₦airaland Forum

OmoOsanyin:
INTRODUCTION


The Book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible, and arguably the most spiritual and magical. The one hundred and fifty
Psalms have been used as the basis of amulets and for spiritual assistance for many centuries, with evidence of their use for apotropaic, healing and coercive magic dating back at least as far as the third century CE. Fragments from the Cairo Genizah and the Dead Sea Scrolls show that the Psalms were considered extremely powerful manifestations of divine power, with the incipits (opening lines) often being
used as symbols of the power contained within the whole Psalm.

Whilst I do not intend to attempt to trace the Psalms back to their roots, it is clear from their style and content that they were heavily influenced by Babylonian and
Egyptian hymns and prayers, and to an extent could thus be viewed as continuing the spiritual, magical traditions of these
cultures.

This is a logical conclusion when we recall the two periods of captivity for the Hebrews were with these two civilizations. With the cross-fertilization of ideas between the Jewish, Hellenic and Gnostic practices of the first-fourth century CE, the Psalms soon found their way into other spiritual and magical systems.

There are references in Greek texts such as the (?) which indicate the influence of the Psalms there in the fourth and fifth century CE. Thus we see fragmentary phrases which seem to be drawn from the Psalms in e.g. A tested chant of Pibechis for those possessed by daimons (PGM IV.3007-86) , including Ps 1 03 :32 (3076), Ps 1 13.3 (3055) , and Ps 1 34:7 (3066).

Instructions are also given which indicate the commanding power of the Psalms, such as: "Continue without deception, lord, the vision of every act, in accordance - with the command of the holy spirit, the angel of Phoibos, you yourself being pliable because of these songs and psalms"
(PGM III.287-88) .

Another significant feature of the Psalms is that their spiritual magic transcends language, with charms, prayers and spells
being found in numerous languages including Aramaic, English, French Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Runes and Russian.

The Psalms featured prominently in early Christian Spiritual magic. Of the ninety-three Christian amulets from the period fourth-eighth century CE written on parchment or
papyrus, "at least thirty-one of the amulets quote from the Psalms, most of which are from Psalm 90 or Psalm 1.

The first major text focusing entirely on the spiritual and magical use of the Psalms is the Hebrew (Magical Use of the Psalms) which dates back to the eighth century CE. Although there are no known copies of this text until centuries later, there are contemporary references to it which indicate an early form of the text did exist and was used at this time.

The Psalms are those of David, and for this
reason I have not included the other Psalms found in the books of Samuel and Jonah, or the additional Apocryphal Psalms found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

By looking at the different intended purposes in the MS, you'll immediately see which uses were most popular. These
were generally mundane and connected with achieving tangible results, not at all connected with any spiritual benefits. Thus the most common uses were types of
protection (40) , healing and health issues (27) , gaining high friendships or influencing those in positions of authority (18) , improving luck or fortune ( 15), and spiritual love magic ( 14).

There were also significant numbers of charms for release from prison, or its opposite of detaining a person in prison
(9) , and to kill or destroy enemies ( , showing that it was not all benevolent and that there was a distinctly malefic streak
in some of these charms.

The reputation of the Psalms for destruction is well documented, with examples going back to the third century
CE. A nineteenth century description of the magical contest between the druids and Saints Patrick and Benin in 433 CE in Ireland describes them using Psalms, illustrating the popularity of such ideas:

"So saying, the Chief Druid set fire to the pile, and, accompanied by two other Druids and some guards, proceeded till he came to where the saint and his assistants,
in their white robes, were chanting their psalms. 'What mean these incantations?' tried the Druid".

Verses from the Psalms are found throughout the grimoires, where the efficacy of their words was not doubted.
Verses from Psalms were chosen for use based on the appropriate nature of the words in them, and it is clear that
the whole of the Book of Psalms was viewed as a book of spiritual magical power. Indeed some sources required the reading of the whole of the Book of Psalms, with the (?) recommending they be read in full at least twice a week.

In more recent centuries the Psalms have also spread Into more contemporary traditions like Dutch Pow Wow and the Diaspora of African traditions. These uses are outside the scope of this thread, and would require substantial treatments of their own.

Of the 179 charms contained in this work, a wide range of materials were used as the basis of the charm. Paper and similar substances such as vellum and parchment
predominate (61), with a high number of glass plates ( and cooking pots (4) being the next most common. Both of these
latter items recall the use of such items in ancient spells.

Certain substance dominate the list of consecrating ingredients, specifically water (30) and types of oil (22), as well as fragrant substances such as aloe wood ( and mastic (15). The darker nature of some of the charms is also seen in the range of types of blood used, showing all of the classic animal bloods associated with the grimoires, such as white cockerel, black hen, bat, dove and goat. Interestingly there is also a charm which makes use of menstrual blood, which has commonly been seen as a taboo substance.

The characters used with many of the Psalms are as eclectic as the charms, being drawn from magical alphabets like Malachim Script and a mixture of hermetic and alchemical sigils.

What is clear about the uses in this extraordinary work Is that they emphasise establishing harmony and success in
the material world, and largely ignore the spiritual. The practices remind us of the need for magick to create effective change to be worthwhile, and through doing so then perhaps opening the practitioner up to a higher goal.

The Psalms contain a great deal of wisdom and beauty, and have been the basis of a huge range of charms and spells. Therein lies both their appeal and their power, which
will be evident to the Nairaland family, as they peruse through this unique thread.


Feb. 15, 2019
00:30am



Alaafia