Focus Magic Italiano
CopyrightThis website is ©1995 - 2005 by Raven Grimassi and Clan Umbrea, all rights reserved. Reprints ofthese pages are not allowed without written permission of RavenGrimassi or the appropriate author.
We take copyright violationsseriously and are dismayed by the amount of plagiarism on the web,especially of Raven's materials. DisclaimersRavenGrimassi and the Arician Tradition of ItalianWitchcraft is not associated or affiliated with the followingindividuals, organizations, or traditions:AradiaEarth & Sky ( Canada)E-Groups orother Email Groups not sponsored by Clan UmbreaThe Trinacrian Rose Church ( Massachusetts)Fabrisia ( Fabrisia's Boschetto)Levi ( Bologna,Italy)© 2006 Raven Grimassi.All rights reserved.Page design.
ITALIAN FOLK MAGIC vs ITALIAN WITCHCRAFTThe contemporary folk magic systems in Italy reflect strong elements of Catholicism, as they havesince the late Middle Ages. In America, and elsewhere, we are seeing the rise of what iscommonly called Christian witchcraft. The latter is a blending of contemporary Wiccan and witchcraftelements, which are formed around a Christian core. This process is not unlike theevolution of modern folk traditions in Italy.Modern Italian witchcraft traditions, bycontrast to contemporary Italian folk traditions, typically do notcontain Christian elements. Instead they focus upon Pagan elements ofmagic and religion. However a fewtraditions have adapted certain Catholic aspects of saint veneration,which constitute a Christian veneer masking earlier Pagan deities.Some contemporary folk traditionserroneously view themselves as practitioners of a form of Italianwitchcraft, but are instead a br anch of common folk magic and healing traditions thatare rooted in Italian Catholic culture. Ironically these folk practitioners reject the authenticity ofItalian witchcraft traditions that do not reflect their beliefs andpractices.
Sadly, being highlyactive in their judgment and criticism of others, they br inglittle else than disharmony to the Pagan & Craft community. One example can be found on the websiteStregoneria Italiana,a group with members who actively contrive to foster ill feelings towardauthor Raven Grimassi with frequent erroneous and negative posts invarious forums and chat rooms throughout the Internet.Today we face many problems associated withthe misconceptions that do exist regarding Italian folk magic systems andItalian witchcraft.
Magic Focus Inc
Although theyshare certain basic elements, the two systems reflect a cleardistinction.
Focus Magic TutorialsThese tutorials explain how to use Focus Magic in detail. You can choose to either read the tutorial as an article or watch a video presentation.To watch the video presentations, you'll need to have Adobe Flash Player installed. If you don't have it, you can download it from.
You'll also need a high speed broadband connection and your sound turned on.Tutorial 1 – Getting StartedIt is recommended that all new users of Focus Magic read this tutorial before using the software.Tutorial 2 – Motion Blur – Fixing Streaking StarsThis picture of a comet has stars in the background which have become streaks of light. Focus Magic restores them back to the dots they should have been. (Duration: 4 minutes)Tutorial 3 – Motion Blur – Where Are Those ArchitravesThis example shows how lost detail can be recovered. The image has motion blur at about 45 degrees (see the streak in the bottom left hand corner of the Before image). The architraves which were unrecognizable in the before image can now be seen quite clearly. The streak has become a dot.
Blurity
(Duration: 3 minutes)Tutorial 4 – Motion Blur – Anyone for a Game of Tennis?It is a bit more difficult to identify the type of blur in this image, but the presenter puts his Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass into action to repair this image. (Duration: 7 minutes)Tutorial 5 – Out-of-Focus Blur – Circles of LightThis tutorial explains how the blur width can be accurately determined from 'Circles of Light'. (Duration: 3 minutes)Tutorial 6 – Out-of-Focus Blur – Eye SeeIn this example the mans eye is restored back to what it should have been. The glint in his eye has become a smaller point of light. (Duration: 7 minutes)Tutorial 7 – Forensics – Getting the Most DetailThis tutorial shows how to get the most detail out of an image, whether it is for forensic purposes or just your own family photos.