Black
Madonna, also Black Virgin: A term generally
applied to a enerically to any dark skin colored
representation of Mary of mainly medieval origin
(12th - 15th century. Why black? Could be the iconic
remains of prehistoric Mother Earth worship. Associations:
Cybele/Demeter, Diana/Artemis, Isis and Venus/Aphrodite,
Kali, Inanna & Lilith. Knights Templars regarded
her as Mary Magdalene (theory: Jesus was not crucified
but married MM etc). Gipsies worship her as Sara-la-Kali
(Sara the Black, annual pilgrimage OF Gitans, Roma,
Sinti, and Manouches in May to Saintes-Maries de
la Mer).
Modern psychology view (Jung): the 'archetype of the Dark Feminine' potential.
Esoteric view: The Black Virgin represents the awakening spiritual process
of nature, an inner, individual transformation.
Black Madonna worship is still very popular today. The shrines stand
on 'Earth energy centres', megalithic layline and/or sacred architecture.
Examples: Our Lady of Altötting [Bavaria, Germany]; Our Lady of the Hermits
[Einsiedeln, Switzerland]; Our Lady of Guadalupe [Mexico City]; Our Lady
of Jasna Gora [Czestochowa, Poland]; Our Lady of Montserrat [Spain];
and Our Lady of Tindari [Sicily].
 Eliphas
Levi (also Alphonse Louis Constant), (1810-1875): French occultist,
former priest for a short time (fell in love etc), several jail sentences
for his writing. Was instructed into magic by an old witchcraft couple
called 'Ganneau'. Called himself 'Magus Eliphas Levi', the Hebrew equivalents
of his first and middle names. Practiced necromancy and gave detailed
descriptions of these events.
Works: The Dogma and Ritual of High Magic (1854), A History of Magic
(1860), Transcendental Magic, The Key of Great Mysteries.
His theory on magic was based on three laws:
1. Microcosm mirrors macrocosm. There are definite links between the
body organs and the cosmos. The soul is the magical mirror of the Universe.
2. Human will is an independent force and can achieve whatever it is
determined to get. Thus a skilled magician's will was limitless in power.
3. All of nature is steeped in 'astral light' (an expression coined by
Paracelsus).
'To control the astral light was to control all things. 'This 'light'
is formless and invisible but can be influenced by human will power.
(aura, chi, Steiner)
He believed in 'the existence of a universal `secret doctrine' of magic
throughout history, everywhere in the world.' He write extensively on
the tarot (22 Major Arcana linking each card with a letter of the Hebrew
alphabet. This is the first connection of Tarot and Kabala.
He said that astral light is the fluid life force that fills all living
beings.
"The knowledge of the Universe's tides and currents holds the secret of
human omnipotence."
The Hermetic Order of
the Golden Dawn, (1888), adopted much of Levi's
magic. Aliester Crowley, a former member, was born
the year that Levi died and claimed to be the reincarnation
of Levi. A.G.H.
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