Black Magic

The term "black magic" is a broad designation, not tied to a single ancient language. It emerged in Western discourse as a contrast to "white magic," implying a moralistic dichotomy in occult practices. The concept of malevolent sorcery, however, is ancient, appearing in various cultures as harmful enchantment or witchcraft.

Sorcery; necromancy, or tlu» raising of the dead, and other .selfish al)uses of abnormal powers. This abuse may be unintentional ; yet it is still "black magic" whenever anything is pro(lueed phenomenally simply for one's own gratification. B'ne Alhim or Bmi Elohim (Ilrb.). "Sons of God", literally or more correctly "Sons of the gods", as Elohim is the plural of Eloah. A group of angelic powers referable by analogy to the Sephira Ilod. [w.w.w.] Boat of the Sun. This sacred solar boat was called Sckii, and it was steered by tlie dead. With the Egyptians the highest exaltation of the Sun was in Arks and the depression in Libra. (See "Pharaoh", the "Son of the Sun".) A blue light— which is the "Sun's Son"— is seen streaming from the bark. The ancient Egyptians taught that the real colour of the Sun was blue, and ]\Iacrobius aho statf^s that liis colour is of a pure blue before he reaches the horizon and after he disappears below. It is curious to note in this relation the fact that it is only since 1881 that physicists and astronomers discovered that "our Sun is really blue". Professor Langley devoted many years to ascertaining the fact. Helped in this by the magnificent scientific apparatus of physical science, he has succeeded finally in proving that the apparent yellow-orange colour of the Sun is due only to the effect of absorption exerted by its atmosphere of vapours, chiefly metallic; but that in sober truth and reality, it is not "a white Sun but a blue one", i.e., something which the EgA'ptian priests had discovered without any known scientific instruments, many thousands of years ago !

The stark binary of "black" and "white" magic, while perhaps overly simplistic, serves as a potent heuristic for understanding the ethical dimensions of occult or esoteric practice. Blavatsky’s definition highlights the crucial distinction: intent. It is not the power itself, but its application, that determines its moral valence. This echoes Mircea Eliade's observations on the shamanic complex, where the same powers that can heal and protect can also be used to curse and destroy, with the shaman’s ethical commitment being the deciding factor.

The temptation to misuse esoteric knowledge for personal gain is a perennial theme. Carl Jung, in his exploration of the shadow, recognized the potential for the darker aspects of the psyche to manifest as manipulative or destructive impulses, often masked by a veneer of spiritual authority. When occult abilities are employed not for the service of a higher principle or the welfare of the collective, but for egoic inflation or the subjugation of others, they become, in effect, "black." This is not merely about causing external harm, but about a fundamental corruption of the inner self, a turning away from the light of wisdom towards the shadows of self-interest.

The concept also resonates with the Sufi understanding of the nafs, the lower self or ego, which is inherently prone to desires for power, control, and personal gratification. Any spiritual practice that feeds this ego, rather than transcending it, risks becoming a form of "black magic," even if it appears outwardly pious or beneficial. Idries Shah often cautioned against the exploitation of spiritual teachings for worldly advantage, noting that such perversions ultimately lead to spiritual stagnation and delusion. The true path, in many traditions, involves the purification of motive, the selfless application of knowledge, and the recognition of an interconnected reality where individual welfare is inseparable from the welfare of all. The allure of "black magic" is the allure of shortcutting this arduous, transformative process, a Faustian bargain for immediate, albeit ultimately hollow, power.

The modern seeker, often bombarded with claims of instant enlightenment and potent spiritual technologies, must remain vigilant. The distinction between genuine spiritual development and the seductive promises of manipulative power remains as critical as it was in ancient times.

RELATED_TERMS: Sorcery, Witchcraft, Necromancy, Theurgy, Goetia, Ego, Shadow, Karma