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Supernatural

Supernatural

A term used when something does not fit into the category of natural or normal. It can also be imagined as something that is caused by a bigger force.

Supernatural can be explained as a treatment for epilepsy because Galen of Pergamon the most renowned roman doctor found a “supernatural” cure because it wasn't a pill or medicine it was a simple peony root that was worn like amulet without being eaten. This technique was used as an alternative medicine and since there wasn't any explanation for a herbal medicine they categorized the treatment into a "supernatural" treatment.

Agrippa uses magic as the core of his philosophy that unifies theology, physics, and mathematics in one. He went on to explain that the earthly levels of the hierarchy are connected to the natural cosmos but the intellectual level is supernatural inhabited by angels and demons.


Supernatural is defined as an illusion because Scot rejects witchcraft and the supernatural aspect of it and associates mental illness with people who believe in the supernatural beings. Scot believes that since there is no explanation for the supernatural activity which he calls illusions because when men try to point the actions of the different witches out no one would believe them.

A figure called Faustus Summons Mephistopheles comes from Codex Gigas which was a gigantic manuscript put together by Benedictine monks in the early thirteenth century. This figure shows how monstrous the devil is depicted. Supernatural is used in this section to describe the being in the picture as non-human and an individual we all know hinting at the devil. In the thirteenth century, people have associated the term supernatural with anything that looks non-human.
Keywords: Amulet, Peony Root, Natural cosmos, Witchcraft



 References
Galen. 2015. “Testing an Amulet: Galen, On Simple Medicines",6.3.10- In The Book of Magic: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment, Translated by Brian Copenhaver. Penguin Classics, 152


Agrippa. 2015. “A Higher and Holier Philosophy: The Occult Philosophy, 1.1-2.” In The Book of Magic: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment, Translated by Brian Copenhaver. Penguin Classics, 402-403.

Scot. 2015. "Abominable and Devilish Inventions: Scot, Discoverie", I.7-9-In The Book of Magic: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment, Translated by Brian Copenhaver. Penguin Classics, 442.




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