The History Of Abracadabra

The History Of Abracadabra

I wasn’t expecting a very interesting definition for abracadabra. I always thought it was a made-up nonsense word from some fiction story, but in fact the word has a rich history.

First the definition: It is a word spoken to summon magical powers or to ward off evil. The magician says abracadabra and then pulls the rabbit out of the hat.

Abracadabra was a magical formula used by the Gnostics* to invoke the aid of benevolent spirits to ward off disease and affliction. It is supposed to be derived from the abraxas, a word that was engraved on gems and amulets or was variously worn as a protective charm.

Handed down through the Middle Ages, the abracadabra gradually lost its occult significance, and its meaning was extended to cover any hocus-pocus.

The prescribed treatment was to write the word on eleven lines. On the first line the complete spelling, then on subsequent lines you drop the last letter for eleven lines until you are out of letters. This forms a triangle or cone. As seen below.

A B R A C A D A B R A
  A B R A C A D A B R
   A B R A C A D A B
    A B R A C A D A
     A B R A C A D
      A B R A C A
       A B R A C
        A B R A
         A B R
          A B
           A

Then the paper was to be folded in the shape of a cross and worn around the neck of the sick person.

*Gnostics followed the doctrines of certain pre-Christian pagan, Jewish, and early Christian sects that valued the revealed knowledge of God and of the origin and end of the human race as a means to attain redemption for the spiritual element in humans.

Easy Magic Tricks Revealed... "Learn How To Do All Kinds of Mind Blowing Magic Tricks Starting TODAY! - Get A REAL Magic Education & Keep All These Secrets To Yourself & Absolutely Amaze Everyone..." The Real Secrets of Magic Tricks And Illusion! Click Here To See Details...