The Magical Technology of Defixiones
Thanks to their characteristics,defixiones are one of the most vivid, direct and well-preserved testimonies of the magic that was actually practiced thousands of years ago.
They tell us about the desires and emotions of our ancestors, about what sparked their desire for vengeance or their accorate appeals for justice, about how their magic would interact with their religious practice, about the magical strategies they employed and how the formulas in the magical handbooks were put into practice by people from different cultures and social classes.
In this course we will analyze in detail the magical technology of defixiones, joining an accurate archaeological and historical background to the unique perspective of those that don’t limit themselves to the study of magic but they practice it as well.
This course is always available in recorded format. Live hands-on lessons are also offered periodically so you can practice together and discover how to create a defixio from A to Z. These live sessions are also available to all students who previously purchased the course.
The dates for the 2026 live sessions are being finalized.
What you will find:
- what are defixiones;
- the historical roots of their magical technology;
- the practitioners that used them;
- places of deposition (common and uncommon);
- reconstructing the ritual process;
- Q&A
Topics of lesson 2:
- writing tricks and strategies;
- figures and charakteres;
- the use of dolls, sacrifices and magical materia;
- gestures and spoken formulas;
- spirits and deities;
- the defixiones and the magical handbooks (a comparison with the formulas from PGM and other collections);
During the live lessons:
- Together, we will choose a fictional character to mercilessly curse;
- Students will be guided in developing the best strategy, putting into practice the information received during the course;
- FIRST LIVE CALL (April 26th, 1 PM EST): Which type of defixio to choose? Determine the best time, the materials to use, the location, and the method of deposition. Define the characteristics of the ritual procedure to follow.
- SECOND LIVE CALL (May 10th, 1 PM EST): Define the actual text, choose the special tricks to use, and the deity or spirits to address. Prepare a complete test defixio.
Learn with me
Giulia Turolla
Giulia is a contemporary witch, High Priestess and teacher in the Tempio di Ara tradition.
She graduated with honors in Classical Letters and Archaeology and Cultures of the Ancient World from Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna.
Her personal path focuses on the practice of Witchcraft as an indigenous form of shamanism and aims to rediscover and rebuild the Sacred Net that binds us to the Spirits and the Gods of the place we live in.
As a researcher of European Witchcraft and magic in the Ancient World, she has participated to many conferences and events, both national and international.
Link to the live lessons
3 Lessons / 0 QuizesLesson 1
1 Lessons / 0 QuizesLesson 2
1 Lessons / 0 QuizesAbout the Instructor
