On the Origin, Idea, Scope, and History of Ancient and Modern Magic

to its secret forces and effects, in order to thereby make oneself the master of one's own fate and that of others. How this could, might, or should occur: this is determined in the various Zaubertheorien theories of magic primarily by the peoples' assumptions regarding their Geisterwelten spirit worlds, their good or evil powers, and their influence on nature and destiny. According to this, all the specific forms of magic are simultaneously modified, just as we find them developed according to the principle of Heidenthum paganism in the ancient world and Christenthum Christianity in the new world, the main features of which we shall indicate hereafter in a few words, as has already been done more extensively in the study of Dämonomagie demonomagic.*)

What is more natural, given the assumption of higher beings on one side, and the possibility that man can enter into direct interaction with them on the other, than that the bold mortal—whose spirit flies over the stars while his feet are shackled to the heavy soil of the earth—should make the attempt to befriend the dark powers of the alien world, to weave them into the states of his own destiny, to master nature with their help, indeed, if it were possible, to subject them themselves along with fate through magical power and Zauberkunst the art of sorcery?

A bold attempt! But what is impossible for man? What appears incredible to him, who is so defiant and yet so despondent in his wild spiritual aspirations, when faith or Aberglaube superstition, pleasure or

*) Vol. I, p. 309 f.; Vol. II, p. 316 f.