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Glitch Bottle Podcast
#149 - Decrypting the Steganographia with Dr. Stephen Skinner | Glitch Bottle
Mar 31, 2024
Dr. Stephen Skinner, an acclaimed author and magician, delves into the enigmatic 'Steganographia' by Johannes Trithemius, a text intertwining magic and cryptography. He discusses its historical significance, the challenges of translating it into English, and the implications for evoking spirits. Skinner shares insights on necromantic practices, highlighting the importance of intention in magic. With anecdotes about his research collaborations, he sheds light on the cultural impact of this controversial work, as well as the meticulous details of grimoric practices.
01:30:55
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Quick takeaways
- The Steganographia serves as both a cryptographic manual and a magical text, encoding spiritual practices while allowing Trithemius to evade the Inquisition.
- Trithemius' influence on Western magical traditions is profound, inspiring figures like Agrippa and Paracelsus through his extensive library and knowledge.
Deep dives
Understanding Steganographia's Purpose
Steganographia, written by Johannes Trithemius in 1500, serves dual purposes as both a cryptographic manual and a magical text. While some view it primarily as a source for secret writing, Trithemius aimed to encode spiritual practices within its pages, granting him deniability against the Inquisition. The text details the invocation of spirits and employs a system that utilizes coded messages to facilitate communication with these entities. Such techniques allowed Trithemius to engage in his magical pursuits while maintaining a facade of working within acceptable boundaries of his era.
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