Theurgy: Difference between revisions

{{RedirRedirect|Divine magic|the magic in Dungeons & Dragons|Divine magic (Dungeons & Dragons)}}

'''Theurgy''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|θしーた|iː|ɜr|dʒ|i}}; {{etymology|el|θεουργία}} {{transltransliteration|grc|theourgía}}), also known as '''divine magic''', is of one of two major branches of the [[Magic (supernatural)|magical]] arts,<ref name="Riffard">[[Pierre A. Riffard]], ''Dictionnaire de l'ésotérisme'', Paris: Payot, 1983, 340.</ref> the other being ''practical magic'' or [[thaumaturgy]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Josephy |first1=Marcia Reines |title=Magic & Superstition in the Jewish Tradition: An Exhibition Organized by the Maurice Spertus Museum of Judaica |date=1975 |publisher=Spertus College of Judaica Press |page=18}}</ref><ref>''Hasidism: Between Ecstasy and Magic'', [[Moshe Idel]], SUNY Press 1995, pp. 72–74. The term magic, used here to denote divine [[theurgy]] affecting material blessing, rather than directly [[talisman]]ic practical Kabbalah magic</ref> Theurgy describes the [[ceremonial magic|ritual practices]] associated with the [[invocation]] or [[evocation]] of the [[divine presence|presence]] of one or more [[deity|deities]] (also knowncalled as 'godforms'"[[godform]]s"), especially with the goal of achieving [[henosis]] (uniting with the divine) and perfecting oneself.<ref>Edmonds III, Radcliffe G. 2019. "The Illuminations of Theurgy: Philosophy and Magic" pp. 314-377. ''Drawing Down the Moon: Magic in the Ancient Greco-Roman World.'' Princeton University Press.</ref>

[[Esoteric Christianity]] accepts theurgy as a tradition that could greatly benefit a person. The main feat of Esoteric Christianity is to learn the mysteries of [[God]] (see [[Raziel]]) and to rise to higher consciousness in the understanding of God's relationship to individual consciousness. Theurgy, in the esoteric tradition, uses this knowledge to heighten one's own spiritual nature.<ref>Louise Nelstrop, Kevin Magill, Bradley B. Onishi. ''Christian Mysticism: An Introduction to Contemporary Theoretical Approaches''. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2009, pp. 109–110.</ref> Some branches of Esoteric Christianity hold that if an Esoteric Christian, [[Rosicrucianism|Rosicrucian]], or Theosopher practices it they could potentially rise to the degree of [[Magi#Esoteric Christianity and Magi|Magus]] or [[Adept]] after a certain level of spiritual attainment. In a traditional and magical sense, theurgy is seen as the opposite of [[Goetia]], even though many argue that they overlap.<ref>Aaron Leitch. ''Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires'', chapter 8, pp. 241–278</ref>

* [[{{annotated link|Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite]]}}

* [[{{annotated link|Simiyya]]}}

*[[ {{annotated link|Theosis (Eastern Christian theology)|Theosis]]}}