Dr Best’s Pennsic ’25 Classes
(handouts for these classes may be found HERE)
Professor’s office hours will be 1-3pm at Kafe Merhaba. Come see me to talk about a class or to get your fortune told. Bring your friends and ask for a table show. Remember to buy a drink or a snack from the Kafe to thank them for their space.
All classes will be in Tent #12. Just show up every day at 1100.
Aug 3, Sun 1100 Divination: the Seven Forbidden Arts
In 1456, Hartlieb described 7 magical arts forbidden by Church Law, aeromancy, hydromancy, geomancy, pyromancy, chiromancy, scapulimancy, and necromancy. We will survey all 7, and try out a few of them. We will end class with a miraculous demonstration of necromancy, summoning a spirit to perform a task not achievable thru mortal means.
Aug 4, Mon 1100 Divination in the Age of Apollo
In Ancient Greece, Apollo enjoyed a monopoly on true oracular prophecy, revealing the will of the gods, but there were other divinatory methods available to the man in the street, with less accuracy but a much lower price. Some of these have only recently been reconstructed and translated from the archaeological record. We will learn about and test several of those systems, applying them to questions asked by the class.
Aug 5, Tue 1100 Divination with Cards (Cartomancy)
Divination with cards in period, starting with the lot books of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, then on to direct use of playing cards and tarot. Theory and ethics of cartomancy. A practical system for reading cards will be taught. We will end class with a miraculous demonstration of the seer’s art.
Aug 6, Wed 1100 Divination: Scrying and Intuition
A speculative class on divination via access to your own subconscious intuition. We’ll explore scrying methods and ideomotor systems such as pendulums and dowsing. Learn to hack your own mind. You know more than you think you know. We will end class with a miraculous demonstration of the seer’s art.
Aug 8, Thu 1100 Magic as a Performing Art
Theory and practice of magic as a performance art, taught by a professional magician. We will cover three period tricks from Scot’s *Discoverie of Witchcraft*, 1584, for close-up, parlor, and stage. The class will be sworn to secrecy and real working methods will be taught.