Black Magic, White Magic, Bright Magic
Richard Kieckhefer’s presentation of Black Magic, White Magic, Bright Magic enlightened me of the phenomenology of magic. While I had previously had a dim idea of the black and white magic, the idea of a third type of magic, bright magic, sparked my interest and ultimately convinced me to attend this lecture.
Kieckhefer begins by outlining the history of magic, shining knowledge upon the ideas of demonic magic, which is serves to exploit the power of demons, natural magic, which exploits hidden powers found in nature. He then kindles the idea of angel magic, which Kieckhefer eventually explores as bright magic, which exploits the power of angels. Theologians, however, have for centuries attempted to quell the fires of this “angel magic,” saying that the angels that one conjures are actually demons behind an opaque disguise.
Kieckhefer goes on to expand his idea of “bright magic,” citing texts and their ideas that support his electric enthusiasm for this magic. The Book of Angels, Rings, Characters, and Images of the Planets, by Bokenham describes planetary angels, assigning natural magic to angel magic. The Sacred Book by Honorius of Thebes suggested neutral angels, discussing its Jewish influence and the issue of neutral angels. Another key text Kieckhefer thought would help to show a glimmer of “bright magic” is the Holy Almandal, who used a wax alter to invoke and conjure angels, often a young child with a red face and an armed knight. The text Notary Art, Kieckhefer argues, discusses the relationship between magic and the scholastic environment.
The key points Kieckhefer points out vividly, and almost blindingly, that scholars were still in the dark about angel magic and did not know what to think about it. In fact, both the practice and the condemnation of angel magic were innovations of the time. The history of angel magic was not welcomed well. Angels were famous for being fallen angels disguising themselves as unfallen angels or even disguising themselves as Mary or Christ Himself. On the other hand, we must realize that there were other types of angel magic around at this same time, which was the official cult of angels, which had Saint Michael on one end and the guardian angels on the other end. However, after knowledge about “bright magic” caught flame, there were time-honored ways of telling good spirits from evil ones. Conjuring of angels was an important issue, as well as the way that angels could, or should, be conjured in order to rekindle one’s relationship with the “bright magic” of Kieckhefer’s exploration.
I hope this paper helps to shine light on the Black Magic, White Magic, Bright Magic presentation I attended.
