Abracadabra

Abracadabra (also: Abracadabra ) is regarded as the Word, which in most languages ​​has the same pronunciation. It is a common term as a magic word that is already in late antiquity possibly Hebrew, Arabic, Persian or Roman origin. Mention it is for the first time detected in the Liber medicinalis by Quintus Serenus Sammonicus ( around 200 AD ). Than " abracadabra " He advises against malaria, the Schwindeschema (see below) to take the magic formula in an amulet with him.

The meaning and origin of the word is disputed:

• A -Bra- Ca - Dabra plays with the first 4 letters of the Latin alphabet and can be explained by letter magic and alphabet spells that were widespread in Late Antiquity: The alphabet has magical power, because with him all things the can be represented world.
• It may be mocked forms of Hebrew words ברכה ( b'racha ) " blessing " and דבר ( dabar ) " word ", " talk ", but also act "epidemic ". Perhaps it derives from the Hebrew הברכה דברה " ha - bracha dab'ra " from ( German as: " Say the blessing "). This fits the liturgical Konsekrationsformel the conversion of the Latin -speaking world " Hoc est ( enim ) corpus meum ". in its corrupted version as magic formula " mumbo jumbo ".
• A relationship is also likely to Abraxas, a word that in Gnosticism, a word for God was and also was regarded as the name of a powerful demon since Hellenism, which was often invoked in magical papyri.
• Abracadabra but may also be derived from the Arabic spell " ABREQ ad habra " which supposedly " the thunder that kills " conjures.
• Another possible explanation is the Aramaic words אברא כדברא Avrah k'davra, which means something like " I will create as I speak " means.
• An alternative derivation is from the Kabbalistic tradition. Abra from the Aramaic ' bra ' means 'create', Ka Dabra is translated and is the first person of the verb ' daber ' "talk" with " while ". Abracadabra therefore means: "I create as I speak. "

In the symbolic teachings of Gnosticism, the word was used to avert impending disaster, especially to the cure of diseases. This is interpreted as inscription or engraving on amulets in Schwindeschema to the gradual retreat of evil. The provision required in the first line completely write down the word, then in each case, until finally only one letter was left to shorten two letters in some instructions or a. The inscription should have triangular shape. It was believed that as the word with each line loses a letter, so will lead to less disease.

Figurative meaning

In a figurative sense is called mysterious sounding meaningless chatter as abracadabra. This may be in connection with a Persian cult who prescribed the worship of gods 365. You had to pronounce all their names flawlessly in order to gain their help. Committed to an error, you had to start from scratch. In order to facilitate the task of priests designed an amulet in a triangular shape, in which the names were replaced by Greek letters. For further simplification of the rite used later generations the first line of this magic triangle as a substitute for the whole and in this way came to nothing significant word abracadabra in use.

Aleister Crowley, an English occultist, Abrahadabra designated as the word of preaching from him Horus or Aquarius aeon.