| Sorcery occurs in almost every society in the world. | | | | this person has died suddenly you will probably feel |
| And in my opinion it is also the oldest and deepest | | | | guilt, even to the extent that it was you that caused |
| element in the historical concept of witchcraft, which | | | | their death, especially if you assume a universe of |
| was formed out of pagan religion, folklore, Christian | | | | hidden connections and have beliefs in the concept of |
| heresy and theology. Like all magic, sorcery is based | | | | magic. |
| on the assumption that the cosmos is a whole and | | | | Sorcery beliefs may also arise from unconscious |
| that hidden connections therefore exist among all | | | | thoughts expressed in dreams and visions. In societies |
| natural phenomena. The sorcerer or sorceress | | | | where dreams are taken seriously and distinctions |
| attempts through their knowledge and power to | | | | between dream and physical reality are blurred, |
| control, or at least influence these connections in order | | | | dreams and visions do have great power to persuade. |
| to effect the practical results they desire. | | | | In most societies detailed sets of beliefs regarding |
| Closely related to sorcery is divination, the | | | | sorcery are handed down by tradition and become |
| determination of facts or prediction of future events on | | | | part of the social and psychological systems of |
| the basis of the secret links between humans on the | | | | individuals. Those individuals will then all the more |
| one side, and herbs, stones, stars, sheep liver, and | | | | accept critical incidents and dreams as confirmation of |
| jackal tracks etc. on the other. In Europe, diviners | | | | these traditions. |
| entered a tradition that brought them close to high | | | | Often sorcery has a function in society and in some it |
| magic, while witchcraft took a different path. | | | | is closely related to religion, say for instance a priest or |
| The simplest sorcery is the mechanical performance | | | | priestess of a public religion may perform ritual acts to |
| of one physical action in order to produce another, but | | | | make rain, ripen the crop to harvest, or secure |
| the meaning of a given action varies among different | | | | success etc. Then as long as they are public and |
| societies. More complex sorcery goes beyond | | | | social in intent then sorcery may be of a religion. But |
| mechanical means and invokes the aid of spirits, but | | | | when the acts are performed privately for the benefit |
| mainly the sorcerer or sorceress tries to compel, | | | | of individuals rather than of society, then they are |
| rather than to implore the powers that be to do their | | | | antisocial and therefore do not form part of religion. |
| bidding. The thought processes of sorcery are intuitive | | | | Usually societies distinguish legally between public |
| rather than analytical. For example they may derive | | | | religious sorcery and private sorcery, approving the |
| from the individuals observations of single critical | | | | one and outlawing the other. And so the effects of |
| incidents. A critical incident is an emotionally charged | | | | sorcery are very real to those of us that truly believe |
| experience. So in a state of anger or rage you wish | | | | in it. |
| the death of someone you dislike immensely, and | | | | Do you believe in sorcery and witchcraft? Or maybe |
| physically, for example punch the wall, in imitation of a | | | | you just have a fascination in which you would like to |
| blow aimed against that person. When you find that | | | | believe. |