Magic in North Africa
The hand of Fatima, Amazigh and Gnawa healing, Egyptian heka and Hermetic lore, and the Maghrebi books of magic. 67 entries on EveryJaadu so far.
Places of magic
Thebes 7British Museum 5Abydos 4Memphis 3Saqqara 3Siwa Oasis 3Buto 2Heliopolis 2Luxor 2Amarna 1Avaris 1Behbeit el-Hagar 1Béni Abbès 1Boston Museum of Fine Arts 1Byblos 1Cancho Roano 1Cynopolis 1Djoser's Step Pyramid complex 1El-Lahun 1Ephesus 1Esna 1Essaouira 1Fez 1Ghirza 1Hathor temple 1Kairouan 1Karnak 1Koptos 1Lake Tritonis 1Leiden University Library 1
Rites of the region
The zar possession ceremonyThe Gnawa lilaHenna nightBkhour, the Moroccan fumigationHeka, Egyptian ritual powerThe Book of the DeadAmazigh protective tattoos
Countries
PurposeProtectionHealingSeeing and foretellingLuck and prosperityLove and attractionCursing and harmCleansing and purificationSpeaking with spirits and the deadChange and initiationBinding and oathsPower and authorityWonder and entertainment
WhoShamansFolk healersPriests and ritual specialistsWitches, sorcerers and cunning folkDiviners and readersMediums and the possessedCeremonial magicians and alchemistsHouseholds and ordinary peopleStage magiciansScholars and sceptics
BeliefHindu and TantricBuddhistJainMuslim and SufiJewishChristianSikhZoroastrianShinto and TaoistIndigenous and shamanicAfrican and Afro-diasporicPagan and NeopaganEsoteric and occultFolk and village customSecular and stageOther traditions
🇪🇬 EgyptScrying
A divination practice of gazing into a medium to receive visions or guidance.Oracle · Seeing and foretelling · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptPapyrus of Ani
A decorated Egyptian scroll for the afterlife, held in LondonText · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptTheurgyθεουργία
A Neoplatonic ritual path to unite the soul with the divine through sacred actsTradition · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Change and initiation Historical
🇪🇬 Egypt and 2 moreAnkh
Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for life and the amulet that carries its meaningCharm · Protection · Power and authority Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptAnubis𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣
The jackal-headed god who guides souls and oversees mummification in ancient Egypt.Being · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptDemon
A supernatural entity believed to cause harm or possess humansBeing · Cursing and harm · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptAeonαἰών
Emanations of the divine source in Gnostic cosmologyBeing · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇩🇿 Algeria and 5 moreZawiyaزاوية
A Sufi building and institution for worship, education, and community life in the Islamic world.Tradition · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Healing Living
🇩🇿 AlgeriaTassili Mushroom Figure
Neolithic cave art in Algeria interpreted by some as depicting psychedelic mushroom use.Belief · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Wonder and entertainment Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptAkhty
A rarely attested ancient Egyptian deity linked to the ibis and the evening horizon.Being · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇪🇬 EgyptMagical alphabet
Letter systems used in occult rituals and talismanic magicText · Protection · Power and authority Living
🇪🇬 EgyptHermanubisἙρμανοῦβις
A Graeco-Egyptian god who guides the souls of the dead to the underworld.Being · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Ankh: Soutekh67, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Scrying: John William Waterhouse, Public domain, source
- Demon: Martin Schongauer, Public domain, source
- Tassili Mushroom Figure: I redrawn the rock art written by ancient people., Public domain, source
- Anubis: Hunefer, Public domain, source
- Akhty: Rémih, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Magical alphabet: Francis Barrett, Public domain, source
- Papyrus of Ani: Photographed by the British Museum; original artist unknown, Public domain, source
- Hermanubis: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Aeon: Jacques Matter, Public domain, source
- Zawiya: Schneders, CC BY-SA 4.0, source