Sixir

Sixir (magic) is a term used for practices and beliefs based on the idea that a person can exercise non-ordinary power to alter events, health, love, or fortune. It typically involves specific words or formulas, symbolic gestures, mixed substances, or written texts. A person who performs such acts is called a sixiroole (magician).

Sixir has existed in many societies throughout history. Anthropologists regard sixir as one way societies explain events they do not understand, such as illness, misfortune, and conflict. It is often tied to social power and influence: a person known to possess knowledge of sixir may gain prestige or inspire fear.

Etymology and definition

The term sixir derives from Arabic (سحر). The boundary between sixir, religion, and traditional medicine is not clearly defined and varies by society and time period. What one community calls religious practice or prayer, another may call sixir. For this reason, some scholars regard sixir as a social label applied to practices rather than a distinct category.

Religious perspectives

Major religious traditions generally prohibit sixir. Islam forbids it and warns against consulting practitioners, encouraging instead that health and hardship be addressed through the Qur'an and prayer. Christianity and Judaism contain similar scriptural prohibitions. Despite these religious bans, the practice of sixir has persisted in many places and has sometimes become intertwined with religious custom.

Forms of practice

Practices associated with sixir include: preparations made to separate or bring together people; objects tied to the body; and gestures intended to reverse bad fortune, such as spitting. There are also protective practices: prayer, Qur'anic verses, and talismans. In Somali communities, a person said to be affected by sixir is typically treated by having the Qur'an read to them.

Contemporary situation

In modern times, sixir continues to appear regularly in community narratives and media. Some countries have laws prohibiting payment for claims of sixir or divination. Medical psychology recognizes conditions in which people experience fear of sixir, conditions requiring professional care rather than being understood solely as belief.