Hocus Pocus
by G. G. LAURENS
HOCUS POCUS! Who has heard this popular expression? Do I hear you say that it is slang, that it is meaningless, silly, or unnecessary? I say it is venerable, nay, I contend that it is a powerful adjunct to the vocabulary of at least one branch of applied psychology: Conjuring. In fact, I had that HOCUS POCUS is as potential a word as its utterers would wish it to be; no English-speaking person, no matter how sceptical or blasé he may be, can resist looking in the direction whence he hears it, for to him it is a proclamation that a wonder is about to be performed, and the desire to witness wonders prevails uppermost in any normal mind.
According to Ady, author of a book on medieval witchery, the original incantation was as follows: “HOCUS POCUS, TONTES TALENTES, VADE CELERITER, JUBEO.” Of this, only the first words have come down to us, and nowadays new and simpler exclamations are equally popular, such as: KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PROFESSOR; ISN’T IT MARVELOUS?; GO; etc., just as the French have supplanted their “TURLUPIN PIN” and similar ones by “HOUPPE LA; PASSE”; etc., which have also been “Anglicized.”
HOCUS POCUS dates at least as far back as 1600 A. D., and as a matter of fact, the expression has been introduced into our vocabulary, for it can be found in any modern dictionary or encyclopedia. Reputable authors and poets, such as Wm. Mason and Dickens, have substituted derivatives, and it has even been adopted as the title of the oldest known publication on “legar de main,” of which the oldest copies in existence in this country are deemed to be a “second edition” printed in 1635, together with several translations and subsequent editions, which constitute some of the treasures of the Harry Houdini Library.
Now a few words as to the origin and meaning of the incantation: HOCUS POCUS is supposed to be a corruption of HOCEST CORPUS, the sacro-sanct invocation of the R. C. liturgy; TONTES TALENTES is a corruption of ancient Greek, which may be translated, “We are all in a flurry” ; while VADE CELERITER JUBEO is good Latin and means, “Vanish quickly at my command”; in other words, the equivalent of the later expression, “PRESTO-PASS.”
I have often heard the question: “Why should foreign exclamations, of which one does not know the meaning, be more striking than those of our own tongue?” There are many reasons. The first is contained in the question. Again, I would refer the reader to the chapter on “Boniment,” which constitutes the best essay in Robert Houdin’s Memoirs; the main reason is as follows: A brief study of ancient and modern creeds and dogmas will show that it has always been a custom among Augurs and Priests to officiate in rubrics not understood by the vulgar; thus Plutarch, Iamblichus and others have explained why the ancient Egyptian priests made use of foreign words, and thus also the medieval works show that the practice was continued (even by the first seceders, such as Waldo, Calvin, Luther) ; archaeologists inform us that hieroglyphics of various ancient monuments do not represent the dialects in vogue at the time those structures had reached the zenith of their fame; and even to this day, the Hindoo Brahmin and the Parsees officiate in Zend and in Sanscrit; the Roman Catholics in Latin interjected with ancient Hebrew and Greek (such as Sabaoth, Kyrie eleyson, etc.); the Copt Christians use ancient Copht; the Hebrew rabbies are learned in ancient Hebrew, Syriae, Latin, Greek and even Arabic.
(To be continued)
Originally pubished in the M-U-M in Vol. 8, No. 71 in New York, February 1919.
(Continued from February)
To be able to dissert in dead tongues looked wise and impressive; it does so yet; but pretenders to magical knowledge, quick witted, if not always equally erudite, had to appear wise anyway, so they, in turn, each to the limit of his own capabilities, resorted to foreign exclamations or to bombastic prattle; hence the incomprehensible gibberish and awful twaddle that is to be found in most ancient treatises on Magic. And yet many such expressions had high origin and are worthy of investigation. Again, the reader should bear in mind that modern tongues are corruptions of ancient ones, and that they contain words that sometimes are distortions and perversions, a notable instance being the road in London, England, called ROTTEN ROW, which is a perversion of ROUTE DU ROI, the King's road.
Space forbids many illustrations, yet I will call attention to a few. We find, for instance, in most modern languages (and in ancient books on Magic) the word "ABRAXAS," meaning certain artistic amulets, dating from the early days of the Christian Era; also the word "ABRACADABRA," meaning an incantation used by pretenders and nostrum sellers of later centuries. The one is derived from the other; both can be found in the dictionary, yet it is doubtful if any encyclopedia describes the derivation and origin of these words correctly. The writer, for one, has failed to find a proper explanation from that source, yet both words have undoubtedly played a psychological role of the highest influence in the history of creeds and of Magic. ABRAXAS was a word originally compounded by Basileus, founder of one of the early Christian sects. Firstly, it is derived from HA-BRACHAH, an ancient Hebrew word which means "a blessing"; hence possession of such a talisman meant "good luck." But he who coined the word was learned in Greek letters and in Astrology; he compounded it in such a way that the numerical sum of the letters should also represent the number 365, thus creating for his creed, the Basilidians, a mnemonic or mystic initiatory word which embodies zodiacal knowledge, just as the words MEITHRAS did for the Mitraists, or BELENOS for the Druids; thus transfusing Pythagorean and Platonic secret teachings into Christianity, for the Besilidians were they who worshipped in the Catacombs of Rome, and thus the word ABRAXAS became also an appellation for "Christ." Many more such words are to be found in the Bible and in early Christian literature. ABRAXAS eventually led to other superstitions and these sublime charms, priceless in our modern museums, led to foolish amulets called ABRACADABRA in later times; also to the use of the word as a "mystic spell." There is not room here to enumerate the astounding powers that have been ascribed to this word during centuries past, nor how entire populations carried the word secretly hidden, in the hope to be immune from pests and other evils. Let those who doubt this investigate in any well-equipped library.
BAA HANDO, HELTZIOR, DEALZBAT! from the book of the "psuedo" Albertus Magnus, of which millions of copies have been reprinted in all tongues; supposedly the spell used by Joshua when he ordered the sun to stand still.
"AHA I CONJURE THEE, AHA by EHEYE by IHROS, EHEYE, BY AGLA, AYSCH, JEHOVAH, conjure I Thee, that thou appear unto me," from the same source; supposed to be an evocation to the Spirit of Fire. To him who understands the origin of this twaddle it is Cabalistic; but very corrupt as such.
BUKAN-NYA AKU MENYEMBAT TANAH, AKU MENYEMBAT HATI SI ANU. A modern Malay incantation whereby the spirit of an enemy is presumedly ordered to pervade a wax figure moulded for the purpose of causing him torture (see W. W. Skeat).
But enough of this twaddle, which constitutes, nevertheless, a most fascinating study, furnishing an insight into the hidden recesses of the human mind and heart. Let us return to the more beautiful side of the history and influence of such spalls and rites.
Incantations, exclamations they were at first; nay, we to-day must give them a better name: Applied psychology! From such sources come the mottos and devices which symbolize Nations, Deity, sublime historical events, as well as Demonology and infamy. The ancients resorted to many words, sentences, battle cries, and later legendary devices, etc.; this custom has also descended to us. I will mention a few, to show that "Good Magic" is alive to-day, just as Conjuring is alive, and by similar psychological principles. Who is the red-blooded American that can resist such spells as these E PLURIBUS UNUM; IN GOD WE TRUST; EXCELSIOR; SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS; EUREKA; etc.? What about the ancient biblical word SHIBBOLETH which had its prototypes in history such as the "SCHILD EN VRIEND" of the Flemings in 1302? Who does not know the biblical reference of "Mene Mene Teakle Upharsim”? Note the pride and conceit in the VENI, VIDI, VICI of Julius Caesar.
Europe, preparing itself for the first great Crusade, was entranced by the legend "DIEU LE VEUT," from which Prussia later derivated its "GOTT MIT UNS."
"HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE"; DIEU ET MON DROIT; L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE; DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE; and many more such, are sublime legends that will live for all time.
Now, modern conjurors have also adopted such mottos, and with those we are more especially concerned. How appropriate is "POPULUS VULT DECEPI, DECIPIATUR, which means: the people want to be fooled, so let them be fooled? In spite of its adaptability to conjuring, this legend has a peculiar origin: it was first used during a debate, by Caraffi, one of the cardinals who participated in a conclave of church dignitaries. History informs us that the motion he supported was carried.
Robert Houdin tells in his memoirs how Bosco invariably began his exhibitions with the following incantation: "SPIRITI MEI INFERNALI, OBEDITE"; that is, 'obey me, you, my own infernal demons."
Individuals as well as crafts and guilds adopted legends, and it happened sometimes that they fitted each other.
Thus Paracelsus adopted for devise a trident bearing the words: OBITO, APDOSEL, IMO. The first might mean "by mischance"; what the second interprets is too deep for me and for all authors I have consulted, although some pretend to understand but fail to explain. IMO means, "yes," surely, "by all means." Yes, surely, Paracelsus is as much a paradoxus and an enigma now as he was when alive. The words "surely" fit him.
The seal of Cagliostro was an S shaped serpent, traversed by a spear, together with the letters L. D. P. Those who know what the serpent symbolizes will certainly wonder to find here again the fire element of the ancients, the dragon of St. Michael and of St. George, the Chinese dragon, yea, the serpent of Adam and Eve, working its spells once more; as to L. D. P., this stood presumably for "Liberte de Penser," freedom of thought; how contributory those letters were to his final downfall is food for thought.
Rotherberg, the Chicago dealer in magical apparatus, adopted on coins the following legend: "PREMIUM EXERCITATIONIS SCIENTIA EST." Pretty good on account of its duplex meaning: "Science is the reward of hard work"; or "It is a science (to reap) the reward of exertions." The first is didactic, the second more realistic. Another coin much circulated among conjurors bears the inscription: PRO ARTE MAGICA—NE CEDE MALIS. This is even better, one might translate it: "For the sake of the magic art do not descend to wrong doing," although I surmise that the device is intended to express: For the purpose of magic only; do not use it wrongfully (meaning, of course, "don't pass this for a real coin"); it all depends on an imaginary comma.
The motto of the French Society of Prestidigitateurs reads: "MENS ET MANUS"—the mind and the hand. Our own need not be repeated here, it constitutes the title of this publication. M. U. M. might stand for MAGIC, UNITY, MIGHT; but there have been occasions when applying it to himself, the writer has interpreted it: MANIA, UPSET, MYTHS; and fittingly so.
PYROTARTRONITRANIL; SYMPHYSEOTOMIA; TULYITHIOSINAMINE; SENAPINSULPHOCYANITE ;— No, dear reader, these are not culled from ancient or modern books on sorcery, they are merely words sputtered by the modern successors of the ancient Alchimists; there are thousands more such, and these random samples are introduced here simply to help you do some thinking. Oh, well! not all conjurors are members of the S. A. M.; nor has the S. A. M. so far acquired a monopoly on psycho-exploitation.
In conclusion, the writer states that, in his own performances before grown up and other children (excepting audiences of magicians), he has experimented and observed what effects the introduction of such "nonsensical bull" produces on the dear public. He sums up his conclusion as follows: Simple but striking words, oft repeated in a jocular tone, but used as if they were really the cause of the effects exhibited, are accepted with delight and shouted back, no matter how irrational the remainder of the patter. Compared to their success the result of a "didactic" patter is nil. Now why is this? My own explanation is this; The public knows what it wants and accepts that only; the stage conjuror should remember that he is only a creator of amusement, and the form of psychology that befits him is that which creates amazement and amusement, nothing more, nothing less. In the meantime do not misjudge or belittle the power of the kind of tools that are at your disposal.
Originally pubished in the M-U-M in Vol. 8, No. 73 in New York, April 1919.
