MAGIC WORDS he is told that if he places the magic word 'Aemaet' . . . in an amulet and then puts it upon the Golem's chest, the creature will come to life. If the amulet is removed, the creature becomes inanimate again."112 The word aemaet is written in Psalm 25:10, usually translated as truth. 11 Aemaer (see aemaet) Meanings: • Friend "'A friend?' Ashtaroth swung back his left hand and shot it forward in a wicked pitch that sent a stream of fiery energy crashing into the statue. 'Aemaer! Friend you are and friend you shall be, emblazoned now for all to see!' As the arcane smoke cleared, Loew edged in to examine the demon's handiwork. The golem leaned back against its dolly, as impassive as before, but there was a change. Carved into its wide flat forehead were the letters f-r-i-e-n-d." -- Deborah Van Fossen, "Gone with the Golem" (2006) • Protection, forgiveness, life "I don't know why, but I took an eyeliner pencil, and I wrote the word 'Aemaer' on his forehead. I meant it only as a last gesture -- my own goodbye. I knew the word from my Pop Pop's books, a magic word meant to give life, to grant protection. I in no way imagined that it would act as anything more than a symbol -- a mark of forgiveness that would fade away all too quickly as I stuffed John's body into the crematorium oven." -- Christopher Michael Davis, "Cosmetics," Little Knives: Twelve Tales of Horror and the Supernatural (2004) Origins: Kabbalic lore. Aemaer is likely a variation of Aemaet. Afa Afca Nostra Origins: Afa Afca Nostra was found written in "an Elizabethan manuscript in the British Museum."114 The words are part of an incantation for ban ishing sickness attributed to Albertus Magnus (St. Albert the Great) in the thirteenth century. Facts: These words are purportedly part of a chant to prolong orgasm and were cited in evidence against alleged witches and warlocks in a sixteenth century tribunal. 112 Michael Koenig, "The Golem (1920)," Film Monthly (1999) 11 Richard Riesen, "Jean 14/6: Je suis la vérité" (2001) 114 Migene Gonzalez-Wippler, The Complete Book of Spells, Ceremonies and Magic (1988)