What forms of Magick did the 3 Magi do? Do their gifts have Occult significance?

Question

I know Frankinsense is used in ritual to help the Magi focus his will, and Gold at least is the end product of the great Alchemical question. (Lead to gold) Does Myrr have a hidden (occult) significance?

hahaha. What joy, we have a spelling teacher in here. :)

Answer 1

I believe that the Magi were Zoroastrian Astrologers, because they foretold the time and place of Christ's birth astrologically -- the "Star of Bethlehem." The Magi were Pagan, and the interesting thing about the New Testament is that there are several examples of the Pagans accepting Jesus, and the Jews rejecting him, even though he is supposed to be the Jewish Messiah.

This is one place where the Bible uses the literary device of foreshadowing in the form of symbolism. As others have already pointed out, the gifts of the Magi foreshadowed the life of Jesus. Gold represented royalty, and his title of "King of the Jews." Frankincense represented his divinity, because it was burned in the temples (both Jewish, and Pagan) as an offering. Myrrh, I believe, was used in embalming to anoint the body of the dead, and so it foretold his death.

Answer 2

"Magi" does indeed mean, "magician" in the old sense of the word and was mostly related to Persian religion and mysticism. Of course, the story is fable. Magi (or "magoi") were feared and thought to be alien more than they were thought to be "wise men" back in those days (much like neopagans are misunderstood today). And in some texts (like the Babylonian Talmud) a person who might be Jesus or a prototype of Jesus (but whether this is legendary or historical is unclear) was described as a magoi and spoken of in very nasty terms. Indeed, the Biblical description of Christ reflects a person who was a mage (and this might have to do with the original Gnostic roots of early Christianity).

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were all considered especially precious things--worthy gifts to a king--in the ancient world. Hence, that the magi presented them to a newborn in a manger (a barn ) is a teaching about gnosis, wisdom and humility.

Myrhh was used a medicinal treatment and for anointing in the ancient world. The gift has also been said to be a foreshadowing of Christ's death--the myrrh would be for anointing his corpse.

I liked the entry that explained the significance of frankincense--and of course, gold was associated with the sun and the solar deity.

An apocryphal Christian myth emerged during the middle ages called the Cave of Treasures which relates how Adam and Eve went to live in a cave after being cast from Eden. There their lineage, which included the Judaic and then Christian patriarchs, took root, according to the legend. The gifts of the magi were supposedly harvested from the environs of the cave and stored in the cave until the magi retrieved them from the cave of treasures to bring them to the cave/manger where Christ was born. The text of the Cave of Treasures can be found on the Web.

Answer 3

If I could give multiple thumbs-up to Frater Pan I would. He's exactly right: they were astrologers, presumably form Persia. Matthew's birth narrative is overflowing with symbolism. In the case of the Magi, they are - among other things - literary figures which parallel the long biblical tradition of "magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans and diviners" found from Genesis to Daniel. Matthew makes some explicit parallels to the Midrash of the Exodus accounts - notably to Pharaoh's magicians and their ability to interpret dreams - and we can infer from that and the story itself that the Magi were diviners and skilled in the interpretation of dreams. ("being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road".)

As far as the significance of the gifts, I think others have already given great answers.

Peace to you.

Answer 4

Hi, in numerology the number three is the number of joy and energy. It is vibrational energy that is very excitable so I am sure the significance of the 3 am waking is because his spiritual energy is especially high at that time. I am a nurse and as someone else answered the 3 am time is often when the body is at its lowest physical ebb but its highest spiritual level. This is evidant when you look at the bodies biorhythms as well. I do not believe in Satan so feel that this has no significance.

Answer 5

Magi doesn't mean "someone who performs magick." Good grief. The 3 Magi were 3 wise men aka scholars who studied astrology, and followed the Star of Bethlehem (which was actually the convergence of 3 stars in space) that was associated with the prophecy/gospel/promise of a messiah being born. In preparation for the gospel coming true, they brought gift of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Answer 6

That is an interesting question, the occult is very difficult to obtain ancient information on due the nature of the Catholic Empire doing some cult killing and doctrine burning. I hope you find the answers but I don't know if you will find proof these answers or you might have to come up with a decent hypothesis that you can test and prove.

Answer 7

Gold is easy...aside from it's earthly value, gold represents the heavenly kingdom.

Frankincense represents Christ being the priest (our intermediary between God and us). The tree that produces frankincense resin tears is known to be so hearty that it grows appendages to attach itself to rocks where there is no soil or water available. Frankincense represents new life and new birth....it is used to anoint new infants and those moving spiritually into a new aspect of life

Myrrh is the obscure one here. It is worth it's weigh in gold and is 5 times more valuable than Frankincense. However, myrrh is associated with death. It is burned at funerals to mask the aroma of the corpse. Amazingly, myrrh has life-giving medicinal qualities. It would have been used by Mary in post-partum healing. It is a known disinfectant. It has been used for heart, liver and spleen ailments as it is known to increase the heart rate and improves circulation. Spiritually, it represents the death and rebirth of our Savior. And if you think about it, myrrh would be appropriate. Jesus had to leave (figurative die) heaven to come to earth (left heaven, reborn on earth). Then in 33 years he is crucified, laid behind a stone and rose in 3 days (death and rebirth).

Answer 8

I remember from my brainwashing days that the three items were some kind of symbology. Seems like they said Myrrh had something to do with embalming which alluded to the alleged death of Jesus. To the Baptist theologians, the Wise Men did not practice magick because that is evil. They were simply kings from the east. And Jesus drank wine that did not contain alcohol too! Seems like they tried to sell a bridge too.

Answer 9

The Magi were most likly Zoroastian priests- who are called Magi. The gifts had to signify -profit priest and king.

Answer 10

Myrrh is a common ingredient of toothpowders, and is used with borax in tincture, with other ingredients, as a mouth-wash.

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh Herb Profile and Information...