The Aeternum Notebooks

Stories, portraits and practices to explore the magical arts and nurture your curiosity.

Histoire

New stories from the journal.

Orphée et Eurydice traversant le monde des morts, tableau de Camille Corot de 1861, illustration des traditions funéraires grecques

The gold tablets, those messages the Greeks entrusted to the dead

The Greeks placed gold leaves bearing messages for the soul in certain tombs. From Petelia to Pelinna, discover Memory, Persephone,...

Albert Goodwin, Robinson Crusoe découvrant une empreinte de pas dans le sable, peinture de 1906

Footprints, a magic that worked on those who were absent

An imprint could become a link to an absent person. From European sorcery to Hoodoo foot-track magic, discover the history...

Benoît XIII consacrant les Agnus Dei, peinture historique du 18ème siècle, cadrée en bandeau panoramique

Agnus Dei, those wax discs blessed by the popes

Agnus Dei, wax discs blessed by the popes, unite the Easter light, the Lamb of God, and the protection of...

Mandragore à forme humaine attachée à un chien, enluminure médiévale du Pseudo-Apuleius, Wellcome MS 573

Mandrake, the root that looked too much like a man

From the mandrake of Greek physicians to the alraunes of the Renaissance, discover the history of a human-shaped root that...

Instrument de géomancie en laiton aux cadrans gravés, fabriqué en Syrie en 1241–1242, British Museum

Geomancy, sixteen figures for questioning destiny

Born from Arab divination traditions, geomancy reached medieval Europe with its sixteen figures. An exploration of their names, symbolism, and...

Saint Dunstan fixant un fer à cheval au-dessus d’une porte pour tenir le Diable à distance, gravure de 1871

Iron against the unseen, an old weapon of folk magic

Nails, horseshoes, blades, and threshold objects: iron has protected homes, animals, and people for centuries in European magical traditions.

Haches polies néolithiques de Kerham conservées à Carnac, pierres similaires aux céraunies

Lightning stones, when prehistoric axes became talismans

Neolithic axes unearthed from the ground became protective talismans. From antiquity to the European countryside, discover the history of thunderstones.

Exécution d’Urbain Grandier à Loudun, estampe historique publiée en 1701

The Possessed Women of Loudun and the Fall of Urbain Grandier

Possessions, public exorcisms, pacts attributed to demons, and trials for witchcraft: the Loudun affair led Urbain Grandier to the stake...

Thoth or the Wisdom of the Word

Thoth dominates the thought of ancient Egypt: this god governs writing, calculations, and celestial justice. He has influenced most occult...

L'Ordo Templi Orientis et l’émergence du thélémisme

The Ordo Templi Orientis and the Emergence of Thelema

The Ordo Templi Orientis (or O.T.O., as indicated in particular on our Crowley tarot decks) is an occult initiatory society...

Occultism in Women

The history of occultism tends to highlight only male figures. One readily imagines the medieval alchemist in his laboratory or...

Occultisme et Haute Coutume, une longue histoire

Occultism and High Fashion, a Long History

Occultism has long maintained a discreet but persistent relationship with French haute couture. In France especially, many fashion personalities have...

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