>>I'm not (well, not merely) being pedantic here... this is something I
think relates to other discussions on this list, that it's considered
acceptable to study the ancient texts, but somehow... less acceptable (to
put a politeface on it) to be involved in current practice?
Diotima<<
I don't think its all a matter of wanting to live in the past, or
priviledging ancient texts / practices over modern ones. I don't know anyone
who is currently suggesting that "deifying a cat" (ie killing it) as is
suggested as part of a magical ritual in the Greek Magical Papyri is a good
idea. I think the criticism of modern "pop" pagan / magical practices
revolves around its perceived lack of depth, difficulty, research, effort
involved - just read the majority of Llewellyn Wicca books to get an idea of
modern magic's "blandification"! Of course there are many contemporary
authors who *are* espousing interesting and challenging practices. It'd be
silly to ignore modern authors just because they are modern, and of course
not all ancient magical practices are worth emulating - like the animal
sacrifice that goes on in the PGM, or the aggressive "love magic" performed
with the aid of the "untimely dead". However, I think it is important to
look at ancient reliigous and magical practices to at least know where the
magical practices that people so willingly say "are historical" (a very
prevalent claim) are coming from. From reading popular books on magic(k) and
or wicca and paganism one would be under the impression that, for example,
ancient Paganism(s) consisted of a matriarchal, circle-casting,
psuedo-ceremonial group of Mu-dwelling dolphin-worshippers, when it is
pretty likely that this is not at all true. There are lots of great sources
available on ancient magic / religion and I personally find them more
evocative than say "The Idiot's Guide to Paganism"... but then again I'll
find modern authors such as say, members of the British "Sabbatic
Witchcraft" scene, or Chaos Magician, Phil Hine, very evocative too... So
maybe its personal - what actually expands your mind as opposed to what
clogs it with dullness.
~Caroline.
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