Musical Enchantment

[Friggasdottir]

This comes not so much from a magical approach as a fictional one. I write historical fiction (my other love besides practicing magic) set in the middle Byzantine empire and I had an idea to have a character be able to use music (specifically a type of harp called the psalterion) to enchant or use specific magical influence over others. I'm not a particularly musical person myself (though I can at least sing) so I doubt I'll use this type of magic in my own practice but I would like to know if there is already a precedent, particularly historically for such a thing. It would make sense because music does have a deep psychological effect on us. I couldn't find any info online and kept going in circles. Thoughts?

 

[WisdomAddict]

For me,
As an naturally born musician and composer
Music itself had led me into deeper understanding of life , the universe , human existence and lot of other mysteries over the years
As I figure out, music not only affects as an psychological phenomenon but also affects the soul and very state of our being
We can discuss and share ideas in private chat if you like I can share my own personal experiences on music,
It's an very interesting topic that I really have ideas to write an music book concerning these all of matters...

 

[KjEno186]

From the story of young David playing his music to calm the bad spirit that God had set upon King Saul, to the Pied Piper of Hamelin, music has been shown to be a type of enchantment. Words of Power are intended to be 'vibrated' which sets them apart from mere speech. Imagine vibrating such words in a church or temple! The Neo-Druids have their Bardic grade, and Bards compose and sing music for enchantment (I think), so yes there is a wealth of meaning in song beyond mere entertainment. Compose a song to enchant your garden and see if its spirits respond favorably!

Oh and I almost forgot, The Orphic Hymns! There is a new translation of them intended for magical use:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

I found a download for that book, but I haven't taken the time to upload for sharing on WF yet.

Post automatically merged: Jul 17, 2023

Book – PDF - The Orphic Hymns: A New Translation for the Occult Practitioner by Patrick Dunn

Download: https://mega.nz/file/mpMQWB7K#Wq20Nj_olB_AO2IMa447mdrGWjwqlBCLJSblIMgJUak Purchase here: https://www.amazon.com/Orphic-Hymns-Translation-Occult-Practitioner/dp/0738753440 Discover the Powerful Poems & Incantations of Ancient Greece Use the hymns of the great mystery religions in...

wizardforums.com

 

[stalkinghyena]

Marsilio Ficino is a good historical figure to study as his "natural magic" incorporated Orphic inspiration and music with an idea towards therapeutics, though this could be (and would be) adapted to more powerful ends. One thing of note was that one of his influences was a Byzantine philosopher named Gemistos Plethon, who had an idea of resurrecting the old pagan gods and incorporating them into the Church to heal the schism between East and West.
Ficino actually had a complex music theory which is explored in Francis Yates' Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition, and also especially this book:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

 

[KjEno186]

Another book of translations of The Orphic Hymns (the pdf linked in my post above is sadly incomplete)...

Book – PDF - The Orphic Hymns, Translation & Notes by Athanassakis & Wolkow

Download: https://mega.nz/file/L5NkFKqY#0Zk0kCXu94axnbj4N49jGmEEXtzViNaUMCcPjSgzDS4 Purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Orphic-Hymns-Apostolos-N-Athanassakis/dp/1421408821 The best-selling English translation of the mysterious and cosmic Greek poetry known as the Orphic Hymns. At the very...

wizardforums.com

 

[Konsciencia]

Music is my specialty, especially when you hear LoFi Music. I think that's great!

 

[Ancient]

The Norse Galdr-mages often used singing as part of their magic. It's tough to find any detailed information of how it was done; most modern practitioners chant the runes and call it galdr, but I suspect there was a little more to it. Maybe the Asatru faith has preserved some of the methods. Although once again, tough to find.

l often have music playing in the background before or during a ritual. It helps bring out emotions of a nature sympathetic to my working.

 

[WisdomAddict]

Thank

From the story of young David playing his music to calm the bad spirit that God had set upon King Saul, to the Pied Piper of Hamelin, music has been shown to be a type of enchantment. Words of Power are intended to be 'vibrated' which sets them apart from mere speech. Imagine vibrating such words in a church or temple! The Neo-Druids have their Bardic grade, and Bards compose and sing music for enchantment (I think), so yes there is a wealth of meaning in song beyond mere entertainment. Compose a song to enchant your garden and see if its spirits respond favorably!

Oh and I almost forgot, The Orphic Hymns! There is a new translation of them intended for magical use:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

I found a download for that book, but I haven't taken the time to upload for sharing on WF yet.

Post automatically merged: Jul 17, 2023

Book – PDF - The Orphic Hymns: A New Translation for the Occult Practitioner by Patrick Dunn

Download: https://mega.nz/file/mpMQWB7K#Wq20Nj_olB_AO2IMa447mdrGWjwqlBCLJSblIMgJUak Purchase here: https://www.amazon.com/Orphic-Hymns-Translation-Occult-Practitioner/dp/0738753440 Discover the Powerful Poems & Incantations of Ancient Greece Use the hymns of the great mystery religions in...

wizardforums.com

Thanks for the book!

 

[DiLoco_DelEted]

I would say music is as necessary as colored robes, drama enacted during ritual, dance (unless you have a neurological disorder, what would you be dancing to without music?).
Celts and possible Baltic and Norse were famous for revolving around music in their practice.
Words of Power vibrated, is speaking words of Power using diaphragm muscles. If you look at the Voice of Thunder as an old teacher put it, is a way of altering pitch and tone as well during the vibration of a word, like Saruman bringing down the mountain in LOTR.

 

[Roma]

The word Music is an adjective. An event is muse-ic only if the muses come.

If the muses are not there, the event may be a-musing.

There are a myriad threads of cosmic Light anchored in various species/kingdoms/systems. Sometimes the threads interact harmonically to allow cosmic Intent to condense into the localized Existence

During the European Renaissance/Rescue various profound entities became human temporarily and renewed that civilization and its art forms.

Those temporary humans were assisted by many devas, some of which still work with suitable humans

 

[stalkinghyena]

If the muses are not there, the event may be a-musing.

 

[Friggasdottir]

Thank you everyone, for your replies. Summer is a frantically busy time and I haven't had a chance to get on here for a few days. Apologies.
@KjEno186 , I will have to look into the Orphic hymns. I never thought of that.
@Ancient, Galdr is my area of particular interest since my books are heavily iinfluenced by Norse culture. I suspect, from what I have read, you have to intone the runes in a very deep voice (maybe why it was considered men's magic?) and each rune is imbued with a frequency. I don't know a lot about it, but the real magic behind runes fascinates me.
@Roma You have presented a verybibtwretsing perspective o had not considered before. Also, isn't it interesting what magic language holds?

Post automatically merged: Jul 26, 2023

Thanks, @WisdomAddict. I'll have to get back to you later!