Dark magic is a concept that has been portrayed in various forms of literature, movies, and folklore. It is often associated with evil and is considered to be the opposite of white magic or good magic. Dark magic is characterized by its use of powerful and forbidden spells and rituals. Practitioners of dark magic are typically depicted as manipulative and morally corrupt individuals who seek to gain power and control over others. They may engage in activities such as sacrificing living beings, making deals with supernatural entities, or tapping into dark forces for their own benefit. One of the most well-known examples of dark magic is found in the Harry Potter series by J.
Eugene Otto and one of his paintings. Image: Robertthedoll.org
Throughout the doll s existence in the Otto house, he was said to have vanished multiple times; and for prolonged periods when the house changed hands. Schoolchildren who became aware of this legend, said the doll would appear and disappear by the window, causing many local youngsters to give the house a wide berth.
One of the most well-known examples of dark magic is found in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
I Visited a Notoriously Haunted Doll, and Bad Luck Followed Me Everywhere
I'm a relatively superstitious person. I would never walk on someone's grave in a cemetery, I believe in ghosts, and I'm careful to not walk under any ladders. So while I was on my honeymoon in Key West recently and heard about a ghost tour that involved Robert the Doll — a famously haunted doll that brings bad luck to those who visit him — I was pretty intrigued.
For an inanimate object, Robert is pretty well-known. He's been featured on several TV shows and is even toted around to various conventions that center on the occult. Eager to see what all the fuss was about, my husband, Chris, and I booked a tour with a company called Ghosts & Gravestones, which included a stop at the Fort East Martello Museum where Robert resides. While the tour was awesome, our brief encounter with Robert was . . . less than ideal. Why? Well, because he "haunted" me for about 36 hours afterwards.
Related:In order to understand the full extent of this, it's important to know Robert's sordid past. Originally given as a gift to Eugene Otto, an author and painter, by his grandfather in 1904, the two were instantly inseparable. It's said that Robert the Doll's outfit was even modeled after one Eugene wore. As a boy, Eugene would often blame the doll for accidents and misgivings, claiming, "Robert told me to do it." Seems like somewhat normal little kid behavior, right?
According to our tour guide, the real trouble started when a woman who worked for the Otto family was fired abruptly without cause. But rather than packing her bags and leaving, she reportedly used voodoo to put a curse on the doll as a form of revenge. And while it may seem pretty far-fetched to some, others believe it actually worked.
"Once he was put on exhibit, cameras and electronic devices malfunctioned in his presence, and soon letters began arriving addressed to the doll offering apologies for disrespectful behavior or asking forgiveness."
As an adult, Eugene became an artist. Considered by many to be "eccentric," Eugene returned to his family home in Key West with his wife, Annette Parker, after they got married in 1930. And despite being an adult, Eugene's love of Robert never wavered (legend has it that Robert sat right next to Eugene while he painted). Annette obviously wasn't a huge fan of her husband's best friend, and vice versa, so once Eugene died in 1974, Annette left Key West. She left Robert behind in the attic of the home, where he was found years later by the home's new owners. While strange things had often happened in Robert's presence before — people hearing voices, noises, and other unexplained sounds — it wasn't until he was donated to the Fort East Martello Museum in 1994 that his less-than-kind attitude went full-scale.
Before walking into the museum to get a peek at Robert, the tour guide gave us some strict rules to follow: you must greet and introduce yourself to Robert; if you want to take a photo of him, you must ask first; and you can't leave the museum without saying goodbye. While a bit weird, that all sounded doable to Chris and me, so we did as we were told. After snapping a few photos, we learned about what happens to people who don't follow the rules or poke fun at Robert. A nearby TV showed thousands of letters from people from around the world who experienced terrible luck after rubbing the doll the wrong way.
According to some of the letters, visitors have been met with all kinds of misfortune, from getting burned by hot water to missing their flights to — yep — even getting divorced. "Once he was put on exhibit, cameras and electronic devices malfunctioned in his presence, and soon letters began arriving addressed to the doll offering apologies for disrespectful behavior or asking forgiveness," says the website. "Letters continue to arrive daily."
As a respectful visitor, I thought I was off the hook. I followed the rules and was genuinely interested in learning about him. But boy, was I wrong. I made ONE comment about a grown man carrying around a doll, and my fate was sealed. As soon as I woke up the next day, the bad luck began. First, our flight home was delayed. Then, we were forced to rebook our flight because the plane was too heavy, resulting in us having a five-hour layover and getting transferred to another connecting flight. While both of these things were annoying, I also knew they happen sometimes. It couldn't have been because of a doll, right?
I realized that Robert might actually have had it out for us when we finally landed back home around midnight. The problem? Our luggage never showed up. We were told to go home and that the suitcase was probably on the next flight in. Fast forward to the next morning — still no sign of the bag. And no one on either airline that we used could locate where the suitcase was. It was simply missing without a trace. Frustrated and near tears, we decided to give into our superstitions and write letters to Robert in the hopes of reversing whatever bad luck he gave us and finding our lost bag.
The dark arts, as they are referred to in the series, include a wide range of spells and curses that can cause harm or even death to others. Dark wizards and witches, such as Lord Voldemort, use dark magic to further their own agenda and create fear and chaos in the wizarding world. In folklore and mythology, dark magic is often associated with witches and sorcerers. These individuals are believed to possess supernatural powers and are capable of casting curses, hexes, and other malevolent spells. Dark magic is often used to bring harm to enemies or to manipulate others for personal gain. Despite its negative connotations, dark magic also has its allure. It represents a sense of power and the ability to control forces beyond the realm of ordinary human understanding. This fascination with dark magic is evident in the popularity of dark fantasy and supernatural fiction, where protagonists may navigate a fine line between good and evil as they harness these mysterious and forbidden powers. In conclusion, dark magic is a concept that has persisted throughout human history, captivating our imaginations with its mysterious and dangerous nature. Whether it is portrayed in literature, movies, or folklore, dark magic continues to intrigue and mystify us, serving as a reminder of the fine line between good and evil..
Reviews for "Forbidden Knowledge: The Origins of Dark Magic"
1. John - 2 stars - I found "Dark magic k cuos" to be extremely confusing and hard to follow. The plot was all over the place and the characters were poorly developed. I couldn't connect with any of them and as a result, I didn't really care what happened to them. The writing style was also very inconsistent, with choppy dialogue and awkward descriptions. Overall, this book did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Dark magic k cuos" was a complete disappointment for me. I was initially drawn to the premise of the story, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest very quickly. The author's attempts at creating suspense and mystery were ineffective, as the twists and turns felt forced and predictable. Additionally, the main protagonist lacked depth and I couldn't find myself investing in their journey. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious read and I would not recommend it to others.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Dark magic k cuos" based on all the hype surrounding it, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The world-building felt incomplete and the magical elements were poorly explained. I couldn't fully immerse myself in the story because of these inconsistencies. The writing style was also lackluster, with repetitive phrases and clichéd dialogue. I wanted to enjoy this book, but it ultimately fell short for me.