From 30,000-year-old magic wands unearthed in Wales to the sixteenth-century talismanic daggers used in Indonesian ceremonies and horseshoe good luck charms worn by modern Europeans, magic can be found in every era and culture. Waters scrutinizes the compelling visual and material culture of magic in all its variety and power, from personal superstitions and protective markings to cunning folk and enchanted forests, and from mystical spellbooks and secret ceremonies to psychic self-defense and New Age therapies.

The magical beliefs and traditions explored are illustrated with spellbinding images of elaborate grimoires, wise magicians, and esoteric diagrams together with select artifacts, such as amulets, crystal balls, and magic mirrors

This talk will reveal how magic has evolved from ancient times through the ages of science and technology to the present-day era of doublethink and conspiracy theories.

Refreshments included