  It reminds me of a story that Will mentioned in his post a while back about how the Mayan man who didn't know how to read mayan writing thought that another researcher who read Mayan was amazed that he could bring the words of his ancestors back to life.

The Spell-Chanting Witches from Macbeth

Maybe it is because of this idea that people started to believe that words might have actual magical powers.  Magical words are usually different from regular writing or speech in that they are often taken down to a primeval or original form.  This may have been done in order to connect with the truth of the words in a purer form.  If you think of all the magical words you know (you are probably thinking of Harry Potter now) you are likely to see some latin roots in the words you thought of.  Even in many religions, old languages were often used to connect to a purity and religious truth -- think the Catholic church and Latin or Judaism and Hebrew.

Another reason for the archaic language in magic might have to do with the power that occult knowledge brings.  Because the words are not readily understandable by everyone, the magician, priest, shaman &c. would be able to exercise control because of exclusivity of the knowledge.

Magic words are sometimes chanted, such as in an incantation, and sometimes written down.  The most famous of chanted spells is probably the one recited by the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth.  "Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble" -- We could probably all recite it by memory.

Even letters themselves have been assigned magical powers.  Runes such as Futhark may have not only been letters for writing but seem to have possible been connected to magical powers that were exercised when the symbols were written.

I have always thought there is a very fine line between religion and magic (maybe magic is the counterfeit of heavenly power).  Most creation stories include an all-powerful creator who creates with his word (think abracadabra) and even in the Christian tradition the power of speech is great -- "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:3)  He spoke and His words became reality.