Division of Magic - "Black Magic" and "White Magic"
The idea of supernatural beings with inexplicable powers and the infinite yet uncontrollable realm of magic was a taboo subject that caused multiple social outbursts during the Middle Ages. Maleficium, otherwise known as witchcraft, sorcery and magic, was often practiced by men in the Middle Ages, due to the vital requirements needed to learn such things. One of these requirements was the ability to read in Latin, given that most spell books were translated in this language. This strays from the modern era’s perception of witches, but it wasn’t until the release of Malleus Maleficarum by Heinrich Kramer that the common conception of ‘witches’ was centralized around women, like today. It was said that in the 15th century, women created magic by weaving their way into pacts with Satan. During Sabbaths, essentially ‘witch meetings’, women would blatantly reject their faith while committing unspeakable horrors and practicing spells intoxicated with malice.
The most practiced form of magic at the time was Necromancy, closely associated with black magic. Necromancy was one of the branches of Magic popular in the Middle Ages. Magic fell under two distinct categories, one being ‘black Magic’ as mentioned before and ‘white magic. ’ Black Magic’s objective intertwined with the devil and satanic beliefs or worships. On the contrary, White Magic strictly dealt with all things associated with healing and health. However, witchcraft was still consistently frowned upon, feared and rejected throughout all of Europe, despite its purposes. It was comprehended and perceived as ‘devil worship’ and ‘unchristian’, which endangered the practitioners who claimed to partake in such activities.
Church authorities dismissed and neglected the belief of such ‘pagan nonsense’ ever existing and bestowed upon those who claimed to be active in such a crime a lethal punishment, such as execution or burnings. Laws were made in favor of the rejection of witchcraft as well. Anti-Witchcraft laws surfaced in the 7th and 9th centuries. The Fortune Tellers of the Middle Ages were frequently neglected yet sought after by many. Their practices were dangerous, much like that of the witches’. They were employed to predict futures for the common people as well as the monarchs.
For example, Kings would seek their assistance to predict the successes of their kingdoms and victories of their battles. Many fortune tellers couldn’t necessarily predict the future, as they claimed. Most were rogues and ‘tricksters’ who utilized illusions to create the impression of magic. Fortune Tellers used generic information and scenarios that easily coincided with everyone’s situations so as to refrain from being deemed an imposter. Many used lunar and celestial patterns to predict weather as well. The fortune teller’s success meekly relied on others. Their fate was in the hands of those who consistently chose to believe them. Some were granted respected positions for the accuracy of their predictions. Despite the incalculable success of their careers, most were treated as ‘witches’, and thus were disrespected and hated.
In the Middle Ages, the common people often relied on the supernatural to understand and give reason to the world before them. Many diseases that spurred amid this time period was reasoned with the supernatural. People believed that the deadly illnesses bestowed upon them were punishments from God. Cures were thought to be found within the urge to please God or by repentance. Their explanations for weather patterns and other concepts not discovered yet at the time were given reason with the supernatural.
