RR Pod E22 Andrea Franchetto (The problems of) Defining 'Magic', Legitimization, and (the importance of) Space in Grimoire Traditions

In the first part of our interview, Andrea and I discuss the complex issue regarding the definition of 'magic' within the Western historical study of esotericism and/or religion, and how we could perhaps see 'magic' as a meta-category containing 'family resemblances' or 'patterns of magicity' that allow for comparisons of different magical practices or attitudes. We also talk about the differences between the etic and emic perspectives of the term 'magic', as grimoires are concerned with the magicians' views and ideas about the rituals they perform and the significance these rituals hold.  

We then delve into the topic of legitimization of ritual magical practices within the context of Christianity from the 1200s-1500s. In this time period, most magical texts were considered heretical by the Church, forcing magicians to try to legitimize the use of these manuscripts. We look in particular at the views of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim and his attempts to restore the reputation of magic as a divine art.  

Our conversation then leads to different magical texts, focusing on the Liber Iuratus Honorii, or The Sworn Book of Honorius as it relates to Andrea's own research into ritual spaces. We also use Andrea's article to discuss these concepts in more detail, especially why space is such an important part of the magical ritual. 

PROGRAM NOTES

Andrea Franchetto -
Andrea Franchetto - Stockholm University (su.se)
(1) Andrea Franchetto | Stockholm University - Academia.edu
(1) Andrea Franchetto | Facebook
Andrea (@andrewcrnf) • Instagram-foto's en -video's
Research Master Thesis: content (uva.nl)
Imaginal architectural devices and the ritual space of medieval necromancy - ScienceDirect
 

'Magic' -
(83) General Introduction to 'Defining Magic: A Reader' | Bernd-Christian Otto and Michael Stausberg - Academia.edu

(1) Magic (Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, 2nd Edition) | Bernd-Christian Otto - Academia.edu

Patterns of Magicity: A Review of Defining Magic: A Reader | Asprem | Correspondences (correspondencesjournal.com)

(64) « Astral Magic and Intellectual Changes (Twelfth-Fifteenth Centuries). “Astrological Images” and the Concept of “Addressative” Magic », dans J. Bremmer et J. R. Veenstra (dir.), The Metamorphosis of Magic From Late Antiquity to Early Modern Period, Louvain, Peeters, 2002, p. 167-187. | Nicolas Weill-Parot - Academia.edu

(83) Contemporary Ritual Magic (Chapter 39, The Occult World) | Egil Asprem - Academia.edu

(83) Intermediary Beings (Ch. 64, The Occult World) | Egil Asprem - Academia.edu

(83) Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (2015) | Wouter J. Hanegraaff - Academia.edu
(1) Better than Magic: Cornelius Agrippa and Lazzarellian Hermetism (2009) | Wouter J. Hanegraaff - Academia.edu
(1) Lodovico Lazzarelli and the Hermetic Christ: At the Sources of Renaissance Hermetism (2005) | Wouter J. Hanegraaff - Academia.edu

Grimoires -
Liber Juratus Honorii, or the Sworn Book of Honorius (esotericarchives.com)
The Sworn Book of Honorius and the Christian Reception of Angel Magic* - Docest

Speculum Astronomiae | Detailed Pedia
Ars Notoria: the Notory Art of Solomon (esotericarchives.com)
Picatrix (The Aim of the Sage) of pseudo-Majriti (summary) (esotericarchives.com)

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other Music: Stephanie Shea