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I don't particularly agree with this, but I remember reading or hearing somewhere that Latin had some specific quality to it that made it the "best" language for magic, and I think for specifically binding demons. As far as any of you know is there any veracity to this claim? Are there other languages that this may be true for (like Greek or Sanskrit) or is it truly all relative and up to the practitioner. I lean more toward the camp of do what you can and don't get caught up in specifics, but still, its an interesting question thats been on my mind.
Personal opinion the language you are most fluent in is the best for magick. Why would you attempt any serious magick in a language you are unfamiliar with? The lack of accurate translation or even pronunciation especially in something like latin could be dire. I totally agree it's up to the individual practitioner, personally though I never understood the romanticization of latin and other dead languages in magick.
Personal opinion the language you are most fluent in is the best for magick. Why would you attempt any serious magick in a language you are unfamiliar with? The lack of accurate translation or even pronunciation especially in something like latin could be dire. I totally agree it's up to the individual practitioner, personally though I never understood the romanticization of latin and other dead languages in magick.
We use latin in magick cause, until the 17th century, all the books for high society were written in that language. It allowed people from all Europe to read and study them.
I like to use barbaric latin occasionally, barbaric meaning that I take latin terms that I get through translating what I want, set them like in English and sometimes mold the endings of words as I deem needed to sound better.
But No. Latin is no special. It is a language like any other...
Some magickal formulae rely on the sounds of the words themselves as part of the magickal act, and wordplay has been a powerful component of spells for thousands of years (look into some egyptian scribe initiation rituals they’re crazy).
So, sometimes you end up using the original language of a magickal formulation for that reason, but I don’t think that one language is inherently more magickal than another. Anything you write yourself should probably be in a language you are very familiar with.
Lets say same ritual is done thousand time in english, 500 times in hebrew, 300 times in greek, 200 times in latin and 100 times in german. IF the translations from the original ritual is correct and the ritual is done properly in all cases with correct pronounciation and with intention, would all be equally powerful or the rituals done in language that is used most(english in this case) ? Or the original language for the ritual?
I believe Latin is no special. It's just A language used to practice magic, not the only language that can fit the bill. I go even further than that-in my own practice I came to remember a language from previous lifetimes called hwasaut which does a far better job for me in my practice than any other language (even the one of the people I'm currently born into). So, for me hwasaut is that special language which makes it all tick and this is the reason for me to believe everyone could have their own special language that resonates best with them. So, no, Latin is no special, just prominent in this particular timeline but not universally special.
I don't particularly agree with this, but I remember reading or hearing somewhere that Latin had some specific quality to it that made it the "best" language for magic, and I think for specifically binding demons. As far as any of you know is there any veracity to this claim? Are there other languages that this may be true for (like Greek or Sanskrit) or is it truly all relative and up to the practitioner. I lean more toward the camp of do what you can and don't get caught up in specifics, but still, its an interesting question thats been on my mind.
I would say there is , but its specifically personal , that is use the language that you find is best for yourself .
Some ritual 'pronouncements ' I prefer Greek , when doing daily 'adoration' I use 'ancient ' Egyptian ' , sometimes I follow with the English translation , LBR I like to use Hebrew . Sometimes I will use special words from the local indigenous language when 'working closely with nature'.
Personal opinion the language you are most fluent in is the best for magick. Why would you attempt any serious magick in a language you are unfamiliar with?
Because sometimes that is the exact purpose of using it . Unfamiliarity and even a not understood language ; 'barbarous tongues '
In esoteric and magical traditions, "barbarous tongues" refer to ancient, often un-translated "words of power" (sometimes called voces magicae). These are fragments from ancient Egyptian, Persian, Hebrew, or constructed languages like Enochian, which practitioners use in rituals because the strange, jarring sounds are believed to bypass rational thought and invoke spiritual or magical effect.
The lack of accurate translation or even pronunciation especially in something like latin could be dire. I totally agree it's up to the individual practitioner, personally though I never understood the romanticization of latin and other dead languages in magick.
As I have stated elsewhere on this forum, in my mind the best rituals are those in which the main 'narration' of the ritual is conducted in one's native language, but punctuated by power phrases in a sacred tongue. There is no single best sacred language. It depends on the tradition or current you are working with. If you are seeking to practice Catholic-based magic, then Latin with perhaps a touch of Hebrew is going to be the winner. If it is Judaic or mythically Judaic magic, then Hebrew is best. If you are practicing and Indic-derived tradition, then Sanskrit. Etc. Etc. If you are practicing a more free-form thing then go with whatever language feels magical to you.
