Mentions of ‘zoaphite’ in historical references and its association with monstrous or hybrid forms The term Zoaphite appears in certain antiquarian or encyclopedic entries as a designation for a monstrous or abnormal being, often without detailed elaboration. In such texts, the entry for “zoaphite” typically includes a cross-reference to “monsters”, suggesting that the word was … Read more
Tarantula (Lycosa tarantula) venom was believed in southern Italy to induce uncontrollable dancing—‘tarantism’. Observers reported humans, roosters, and wasps dancing to violin music following a bite. 16th-century physician Girolamo Saint-André documented a Neapolitan soldier who danced for days after a tarantula bite, a phenomenon later interpreted as psychosomatic. Related Posts:Tarantula BiteThe Dancing Plague of 1518: … Read more
Divination by sieve (Tamis) is an occult practice cross-referenced to cosquinomancy, involving interpretation of patterns formed by moving a sieve over water or sand to derive omens. Medieval manuals describe it alongside other less common divinatory arts. Related Posts:Divination by SieveMythological Anatomy: The Hidden Vocabulary of the…Sas (Tamis)Cosquinomancy
Tarantula (Lycosa tarantula) venom was believed in southern Italy to induce uncontrollable dancing—‘tarantism’. Observers reported humans, roosters, and wasps dancing to violin music following a bite. 16th-century physician Girolamo Saint-André documented a Neapolitan soldier who danced for days after a tarantula bite, a phenomenon later interpreted as psychosomatic. Related Posts:Tarantula BiteThe Dancing Plague of 1518: … Read more
Divination by sieve (Tamis) is an occult practice cross-referenced to cosquinomancy, involving interpretation of patterns formed by moving a sieve over water or sand to derive omens. Medieval manuals describe it alongside other less common divinatory arts. Related Posts:Divination by SieveMythological Anatomy: The Hidden Vocabulary of the…Sas (Tamis)Cosquinomancy
Table-turning is a divinatory practice that emerged in the 19th century whereby participants place hands on a lightweight table which then moves or tilts to convey messages. Reports from 1854 in the United States describe counting knocks or letters to spell answers, leading to widespread interest and publications such as M. de Mirville’s Des Esprits. … Read more
Sycomancy (sykomaikē mantein) is a form of divination using fig tree leaves. Practitioners inscribed questions on fresh Ficus carica leaves and observed their drying patterns; rapid wilting indicated an adverse outcome, while delayed desiccation signified a favorable response. Descriptions appear in medieval European grimoires and Renaissance esoteric treatises, where sycomancy is classified among arboreal auguries … Read more
Symandius is a legendary figure in hermetic and alchemical lore described in 19th-century sources such as M. Gouriel’s Charlatans célèbres. Allegedly a king of Egypt possessing the magnum opus, he commissioned a colossal gold circle monument 365 cubits in circumference. Annual offerings of gold and silver were presented at his temple, recorded at 131,200,000,000 mines. … Read more
Elder (Sureau in French) appears in folklore as a wood used in charms against curses. Some traditions hold that striking a sorcerer’s garment with an elder branch forces the sorcerer to reverse a spell. This custom suggests elder’s symbolic link to protection and reversal of harmful magic. Although references to elder’s protective uses occur in … Read more