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This lecture explores the provocative question: Can magic stop wars? Drawing on historical and cross-cultural sources, we examine how rituals and spells have been used not merely as private acts of devotion but as technologies of politics, resistance, and reconciliation. From the Assyrian Maqlรป tablets and Egyptian execration rites, to the Wiccan โCone of Powerโ against Hitler and the modern #MagicResistance movement, we uncover how ritual has been mobilised to defend rulers, resist tyranny, and shape the course of events.
The lecture also turns to reconciliation practices such as the Acholi Mato Oput in Uganda, Hawaiian hoโoponopono, and Arab-Islamic sulha, showing how communities have ritualised the difficult work of forgiveness and the transformation of enmity. By analysing these cases, we see how ritual externalises conflict into material or symbolic form, such as burned effigies, bitter drinks, and shared meals, so that violence can be reframed, managed, or dissolved.
CONNECT & SUPPORT๐
MY COURSES ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ https://drangelapuca.com/courses
WEBSITE & NEWSLETTER ๐ https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletter
BOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE ๐https://drangelapuca.com/services
BECOME MY PATRON! ๐ฉ https://www.patreon.com/angelapuca
SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI โ๏ธhttps://ko-fi.com/drangelapuca
ONE-OFF DONATIONS ๐ฐ https://paypal.me/angelasymposium
JOIN MEMBERSHIPS ๐ฅ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/join
MY PODCAST ๐ https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86
MY MERCH ๐ https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/
FOLLOW ME๐ฃ
- YouTube (@drangelapuca)๐
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- TikTok (@drangelapuca) ๐ต
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- Facebook (Dr Angela Puca) ๐ฅ
RECOMMENDED READINGS ๐
REFERENCES ๐
Baines, E. K. (2007). The Haunting of Alice: Local Approaches to Justice and Reconciliation in Northern Uganda. International journal of transitional justice, 1(1), 91โ114. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijtj/ijm011
Beard, M., North, J., & Price, S. (1998). Religions of Rome, Vol. 1: A History. Cambridge University Press.
Bell, C. (1992). Ritual theory, ritual practice. Oxford University Press.
Graf, F. (1997). Magic in the ancient world (F. Philip, Trans.). Harvard University Press.
Hutton, R. (1999). The triumph of the moon: A history of modern Pagan witchcraft. Oxford University Press.
Kemp, B. J. (2006). Ancient Egypt: anatomy of a civilization (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Lang, F. (2002). Sulha Peacemaking and the Politics of Persuasion. Journal of Palestine studies, 31(3), 52โ66. https://doi.org/10.1525/jps.2002.31.3.52
Pukui, M. K., Haertig, E. W., & Lee, C. A. (1972). Nฤnฤ i ke kumu (Look to the source), Vol. 1. Hui Hฤnai. 39
MY SET-UP ๐ ๏ธ
- Canon 90D camera ๐ธ https://amzn.to/3yQclh0
- Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ๐ท https://amzn.to/3JjU1BS
- Teleprompter ๐๏ธ https://amzn.to/3linWCB
- Shure SM7B Microphone ๐๏ธ https://amzn.to/3Jm5IYK
- Microphone stand ๐ค https://amzn.to/3FueJOn
- Lights ๐ก https://amzn.to/3Zdk8k1
- DJI Wireless microphones ๐ก https://amzn.to/3NWAVVQ
โ ๏ธ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts โ ๏ธ
Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!
By Dr Angela Puca4.8
2121 ratings
This lecture explores the provocative question: Can magic stop wars? Drawing on historical and cross-cultural sources, we examine how rituals and spells have been used not merely as private acts of devotion but as technologies of politics, resistance, and reconciliation. From the Assyrian Maqlรป tablets and Egyptian execration rites, to the Wiccan โCone of Powerโ against Hitler and the modern #MagicResistance movement, we uncover how ritual has been mobilised to defend rulers, resist tyranny, and shape the course of events.
The lecture also turns to reconciliation practices such as the Acholi Mato Oput in Uganda, Hawaiian hoโoponopono, and Arab-Islamic sulha, showing how communities have ritualised the difficult work of forgiveness and the transformation of enmity. By analysing these cases, we see how ritual externalises conflict into material or symbolic form, such as burned effigies, bitter drinks, and shared meals, so that violence can be reframed, managed, or dissolved.
CONNECT & SUPPORT๐
MY COURSES ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ https://drangelapuca.com/courses
WEBSITE & NEWSLETTER ๐ https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletter
BOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE ๐https://drangelapuca.com/services
BECOME MY PATRON! ๐ฉ https://www.patreon.com/angelapuca
SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI โ๏ธhttps://ko-fi.com/drangelapuca
ONE-OFF DONATIONS ๐ฐ https://paypal.me/angelasymposium
JOIN MEMBERSHIPS ๐ฅ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/join
MY PODCAST ๐ https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86
MY MERCH ๐ https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/
FOLLOW ME๐ฃ
- YouTube (@drangelapuca)๐
- Instagram (@drangelapuca) ๐ธ
- TikTok (@drangelapuca) ๐ต
- Twitter (@angelapuca11) ๐ฆ
- Facebook (Dr Angela Puca) ๐ฅ
RECOMMENDED READINGS ๐
REFERENCES ๐
Baines, E. K. (2007). The Haunting of Alice: Local Approaches to Justice and Reconciliation in Northern Uganda. International journal of transitional justice, 1(1), 91โ114. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijtj/ijm011
Beard, M., North, J., & Price, S. (1998). Religions of Rome, Vol. 1: A History. Cambridge University Press.
Bell, C. (1992). Ritual theory, ritual practice. Oxford University Press.
Graf, F. (1997). Magic in the ancient world (F. Philip, Trans.). Harvard University Press.
Hutton, R. (1999). The triumph of the moon: A history of modern Pagan witchcraft. Oxford University Press.
Kemp, B. J. (2006). Ancient Egypt: anatomy of a civilization (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Lang, F. (2002). Sulha Peacemaking and the Politics of Persuasion. Journal of Palestine studies, 31(3), 52โ66. https://doi.org/10.1525/jps.2002.31.3.52
Pukui, M. K., Haertig, E. W., & Lee, C. A. (1972). Nฤnฤ i ke kumu (Look to the source), Vol. 1. Hui Hฤnai. 39
MY SET-UP ๐ ๏ธ
- Canon 90D camera ๐ธ https://amzn.to/3yQclh0
- Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ๐ท https://amzn.to/3JjU1BS
- Teleprompter ๐๏ธ https://amzn.to/3linWCB
- Shure SM7B Microphone ๐๏ธ https://amzn.to/3Jm5IYK
- Microphone stand ๐ค https://amzn.to/3FueJOn
- Lights ๐ก https://amzn.to/3Zdk8k1
- DJI Wireless microphones ๐ก https://amzn.to/3NWAVVQ
โ ๏ธ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts โ ๏ธ
Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!

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