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fandomhigh2009-03-26 11:38 am
brandyforapples.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2009-03-26 11:38 am
Thaumaturgy 101 - First Period, Thursday 3/26
"As you might have guessed from the syllabus," she said as they filed in, "today, we'll be covering the various alphabets and symbologies used in many forms of magic. I admit, of course, that my own studies deal mostly with Teutonic systems. I find them... rather straightforward. I suppose you could almost say it like programming a computer. The Egyptian mysticism, as well as some of the more esoteric branches of the Jewish faith, have their obvious charms, but for the purposes of this lecture, I will end our overview with a focus on runes and runic work. Of course, understand that the languages listed here are not even a fraction of what's out there. I'm mostly presenting a few different kinds as examples. You'll need to research some more to really get an idea of how many different languages have been utilized over the years for thaumaturgic study.
"The runic alphabet, Germanic in origin, was the system of writing used before the Latin was brought to the isle. As it was used before the Latin alphabet where it came from, not all of the sounds have Latin correspondence, though almost all sounds from the Latin are represented. Thaumaturgically speaking, the symbols weren't considered simply sounds or letters, but each one also held a meaning and a purpose. As such, names, and their power, was something that one needed consider. To write your name on something, to claim a name as your own, was to accept the meaning and the purpose behind each of the 'letters'. The process went two ways, however, as it was also thought that those meanings and the power attached to them could be used to enhance, protect, or assist. The futharks, as they were called in Scandinavian regions, had many forms, though as you can see in that handout there, each one seems to function on the same basic shapes and forms. Runes were used for divination, spellwork in the more masculine magickal studies, and were said to be a gift from 'Odin', learned while hanging from the World Tree.
"The Theban alphabet, of unknown origins, was first published in Johannes Trithemius' Polygraphia in 1518, in which it was attributed to Honorius of Thebes. It is also called the Honorian alphabet, or the Runes of Honorius. There is one-to-one correspondence between Theban and the letters in the old Latin alphabet. The modern characters J, U and W are not represented, and in modern usage these are transliterated using the Theban characters for I, V and V V. Largely, the Theban alphabet was used to keep magical or alchemical learning out of the wrong hands and to keep the privacy of a practitioner safe. As such, this is more of a 'code', known and used within a community, than any manner of language. That said, it is very useful when performing sigil work and in any work which plays upon a need for privacy.
"Pictish script which is a written form of the Pictish language is somewhat in debate. What evidence there is of the language is limited to place names and to the names of people found on monuments and the contemporary records in the area controlled by the Kingdom of the Picts at its height. At its height, it may have been spoken from Shetland down to Fife. The term "Pictish" was used by Jackson, and followed by Forsyth, to mean the language spoken mainly north of the Forth-Clyde line in the Early Middle Ages. Largely, the use and interest in Pictish is with naming, something we've covered previously as being rather a important concept. It's never been something I was interested in, however.
"Ogham, on the other hand, has some practical use both in understanding Old Irish writings and is deeply tied with the trees of the Isle and what they represent in the old Druid systems. Some say it was started as a way to keep writings secret, like the Theban alphabet. Others say it was started to give the Irish a writing system to use that was uniquely there own. Similar, but not the same. That said, it was also used for markers, names, and in divination. Similar to the runes I spoke of first, sticks are thrown and the patterns are read. As you can see from the handout, sticks could very likely form such 'letters' without too much trouble."
She breathed in and smiled.
"Returning to runes, and to provide an example of how you might use a thaumaturgical language or alphabet, let's go into the two ways in which runes are typically utilized: as runescripts and bindrunes.
"As you can see here, every rune has a meaning. However, life can be complicated. While one rune might be perfect for a piece of spellwork, the situation might require a more skillful touch. As such, runes can be combined in meaning, in odd numbers, either in scripts or bindrunes. While an individual rune is more powerful, it's intent 'pure' and unfettered, sometimes that can cause more havoc than good. As such, bindrunes and scripts require a balance between power and refinement. Traditionally, nine is the MOST you should ever use, though there are always extenuating circumstances.
"Bindrunes, which were more common in the earlier periods of history, are a ligature of more than one rune, a sigil made of the 'letters' towards a purpose. The symbols are combined into one symbol. How the symbols are combined, of course, is where the artistry and mastery come into play. Typically, a bindrune was used and made into a lasting talisman for someone to carry or use for a long period of time; people might combine the letters of their name into something of a distinctive mark. In short, bindrunes are longterm magic.
"Runescripts, on the other hand, are one time charms, 'sentences' of magic made from a combination of, once more, an odd number of symbols. The symbols in this case are put in a line, usually to symbolize a series of events, to synergize specific runes with one another, or in order of importance. How is a matter of experience, of course, and need. Typically, runescripts are burned, buried, or otherwise a one time affair and require less thought and work than a bindrune traditionally."
She looked out at her class.
"Now, I'd like you all to get out a pencil and paper and we're going to do a bit of practical work, hmm? And if anyone is interested, I have a small gift for everyone today. You'll have to come to see me after class to pick it out, however."
[ocd up!][can you TELL I'm a dork?]
"The runic alphabet, Germanic in origin, was the system of writing used before the Latin was brought to the isle. As it was used before the Latin alphabet where it came from, not all of the sounds have Latin correspondence, though almost all sounds from the Latin are represented. Thaumaturgically speaking, the symbols weren't considered simply sounds or letters, but each one also held a meaning and a purpose. As such, names, and their power, was something that one needed consider. To write your name on something, to claim a name as your own, was to accept the meaning and the purpose behind each of the 'letters'. The process went two ways, however, as it was also thought that those meanings and the power attached to them could be used to enhance, protect, or assist. The futharks, as they were called in Scandinavian regions, had many forms, though as you can see in that handout there, each one seems to function on the same basic shapes and forms. Runes were used for divination, spellwork in the more masculine magickal studies, and were said to be a gift from 'Odin', learned while hanging from the World Tree.
"The Theban alphabet, of unknown origins, was first published in Johannes Trithemius' Polygraphia in 1518, in which it was attributed to Honorius of Thebes. It is also called the Honorian alphabet, or the Runes of Honorius. There is one-to-one correspondence between Theban and the letters in the old Latin alphabet. The modern characters J, U and W are not represented, and in modern usage these are transliterated using the Theban characters for I, V and V V. Largely, the Theban alphabet was used to keep magical or alchemical learning out of the wrong hands and to keep the privacy of a practitioner safe. As such, this is more of a 'code', known and used within a community, than any manner of language. That said, it is very useful when performing sigil work and in any work which plays upon a need for privacy.
"Pictish script which is a written form of the Pictish language is somewhat in debate. What evidence there is of the language is limited to place names and to the names of people found on monuments and the contemporary records in the area controlled by the Kingdom of the Picts at its height. At its height, it may have been spoken from Shetland down to Fife. The term "Pictish" was used by Jackson, and followed by Forsyth, to mean the language spoken mainly north of the Forth-Clyde line in the Early Middle Ages. Largely, the use and interest in Pictish is with naming, something we've covered previously as being rather a important concept. It's never been something I was interested in, however.
"Ogham, on the other hand, has some practical use both in understanding Old Irish writings and is deeply tied with the trees of the Isle and what they represent in the old Druid systems. Some say it was started as a way to keep writings secret, like the Theban alphabet. Others say it was started to give the Irish a writing system to use that was uniquely there own. Similar, but not the same. That said, it was also used for markers, names, and in divination. Similar to the runes I spoke of first, sticks are thrown and the patterns are read. As you can see from the handout, sticks could very likely form such 'letters' without too much trouble."
She breathed in and smiled.
"Returning to runes, and to provide an example of how you might use a thaumaturgical language or alphabet, let's go into the two ways in which runes are typically utilized: as runescripts and bindrunes.
"As you can see here, every rune has a meaning. However, life can be complicated. While one rune might be perfect for a piece of spellwork, the situation might require a more skillful touch. As such, runes can be combined in meaning, in odd numbers, either in scripts or bindrunes. While an individual rune is more powerful, it's intent 'pure' and unfettered, sometimes that can cause more havoc than good. As such, bindrunes and scripts require a balance between power and refinement. Traditionally, nine is the MOST you should ever use, though there are always extenuating circumstances.
"Bindrunes, which were more common in the earlier periods of history, are a ligature of more than one rune, a sigil made of the 'letters' towards a purpose. The symbols are combined into one symbol. How the symbols are combined, of course, is where the artistry and mastery come into play. Typically, a bindrune was used and made into a lasting talisman for someone to carry or use for a long period of time; people might combine the letters of their name into something of a distinctive mark. In short, bindrunes are longterm magic.
"Runescripts, on the other hand, are one time charms, 'sentences' of magic made from a combination of, once more, an odd number of symbols. The symbols in this case are put in a line, usually to symbolize a series of events, to synergize specific runes with one another, or in order of importance. How is a matter of experience, of course, and need. Typically, runescripts are burned, buried, or otherwise a one time affair and require less thought and work than a bindrune traditionally."
She looked out at her class.
"Now, I'd like you all to get out a pencil and paper and we're going to do a bit of practical work, hmm? And if anyone is interested, I have a small gift for everyone today. You'll have to come to see me after class to pick it out, however."
[ocd up!][can you TELL I'm a dork?]
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Listen to the Lecture / Chat
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Typically, you stuck to either ogham or futhark work, but mixing them with these other options that she was talking about could be interesting.
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There would be color-coding later.
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...Although the Oggham, that might be useful. If only to impress Nanny when she went home.
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Activity!
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"Can you mix and match?" she asked curiously. "Our Craft users tend to use only one-or-the-other when writing wards. Can you dual-craft, or is there a language barrier?"
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The runescript seemed like a good option. Sort of a test run of the ideas.
TAs
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Abigail Irene
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OOC
Srsly. I cut myself off. It was going to be LONGER. *facepalm*
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