The term “black magic” contains both the deliberate sorcery of a select few and the much broader domain of illusory practices and powers associated with fraudulent sorcerers.
Black magic, in both its actual and perceived forms, is fiercely antisocial, endorsing vices that are opposed to the virtues generally adopted in society. Thus, black magic is associated with things that are inverted, upside down, or otherwise flipped.
The arsenal of a black magician can vary as widely as his goals. He may utilize his own innate abilities, request the aid of external spirits, demons, or forces, master the art of mimicry, the power of words and gestures, “weapons” such as the magic wand or circle, “medicine,” and many other such magic tools.
Herbs, plants, roots, animal or human body parts, pieces of paper with words or symbols written on them, knots tied in string, stones, and almost anything else can be used as “medicines” for evil.
Many such magical tools are outright dangerous, like snake venom, or seemingly innocuous, like bat’s blood.
To perform black magic, the magician must create a connection between the spell and the victim.
One of the most potent magical tools is language, which is thought to have the power to manifest the magician’s will through the words he speaks.
Some cultures, such as the Māori of New Zealand, consider it a grave mistake to change the words of a spell.
Words in magical spells have power, so the correct spell formulation must be passed down from one magician to another. In most cases however, magicians can modify their incantations as they see fit and depending on the results they obtain.
The magician will use wild mimicry, words, and gestures to generate emotions such as anger, hatred, lust, or frenzy. Then, the magician channels those emotions and directs them at a particular target.
Magicians are often vague on the question of whether their magical power originates from within themselves or if they tap into external mystical powers and channel them.
Summoning spirits and demons that will do the magician’s bidding is a particularly major focus in European magical textbooks and magical traditions.
Magic is morally neutral from the magician’s point of view. Magic is first and foremost a tool, and a person’s reasons for using magic do not affect its potency. Thus, whether a magician uses magic to hurt or heal someone makes no difference.
Any and all experiences are useful for a magician. Both good and evil, cruelty and mercy, must be experienced and mastered by him. On this path, one becomes a “magus,” and it is the perverted “magus” who becomes the ultimate dark sorcerer.
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