1 4 MAGIC WORDS Meanings: • Blessing, a blessing passed from one person to another -- Nick Jenkins, "The Opinionated Traveler" (2002) • Breath of life, breath of God • Essence of life -- National Peace Corps Association (1998) • Fragrance of the divine • Saintly Origins: The word baraka traces back to Ancient Persia. Barbathiaoth (see also ablanathanalba sisopetron) Origins: This magic name, part of a spell for salvation, is featured on "a silver tablet found in Beroea, in Macedonia."9 Facts: Barbathiaoth, described as a "word of power" and written in "the Old Script" with a boxwood twig, is part of an old woman's incantation in Lord of the Isles by David Drake (1997). Variations and Incantations: • Iao barbathiaoth ablanathanalba -- David Drake, Lord of the Isles (1997) Barrada Nikto (see also clatto verata nicto) Origins: This phrase makes reference to "Klaatu, Barada, Nikto," used to command the robot Gort in the film The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). In Literature: • "'Maybe we're forgetting something.' Daniel said, 'The magic word?' Mike smiled and shouted, 'Gort!' Daniel smiled. 'Barrada!' 'Nikto!' And when that didn't word, the fathers exchanged a last look, a last smile, and said the magic word together. Mike and Daniel whispered, 'Please!'" -- Patrick O'Leary, The Impossible Bird (2002) 9 Christopher Faraone, Magika Hiera (1991)