Session Title
Psychoactive Ingredients and Intoxication in Medieval Magic
Sponsoring Organization(s)
Societas Magica
Organizer Name
Liana Saif
Organizer Affiliation
Warburg Institute
Presider Name
David Porreca
Presider Affiliation
Univ. of Waterloo
Paper Title 1
The Bewitching Bufonid: Venoms and Hallucinogens of the Common Toad (Bufo Bufo)
Presenter 1 Name
Rochelle Rojas
Presenter 1 Affiliation
Kalamazoo College
Paper Title 2
Bitter Poison Mixed in with Sweet Words: Psychoactive Substances and Offensive Operations in Picatrix
Presenter 2 Name
Daniel Attrell
Presenter 2 Affiliation
Univ. of Waterloo
Paper Title 3
"Drugs" in Medieval Islamic Magic
Presenter 3 Name
Liana Saif
Start Date
8-5-2020 1:30 PM
Session Location
Sangren 1730
Description
Studies of medieval magic have largely focused on the legitimacy and genealogies of magical theories and practices, and questions of textual and contextual coherence. This session will highlight “microscopic” elements of magical practice; namely, psychoactive ingredients and intoxicants, with the aim to understand the place of these substances in scientific and religious discourses through the study of magical texts, which are situated at the intersection of these “macroscopic” discourses. Engaging in a discussion about mind-altering substances in medieval magic fits within a growing academic engagement with the subject of psychedelics in the sciences and humanities. David Porreca
Psychoactive Ingredients and Intoxication in Medieval Magic
Sangren 1730
Studies of medieval magic have largely focused on the legitimacy and genealogies of magical theories and practices, and questions of textual and contextual coherence. This session will highlight “microscopic” elements of magical practice; namely, psychoactive ingredients and intoxicants, with the aim to understand the place of these substances in scientific and religious discourses through the study of magical texts, which are situated at the intersection of these “macroscopic” discourses. Engaging in a discussion about mind-altering substances in medieval magic fits within a growing academic engagement with the subject of psychedelics in the sciences and humanities. David Porreca